kip

1st one i've seen!

ftp://bmw:m5@67.19.159.71/M5E60/m5e6...ntv-german.mpg

AMG BLISS

Cool video. Now if we can just get someone to translate it.

xMBZ

From the test driver's expression it look like he's saying the M5 is the better car. That's probably a given. Love the nice breasts shot at the end

BenzoBoi

Takin forever to download but I hope it's worth it....I look foward to the video...Thanks!~!

Erik

You are right....

Summery of what he is saying.

The face of the driver really reflect what he is saying.
He is really enjoying it, while when driving the E55 not much smile on his face.

The E55 is not at home at the tracks compared to the M5.
The major downers on the E55 is the steering and the ESP that no matter what you shut of still stay in the background and kicks in if thing go to far....
But he give a lot of praise to the E55 as well. Lots of power and comfort.

His final word in the video is, The M5 is the tool for real men.

This was a test aimed at the sportive side of both cars, they spent 6 hours on that track.....

Sound fun dont it ?

Jakpro1

I just can't believe magazines are even comparing the brand new M5 to a model developed nearly 5 years ago. That's like comparing today's laptop to the laptop 5 years ago.

I say compare them next year with the new 6.3 and the CLS handling improvments. Lighter car...510 hp...and CLS handling on the E should at least put a smurk on the guys face.....at least we'll be a little closer to the M on the track.

Grrrrrrrrrr

BoBcanada

I dont think they even should compare MB to BMW lol

We love our soft comfy couches!!!!!!!!!!

Vic55

Here we go again... comparisons to a car like Jakpro said has been out for almost 5 years versus something yet to surface on the streets.

Erik

Do not forgett that this test was done in Europe where the M5 has been out for several months.
Even in my country the local shop have had 4-5 of the even more rare M6 standing in the shop.

But this is actually the first time I have seen the E55 compared to the M5, normaly MB send the CLS.

Except from that I cant se the problem to compare the E55 to the M5. Both are the top of the line, next time the M5 will have to fight the new E class..... then the E class would have to fight the new M5 and so it goes.....

cte430

Well, I guess there is nothing else to compare it to. They did the same thing when the W211 came out with the old M5.

But anyway, these discussions are not even worth having. Having just done a two day AMG challenge at Lime Rock (was at Homestead last year and had these same thoughts then) you/we are so far away from driving these cars near their limits it's not even funny. Even if you had access to a track, i'm pretty confident in saying that most of us suck as drivers compared to the pros. I say this after taking hot laps with Tommy Kendall, Jeff Andretti, and Randy Tolsma. So, that the M5 does the "ring" in X number of seconds faster than another car means exactly what relative to real world driving? I don't have many "twisties" where I live and most of the time i'm lucky if i'm not sitting in traffic. Buy the M5 (or any other car) because you like the way it looks, you're partial to the brand (that's OK), you like the interior, and yeah it's a great performer. But if you're buying becasue of what it can do on the track, thinking you will ever drive the car any way near that you're delusional. Just like anyone who bought an E55 simply for it's straight line prowess.

Erik

To that I agree 100%.



[QUOTE=cte430............does the "ring" in X number of seconds faster than another car means exactly what relative to real world driving? [/QUOTE]

Probably not much at all. I have said it several times before, at this level of speed and power, the driver factor is the most important one.


But having said that, one does not have to push any car to the extreme to get a feel for the difference and appriciate it.

medici78

Did you bother to think that the feel of the steering, gearchanges, etc. come into factor? A car that laps around the track faster will obviously be the better handler and will almost always have more driver feedback. Some people prefer the feedback. I chose the E55 for its looks, comfort and mainly, its power. This is in spite of the fact it does not give much feedback. But I didnt expect the car to feel like a canyon carving sports car. To me, its an uber-comfortable musclecar. I don't expect musclecars to handle/feel like sports cars. In my purchase, the straightline performance was THE deciding factor. If I wanted a sports car feel, I'd have purchased an M5, but the new model wasnt/isnt out yet. I figure I'll just get the M5 when my allocation comes up and have the best of both worlds: One's a sports car and the other is a musclecar. Both wrapped in the body of a luxury family car.

To say someone is delusional for choosing the E55 for its straightline performance is ridiculous.

By that logic, we are delusional for having chosen the E55 over the E320 or an M5 over the 530i.

cte430

Perhaps I was too literal in my first post. For that I apologize. I know all about steering feel/feedback (and if you know me, you know I've hammered MB about this). My point was that being on the track this week was such a smack in the face for a few reasons. One, I pretty much suck LOL, two, the "pig" E55 is better than given credit for and finally we utilize so little of the car it's not even funny.

I agree that a car that is faster on the track will (should) be better on the street. Again, for those that haven't been on a track lately or never have been it is another world. I agree that the feedback can add to the enjoyment but that doesn't necessarily mean you will come close to using anywhere near it's handling capabilities or come close (never mind not having the skill) to driving it like you see in all these reviews.

And don't get me wrong. I love the straight line power of the E55 and definitely was a consideration when I bought the car. I happen to think the M5 is ugly so wouldn't buy it regardless of how good it's performance. But that's just me

enzom

Can't get the link to work.

medici78

Good to see we're on the same page after all, except for that I actually like the looks of the M5 and will probably buy it, lol. But I would not give up the E55 for an M5 either.

I do believe the E55 does handle better than people give it credit for, but it is just not engineered to have the responsiveness of the M5.

xMBZ

Definitely going to get bashed for this comment, please be lenient!

I like the looks of the M5 as well and I am going to buy one, but I'll give up an E55 for it anyday. I'm not saying the E55 is a terrible car and its a wastes. The M5 is more of a drivers car. The M5 is superior over the AMG E, every magazine and comparison test has given praises for the M5 old and new over the AMG Es. The mags had to compare it to the CLS55, which is a different class to even come close to it in handling and responsiveness. The drive is just great aside from the numbers. Even though the M5 has an SMG tranny its still a step up than the AMG's auto speed. If you love to drive, I say M5 but different strokes for different folks.

The E55 is still great car I love how the engine purrrs when you start up the engine its blissful, the AMG63 is going to be better. Since the CLS55 came in a close second I placed a deposit for 07' CLS63 and I'm going to order an 08' M5 so I can have the best of both worlds.

cte430

The interesting thing is that the mags are saying the CLS handles better than the E55 but most people (including me) who drove both cars at the AMG challenge did not think the CLS handled better than the E. Most importantly Tommy Kendall, Jeff Andretti, and Randy Tolsma did not think so either.

Dr Chill

The M5 is still a family sedan, not a sports car. No matter how much better it handles than an E55, it still sucks when compared to Porsches, Vettes, Lotus Elises when it comes to handling. The E55 and M5 are fun cars for the highways (straight lines) and mountain roads, but not the race track.

mez456

Lap times by the Stig on Top Gear:
Notice the cars that it beat around the track. Not bad for not being a sports car. .4 seconds behind the Gallardo.

Mez

MikeHK

How about Viper? It clearly beat the Viper in the Top Gear Track.

xMBZ

Not to mention:

Ferrari 575 GTC
Chevy Corvette
Porsche 911 Carrera and Turbo.

Its just funny how they have a family sedan that has near supercar performance. Just picture a family in an M5 outperforming a sports coupe on the road while going for ice cream.

Erik

Do not forgett that several of the times on this list is achieved on a wet surface. Just notice the M3 CSL times.

But yes the M5 is very capable also on a track.

Mardeth

I thought you might be intrested in this:

M5 vs E55 (chipped?)

W210

From everything I have heard and read, the E55 is much more suitable car for my daily use.

1. I never plan to take it to the track. Its time at any track is completely irrelevant. In fact, I find that the better a car on the track, the less suitable it is for me (harsh rides, fragile clutches and wheels, nervous steering, etc.)

2. My performance means zipping around in town, overtaking at intersections, merging on highway, etc., aggressive and harsh acceleration, yet usually cruising within 30% of speed limit.

3. Most of the roads I travel are straight with heavy to moderate traffic. Lots of bad drivers so the car has to be very predictable with instant power.

4. Honestly, from point A to point B, I feel far more confident driving the proven AMG high torque effortless engine and bullet proof transmission, over the complicated high-tech BMW Motorsports drive train, first year of production made for the track engine and SMG.

5. I need good ergonomics as I do a fair bit of work and music playing in the car, the 5 series fails miserably in this respect.

6. Some of you pick the M5 as your dream car planning to buy it what 2007 or 2008? Heck I am talking about a working man's wheels now. E55 was the choice two years ago, and right now, I have decided to keep the E55.

7. Instead of the M5, I'm picking up a nice and comfortable 750Li with the best interior in the business, yes, through the BMW Individual Program.

8. I have better things to do than suffering in a cramped ugly car trying to learn all the numerous buttons to lose my licence more quickly. The good old E55 is more than fast enough and handles well enough for my use.

9. I agree with whoever saying that these cars have way more potential and reserve in them that we'll ever realize. Unless ones hobby is to go out and terrorize other drivers seeking road kill, dreaming to have a worthy component lined up at intersections, all these number of car lengths to 200 mph is absolutely pointless in my books.

Come to think of it, even if I fancy such past time, I may still prefer to be in an E55or CLS55 than an M5 with the fussy launch control.

mez456

You are correct Erik. I am not sure which ones were done on a wet surface but the M5 has a pretty damn good time.

To say it is not a sports car is true. To say that it can not be copared to a sports car is not.

I also just watched the CLS55 top gear review. Stig took the CLS55 around the track in 1:26.9

Mez