V8 550 vs M3
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From: Massachusetts, USA
My Ride: 2006 525XI, Jet black on Dakota beige. Premium and winter packages. I consider myself a purist and intend to keep my car absolutely stock and shiny.
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The M3's engine is more like a racing engine (similar to the M5's engine). It does not have much low end torque but it has a ton of power at high rpm's and significantly more maximum horsepower than the 550. For the pure enthusiast, the M engines are fantastic.
Contributors
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,718
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts, USA
My Ride: 2006 525XI, Jet black on Dakota beige. Premium and winter packages. I consider myself a purist and intend to keep my car absolutely stock and shiny.
2008 328I Convertible, Sapphire black on beige interior. Premium package, NAV, iPod adapter.
Retired: 2002 325I, Titanium silver on black leather. Premium package. Absolutely stock and proud of it.
The big difference is the power curve. The 550's V8 has a pretty flat curve with lots of low end torque and delivering plenty of power regardless of low or high rpms. It is a very practical, friendly, everyday engine. But if you want a racing engine, go M3 or M5.
The M3's engine is more like a racing engine (similar to the M5's engine). It does not have much low end torque but it has a ton of power at high rpm's and significantly more maximum horsepower than the 550. For the pure enthusiast, the M engines are fantastic.
The M3's engine is more like a racing engine (similar to the M5's engine). It does not have much low end torque but it has a ton of power at high rpm's and significantly more maximum horsepower than the 550. For the pure enthusiast, the M engines are fantastic.
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From: New York, New York
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The 550's engine is a very flexible and versatile engine -- strong both down low and up high.
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From: Originally from Koeln, Deutschland. Enjoying it in Bonita Springs, Florida Now :)
Nope. I once owned a 1990 Mustang 5:0. Tons of low end torque for no high end power -- a typical characteristic of a 2 valve per cylinder pushrod engine. The 4.8 L V8 in the 550 loves to rev and, besides tons of low end power' has plenty of high end power as well -- just not as much as the explosive NA V8 and V10 in the M3 and M5; respectively.
The 550's engine is a very flexible and versatile engine -- strong both down low and up high.
The 550's engine is a very flexible and versatile engine -- strong both down low and up high.
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From: Mississauga, Ontario
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Nope. I once owned a 1990 Mustang 5.0. Tons of low end torque but no high end power -- a typical characteristic of a 2 valve per cylinder pushrod engine. The 4.8 L V8 in the 550 loves to rev and, besides tons of low end power, has plenty of high end power as well -- just not as much as the explosive NA V8 and V10 in the M3 and M5, respectively.
The 550's engine is a very flexible and versatile engine -- strong both down low and up high.
The 550's engine is a very flexible and versatile engine -- strong both down low and up high.
Contributors
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,718
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts, USA
My Ride: 2006 525XI, Jet black on Dakota beige. Premium and winter packages. I consider myself a purist and intend to keep my car absolutely stock and shiny.
2008 328I Convertible, Sapphire black on beige interior. Premium package, NAV, iPod adapter.
Retired: 2002 325I, Titanium silver on black leather. Premium package. Absolutely stock and proud of it.
