The November issue taste-tests four V8s and the BMW 545 (non-sport with AS) takes top honors in a close-call review over the M45. :thumbsup:

The MB E500 rates 3rd and the Cadillac STS V8 gets lapped.

Money quote: "The 545i is a sublime machine with a suspension tuned to be perhaps the perfect compromise between ride and handling, an engine that speaks like Miles Davis's trumpet, and a chasis that feels more solid than the USS Ronald Reagan's keel."

Sure, they pick on I-Drive, active steering, cupholders, and the turn signal stalk mechanism. But all is forgiven after being driven hard.

I will be interesting to see if one of these car mags will test a new 550 sport against the other best-of-breed sedans. :whistle:

Wow - finally some corroboration that my non-sport AS equipped 545 is the driver's car I always knew it was!!!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :) I'll likely get sport next time but I always feel that the non sport handles great - certainly by far the finest car I have ever owned/driven.

thanks for the heads up - haven't got my copy yet.

Hey thanks! I see they haven't posted to the motortrend.com website yet. Do you have a scanner that you could use to post a copy?

I'm on the road today but will give it a go when I get home tonight. The news stand at O'Hare had it set out just this morning. Makes for good airplane reading. :)

Hmmm...how big od a difference is the sport package? I drove a 530i without spoer package and there seems to be much more bodyroll....even that could beat the m45 and e500.....guess the sport pack would be unfair for them huh.... :P

the non sport 545 beat the m45 sport and airmatic equipped e500, so yes, on this test, even 'that' did indeed beat them.

Similarly equipped, isn't the 545i (non-sport) about $5K to $7K more expensive than the M45?

yes, the M45 in this test was around 5k cheaper than the 545, the e500 around 2k more expensive. STS was priced between the m45 and 545.

yes, the M45 in this test was around 5k cheaper than the 545, the e500 around 2k more expensive. STS was priced between the m45 and 545.
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Hmm, I bet with the 5K difference, I could upgrade the suspension on the M45, add some sway bars, maybe even a front strut bar (and have about 2K left to spare) that would make the M45 the handling equivalent of the 545i (non-sport), or better. :think:

yes, the M45 in this test was around 5k cheaper than the 545, the e500 around 2k more expensive. STS was priced between the m45 and 545.
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Hmm, I bet with the 5K difference, I could upgrade the suspension on the M45, add some sway bars, maybe even a front strut bar (and have about 2K left to spare) that would make the M45 the handling equivalent of the 545i (non-sport), or better. :think:
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Motor Trend thought the M45 already handled as well as the 545 - they just thought the 545 was better. Based on their comments you'd be better off spending your 5K on the M45's dash and interior.