swajames

Both the US and the UK use imperial measures for traffic (speed limits, road signs etc).

JSpira

Ja, but only because the UK has been granted permanent exemptions by the EU for the mile and yard in road markings (and for the pint for beer and milk).

AlexFW

Yes .

Between V8 and V10 there isn't the same different there is between 4->6 or 6->8 .
A V10 5000 is not a V12 6000 .
The 550i has almost 400 HP on 1650 Kg, the M5 500 on 1750 Kg (+100 kg on the front --> more understeering) .
+25% HP but not the same weight .

Forgive me, but if you have 800 HP or 1000 is exactly the same thing for the use we do of the car .

The M5 sounds better (but it could be too noisy and uncofortable use 6-8000 rpm to go decently), it has the LSD and all best bumpers .

But it is better than the 550i like the 550i is better than the 540i or like a 530i is better than a 523i .

The M5 it isn't the shuttle and a 550i isn't so slow (especially if steptronic) .

Today, I would like to have the 545i modded by Hamann at 5200cc, not the M5 .
Because there is no reason to get a V10 without torque and stop at the gas station 2 times/days .


Finally, the M5 needs 15s from not to 125 mph . A steptronic 550i only 17 seconds . You can mod a little the 550i and get 16s .


In other word, in my opinion the M5 isn't so fast to spend 2x in gas, 3x in maintance, etc... To have the SAME torque of the 550i at 6000 rpm instead at 3400 .

On the track the M5 is better than the 550i ... But if you go on the track every sunday you should get a Lotus, not that heavy M5 .



+1

Leburpor

Well I've just returned from a drive through the Adelaide Hills and country side. I was accompanied by a 997 Carrera S and Carrera and a Nissan Skyline.

What a drive! The brakes! oh the brakes!......totally love em.

Around the bends, I can brake later and when I turn in the car does so quite smoothly whereas my 550i felt like I had to be careful not to throw the tail out (ie. caused by the H&R sway bars?). Overall, I felt more confident going round the bends in the M5 than the 550i. The latter felt like it required more effort to keep the car under control.

One of my favourite experience is going full throttle from 3rd and the as 4th is engaged the leap forward is just awesome.

It also feels like this car is easier and quicker to balance coming in and out of corners. Best test is when I take it to the track.

If I was to come to a conclusion on the value of the M5, well if it's going to cost you over 35% compared to the 550i then it'll be a hard decision, especially if you have limited financial means like me. However, if you can get it at 15%-20% over the 550i price, then I'd strongly recommend it

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! Be safe on the roads!

Ray Hull

Flashback: it's 1988 and I have my 6-mos old 87 535iS 5 spd, the first high-performance 5 BMW issued. My dealer hands me the keys to the just-released M5 and I set off from suburbia, through town and back into suburbia and interstate. End-of-ride opinion? I'll keep the down-low grunt of the 535. The M5 has screaming capabilities up top of the revs, but is really a drag around town. Both have Thigh-Master clutch-return springs. The 535 came "on-cam" at 3200 and delivered a very satisfying boot in the rear. The M5 just wanted to wind-up.

Moral of story: unless you have autoboahns to unleash that high-end power, it really is wasted. Now 30 years later, same story (except the E-60 engine now trends toward upper-end punch with less down-low grunt).

The M5 is a joyous bauble, but that's about all in urban USA life. And at $3.50 a gallon (I assume my insurance would be even higher, even with BMW High-Performance Insurance rates), I don't think I can afford it--even beyond the MSRP.

Enjoy it and thanks for the update.

Cheers,
Ray

westcoast550

I had a similar feeling , when test driving both cars I just could'nt see how and where I was going to get the opportunity to unleash the BEAST............I have been thoroughly pleased and impressed with the performance / handling of the 550MSport ...............I just wish I had it back or had a new one , hopefully I'll get some news late next week or early in the new year.

Cheers

mhh

Interesting thread. As an M5 owner, when I see a 550i (or any other non-M 5 Series) I don't think there goes a car like mine. I regard the M5 as in a completely different class to the "standard" 5's. Different engine, gearbox, steering, seats, trim level, wheel/tyre size, diff, suspension, etc etc. The 5 series is the donor car for the body and that's about it.

No disrespect to 5xxi owners, as I'm sure the base 5's are great cars, but they just can't be compared with the M5 which is in a category of its own. Even when the M5 is compared to the E63 or S6, the road testers usually acknowledge that the M5 is a much further developed derivative of the standard 5 series than the AMG etc is of their base model.

I suspect very few M5 owners would have considered a 550i as an alternative choice when chosing their new car - the thought never crossed my mind that's for sure.

JetBlack5OC

Is my info incorrect, doesn't the 550i have 360hp?

M5 - 4012 lbs.

550i - 3968 lbs.

44 lbs

You have got to be able to feel an additional 140hp.

JSpira

Consider it, perhaps - admit that they considered it, perhaps not. I can only speak from my experience in considering the two.

mhh

Yes, but you aren't an M5 owner.

I've no doubt 550i buyers might have considered an M5, just not the other way around. Anyway, they are all great cars.