Keep fighting people. I'm enjoying this.

 

This is not fighting, it is what this forum is for.

 

This is tough without utilizing the scientific method- same day, same time, same road, same driver= repeatable results.

Just because some of you do not like RFT does not mean they don't handle better. The reason 19" wheels generally handle better than 15" wheels, given the same overall tire height, is that the metal wheel flexes less than the rubber tire's sidewall. When you turn the steering wheel, the change in direction of the wheel happens faster than the change in direction of the tire. Generally the smaller the sidewall or stiffer the sidewall, the less the delay in the tire catching up to the wheel. Thus better handling. The stiff sidewall of the RFT might more than make-up for the half inch (one half inch for top of tire sidewall and bottom of tire sidewall) of extra rubber. But we do not know.
The 19" tires on the 550 are still the same width as the 18" on the 535, so no advantage there.
The 250lb difference in weight is the only tangable, scientifically proven advantage of the 535 under a handling test.

Sometimes the firums gets heated, but we are all here to learn and have fun.

 

Honestly it's not the same thing. the passengers are placed between the wheel pairs and the engine is placed right above the front wheel pair which affects the 50/50 weight distribution much more.

 

Not really-it is 49/51 for the 550 and a bit worse for the 535 so they have the engine in the middle enough to keep the weight pretty balanced so despite it being heavier it is even distributed over each half the car.

Yes there is a big difference between 200 and 500. The initial thread asked which handled better the I6 or the V8 and you assumed that meant 535 v. 550. There is the 530 outgoing, the current 530 in europe and the 528 in the US along with a whole slu of other 52- in europe.

The 528 and current 530 weight 500 pounds less than a 550 and that is not with the sport package which would even further increase that differnce once you throw on 19s plus all the body work onto the 550 sport. So probably closer to 530 between a 530i/528i and a 550.

530 pounds makes a tremendous handling difference. 535 is only 200 pounds lighter or so therefore its not nearly as noticable therefore this difference would probalby not be noticed unless pushing it on a track around corners.

500 pounds on the other hand is easily noticable day to day driving by just how the car feels in your hands and even more pronounced around turns.

So bmw's I6 cars weight anywhere from 200 to 530 pounds less than their v8 e 60 model-and that is what I was saying.

I feel as I am repeating back and forth but people keep butchering what variosu people are saying. Why take offense if you have a 550. YOu have more power to play with and can go faster, so what if you give up some handling. I mean you cant have it all every single time unless you get a m5 or super car. You will always give up a little something.

And good comment on the run flats-they actually do perform better than a non-runflat tire given the same thickness of the sidewalls. They are inherently stiffer which makes for better handling unless you inflate your non runflats more or get a stiff tire so that is neglible for difference between the 2.

Again 19s do nothing for performance-they are there for looks.

Both the 550 sport and I6 sports have the exact same ride height to the ground, have the same ARS, the same shocks, struts and control arms and there MAY be a mildly stiffer tune in the 550s parts-probably why they went with non-runflats to compensate for the stiffer suspension set up.

To be honest I think the 200 pounds in the 535 gives a slight edge where as the stiffer suspension in the 550 gives a slight edge which overall would make the 2 probalby identical handling.

Now the 530/528 and cars with the 500 ounds weight difference would forsure outhandle the 550 since 500 pounds is more advantage than the stiffer setup on the 550 is an advantage.

Good debate though but lets let this go already. 550 has more power and I6s GENERALLY handle a bit better due to weight savings. big deal

 

I think you need to have a lesson in handling.

It doesn't change the fact that the 550i has an extra 200 pounds over front wheels, than the 535i. Its a known fact and yes it does affect handling. The most important factor in handling is front end feel and the 535i has an advantage in this area, FACT. Less front-end weight equals better feel and quicker turn-in.

The same argument has been made for the XJ6 and XJ8, the XJ6 handles better because of the lower weight up front. Its a rather simple concept.

But this would be the only advantage the 535i has, the 550i simply put is a BEAST.

 

What are you talking about-look at the website for yourself-the weight distribution is virtually 50-50 for the 550. Even more balanced than the 535 which is more like 48-52. So the 200 pounds more weight is not over the front of the car, it is evenly distributed. Sure there is more weight over the engine than the 535 but there is also more weight in the rear than the 535 so percentage wise there is no extra weight on the front of the 550. FOr example its not like its 58 up front over the engine and 42 percent rear weight-it is perfectly even.

 

The 550i weighs more, saying it has 50/50 weight distribution, does not mean it is not heavier up front.

No offense guys, but I can't deal with morons. Sorry I am done with this, this topic has already been addressed in many mags.

 

No I think I have had all the lessons that I need to have.

The 550 does not have 200lbs extra on the front wheel, it is distributed between front and back which comes to about half. I have driven 535, 335 and 550 and I detect no heavy nose on the 550 at quick turns and curves and maybe the AS does help there a lot. From a handeling perspective, I think the 550 is excellent handeling car and I would not choose any other car over it. Great combination of power and handeling, can't ask for more than that.

 

Thanks for the name calling, great chatting with you.