E60Speed

Actually the M5 is the quickest E60 made

First customer deliveries are in April

johno535

if only i could afford it

GPS

I have tried both.

The 545's V8 has a great, rich sound and wonderful performances in terms of acceleration. For a petrol engine, it delivers very well also in terms of response at low regimes. The handling is simply fantastic and a lot of fun.

The 535 sounds a bit tractor-like at idle, but from 1,500 rpm onwards it is simply astonishing in terms of acceleration and seamless progression (almost "electric"), you can't really describe it unless you try. Acceleration from standstill, and pick-up merging into motorways will simply blow your mind: you will find hardly any other car that can compete! The handling is very good, but the front felt a little heavier than the 545 I tested (perhaps due to different tires).

I can't tell you about the performance figures, but surely they are two incredible cars and virtually on the same level in terms of desirability, yet very different one from the other. I think, at the end of the day (if you leave aside the financial aspects, which are in favour of the 535, both in terms of purchase price and maintenance), it is largely a matter of personal taste: some like brunettes, other prefer blondes!
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Very interesting comments

I would love to own a 545 but just couldn't justify the running expense. But as you say it is all down to personal taste so I'll take a 535d with a blonde bent over the bonnet
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well, in that case don't forget to post pics of your bonnet so equipped

BMW535d

In real life, the 535d has a bit more easy accessible power and thus it will be quicker when overtaking...from a rolling start etc. Hit the throttle at 1500rpm and the torque is jet like. It accelerates so easy...

In a straight line they will be very close up to 180kph, and then the 545i starts to pull away slowly. I read a side by side comparision test in a German car magazine about this.

andy545

I agree with GPSs' comments.

I comprehensively test drove both cars at the Antwerp test driving facility..
The 545i just did it more for me.
Running costs were not so much of an issue for me, since I can fuel up over the border in Belgium where it's cheaper*, and I loved the V8 sound



*BTW, just came back from Luxembourg. 400km round trip...31mpg (US). or 7.7l/100km...not bad for V8. No surprise really, right on the numbers as per operations manual.

JDN

Great mileage, Andy. I think my foot must be too heavy, but have not been on the road for a while now.

andy545

It's was just easy cruising at 120km/h ( 75 miles/h ) Jim. Don't worry, I haven't lost my heavy foot just yet. Just too much fun mate.

GPS

7.7l/100km that's a very good result, Andy!

are you sure you were not driving a Toyota Prius?

andy545

I have now 9000km, and just recently I was getting the numbers offered from the
operations book. I just wanted to validate the fuel consumption under all driving
conditions. I could go from Maastricht to Basel on a tank at 2200rpm constant.
More than happy with that on my once a year trip to Switzerland. Definately, on the highway, it's no petrol guzzler. This was not BMW's intention anyway.

Obviously a diesel can go more, and in some countries cost less...which is nice.
Just came back from Scotland. Diesel to my amazment costs slightly more than
petrol. This is why I saw so many diesels around ( that's all I saw at BMW Eastern),
it costs less to run while road tax is equal.
In Holland diesel is cheaper than petrol, but road tax is double over petrol engines. Depends how much you drive the thing.

The combination of access to cheaper fuel and a mileage of around 22000km/year (14000miles) ....the V8 was for me a one way street.