Leburpor

Well well, fancy seeing you here Mr. MHH

I think the situation to rationalize the decision to choose either an M5 over a 550i, or vice versa, will arise if the ability to purchase the former is at the borderline of one's financial motoring budget. Then one would really have to question hard on the 'added' value one could get from the M5 over the 550i. One example of this is 'moi'! If not for:
- the heavy discounting from BMW
- the ease of access to fantastic driving roads within 15mins of home
- minimal traffic jams in the city I live in
- the group of friends here who enjoy driving regularly, and who own damn fast cars
- the fact that I just love going on spirited drives
then I wonder if I would have gotten rid of my 540i in the first place.... hmm..

For M5 owners who did not even consider the other 5-series variants, I'm sure they'd considered other cars of similar category like the Merc E-AMG, Masser QP, AM Vantage and maybe even an AUDI RS6? You guys have already decided to spend the needed $$ for a super sedan, it's then a matter of which one. So, it's quite a different rationalizing process IMHO.

Anyway, I've just come back from another drive through the hills and boy, this car can do things that the 550i just couldnt do without me feeling a bit concerned. So, if any of you have been in a similar position as me and you enjoy regular spirited driving, and the opportunity to get into an M5 arises....DO IT

AlexFW

360 in US, 370 here . 370 are strict relative of 400, not of 350 .
Remap it and you will be closer to 400 HP .

About the weight, there are 100 kg at least .

Jet, the M5 is faster, ok ... But not so faster to spend 3x in maintance and 1.6x petrol to go, every day, in the same way . Or even slower than the 550i, at lows .

The S85 isn't the 6.2 by MB that has a lot of torque .
(did you test the Z4M ? It is slower than the Z4 3.0si, in the common use, although on the track is fast because you use 5-8k rpm)

Heelsonwheels

"M" cars have their own plants/parts etc if I'm not mistaken. It's really all about the pricepoint and whether you can afford, appreciate and justify it. So, how are you and your SMG getting along?
My 550 is a great car but no M5, I'd have no problem driving one everyday.

JSpira

I think the stars really aligned for you - esp. that second call discounting the M5 even further. That was excellent timing.

iversonm

It's 370 in europe because European "metric" horsepower (ps) are not equal to US horsepower, much like the Imperial gallon is not equal to the US gallon.

As for remapping the 550, I have not seen any such software available on the market. Can you reference one?

As for the Z4M being slower than the si, can you point to a factual reference?

colejl

386bhp. x50i

Still not exactly the 'magic' 400bhp...

kiwistu

Hi Guys

Great thread

I was really interested to read the reveiw of the guy way back in '88 comparing a E34 M5 to a 535i, because its still happening now 550 vs M5...

Way back then I was at university and working as a car valet at the local BMW main dealer (yes I am a ceritifable BMW nut) and I got to the pre delivery clean the 1st M34 M5 in New Zealand (green with cream leather) arrrhhh for a 19 year old driving that aorund the block - well say no more.

So fast forward 10 years - for a couple years I owned a similar M5 in the UK, I still dream of that car - the screaming 6 was by far the sweetest engine ever - and yes the "M" cars are better - sorry guys.

That said I currently drive a 545 which I love - and it feels about as fast as the hairy old E34 when you switch everything off.

Will I get a 550 along the way? probably...am I going to get another M5? absolutely!

These are cars you buy new however, personal experience tells me old M cars are for diehard mechanics only - the bong of despare from the warning system drives you nuts.

Thats why I like my 545i which (despite all the comments on this board) as been perfect! (+ I chose it over a E39 M5)

Just my 5c

Cheers and have good christmas!
Stu

AlexFW

Ok

Go to a man who can do his job and he will remap the 550i .
I don't understand why on the Earth should exist only Dinan or someone else .

The 3.0si has the max torque (315 Nm) @2750 rpm .
The 3.2 M @5500 (365 Nm) rpm or so .
(I'm sure you can find all data on BMW site)

BMW makes M cars with a more track oriented engine . But I drive on the road for 362 days/year .

So the 550i in the everyday use goes as the M5, the Z4 3.0si as the Z4M and the 335 should go as the M3 (I didn't test the M3 yet) .

I mean that under my bonnet I would like to have not the V10 500 HP with 8300 rpm, but my V8 brought to 5.2l by Hamann/ 5.4 by Racing Dynamics .

The M5 is obviously wonderful (it is an E60), but they didn't put in it the best engine for a 5 meters car, from my point of view .

iversonm

Here's the objective data I see:

Z4 3.0si, Car and Driver:
0-60: 5.3s
quarter mile: 14.0s @100mph

Z4M: Car and Driver test:
0-60: 4.6s
quarter mile: 13.2s @107mph

So, in a straight line, the Z4M is faster. You've already conceded the M is faster at the track.

Leburpor

I too had researched into this option when I had the 550i and found no suitable option. In fact, the guy from Powerchip wrote back to me saying their product will not deliver a suitable power upgrade to my car??!! I think the improvement in kW was like 6-8%.