ipse dixit

My reply probably will be controversial. First, I "don't like" the M5 because it comes only with an SMG, I think. I would want either an excellent automatic, a manual, or (maybe redundantly) an ZSG transmission. I am not sold on the SMG. Honestly, I don't know too much about the ZSG, but I think I would take it sight unseen over the SMG. Don't get me wrong; I could make do with an SMG, and I know that many love it. I've just heard too many negative things to think I would like the SMG overall.

donv, the SMG setup for the BMW ///M cars is very different from what is found in the "regular" BMW vehicles, like the E60 5er. The E60 M5 comes with SMG III, which is the next iteration of SMG II. I had an M3 with the SMG II and it was fantastic to drive -- very different than what you find in the SMG for the E60 or E63. That being said, I agree with you that there are still issues that BMW needs to work out ... but then we've been down that road before with the big propeller in the sky, right? Think iDrive, cupholders, active steering, etc.

My other problems with the M5 are:

(1) It really doesn't accelerate that fast. I think the claim is 14.7 in the quarter. Once the prices come down to earth on both, I'd buy a new Z06 way before an M5. Yes, I know they are different kinds of cars, but I like having one pretty much all out race car and one extremely nice performance/luxury car. So, given these thoughts, I'd buy a 550i. The M3 would never come into the picture. An M3 verus the new Z06? I'd never give the issue a second thought.

No on should really buy a BMW for straight line accelaration. If all you cared about was 0-60 numbers or 1/4 times, then get an E-Class AMG. The ///M cars are really about a wholistic experience and finding the right balance between accelaration, performance, handling and, yes, practicality. There is simply no other sedan out there on the market that can even come close to the M5. Sure the Z06 will outperform the M5 and based on the sticker MSRP price, the Vette is a bargain. But can the Vette carry 4 (or 5) adults? Plus, four suitcases? Would you really go grocery shopping in a Z06? What if you needed to strap a carseat for your 1-year old - could a Vette do that? Probably not.

Plus, the other competitors to the E60 M5 that are out there are simply not up to par. The E55, RS6 and CTS-V don't even come close to the performance numbers that the M5 can put out, and none offer the technological advances found in the M5 - from the V10 Valvetronice engine, to the SMG III, to the chasis design.

(2) As a corollary to (1). Yes, the M5 and the M6 will be appointed very nicely. But, they still are pretty much all out race cars. That's not what I want to drive daily. I would go for a 550i and keep my Z06 or buy a new one.

As I mentioned above, the M5/6 are not "all out race cars". The M5 is, IMO, the epitome of a luxury sports sedan. The M6 is probably the pinnacle of what a luxury GT can be (although I still don't like the 6er styling at all).

But, OK, if I could have only 1 car, and 1 of the three mentioned, then I'd definitely have the M5. I'd never consider the M3. The 550i would be my second choice.

At the end of the day, no wrong choices either way I guess. Seriously, choosing between the M5, 550 and M3 is like asking a person to choose between a beautiful blonde, a grogeous brunette or a stunning red-head.
[/quote]

Alex.br

One Silverstone M5, one Black M5 and one White M3.

05E60Black545i

"At the end of the day, no wrong choices either way I guess. Seriously, choosing between the M5, 550 and M3 is like asking a person to choose between a beautiful blonde, a grogeous brunette or a stunning red-head."

Thats an excellent way of putting it.
I just want to find out what the new M3 is going to do.

Evenflow545

That's kind of a no-brainer.

Evenflow545

760Li.

znod

Oh geez - I don't know where you got those numbers. My 545 will do the quarter in 13.7.

Yes, 545's consistently do about what you say. Here are some "official" tests consistent with what you say:

Headings Auto, Magazine, Date 0-60 1/4 Mi. 1/4 Mi Speed

BMW 545i R&T 6/05 5.2 13.7 104.0
BMW 545i MT 8/04 5.4 13.7 102.1
BMW 545i MT11/05 5.5 13.8 102.8

The M5 will do 0-200 kph in around 13 seconds. That's 0-124 mph. So if it's doing 14.7 in the quarter, the trapspeed would be around 130. Don't think so.

You could be right. Where are you getting your info? My (about ) 14.7 number is from my recollection of the various auto tests of the M5 and the M6 that have been published. I have a good memory for such things, but, of course, I could be remembering wrong.

EDIT: No, I have lost my mind; it couldn't have been 14.7.

At the times I read the articles, I thought 14.7 seemed pretty slow; thus, I concluded that the M5 "doesn't accelerate that fast." I'll see if I still have any of the mags at home.

EDIT: No, I have lost my mind; it couldn't have been 14.7.

I just checked on BMW's on-line claim. They claim 0-60 in 4.5--which is fast, but not incredible fast. Given the above 0-60 times for the 545i, I would expect the 550i to maybe break 5 seconds in some magazine test. If so, then the M5's 0-60 still doesn't impress me that much. My old Z06 will do 4.2 with only 400 HP, but, of course, it is lighter.

Here are some values for the AMG CLK55. It does 4.5 and 13.1. That seems more reasonable for the M5. Still, I'll see if I can dig out the mags. Maybe someone else has them.

Mercedes AMG CLK55C&D 5/04 4.5 13.1

No official numbers yet, but it is faster than the E55, which is posting low-mid 12 quarter miles at 115 or so. A good guess for the best quarter mile times for the M5 is low 12's at 118 or so.

I am not sure where you get these values for the E55. I don't pay any attention to after-market dragstrip times since who knows what has been done to the cars. I do pay attention to magazine articles because the cars are at least supposed to be factory stock.

In fact, from a roll, the M5 is faster than just about any other car you can buy under $100K, and faster than quite a few over that price. It really does accelerate that fast.

You could be right. Where is your info coming from? I'll be back in about 1 1/2 hours. Interesting discussion. Later.

[/quote]

heezy545i

E55s put up those numbers stock

car and driver:

0-60, 0-100, 0-150, 1/4, trap speed

4.3, 9.9, 24.5, 12.5 @116mph

znod

E55s put up those numbers stock

car and driver:

0-60, 0-100, 0-150, 1/4, trap speed

4.3, 9.9, 24.5, 12.5 @116mph
[/quote]
That sounds about right to me given the values I posted above:

Mercedes AMG CLK55C&D 5/04 4.5 13.1

znod

Oops. To much atonning for saying 14.7. Does anyone have a mag with an M5 or M6 test? What were the numbers. I'll see if I have one at home much later tonight. 14.7 obviously can't be right as others have mentioned.

amigo525

funnny that ask..

M5