hamann69

For those who have came out of a W211 E55 and gotten into a E60 M5 or vice versa please give me your input on how you liked the switch and why...

W211 BEAST

I haven't made the switch, I only had the E55, but I can tell you why I chose the E55 and maybe that'll help with your decision. I spend most of my time in the city, I think the E55 is better for the city and the M5 is better for the freeway/twisties. The M5 transmission is a complete PITA in the city, just banging back and forth, but it's a blast on the freeway.

All of that and the fact that I HATE iDrive are the reasons I got the E55. Lol. Good luck, either way you'll be happy.

sy1616

M5 is nice but you'll miss the torque. I test drove an 08 M5 recently and found it a bit slowe(er). I had to rev high to get it to go well. Steering is better in the M5. I like the fact that the M5 doesn't have the airmatic stuff. Interior is a toss up, but E55 seats arefar better. Leather dash and black alcantara headloiner in M5 is sweet. M5 gas mileage is really bad if you didn't know that already. Looks is subjective, both have their strong points. I think the BMW might be more reliable...but I base that on my exp with my 545i. Both are great, I will likely go back to BMW (M5 too) in the next 1.5 yrs.

220S

It depends on your driving style and where you drive. For an autobahn cruiser and driving in traffic, the AMG is the better choice, imho. It's more comfortable and takes the crappy roads a lot better. It's the airmatic suspension that gives it the comfort on city streets. Overall, the AMG is the more luxury-easy type ride of the two (the E63 even more so over the E55.)

If you live where they are good roads and not straight and flat, then the M5 is a bit more fun (but it's still not a M3 or 997 type of a ride.) But you really need to keep the rpms up to get the most out of the power band. It's not really the most pleasant thing to drive in rush hour traffic. The SMG tranny is not fun (or maybe you're looking for a MT.)

If I lived in the country with no traffic, I'd go with the BMW.

Hammer Down

Why the M5?

930chas

I went from an e60 m5 to the e55. The M5 is a sweet ride, as mentioned though, definitely lacking in torque. SMG is actually very nice. Those that disapprove have probably never spent time with it. That is one of the features I miss most. I had Evosport headers and full race exhaust, and the sound of the throttle blip downshifts was unreal. The full leather interior is a thing of beauty, especially with the black alacantra headliner. I hated Idrive and do not miss that at all. Fuel economy was atrocious. Never got more then 10mpg, no matter how I drove it. All in all it was a blast to drive, a very comfortable and quick car, but just not fast where I wanted it to be, in a straight line.

revolutionml55

If you like to take it to the track get a m5 if you like to cruise with power e555=)

CharlyE500

E55 is also great in the track, people keep saying M5 is faster after 100-120MPH but i dont believe that at all.

revolutionml55

I find the handling of the M5 would be better on the track but then again i haven't try my e on the track yet...

BenzoBoi

For what the car is...it isn't all that bad...

With a few suspension upgrades, I think it'll be a fun car to play with on the track.

220S

fwiw, I drive my E63 pretty aggressively on the back canyon roads around here. I've been able to keep with lighter sports sedans pretty well. Of course the massive brakes and great torque help in and out of the corners, but I think that these cars handle a lot better than they feel. Especially considering their size and weight. I've kept the stock 18" and the car has decent turn-in, etc.. It's just that it doesn't give you that secure feeling that other cars do. But once you get over that and really push it, it does okay, imho.

guysandiego

i love bimmers -- always liked them more than benz but I think the m5's interior is laughable for such an expensive car --- along with other points mentioned -- E55 is much easier/cheaper to MOD and we have sick looking brakes -- compared to the M's crappy looking brakes -- another example how BMW missed the mark with the expensive car.

daniel3ooo

I made the move from a 2004 E55 to a 2006 M5 and I've been very very happy with the M5. Anyone who has owned or driven both for an extended period of time will tell you that you will miss the torque of the E55.

Here's what I like about the M5. Personally, I feel the M5 is more sporty than the E55. It handles quite a bit better than the E55 and combined with the SMG, it makes for a very fun car to drive. The V10 is fantastic and sounds absolutely amazing. Drop an exhaust on the car and you'll have an amazing sounding beast. As far as the iDrive goes, I really like it but some people hate it. The navigation isn't the greatest but neither is the E55's.

What I don't like about the M5 is driving in traffic with the SMG! It is quite jerky at times and takes a lot of getting use to but is tolerable when you do get accustomed to it. Other than that I really don't have much gripes about the M5. Definitely get a warranty on the car. BMW actually now offers a powertrain warranty on BMW's that are out of warranty! Yes, you read that right its a warranty that BMW offers to out of warranty cars! Thats a huge plus in my book although I went with an EasyCare warranty (the equivalent of Chrysler warranty in terms of reliability)

The E55 is fast as hell in a straight line so if you think you're going to really miss the torque than the M5 might not be the car for you. The M5 is tame on the streets but once you hit the freeway the M5 just keeps going and going. Take the M5 to the twisties and you will be pleasantly surprised by how well the car handles.

If you get the chance try to go a on a few test drives with the car on routes that you typically take, say to and from work and see how you like it.

220S

If you can swing it, maybe think of getting yourself into a F10 M5. The SMG will be gone and the E55 torque will be there.

"30% increase in torque over current M5 (will be around 500lb-ft @ 1500rpm) Transmission will be a tuned version of M3's 7-speed DCT."

Ohbev

This will help u make up your mind.

E55 vs m5 on the track then a straight line race at the end.

Some nice drift from the E55


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yIlUP6avsQ

Blacksport350

I just bought an M6 to replace my E55 and will offer the following comments on both the M5 and M6:

The E60 M5 is probably the finest all around sports sedan ever created in terms of handling, braking, balance of power, and engineering. It does not have explosive torque like the E55 and you really have to work to make this car go fast and when you do, you are rewarded by the song of the S85 V10. It is a true drivers car that will dominate the back roads, light a road course on fire if well driven, and do a great job of providing luxury transportation for 4 adults. It will achieve ridiculous straight line speeds and feel confident and planted sustaining them. That being said, I do not care for the styling of the M5 at all on the inside or the outside and have never owned one for that very reason.

The E55 is a very different car. It is one that you can drive as a true luxury car and then unleash the wrath of Thor's hammer on the rest of the motoring world with no warning and pull away from most anything. It takes no skill to drive this cars fast and does a great job of isolating the driver from less than ideal roads. It can go through the bends fast but is not really a machine designed for cornering. This is a machine designed for blistering straight line speed yet oddly enough does not provide the utmost in stability once you get there.

So if I wanted a highway cruiser or around town car that offers total road domination, the E55 wins by a mile.

If I wanted an engaging driver's car that forced me to work hard to go fast pay attention to what I was doing and how I was driving, the M5 is the way to go and will reward you for your efforts.

On to the M6 Coupe...this is a totally different experience. This car is 100% super coupe blending amazing finish quality and extreme luxury (you most get the Full Marino Leather option) with even more performance and better balance than the M5. It can be driven as a sedate GT car or as a vicious shark ready to shred the most challenging of roads. It is also a very special car as a package with an aggressive yet subtle exterior that is wrapped around some serious drivetrain and suspension technology. When I drive an M6, it always feel like a special experience. Much more like driving a true exotic but without the hassle and associated reliability issues. It is just a special package and while not the fastest down the 1/4, it simply doesn't matter.

If one was lucky enough, they could easily justify owning all 3 of these cars at the same time (although they may need a blindfold while walking past their M5...j/k) as they are all that different. They are all among the best in the world and I would be happy with any of them on a daily basis.

Good luck with your decision!

revolutionml55

In Montreal, we really don't have nice roads but there is alot of traffic thats why i decided to get the e55,if i wanted a real sport car feeling and track ready monster i would get another porsche...wait a minute i am getting another pcar LOL

tbal

I myself have m6, very similar to an m5... sweet car, handling is superb. I dont mind the smg, or jerky transmission, but since it has barely any low end torque, i find myself shifting in the higher rpm's, and in return, the car guzzles gas likes its nothing...

Thinking myself to switch over to an amg!