CVTBenhogan

While I still haven't ordered yet, I'm thinking of going with a 545i right now. After hours upon hours of reading the posts here, most people are very satisfied with the performance of the 4.5 V8. In fact, 0-60 times of 5.8 bone stock is very acceptable and another 30 hp with the 5.0 shouldn't materially impact performance (i.e., 5.5 0-60). My guess is mileage will be better as the result of the electric pump and use of lightweight magnesium.

The real need for more hp is in 530, which has the dated engine. No valvetronic, electric pump nor lightweight magnesium. I think the 530ers have something to gripe about, although most are very happy anyway.

The HP trend in cars is starting to become alarmingly.

Just my two cents.

CVT Benhogan


Thinking of a 545i/step/sport/cw/prem/nav/hud/sat rad

m630

i dont know why everyone gets so upset at these things anymore...this happens every 2 to 3 years....tech improves, as well as competition, so the numbers have to go up....

thats why you buy the car the way you want it and thats it, no regrets

...does anyone really think they will notice or use the difference between a 4.5 and 4.8??? I would argue that 99.5% of us will never see or notice the difference, but the marketing makes us all mad....

oh, i have a 550, what you only have a 545?

please, this is what kids do, and i think that most if not all of us here are way beyond that stage....thats why BMW doesnt sell numbers, they sell series...I have a 5...oh, me 2 , i have a 3.0 in it, how bout you...oh i got the 4.5....cool... or hows that V8 drive??? i love my 6 but the V8 must be nice...

this is how it is and how it should be....debage your car like most cars in Europe, and then people will just say...there goes a 5er, or a 6er or a 7er....only in the US do people care about the numbers game


my next ride will again be debaged, and will cost alot more than most, but thats no ones business but mine....keeep them guessin and enjoy your ride

BurgessMW

We're still awaiting delivery of our 545i, about a week or so, it just made port...

1) We're leasing so resale's not a big concern. A lower resale might even help us should we decide to keep the car at the end of the lease.

2) I doubt many will see a BMW V8 as wimpy, 325hp is still formidable. I don't think many look at 540's and see them as wimpy, at least I know I don't.

3) Though more displacement, physical size could be the same. All it takes is more bore/stroke to increase cubes.

4) We're coming from an Acura TL-S and (a G35 coupe will be our second car) so I don't think we're gonna be disappointed. I can however see your concern after piloting the M5.

Long story short, regardless of what motor they put in next, I still feel I'll be driving one of the finest sedans ever put on the road. Fully expect BMW to put a more powerful motor in the car at some point afterall, motor is their middle name.

530iii

IMHO when the new V8 comes out i would prefer to wait several model years after the fact so the bugs or gremlins can be worked out! I'm not playa hating though !

pennetta

I heard the 4.8 was for the X5, previous X5's had a 4.6 litre which is still bigger than our 4.4 ltr, never heard that it was going into the 5 or 7. Can anyone confirm this?

Lomag

I first mentioned the new engines months and months ago after my salesman showed me a memo from BMW. Many folks confuse the 4.8 V8 the X5 has -- that's an M engine I believe and NOT the engine the 5/6/7 will get. This new V8, is a just that, a new V8. It's going to be 4.6L with 355 hp and a bit more torque, no one knows the torque spec. I'm not sure where folks are getting their HP specs from, but they're wrong. It won't be 400 HP or anything crazy like that, although it'd be nice. Just like the bump the E39 V8 got from 282 -> 290 HP. The difference won't be too big but it will be an all new engine. As for the model change from 545 to 550, the memo stated that but I'm not sure BMW will follow through with it, we'll see. It's really not significant IMO.

I was too wondering why BMW would replace the great V8 it has now. Afterall it's only 4 years old, if that. The i6 engines are much older along with other engines BMW has... but, I guess it's the competition forcing it.

530iii

Lomag, hasn't our V8 been around longer? 2002 model year for the 745.

2000 model year for the X5 4.4?

pennetta

X5 has a 4.4 and a 4.6 ltre to compete with the ML55.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suv/112_0204_x5/
The 5 or 7 did not get the 4.6 then and I don't think they will get the 4.8 now. It will be exclusively for the X5

fuenfer

I was under the impression that the new V8 was going to come out in 2006 as an '07 model? Has this schedule been accelerated?

Guest

Has there been some type of "official" announcement (rather than speculation) from BMW that a new V8 (whether 4.6l or 4.8l) will be developed for a 2006/2007 7 series (and later 5 series)??

The information in this thread is very confusing as a new V8 will be made available for the X5....