I did some serious cross shopping with these two cars. Before shopping for these 2 cars I was in an e63 and had a 997 c2s vert as my second car. I got rid of the 997 because it was heading out of warranty and I needed something bigger to handle the bad weather days, the dog hauling, grocery shopping ect....so I got into a new Cayenne Gts.

The e63 had tons of air suspension issues and I ended up selling it after only one year of ownership. So I looked at everything and narrowed it down to the m5 leftover of 2010 or a new 550i. I came in wanting and favoring the m5, hoping to walk out the dealership with one since I found the color combo and options I wanted but made a terrible mistake of driving the 550 before my test drive of the m5 I came to purchase. The interior of the m5 is just not up to the levels of the newer cars, not just to the 550. In terms of speed, the 550 actually feels faster in day to day driving because of the loads of torque and gearing without breaking a sweat. The m5 doesn't wakeup until it hits 4k and with no low end torque on top, it just feels like a normal car. On top of that, I commute with my cars in turn 110 miles daily and when the car is barely humming at 80 (1900 rpms) , getting 20 mpg on my calculations , I feel the 550 is superior.

 

Trust my the M5 is superior, Its just a matter of what you want. You want a cruiser, get the 550 or whatev thats auto, if you want a sports sedan then its the M5 or the F10 M5 coming out. They dont make M's to save gas thats for sure.

 

I had a 2010 M5 and I also owned (recently sold) a 2008 997TT. I currently own a 550i xDrive and plan on upgrading the ECU. I can tell you hands down as an owner (not a tester) of both that the 550 is superior. I am waiting on the ECU upgrade a bit as it is always good to get used to the speed and then it feels like you are getting a new car when you do the upgrade. The interior in the 550i is far superior and more "tech-oriented" and more roomy, the transmission on the M5 SMG was horribly jerky, and you can get xDrive on the 550i as I did for smoother acceleration. The M5 didn't feel that fast (maybe because I owned the 997TT), but I bought a Boxster Spyder (which, BTW I prefer to the 997tt on fun factor) and that felt much faster than the M5. I expect to get about 4 seconds to 60 when I upgrade the ECU on the 550i. Fast enough for a family hauler....And of course it just looks nicer, but thats subjective.

 

Thanks for all the replys.....2011 550I Msport will be here next week!

 

I'm guessing that folks who dislike an SMG tranny are folks who don't know how to drive with it (I love it - '08 M5, SMG)

especially idiotic is this post : "I have no experience with either, but I did drive home next to an m5 the other day. The car was so jerky .."

 

I agree with MI55LE...

I had a 2008 M5 for almost two years. After about 1 month with the car, I got to really understand the transmission. Had no problems with "jerkiness" after that. Perhaps people just trying to "race" the transmission and car all the time.

Anyway, loved that car. Still regret parting ways with it.

J

 

i vote 550

 

Hi, I currently own both cars, 2008 M5 and 2011 F10 550 xi Msport, if I had to make a choice for myself it'd be the M5 without hesitation, but if you have to consider your wife driving the car then it should the 550 for sure.

 

wow ive always had a soft spot for the e60 m5, glad i came across this thread

 

I DD an E60 M5 for abut 3 months. I never drove it in automatic mode because it was less jerky shifting gears yourself and you could always set SMG harshness ot lowest level but I didnt mind driving it hard everywhere. Its a nice car but if you arent going to be driving it and its for the wife. Get the 550i M package and you will like it the times you drive it and she will love it.

 

550 with chip = M5 bye bye. Although I'm betting the 8400 rpm V10 becomes a cult car!!! mayeb not now... hly hit that's a Gallardo engine! At least BMW's version

 

Your 550I with Dinan software will wax the M5, twin turbo v8 over an NA V10 anyday. We have exhausts for this thing as well to add a few more ponies

 

I have a soft spot for the new 5's, they drive so incredibly nice while still holding that BMW feel.