[badblack550xi]

If i lived in PR and money was not an obstacle i would get the M5... but as many mentioned i live around NYC area and our weather tends to get nasty so i opted out for the 550xi which is better for our weather. My last car was a RWD coupe and in snow it wet and snow it was pretty scary.

[Maddict3]

Originally Posted by ezmaass

Ha! Well, with 445hp vs. 560hp, I don't think EITHER car can be confused with something that an "old lady" would prefer to drive. My point here was only that there comes a time when you need to strike a balance... otherwise we'd all just opt for the car that gave the most extreme performance. My 335i with 300hp, for that matter, rarely had the pedal pushed down 100%. There just aren't that many circumstances on public roads where you need to (or can safely) tap all of the available power. Once you start getting over 400hp and 500hp, it's getting into semi-ridiculous territory for a road-car. I'll use the full power of the 550's 445hp V8 probably once in a blue moon when I decide to mash the pedal and pass someone on the highway... that'll last for all of 2 seconds, literally, before I'm moving sufficiently faster than the car I'm passing. It's tough to justify what I'd do with 560hp that isn't already extreme and over-indulgent with 445hp!

So, when the OP asked if the power difference warrants getting the M5 over the 550, I was simply pointing out that 445hp is probably already more than anyone is going to use on the road, and comfort might be worth evaluating (to again, strike a balance) if this is going to be a daily driver. All of that goes out the window, of course, if you plan to take a car to the track... and then, of course, the M5 is the only 5-series that has any place at a track IMHO.

Now, stop bothering me... I'm getting a cup of tea and sitting down to watch the soaps on TV before heading out for an intense night of Bingo and Bridge!

hahaha!

[soooma]

I have both 550i and M5 and I believe I can help you with this -
Look at it this way
They are different enough to be different brands...
If you ask me I will be very surprised that same person who likes 550i will like M5 and other way around...

Having said that,
The better driver you are the more likely you won't be able to have 550i satisfy your needs as fast as it is..
My 550i is Dinan Stage 2 and it is scary fast too may be as fast as M5 to 50-60 mph but power delivery is so smoothly and intentionally isolated for better luxury Lexus type of isolation which at one point in time in my life I was looking for... but no more...

So drive both
They are completely different.. Totally.. absolutely.. surprisingly so!!!
tdifferent they may look the same but look at it that M5 is a race car disguised in the body of F10!!
The M department tweaks done to this car are amazingly effective to hide the body roll and weight..

Don't forget DCT vs ZF
Both are really good for the type of Driver they are intended to!!

Gas mileage
550i
Easy 28 mpg on his way and above 20 mpg mix

Forget those numbers in M5!!
Mix 15-16 and highway mac so far for me 22 but seen as high as 25 per other memebers!! Really milking their M cars -

Status!!
Man M is an M
So if that is something you factor in... 550i is another F10 M5 is not -

Worth the difference?
That is very personal and subjective

If you are traveling a lot get the 550i I felt it is a better cruiser but if not and short commutes o's your goal and the fun of driving get the M5...

I still love my 550i but again completely different car like you are comparing Lexus to BMW!!

And I did test drive so many cars including S6..

Get the LCI 550i with passive suspension if you want..

[3rd party]

Whats going to stop me when there is an M5 awd?

Potholes more than likely.........