JetBlack5OC

BMW states gas mileage as 12 city/ 18 highway.

Heres a post on the M5board about M5 fuel mileage.
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=99924

Darrin_77

Hahahahahahahaha I've had my 08 550i Sport for exactly 7 days and 57 minutes now. Take it out of Sport Mode? With all that power? I have to confess that I've been only reasonably good about breaking it in. I've stayed below 5,000 rpm's for the most part, but there is no sense to buy a car like this AND be concerned about gas mileage. I've got some decent twisties on my ride to work here in Connecticut, and I find myself allowing cars in front of me to get a big gap before the fun sections come up. This produces three wonderful affects: 1) I get to feel the tourque snap me back int the incredibly comfy seats. 2) I watch the guy in my rear view mirror get realllly small realllllly fast. 3) The car just carves through turns despite enormous weight of nearly 4000 lbs.


I am sure you could pop it into D mode and get great mileage.... but I ask you simply, "WHY?????????????????????????????"

AlB

I had the same choice. I had an E39 M5 that I felt was getting a bit long in the tooth. I contemplated the the E60 M5 and the 550i. My decision process went something like this:

Commute to work - 0-45-20-0 - 5 miles each way
Anticipated gas mileage in M5 - 12-18 @ $3/gal
Experienced gas mileage in 550i is 18-23
Getting enjoyment from the M5 is priceless but it usually takes place above 5,000 RPM - Not a typical commuting/grocery getting RPM Range. If used to enjoy, mileage goes to 9-10.
Enjoyment from a 550i is extremely satisfying
Body styling goes to the M5
Interior, electronics pretty much a wash
handling goes to M5
exhaust note goes to M5
Price goes to 550i
Insurance goes to 550i
Depreciation appears close
Maintenance issues appears to go to 550i from many posts I have read on M5Board.com
Out of warranty maintenance cost should go to 550i - BMW will not even CPO M5 at this time

As an all around daily driver, my vote goes to 550i.

You really do have a win -win situation

Good luck with your decision

al

westcoast550

I took an M5 out for 1 hour and proved that it was the wrong car for me. Can you arrange for a good test drive in your usual driving environment ? Do you have an exotic rental co. that you could get one for the day ? Cheap way to get the monkey off your back or determine that you must have one .

Good Luck

tachyon

What was it about the M5 that made you decide it was the wrong car for you?

westcoast550

Too much power and not enough places to use it. I got the 550 with the MSport Package (07) and it has more than enough power for me with a very similar look . The gas consumption was a also a consideration.


Cheers

doug_999

I've driven the 08 in the exact config I want it - great car but just too much money with my trade and the lease is out of this world.

Just drove the 07 and let me tell you, the interior improvements in the 08 are dramatic. However, the lease payment is $350 per month less on the 07 (makes up the the lack of heated steering wheel IMHO).

As strange as this sounds, I miss my active steering. The M5 steering is very light at low speeds (lighter than my 550) and the turns of the wheel are noticable. Still a 0-60 run in the M5 is so sweet - as are the cooled seats (a must have IMHO).

Unfortunately the dealer only offered me $44K on my 2006 loaded 550 with 10K on the clock. So at this time, it does not look like it is going to happen.

tachyon

Ouch. I would have expected them to offer about $5k more than that. Did they at least give you a substantial discount on the 2007 M5?

doug_999

The initial lease payment does not indicate that. I think we were a long way away. I thought the sales guy was joking when he said $44K - I think he could tell by the look on my face that was not what I expected. I told him to get the lease payment down by at least $50 and the car up to $50K and we would be close. The worst part is that on the cloudy day that we had today the Interlagos Blue looked so sweet compared to my dirty Monaco Blue....

lllwlf

Dumping a one year old 550 for a new M5 is $tupid. A total waste of money. I can't believe you guys are even talking about it.

I want to do it too.