Originally Posted by BabkenBMW

They are absolutely different cars targeted towards different kind of customers. The M3 is a track bomb while the 550i is a midsize luxury sedan aimed towards comfortable cruising. So it depends on what you like: performance or comfort.

Originally Posted by GENEaTALS

it's not like you are sacrificing all comfort with an M3 versus an F10, especially if the M3 has EDC....nor sacrificing performance is you chose an f10 over an m3

again, test drive both to see which you feel best fits your wants and needs...kind of like an e60 vs an f10...

Originally Posted by Diamond

So I own an e60 and hate the f10 even more than when it was introduced, just not my cup of tea but nonetheless the engines in them are pretty magnificent. Decided to pull the trigger on a new m3 and keep my e60 around. Just curious how the new 550 400hp car compares with the 414hp m3?

I understand the gobs of low end torque in the 550i and such but I am looking for people who have driven both and have actually driven the m3 up in the high rpms-how does the acceleration and speed compared? I know handling obviously the m3 wins and the 550 is heavier but anyway just curious how they stack up as I know the 550 is quite fast from what it looks like!

Originally Posted by johnbmwx6

I have just sold my E90 2010 M3 from new I put 10K miles on it with the MDCT box, Arriving next week the F10 550i M Sport 2011, the torque on the M3 is poor and on UK roads the cars needs revs to get going, this becomes tiring after a while.
The 550i has monster torque and should provide a better all round driving experience IMO.
I will report back, mine is the first 550i ordered in the UK according to BMW UK. they have two 550i M Sport around however I could not get a test drive at all.
I had to drive the 535D Sport, which was good, so the 550i should be great, and with a remap will match the M3 in general driving.

Originally Posted by johnbmwx6

I have just sold my E90 2010 M3 from new I put 10K miles on it with the MDCT box, Arriving next week the F10 550i M Sport 2011, the torque on the M3 is poor and on UK roads the cars needs revs to get going, this becomes tiring after a while.
The 550i has monster torque and should provide a better all round driving experience IMO.
I will report back, mine is the first 550i ordered in the UK according to BMW UK. they have two 550i M Sport around however I could not get a test drive at all.
I had to drive the 535D Sport, which was good, so the 550i should be great, and with a remap will match the M3 in general driving.

Originally Posted by GENEaTALS

curious to know what settings you were driving in on your M3?

Originally Posted by dayvboyc

Very envious!

The main thing to take into account with any car in the UK is.............how well does it sit in traffic on the M25?

Originally Posted by johnbmwx6

Settings!!, tyre pressures 35PSI all round, auto mode 2 for the wife's comfort, auto 1 is for snow.
Manual mode setting 5 with sport suspension, sport+ way too hard.
Only used sainsburys 97 Ron fuel, before remap, 405 BHP 315Ft/llbs, after remap 434BHP 340Ft/ilbs.
Engine still tight after 10K not even run in.
M button setting 5 auto/5 manual sport suspension, nothing else.
Car felt miles better with the remap and fuelling was much better, these M3's run very rich from the factory.
I hope to get the 550i this Saturday.

Originally Posted by Diamond

I was just curiuos if 414hp compares to its 400hp given the m3 is 700 pounds lighter and has more power. Sometimes numbers are hard to interpret as its AUC that makes all the difference. I dont know if there is a flatter torque curve than the current m3 engine but the TT V8 surely is pretty flat too