LowOrbit

Many good points for the 550i.

I guess it would come down to the test drive and whether the 550i is worth roughly $3000 more. However, at $60K+, the price spread is almost academic.

andri0tis

a good friend of mine has a 550. its a kick ass machine. so im going to be biased and say the 550

heezy545i

Speaking of the 335i, I ran one the other day while driving a 350Z. It was from a stoplight and we were even all they way through the middle of 3rd gear. Okay, he got a bumper edge at the start, but after that it was even. Anyways, anything can happen on the street, but yeah, the 335 is most likely a faster car.

Bedford530i

535i -- for all of the reasons mentioned earlier.

550isport

Depends on what the price of the 535 would be and what the performance of the turbo 6 will be in the 5 series. I believe the 335i manual trans. ran 0-60 in 4.8 and then on to a 13.6 quarter mile. The 550i manual already runs a 13.5 quarter mile, so it seems highly unlikely that there won't be a performance margin between a 535i and a 550i. I'll go out on a limb and say 5.8-6.2 seconds to 60 and 14+ seconds in the quarter mile - roughly as fast as an E39 540i 6 speed. Who knows what the gas mileage of the turbo engine will be in the 535i. The 5 is a lot heavier than the 3 so the 335i is not a good benchmark to use. Lastly, there is the exhaust note. While the stock 550 is very muffled, there is a distinct difference from an 8 to a 6. Just ask anyone who has driven the V6 turbo S4 audi vs. the V8 S4. I've had my X5 3.0 for two years and as great as the car is, the engine sound and power delivery just doesn't match the rest of the car. It wants a V8. Whether that is true of a 5 likely depends on your transmission choice and driving style. Last twist, I would presume that the likelihood of BMW producing a 535xi is much higher than a 550xi....Good luck whatever you choose (as long as its a BMW)

DRP

ilkhan4

For the 330i:
Unladen - Automatic transmission 3450 lbs

For the 530i:
Unladen - Automatic transmission 3494 lbs

I wouldn't call 44 lbs "a lot" of weight. The 335i sedan weighs ~155 lbs more, so I think you can expect the same for the 535i.

m630

absolutely! the V8 is a much better engine, and the efficiency is acceptable for the performance i think that some people are speakin from their wallet and not the heart

BMWSTL

Excellent analysis and some great points. Thanks to everyone else as well for their comments.

I'm leaning toward the 550i for a couple of reason.

First, more torque = better 0-60 speeds and more "push you back into your seat" acceleration. That's one of the things I love about my '01 540i, and loved about my '94 540i as well. My '91 M5, which had a superb 24 valve 6, had excellent pull after 4000 rpm all the way to redline, but the low end was not quite as good. The new twin turbo has a broad torque range, but will be less than the 8 cylinder.

Second, there is a possibility that the 550i will receive an engine enhancement, broadening the performance difference between the 535i. If that's the case, it makes the decision less of an issue.

Third, as some have pointed out, go for the top engine in the line (other than an M5, which is a whole other beast and price point). I've always done that with my cars, and absent a huge difference in fuel economy and a thin difference in performance, I should continue to do so.

Fourth, although the 535i may be more agile, the 550i is no slouch and for my style of driving (get there fast and challenge the car when taking on and off ramps and street curves; no track) it will fit the bill.

Lou

m630

this is what its all about....