Scudeyyy

now this should hopefully be as unbiased as possible to stop people from complaining and moaning and fighting...
e60
+ great driving dynamics
+ incredibly advanced at time of release
+ controversial but striking looks that are still not outdated

- rfts were unbearable :/
- some hated the bold looks
- iDrive was a bit tricky
- disappointing crash test results

the f10
+ awesome compromise of handling and comfort
+ much more comfortable and luxurious than the e60
+ efficient dynamics incorporation have improved c02 and mpg figures
+ many first gen technologies (eg iDrive) improved
+ more conservative looks may appeal to a larger audience

- safe styling could become outdated?
- heavier and less sprightly than before
- electric steering lacks a little feedback
- oh yh and the basic car without ddc, adaptive drive, etc might have lost its sporting edge, expensive options improve the driving experience

overall bmw have improved an already awesome design, theres no need in comparing them because the f10 is 7 years newer!
companies like bmw dont cock up and imo they have most certainly not.

the f10 simply takes all the negatives with the e60 (its ride and controversial technologies and looks) and simply given the public a car that is easy on the eye, more comfortable and still has that bmw dna. In doing so i feel that they could have lost some die hard fans of the old e60 ways...

the jag xf... is heavier and a more comfortable cruiser but not as engaging to drive
the mb e class... is the same as above
the audi a6... has an unbearable ride and a weird driving position and is a bit old now
the infiniti whateveryoucallit... is a nissan
the lexus gs... is a toyota and is ugly as hell

the 5er is meant to capture the sprightly essence of the 3 series and the comfort and luxury of the 7. the f10 does that well enough, why complain??? i mean no one complained when the e60 came out ... oh wait...

Shahid

for enthusiastic drivers the e60 is probably better but the f10 is still much better than the competition

Petes550i

Well said. Good summary.

corey

The only difference I found in the iDrive was a larger screen on the f10, otherwise the same system. My previous 07 e60 had a horrible iDrive compared to the 2010.

swajames

The F10 550 is actually considerably heavier than the comparable XF, Mercedes E550 and Audi A6.

bm323

The F10 550i may be heavier but the issue is what's the ratio of power to weight, with distribution of power and overall performance, drive and handling.

In CAR magazine, the F10 came out top in comparison to the XF, Merc and Audi.

swajames

True, but which car comes out on top in any given test or which car is "better" will always be a subjective determination. Which car is heaviest or lightest is, of course, a matter of fact. The weight gain is important and is frequently raised here on the forum as the E60 went to great lengths to control weight, the F10 much less so. As Colin Chapman used to say, the key to making a car faster and handle better is to "add lightness". Gordon Murray's philosophy is absolutely identical. I can't put it any simpler than to say that if one were able to take the excess 400lbs out of the F10, it would probably address the vast majority of the criticism and concerns that we've seen here on the forum.

bm323

True, but the gain of weight can be more than compensated by the superior engine, drivetrain, chassis etc Plus the weight gain is likely contributed by required and designed safety features, which if one is involved in an accident with the family in the F10, he wouldn't be complaining about the 400 lbs weight gain. As I've said, if handling is overriding, the Lotus is amongst the top. But looking at a Lotus, I would dread to be in an accident when in it.

swajames

Again, though, there is a counterpoint. The other car that recently won five stars along with the 2011 F10 in the revised NCAP tests was the Hyundai Sonata. It weighs over 1000lbs less than the 550. The point is that safety and the ability to survive a crash is a function of far more than just weight, it is essentially a by-product of good design. BMW scored very well with the F10, but as the Sonata shows it is possible to score equally well with a much lighter car.

bm323

True, but the BMW 5 series is a heavy car. The E60 is 400 lbs lighter only and is comparatively miserable compared to the F10 in safety.