Well today I test drove the 530i and the 550i back to back, and to be honest, I didnt feel that much of a difference.. I was expecting a huge difference, but it was kind of subtle.. I admit, I didnt floor either car, just normal driving.. were my expectations too high? Or did I not push them hard enough?

 

The 530i is no slouch with its 258bhp engine. 0-62mph claimed to be in 6.5 seconds for the manual and 6.7 seconds for the auto. However the 550i is massively more powerful, some of which is nullified by its extra weight (nearly 170kg's more) but I would expect there to be a substantial difference in performance when you start pushing it.

 

Believe me there is a difference. I recently drove an SL 65 AMG with over 600 HP, and I couldn't really tell too much difference until I pushed down the pedal! What I like most about the 550 is the torque. And it just jumps from 60-80. And the sound of that V8. Hell of an engine.

The advantage to the 530 would be a better wt distribution, and therefore less wt. over the front wheels.

 

Even if you didn't floor it, I'd expect the cars to feel very different due to the extra weight of the V8.

 

I agree that it might not feel that different on an initial test drive, especially if you don't floor it and you're just driving it around the city or something. When I'm driving around my apt in Manhattan, the V8 is of no use to me.

Its only when you're at high speed that the difference becomes clear.

Say you're trying to pass a truck at 60mph and you floor it, the V8 will get you up to over 100mph the next moment you look at the speedo.

 

Ya when you push it in gear... in gear acceleration is where is shines... During our drives we had some 530s and 545s and the 530 owners said on the straights is when that V8 shines they can see the 545 just pull away.

 

The 530i is no slouch with its 258bhp engine. 0-62mph claimed to be in 6.5 seconds for the manual and 6.7 seconds for the auto. However the 550i is massively more powerful, some of which is nullified by its extra weight (nearly 170kg's more) but I would expect there to be a substantial difference in performance when you start pushing it.
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gross weights of the 550i include comfort seats, automatic seats, leather , heating, comfort package... and so much more that the 530i does not include as standard..

Once you add those features to your 530i the weight goes up.

Still a great car though !

 

gross weights of the 550i include comfort seats, automatic seats, leather , heating, comfort package... and so much more that the 530i does not include as standard..

Once you add those features to your 530i the weight goes up.

Still a great car though !
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I doubt the extra's will add up to 170kg more. My figures were comparing the 550i and 530i M Sport models. Both come standard with electric sport seats anyway. There will still be a big difference in weight.

 

gross weights of the 550i include comfort seats, automatic seats, leather , heating, comfort package... and so much more that the 530i does not include as standard..

Once you add those features to your 530i the weight goes up.

Still a great car though !
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I doubt the extra's will add up to 170kg more. My figures were comparing the 550i and 530i M Sport models. Both come standard with electric sport seats anyway. There will still be a big difference in weight.
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surely not 170kg but al least 100kg. In eastern europe electric seats are an extra for the 530i irregardless of the package. Also the 550i includes light package, boxes in the trunk, extra filters for the AC and quite a lot of other things...

 

the weight is mostly the engine and the extra reinforcements for it. driving the car slo and normal will feel as the the 530 and by my own experience a bit better MPG compared to my former 530... when you notice the big differences are in the throttle, press the gas a bit more and the torque of the 550 will pull you in your seats... also another differences while driving are the taking corners, the 530 felt a bit more balanced comapred to the 550 which feels a bit heavy on the nose but a simple steering/throtle correction and that dissapears...