BTW, how do you like the active cruise control, Jimbo? I'd imagine it's hard to use any cruise control in Los Angeles with all that stop-and-go traffic!

 

You only need ACC if you have long commute everyday. Don't need it here in Bay Area, either. Traffic moving at 10 miles/hour

 

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I too have an M5. It's a 2000 with Dinan Stage II suspension and exhaust. I'm considering trading it in for the 545i 6 speed. I love driving a stick and although I'm first on the list for the new M5, I don't think I want SMG and pretty bad mileage (range). I don't have garage space for both, what will I miss if I trade in M5 for the E60 (besides 0-60 in less than 5 seconds.)?
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I think you will miss the acceleration, the engine growl, the harder ride. You will love the cornering with the sports package Active Steering and Active suspension. You will prefer the size, its more spacious inside.

Thats it for the drive, as for the electronics well I have a love hate relationship with that. Love it for what it should be, hate it for what's missing. But its all fixable in time.

Beewang is the man to talk to. M5 owner bought 545

 

I like AS and would not trade back, however, there was definitely a trade off between the 540-6spd re-circulating ball system and the 545iS rack and pinion in steering feel. I don't see how anything can ever match the 540 road feel. I would not trade back wo AS, but do believe the road feel of the 540 re-circulating ball system was superior in road feel.

 

believe it or not, when i first saw the headlights of a e60, i fell in love . i know i'll get this baby one day because of that and i did .

 

I had the E39 and The e60 now. I think the seats on my e39 were superior than the e60? and the inside felt a bit solid on the e39 than the e60.

But overall..both are fun car to drive.

 

My $.02.

I had the E39 540, too.

The E39 seats were better. That's true - the new 545 sport seats are wider and I slide around a bit.

The E39 did have more "road feel." That's true, too. But,

The E39 always felt VERY heavy, like driving a big block of lead around. Heavy in turns, heavy steering, heavy off the line.

The E60 545 is light, nimble, tighter, and more responsive. The aluminum front end, active steering and ARS make it handle the way I always wished the E39 did.

The new steptronic is much smarter than the old one, keeping it in gears longer when off the gas in sport mode than the E39 did. Much better, and less shifting up and down.

So, I think it's a great trade-off, a little less road feel for a better overall handling experience.