Leburpor

I've had the M5 for 2 days now and I've done a couple hundred kms in it already. Firstly, let me say that this car is a fuel guzzler. If you're an environmentalist then don't buy this car!! I'm averaging 20.6lt/100km so far..

As a urban crawler, the M5 is just a wrong car to have. It chugs along at low speed, feeling heavy and a bit sluggish (in Auto mode). Sometimes it goes from 2nd to 6th so quickly even at low speeds that it'll give you a headache. This can be overcome by using the shifter but I'm not sure I'll bother with that for city driving. What I've ended up doing is to be light on the throttle so that the auto gear change is as smooth as possible. Therefore, I'm slow at take off but once I hit 30kmh it's all good.

The 550i in comparison, thrives in the city. Take off is so smooth and with the low end massive torque that it has makes it a fun car to take off with at the traffic lights.

I'm also missing the active steering in the 550i. I guess it'll just be a matter of time to readjust to the normal steering. However, the extra effort is very noticable.

The M5 really shines in the non-auto mode (what is it called anyway? SMG?). Approaching a 90 deg turn from 4th to 2nd, you hear the throttle blipping...woah!!! Then powering out of the turn...another woah!! Cruising in the M5 is also filled with so much fun. All this, before pressing the 'M' button

The sound...well, what can I say....the sound from within the cabin is just beautiful. The 'gurgling' sound has been giving me a facial muscle ache as I'm smiling too much!

The M5 seats are firmer than the comfort seats in the 550i. However, I'm preferring the M5. It just feels like it hugs me more than the 550i. The leather also feels nicer.

Overall comfort, including ride comfort, I'll have to give it to the M5 since it has that adjustable suspension settings.

Overall turn performance, I'm giving it to the 550i for the moment. I think the H&R sway bars that I had in the 550i made a huge difference in reducing the bodyroll that I feel the M5 a bit 'boaty' in comparison. Can't wait to track the M5 then I'll really know.

That's about it for now. I'm going for a long cruise with some friends tomorrow so I'm looking forward to learning more about this V10 beauty

baadaaboo

Aren't your M5 or 550 has DSC or Anti-roll control? After market sway bar are too stiff at all time.

Leburpor

The 550i that I had did not have the active roll stabilization equipment, hence my ability to install the H&R sway bars. I also did not find the sway bars to have added extra stiffness for day to day driving. I think the Eibach Pro Kit springs that I had, had a bigger impact on stiffness ride. In the turns however, the sway bar effect was very noticable.

baadaaboo

does your M5 has the active-rolling thing? my personal opinions that it is 11 million times better then traditional sway bar. It stiff up only when turns and soften when no G-force.

Leburpor

No idea...have to look it up. I think ARS is standard on M5's?

EBMCS03

Congrats! Sounds like the M5 is a good car for you.

JSpira

I went through a similar analysis, trying the M5 and the 550i and came up with a similar finding and went with the 550i because a lot of my driving is fairly local.

I drove both on the track and autocross as well and would go with the M5 if that was most of my driving but as my daily driver, the 550i came out ahead.

Leburpor

They're both beautiful cars aren't they?

AlexFW

Sorry, M5 hasn't the Dynamic Drive Control (that is one of the best devices on the E60) .
The same for the active steering .



The M5 seats are hard and unconfortable, compared to the confort ones .


The only reason to prefer the M5, despite its mileage, is the LSD that the 550i doesn't have as stock (althogh it can be fitted) .

Overall the 550i is a better car, to drive in the city and for everyday . But she misses 50 HP to contend with the M5 .
The M5 is too heavy and you can clearly feel it in all conditions .

Leburpor

The 550i is a great car, but whether its a better car, well that's up to the individual.. after starting with the 540i then the 550i and now the M5, I'd choose the M5 any day. But that's just me.

The seats in the M5 is not too hard for me as I prefer it over the comfort seats.

So far:
Ride comfort - M5 better compared to my 550i with H&R Swaybars and Eibach Pro Kit springs
Handling urban driving - M5 better where speeds above 60km/h are permitted.
Handling highway driving - M5 better. More power!
Steering - I would say 50-50 between the two cars. Am getting used to non-active steering again
Interior finish - M5 trumps 550i
Handing tight turns - TBA
Driving enjoyment - as expected, the M5

Can't really say how the M5 will handle the hills tomorrow or the track in the future. Can't wait