ChrisHostos

** Side note*** Your wheels are fcuking awesome!

sy1616

I had the same issue and bought an 08 550i. Didnt see the hype of an M5, expected way more power......coming from an E55 no wonder. To me a 550 is the perfect car, great looks, plenty fast, economical, luxury, etc.

Kaizen

I think driving both will only strengthen the case for the M5. Intoxicating sound and pull.

If you were single, I'd say go for the M5. But you have a wife and family to think about. Save that extra gas $ and use it toward a college fund IMO. (Also consider the added cost of insurance)

Now if this next car was not going to be your daily driver, I'd say go for the M5.

GL with the decision. In the end, be happy that you are fortunate to be in this position

John@Motorcepts

m5 is absolutely fine for a family car. It is not jerky. Once you know how to drive SMG, you will be okay. My BEST MPG is 20.1 on the highway cruising at around 80 mph. In the city, take it easy and you'll get 10-12 mpg. But I usually get 7-8 mpg driving around NYC.

tnycman

I love my 550, but it's nowhere near M5 when it comes to performance/power.. M5 is the king, but if you looking for something in between, 550 is more than enough.. The new F10 have the dual exhaust which looks like the ones on 7's series..

tex_phil

I'm having the same debate now, 7mpg though?? Thats killer, I'd probably get 5mpg with the way I would drive a m5.

usmabmass

i'm a big fan of my 550i - and as much as i love the e60 m5, i don't think i could really justify the drop in mpg, even here on the autobahn.

already the 550i is faster than ~95% of the germans driving here - most of the faster cars i've seen were driven by fellow americans who didn't have to pay the insane fuel prices...

aR.

M5 as there is simply No substitute...!!!

I had gone through a number of 5 series in last decade + + of my BMW ownership starting in 1995, and last one being a 07- E60:550 for which I took a European delivery - but as soon I got myself in to an M5 about 2 years back, I must tell you I will Never buy anything else. M5 is my daily driver and I have most fun ever during my daily morning 40 minute commute and gets me just in the right mood [especially I am NOT a morning person]and in the evening after a hard day of work M5 is the best relaxation. as I said.. There is no substititute. It is Totally and completely different car than any BMWs I previously owned. It "my" look like just another E:60 and that is the beauty of BMW design.. but as soon as one sinks in the drivers seat, that is where the similarity ends, and the real Fun begins... and btw, get your self a real 6 speed and forget about this SMG non-sense. You will haev time of your life and it will add years to your life having True Happiness..!!!

don't think twice. Just get yourself in to an M.
if you really enjoy driving, that would Absolutely the best decision you wll every make.!!

aman27

so finally test drove the m5 i was interested in over the weekend and brace yourself.. i was highly disappointed for a $50k car i was expecting a lot more in terms of responsiveness, luxury, and maneuverability

This car was SMG , the shifting at low speeds was horrible and very jerky .. the car also felt very heavy and seemed like it was dragging at low speeds definintely not something you would want in your daily driver, not to mention the handling was not as sharp or responsive as my 535.

Flooring the gas got a reaction for sure but it was slow and hence the lack of responsiveness i was expecting (DSC was off)

the m5 is definitely not a daily driver car that you go to get some coffee in .. that does not mean its not a beast on the highway.

now my dilema.. i feel the deal i am getting is a pretty darn good deal Certified 08 M5 (white) 44k $47k + tax

m630

are you sure it was an M5?

but seriously, perhaps you may not have had it set up properly to enjoy as best as possible. And the fact that the current owner would have you drive with dsc off almost makes no sense unless they were hoping for you to crash? The car, when set up properly, should deliver smooth shifting if that is what you are after, very responsive pedal feel, and excellent handling for a car its size. Nothing against the 535i, but if you felt it was better in any meaningful way than the M5, then there was probably something wrong with the car you are testing. These cars are absolutely the best daily drivers once you have more than a test drive to figure out the proper setup. good luck