[Balln2k12]

Both the M5 and 550 are amazing cars. In stop and go city driving, an M5 is just painful. Plus your paying all that money just to have guys like me drool all over it. I'm looking at a CPO 550 GT. Not a very popular car, so you can save around $25k-$30k on a 2011.

Like others have posted, you can get an 550 with the M package then get all the Dinan upgrades to be faster and cheaper than a M5. But my dream car is still the M5. Good luck on making the challenging decision.

[Amleto63]

I would like having your dilemma...!

[Russkey]

Originally Posted by YUN

I like your style, very subtle changes and to the point and not overdone.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by YUN

Odnim slovom "Krasavica"

[Keyser Soze]

If you already know you like the M3 and don't particularly like the size of the F10 550, why not look for a 2011-2012 M3 SEDAN? It's a bit bigger than the coupe but not too much bigger....

[YUN]

Originally Posted by Keyser Soze

If you already know you like the M3 and don't particularly like the size of the F10 550, why not look for a 2011-2012 M3 SEDAN? It's a bit bigger than the coupe but not too much bigger....

Problem is I've promissed my wife that we do ED this summer and M3 are no longer produced in 4 door plus I'm done with E90-92 platform been driving those cars since they came out. I'd go for new M3 but its not due till next year, I need a car this summer or fall.

[Seattle135is]

Originally Posted by YUN

Problem is I've promissed my wife that we do ED this summer and M3 are no longer produced in 4 door plus I'm done with E90-92 platform been driving those cars since they came out. I'd go for new M3 but its not due till next year, I need a car this summer or fall.

I have a 2011 550 - it's a nice car - certainly not a great car - I still have more fun in my E90 M3 - I'm still on the fence about getting a discounted 2013 M5 or wait for the LCI.
Simplest formula for me - if you can afford it, do it!

[KoenG]

Originally Posted by Seattle335

I have a 2011 550 - it's a nice car - certainly not a great car - I still have more fun in my E90 M3 - I'm still on the fence about getting a discounted 2013 M5 or wait for the LCI.
Simplest formula for me - if you can afford it, do it!

LCI 550i will have a serious upgrade in engine performance. Providing extra punch while increasing efficiency. When you combine it with adaptive drive, how can this not be a juicy peach?

[supershaft]

I went from a E90 M3 to a 550i and while the performance delta between a 550 and M5 might be hard to justify for most there's a reason why the M cars are used as a benchmark. If you can afford not to compromise then get the M5, if you have other projects or need to free up cash just get a 550i and do some light modding. Please don't believe what others are saying about getting the 550i and modding it balls to the wall because you will not only spend more but also still not be close to the overall package that is the M5.

[bubbahead]

Originally Posted by Russkey

...and If I'm not mistaken, resale for mod cars = $0 return. Doesn't matter if you put $2k or $10k.
Probably even less buyers market as the notion that modded cars are raced. Well that's how I would think!
But then again, you don't buy for the next person...

[IaHawk]

Originally Posted by supershaft

I went from a E90 M3 to a 550i and while the performance delta between a 550 and M5 might be hard to justify for most there's a reason why the M cars are used as a benchmark. If you can afford not to compromise then get the M5, if you have other projects or need to free up cash just get a 550i and do some light modding. Please don't believe what others are saying about getting the 550i and modding it balls to the wall because you will not only spend more but also still not be close to the overall package that is the M5.

I don't necessarily agree with this - I put on my 2013 550i xdrive M sport a Dinan suspension and free flow exhaust plus the S2 for a grand total of $8000. That put me at around $74,000 for the whole package and that gets me around 510 HP and 580 ft/lb of torque in an all-wheel drive sedan. If I spend about $2800 more on combination of intercoolers and add the S4, I would then surpass the 560 HP of the M5 and have a great deal more torque. Plus, the dinan mods remove the governor. That is compared with a rear wheel drive M5 that is about $15,000-20,000 more. Yes the M5 has the DCT, launch control etc. but in reality you're paying a pretty high premium for the M badge. If you need the badge, go for it. But if you want the approximate performance in an all-wheel drive car with considerably more torque at considerably less cost than the M5, get the 550i xdrive and modify it to fit your driving interests.

[supershaft]

Originally Posted by IaHawk

I don't necessarily agree with this - I put on my 2013 550i xdrive M sport a Dinan suspension and free flow exhaust plus the S2 for a grand total of $8000. That put me at around $74,000 for the whole package and that gets me around 510 HP and 580 ft/lb of torque in an all-wheel drive sedan. If I spend about $2800 more on combination of intercoolers and add the S4, I would then surpass the 560 HP of the M5 and have a great deal more torque. Plus, the dinan mods remove the governor. That is compared with a rear wheel drive M5 that is about $15,000-20,000 more. Yes the M5 has the DCT, launch control etc. but in reality you're paying a pretty high premium for the M badge. If you need the badge, go for it. But if you want the approximate performance in an all-wheel drive car with considerably more torque at considerably less cost than the M5, get the 550i xdrive and modify it to fit your driving interests.

You still don't have the DCT or a LSD. You've essentially screwed yourself out of the warranty, I'd be nervous to own a $74k car without the factory warranty. I have owned 1 BMW past the 4 years and that is my 2001 530i.

I was planning on keeping my E90 long term (like my 530i) but the maintenance costs drove me to leasing.

[IaHawk]

Originally Posted by supershaft

You still don't have the DCT or a LSD. You've essentially screwed yourself out of the warranty, I'd be nervous to own a $74k car without the factory warranty. I have owned 1 BMW past the 4 years and that is my 2001 530i.

I was planning on keeping my E90 long term (like my 530i) but the maintenance costs drove me to leasing.

You might want to do a little research about that friend. First off, BMW honors the new car warranty 4 yr/50,000mi - it's unaffected by the Dinan mods. Secondly, Dinan warranties their modifications for the same term. Fact is I also decided to lease this one due to the great terms BMW has on leasing. I've owned my 2 previous M cars. As it turns out, after my car was delivered to the dealer, my dealer took the car over to the Dinan shop where the mods were made and then picked it up, put on Final Coat, then I picked it up from the dealer after all the mods were completed.

[Russkey]

Originally Posted by bubbahead

...and If I'm not mistaken, resale for mod cars = $0 return. Doesn't matter if you put $2k or $10k.
Probably even less buyers market as the notion that modded cars are raced. Well that's how I would think!
But then again, you don't buy for the next person...

True, but think about it this way. I personally love modding cars. The result is a big smile on my face. I love to look at my cars. Most importantly, I'm not making them something they are not. Just small corrections in the design Everybody knows that there is most likely going to be $0 return on some mods, but it doesn't seem to stop them.

[supershaft]

Originally Posted by IaHawk

You might want to do a little research about that friend. First off, BMW honors the new car warranty 4 yr/50,000mi - it's unaffected by the Dinan mods. Secondly, Dinan warranties their modifications for the same term. Fact is I also decided to lease this one due to the great terms BMW has on leasing. I've owned my 2 previous M cars. As it turns out, after my car was delivered to the dealer, my dealer took the car over to the Dinan shop where the mods were made and then picked it up, put on Final Coat, then I picked it up from the dealer after all the mods were completed.

I know about that. I'm just wary of the inevitable finger pointing. Hasn't that happened a few times already? Who wants to be stuck until that gets resolved? Look, I'm not against modding or dropping whatever amount you please to increase performance. But at the end of the day it's not the same as the engineers who are selling a specced car from the factory. My philosophy is that you should get the best car you can afford. Not buy the cheapest alternative and then spend money to bring it up to some spec.

Originally Posted by Russkey

True, but think about it this way. I personally love modding cars. The result is a big smile on my face. I love to look at my cars. Most importantly, I'm not making them something they are not. Just small corrections in the design Everybody knows that there is most likely going to be $0 return on some mods, but it doesn't seem to stop them.

I agree with this. I ended up not doing any engine or exhaust mods on my E90 M3. The only correction I made was the wheels. The rest of the car was perfect. I'll even get to reuse my 20" Volk G2s on the 550i.

[IaHawk]

Originally Posted by supershaft

My philosophy is that you should get the best car you can afford. Not buy the cheapest alternative and then spend money to bring it up to some spec.

Some people label purchasing based on value - cheap. Some people label purchasing the most expensive item, simply for the recognition, regardless of value - stupid. Whatever.

I think you might be missing a point about buying a 550i xdrive and modifying it vs buying an M5 though - it has to do with all-wheel drive, and the fact that that option is not available in the M5. This has important value to many enthusiasts over the rear wheel drive option - some situational advantages in performance in general, and definite advantages for the daily driver who contends with winters. To each his own - but not only do I have the resources to buy an M5, I've also owned 2 M cars over the past 10 years - despite this I'm quite pleased with my current car. My 2 cents.