E39 540i vs M5
Discussion
I have a pal with an 02 M5 and I am considering also purchasing one as it is an impressive machine. However, I notice the 540i V8 can be had for half the money of an equivalant M5.
Does anyone have experience of both cars - it seems you get all the toys on both, nearly the same performance, hence it's just things like tweaked suspension, brakes, 4 exhausts and pimpy wheels - not a justification for £10k premium I am thinking...or is it?
Cheers
Does anyone have experience of both cars - it seems you get all the toys on both, nearly the same performance, hence it's just things like tweaked suspension, brakes, 4 exhausts and pimpy wheels - not a justification for £10k premium I am thinking...or is it?
Cheers
To sum up the work that the M division does to their cars as a bit of engine work, bling wheels and 4 exhaust pipes. What they do is so much more than this and it varies from the subtle to the extreme.... I guess the most fundamental points are as follows:
1) Handling and chassis balance - the '5 is a good car to start with, but the M division takes the raw shell and makes changes to it. It is not just a case of adding an engine to it! The suspension is significantly stiffer, balance is improved and many components of the suspension itself are bespoke to the M cars.
2) Engine - as I made the comment before, the M5 has 1/3 more BHP. Ok, so the torque figures are roughly similar, but the engines are totally different. The M5 can hit 60 in 5.2 (or 5.1 depending on which source you look in) while a manual 540i is 6 (6.2 for the Auto). To have a difference of 0.5 second is impressive, but to have nearly 1 second is a huge difference. It gets worse when we are talking 0-100 - the M5 is 11.4 while the 540 is around 15 (16 for the auto). Thats quite a difference - although the 540i is no slouch...
3) General characteristics - as mentioned on the other thread, the M-button was pioneered with the E39. It is a dramatic difference in characteristics with it pressed or not. The system changed many aspects of the car and gives it a jeckle and hyde persona - but on your request. This might not sound like much - but ability to control the performance was new, but is increasingly common. BMW's M division is the best at it at the moment.
As others have mentioned, to compare an M5 and a 540i is like chalk and cheese - even if they may sound similar. Just try driving both and you will realise they are vastly different cars....
1) Handling and chassis balance - the '5 is a good car to start with, but the M division takes the raw shell and makes changes to it. It is not just a case of adding an engine to it! The suspension is significantly stiffer, balance is improved and many components of the suspension itself are bespoke to the M cars.
2) Engine - as I made the comment before, the M5 has 1/3 more BHP. Ok, so the torque figures are roughly similar, but the engines are totally different. The M5 can hit 60 in 5.2 (or 5.1 depending on which source you look in) while a manual 540i is 6 (6.2 for the Auto). To have a difference of 0.5 second is impressive, but to have nearly 1 second is a huge difference. It gets worse when we are talking 0-100 - the M5 is 11.4 while the 540 is around 15 (16 for the auto). Thats quite a difference - although the 540i is no slouch...
3) General characteristics - as mentioned on the other thread, the M-button was pioneered with the E39. It is a dramatic difference in characteristics with it pressed or not. The system changed many aspects of the car and gives it a jeckle and hyde persona - but on your request. This might not sound like much - but ability to control the performance was new, but is increasingly common. BMW's M division is the best at it at the moment.
As others have mentioned, to compare an M5 and a 540i is like chalk and cheese - even if they may sound similar. Just try driving both and you will realise they are vastly different cars....
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