Driving both the 325i and 545i every day.... my impression is that the 325i feels more solid/stable... the 545i feels more nimble. This is primarily due to the fact that the power steering on the 545i requires less effort to turn the wheel when compared the to 325i, which has less power-assistance.

 

Do either have runflats?

 

The only time I'm cornered at high speed in my car is when I braked too late for an off-ramp. The sign said 35mph but I went through the corner at at least 70mph. The E60 was still pretty stable, ARS kept it flat, and it seemed pretty safe. The rest of the time I'm at high speed is when I'm going straight on a highway.

For low-speed direction-changing maneuvers though, I don't like how the E60 behaves. Well, at least not the AS in my car. I wrote about my recent experience in an Autocross session here - http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=26876.

 

What I am talking about has nothing to do with tires.... it has more to do with the levels of power-assist in the steering.



The 325i is non-sport package and has bridgestone runflats.

The 545i is sport package, and has Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 non-runflats.



If you are standing still, and turn the whell on the 325i... it takes MUCH more effort to turn than the 545i. Consequently, when you are driving... the less effort to turn the wheel translates into a more nimble feeling of the car.

 

I have had my E60 back from Euro Delivery for a month now and I becomming a little concerned about something - the high speed handling. Otherwise I LOVE the car.

Above 110 mph or so IMHO it is not all that sure footed.
It is skittish & twitchy to any slight steering input.

It feels like just a tiny adjustment of the steering wheel cause the ARS to compensate causing a slight ass wiggle.

Correct tire pressure, RFTs, Sport Package, I do not have AS.

My E39 540i6 was much more surefooted above 110 than this E60.

BTW we noticed this during ED running 125-140 mph on the Autobahn yet chalked it up to new tires, and probably too high pressure in them.

Any thoughts?

 

How come your speedometer goes to 330 Km/h ?

Don't you have an '07 530 ?

I have a 2007 530i and mine stops at 260 ???

 

According to the small circled green M on the dashboard, I guess this picture comes from a M5.

 

Because that pic was taken when we drove a M6 from BMW M GmbH in Garching to Dingolfing for the factory tour.

Pics of that day here




I have a US Spec 530 with sport package, non active steering

 

Right...that makes sense..!!! I thought....Am I missing something here ?? does this guy have a "special" 530i that goes like an M5...

 

I much more prefer lower speed intense winding roads with many different elevations and different types of turns. Off camber, double apexes and such.

I'm just now getting the hang of the e60 and it's handling characteristics. I drove my e39 on one particular section of road and could average about 56mph. On the first drive with the e60 I was able to average nearly 64. I found the handling of the e60 to be more sure footed. I used my typical braking points and apexes I was use to and the drive felt rough and uncoridnated. I quickly learned I could enter the corners much faster and get on the gas well before the apex. She just carved right around the corner and I could tell there was much more room for speed.

The roll stabilization was the most interesting part. In the old e39 you'd have to wait for the apex then get on the gas hard waiting for the chassis to roll over and set. This doesn't seem to happen with the e60 unless I'm just not driving hard enough. If feels as though the chassis is set all around the corner and never really rolls over.

This is one fantastic car and makes me feel better and better about trading in the new Lexus. No comparison between the two.