BMW E60 550i Touring - This or the V10 M5?

In today's video, I am driving an E60 generation BMW 550i. Technically an E61, this is the touring variant and is the highest powered of the normal BMW 5-series lineup before the mighty V10 M5. With that car being well known as expensive to run, but cheap to buy - is this the one you should be getting?
#BMW #E61 #V10
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[@JayEmmOnCars]

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[@edyu21]

There is at least one person pretending to be you asking people to contact him/her for prize on telegram but I believe is a scam. Beware.

[@leevanqueef2658]

Looks like it's been driven through the Japanese equivalent of Halfords. Great review as always 👌

[@Franface31]

You mean Super Autobacs, right?

[@jonathanlake3366]

Jokes 😂😂😂 but I get what u mean

[@happyal27]

I've had a E60 M5 for just over 6 years now, and so far no huge bills. In fact other than running costs and servicing, nothing much really to talk about. It's been a great car for me.

[@jordythebassist]

I saw one a few months ago, only one I've ever seen in the wild. Everyone hated the looks but tbh it had so much presence and has aged fantastically well. But man that sound was just biblical. Enjoy it mate, one of the greats.

[@t8506]

wouldn't be tempting fate if I was you. engine rebuilds are part of the m5 ownership experience

[@curtis24-7]

@Das BMW guru great comment and an interesting read.

[@txomandimorais]

@Das BMW guru I can bet ya you watch m539 restorations. Great Comment!

[@g9icy]

@@pythonovitch Damn after reading this I want a 645i. Not in a hurry to trade in my 440i though, I adore it, but sometimes I wish I had taken more of a car ownership journey before settling on my current car.

[@muddy2k13]

I've had my E60 M5 for eight years. It's been extremely reliable. I had the rod bearings done at a cost of £2k. Never once have I sat there with any anxiety wondering oooh when will such and such break. Just enjoy it. Plus....I spent way more on maintenance for my E39 M5 which I owned for nine years before the E60.

[@bronxmanpatrickyt]

Pretty lucky

[@DakotaWoods-pu4bz]

It's the way people drive them as well. Just because it's a speed demon doesn't mean to dog her every chance you get. I've babied my 550M. And never has anything catastrophic failed.

[@Cloxxki]

Sabine herself! You made it man, respect for having ventured to do that. Wish I had.

[@3ducs]

Sabine had such a lust for life, it is tragic that she is gone. Not many know that she also had a passion for horses, she had a farm and raised them.

[@Cloxxki]

@@3ducs Lovely docus out there on her farm life.

[@coordsportgmbh5728]

I love my manual E61 550i - it's a fantastic car. I swapped to a lower temp thermostat from Wahler and this year the radiator fan decided to kick the bucket. Look out for cracking rear suspension air bags, I swapped mine for new a few years ago. So far all fixes have been reasonably simple and the parts fairly inexpensive.

[@FastDriver318]

They offered the manual in the estate?! Thats gotta be very rare!

[@jordanplatt3916]

@@FastDriver318 I remember seeing one a few months ago on auto trader for a smidge under 10k 😳

[@Wavieraxe]

@@FastDriver318 I've got a 6 speed manual 545i and those are even rarer from what I hear.

[@BlackMozes]

Got a link to the thermostat? Would appreciate it. Thanks in advance

[@realdriversclub]

I've just picked up a 2010 550i manual 4 months ago and i enjoy the car more and more everytime I get in it. just installed coilovers as well it really is such a blast.

[@brianwilmer1250]

Do you have the ARS sway bars? Which coilovers did you go with?

[@shadman95]

Hey mate how much did it set you back! Looking for a 550i myself!

[@adamf8335]

One of the best cars I've ever had was an E60 530i Touring. Lovely car, push the gear stick left and you have sport mode and it went from laid back do it all, carry it all cruiser to snappy racey terrier. I miss that car very much.

[@rahulmandala4930]

I love the E60s too! 530i’s and even the 535i’s

[@dickie8184]

Same for me. Unfortunately mine although mechanically very good. It had a few niggles that could've been avoided if bmw hadn't pissed about. I did correspond with James alittle about doing a swap for his 130i.

[@Emil-sh6sq]

@@dickie8184 Had to do a double take at this comment

[@Nakke144]

1800kg estate BMW handles like a snappy racey terrier? Ok... 😆

[@adamf8335]

@@Nakke144 where did I say handled? Poor reply, please try harder.

[@wings9925]

RIP Sabine. What a legend. Great film as always James 👌

[@callytheblueparakeet]

Love the concept of this as an under the radar, sleeper estate. That mental image has been well and truly shattered with the styling of this example.

[@Pulitnt]

Wasn't sure i was going to watch this until the end... but I did and I am glad I did it. Very good video and so knowledgeable, not everyday you have someone reviewing a car under that angle.

[@chesspiece81]

The boys' company Drive Tribe bought an E61 M5 and manual swapped it and fixed all the known issues of the V10. It's as close to a perfect daily as there is IMHO.

[@ZKhweziN]

A V8 can never be the alternative to a V10... Having owned an e63 BMW M6 V10 for 5 years, I can tell you nothing comes close to how quickly and how high that engine revved. 326km/h top speed, that car would excellerate to 300 as though it's still accelerating to 100. Maintenance was super low, never had a day of trouble with it. Finally sold with 104000km having had rod bearings done for preventative maintenance. Ran it on thinner Mobil 1 0w40 and gave it a proper warm up with each use... Solid solid engine. I really miss it. ❤️❤️❤️

[@jonathanlake3366]

Interesting

[@PYCCKNN86]

Lmao, it’s simultaneously amazing and sad that driving something nowadays without android auto or apple carplay is somehow considered a noteworthy hardship. On a separate note, I think those 19s look great on the car and fill out the wheel wells perfectly.

[@LifeStartsAtrpm-ru1xo]

I had a 325ci with the optional smg. Nowadays everybody calls that a ‘slow’ gearbox, but actually it was, compared to a manual, lightning fast. I had the first non-M3 smg one in the Netherlands. Had a lot of fun with it, but also a lot of problems (clutch went out 3x). Also had a 335d, tuned to 330hp, a really wild beast, not easy to control in wet conditions. Good memories.

[@v4skunk739]

When people say the box is slow they mean the delay in changing gear. Especially down shifting.

[@BigUriel]

@@v4skunk739 Also clunky as hell at low speeds, and in auto mode it's anyone's guess when it will decide to shift. Really crappy gearbox for just about anything except 0-60 times.

[@edyu21]

I have a manual 6-speed 2010 550i in Alpine White as the original owner and I'm having a hard time letting it go because I just can't find anything comparable in the market now. I figured I'll just maintain it and drive it until it completely dies on me. The only thing that remotely interests me is possibly the new RS3 but we'll see if it would still be available when the 550i goes to car heaven.

[@Dave-yh2gn]

I'm in the UK and own the SMG version of the 550i. I didn't particularly seek it out but I was pleasantly surprised by it. It's not perfect but it genuinely does bring some of the benefits of both the manual and auto equivalents. Happy to answer questions.

[@2702simmo]

I dailied an smg e46 m3 and loved the gearbox. Had the Csl map on it but it was great. When I got the E93 m3 with DCT as smooth as it was it made it devoid of any feeling as you accelerated for me so I hated DCT loved smg 😳

[@maltepettersson3083]

@@2702simmo isnt it because the smg feels mor raw when shifting? like you feel the gearchanges? Most people complain about it jerking when pulling away from standstill but otherwise fun gearbox. Tho i will stick to manual for now

[@2702simmo]

@@maltepettersson3083 exactly that The DCT m3 was quicker but devoid of any real fun in acceleration for me and I work in nth wales and the smg box was great on their roads

[@C22RLD]

Those wheels need made silver again, grille silver, badge standard and remove the wind deflectors and it’s a winner

[@MSUTri]

Ah, Euro market cars... Here in the USA we only got the E61 in 530xi and 535xi form - but luckily (as with the E60 M5), manual transmissions were available for both. I have an E61 535xi manual transmission car, and it's simultaneously absolutely amazing and terrifying. It's amazing because when everything is working right, it's a neat-perfect daily and vacation vehicle for any number of adventures, from autocross to cross country trips with bikes, skis, canoes, and even hauling a motorcycle - and it can carry all of those at the same time. With winter tires it's a beast in the snow, too, like a WRC car. I even took it on the sand dunes once! And that power - yeah, stock it's not quite the same as the V8, but just flash a tune and you have more power and torque than the 550i. Or better yet, upgrade the intercooler, downpipes, and the turbo inlets and outlets, and you're at nearly M5 power levels. The lack of LSD is less of a problem with AWD - it mostly just grips and grips except in the worst conditions. Weight balance with the light six up front is better than the V8 or V10, too. Well, it offsets the additional weight from the AWD system anyway. On the other hand, the long term maintenance costs (even stock) are absolutely insane. It makes an M5 look low cost and reliable by comparison. I'm averaging close to $10,000/year in maintenance and repairs over 5 years of ownership, and that's with doing a decent chunk of it myself. Simple jobs in other cars, like a clutch or turbo replacement, turn into multi-thousand dollar labor repairs due to the amount of stuff in the way that has to be removed. The subframe has to drop to replace the turbos! And since the labor is so much, you have to do everything at once. Other parts of the drivetrain, like the transfer case, just are not heavy duty enough for the extra weight and power of the 535xi. It's the same exact part as in a 328xi sedan that weighs nearly half a ton less - of course it's not going to last nearly as long. Injectors are easy to replace, but unless you upgraded to the latest ones already, they're unreliable, and you're in for a treat when you see the price of them! They used to be $200 each. Now? $550 each! Absolutely insane. And these cars are getting old. There's lots of other minor things that just pop up. Headlights lose their seal over time, let water in, and fail, wiper arms break, switches break, sensors break, A/C compressors break, rear hatch wiring disintegrates, OFHG and OCHG leaks, oil hose leaks, coolant tanks crack, MSD80 DEM computers fry transistors, the sunroof can jam, headliner sags, water gets in the trunk well and fries modules unless you clean the sunroof drain, the fiber optic entertainment system is a nightmare to troubleshoot, air bags and the compressor need replacement (though that is easy to do), everything in the suspension needs replacing, etc., etc. Ask me how I know - I've had all those failures and more! I don't regret getting the car, because it is literally everything I want in one vehicle. But of the approximate $50k in maintenance and repairs I have had so far, about $15-20k is N54-specific, and another $15-20k is xDrive specific. Valve stem seals on the N62 are minor in comparison. But if I could start over and get any vehicle I wanted, I'd probably want an E61 530i manual transmission with N52 engine and 3 stage intake. Minimal problems, simple drivetrain, light weight. But we never got those in the USA.

[@richardsmith9509]

James, I have a 645Ci SMG and I LOVE it....Fast to shift, easy to use (once you are checked out on it) and better than any tiptronic....I LOVE IT !!!

[@Goodman-4525]

With Japan imports I do fancy having one of these then putting more JDM style mods like Rays wheels and Bride seats like they do since I see a lot of European cars in Japan still with JDM aftermarket parts. I think if you were to mod one of these it would be an interesting alternative to the normal mods

[@thehutt2]

You think this is going to be an average video. Then Jay mentions the Sabine Nurburgring story 😳. Great video as always 👍🏆

[@chris7187]

I've got a 3 instead of a 5 but went 335i, and wanting a manual estate or touring ment a long time looking. Who would have guessed how few come up for sale, but imo it's the perfect car, good sized boot, smallish for city use but a monster when you put your foot down.

[@brianiswrong]

The comfort seats from this time in bmw 5 series,we the best seats I have ever sat in (and adjusted to my 6 ft 5" frame to perfection.

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Nice video. Awesome car. Nice to see the Japanese styling was kept with the vehicle.

[@grizzlycali4508]

A tuned 535i e61 is where it's at for the ultimate sleeper! Seen one with new turbos and fbo making over 600hp but without the weight of the the larger engine.

[@jamescarl6187]

The 45i and 50i cars are just a lot of fun. I’m selling my 2005 bmw 545i manual with 90k and it has been one of my favorite cars and they really aren’t that unreliable I think if you take care of it they are great cars

[@markscars1069]

Owned a 535d SE E60 from new for two years from 2007. Took it all over Europe. Once it was run in, I had it mapped by DMS who flew a chap over to us in Brussels, which was good of them. Produced something like 330hp and 510lb/ft thereafter and the midrange was just ridiculous. My late father always said it was the fastest car he’d ever driven. Never gave any problems, but an occasional rumble from the drivetrain under power did make me wonder about the longer term viability of fiddling with them… Edit, just done an MOT history check. Heartening to know it’s still out there, now with 120k+ miles on it.

[@7736164]

Hi Jay, I'd really like to see you review a standard/un-molested E63 M6 V10 coupe for how it feels compared to the E60 (and extra V10 goodness is always welcome on your channel...). Plus another review of the F10 M5 - but a standard/un-molested/good example - I fear your original F10 M5 review was hampered by that particular car being an unhealthy example. Best regards

[@ChristianHiroseRomeoGraham]

If you're gonna buy a 550i, you may as well just get the M5 at that point. Almost nothing beats that beautiful purring V10 exhaust.

[@EvoraGT430]

Especially considering how unreliable the V8 is.

[@Drona_e30_m50]

@@EvoraGT430 It's expensive, but nothing compared to the V10. I had a 545i. Valve stem seals and oil leaks, maybe timing chain guides. That's about it for the N62.

[@johngregg401]

I've got both 545i and M5. The M5 is more car but honestly the 545 holds its own until you're really on it. It's also more relaxing to drive despite being manual. Both cars do 70 in second 😈

[@Beer_Dad1975]

You can get a later model Lexus GS460 with the same power & performance, proper LSD, proper front brakes, adaptive suspension, better comfort and tech, cheaper maintenance, and far better reliability for a lot less money. Surprise surprise, that's what I did. Of course they never did a wagon version.

[@ChristianHiroseRomeoGraham]

@@Beer_Dad1975 I agree with that.

[@hughsmith2657]

I went for the 650, after watching your review of it

[@jeejkee6471]

I really like your choice of cars, keep them comming

[@jimmerriman6920]

I have a 2007 BMW 550i SMG. I happen to love it! I drive it in manual mode 95% of the time. On those occations that I drive into a big city; Boston, NYC, Washington DC, etc. I can put it in manual, and it'll do the work for me. Out on the open road, prefferably a back/secondary road, I put the car in "Sport" manual mode and let it go! Yep, it's the best of all worlds for that era. Todays BMW automatic ZFs are wonderfull trannies. Fast and firm gearshifts, and they can fly. But I love the 550, and I drive as often as I can. Now with 175K+ miles. And frankly, it's very reliable! I only had the SMG pump kit replaced twice, and one of thoiose was under parts warranty! The E60 platform is a great platform. And it's even more reliable than my E39 540i was, as well.

[@TheM5Dog]

As you know, I bought my M5 in 2018, it broke, I fixed it, and while I wouldn't do it again, i don't really have any regrets. I've tried to think of a replacement, but frankly as an experience when driving it, it would need to be something like a 360/430, and I can't afford either of them. Nice to see my shed getting some more air time 😂

[@johngregg401]

I was pleased to see the old girl back again. Odd as I watched the video on yours again last night before seeing this 😅

[@TheM5Dog]

@@johngregg401 when's yours making a reappearance? I want to organise a gathering at Podium Place again in the new year.

[@gccas081]

My friend just sold his 550i, he got me into e60, I own myself an e60 it’s a beautiful modern car still in 2024

[@malmsey1541]

Atrociously modified

[@raffefly2148]

C'mon there's worse. That's said, how come every bodykit is always an eyesore

[@BadaBing.UCF30]

It's the chrome window surrounds that doesn't do it for me IMO. If you are going to murder out your car, atleast go the full-length.

[@dickie8184]

Agreed.

[@daffiecars]

100% mate ,couldnt agree more !

[@vviiper]

@@raffefly2148 because the BMW E61 is a good design, absolute work of art, as are most car designs (there are exceptions of course). A shitty bodykit slapped onto a design that probably took many hours to create is a discrace

[@jamesl5149]

This was my dream car for several years! I had the E60d 530d which was pretty brilliant too

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

As dream cars go, that's a pretty achievable one.

[@jamesl5149]

@@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13 i couldn't find a good one for sale at the time

[@dickie8184]

Please put it back to standard. The face-lift gear knob especially.

[@rossbethell4187]

I got into e60 ownership five years ago. Later LCI car, they are worth the premium. Actually mine is the 535d, originally 286bhp model but now recalibrated to over 360bhp. Came with the later ZF gearbox and paddles (with a sport button), later CIC iDrive, and an LSD by quaife. It does a real world 42mpg average, peeks about 48 and I don’t have have enough clear road to get it much worse than 32mpg. It’s on fresh suspension to OEM spec all round and a choice of two wheel sets depending on the season and climate. Adaptive bi-xenons, heated everything, massive boot and such respectable pace that I’ve not managed to switch it out for something better without firing large sums of money at its replacement. Also hydraulic steering that feels alright… One word of caution. These get written off easily. Insurance companies just don’t repair them. Superficial damage sees them taken off the road.

[@moStallion]

Just bought a 2008 550i 6 speed manual e60 in Chicago. Im going to work on it then install a wavetrac differential. God willing

[@richardsmith9509]

James , I live in Canada and have a 645Ci Msport with an SMG and I love it...absolutely and totally....There is also a 328i Xdrive 6sp manual in my garage.....

[@bloodstockvip2176]

It's interesting you said about the 535d making such an impression on you. Years ago when the e91(?) 335d tourer came out, I was loaned it as a service courtesy car and was literally blown away by it; incredible pace and so easy to get down the road quickly olus economically vs petrol at that time. I was in a quick petrol bmw m car too so maybe a 335d sometime if not reviewed before would be good to review?

[@henrik1743]

loved my f30 335d, only thing I hated was the RFT and lack of steering feel

[@bloodstockvip2176]

@@henrik1743 I never really had enough time to properly enjoy it but it was very memorable as the first diesel I'd driven that was savage in acceleration yet so effortless. We ended up later in life buying an x3 35d as a family car which was every bit as good and we kept it 4 years without any issues whatsoever 👍

[@Ensignpeak]

Pretty sure that is the same engine that is the E70 X5 4.8i of that era (pre turbo). I own an 07 and its probably 1000 pounds heavier than this car but its one of my favorite cars ever and the engine revs wonderfully, especially going 80 MPH plus in sport mode - it's a ton of fun to drive and very torquey off the line even though it's not super fast with all that weight.

[@Ethankeenan02]

The v10 m5 sound gives me goosebumps

[@TomHallam-yh1xe]

I have a manual e60 550i in Carbon Black and a manual e61 550i in Moonstone if you ever feel like test driving one of those? To me it’s a different proposition to the auto and the best family transport money can buy! Let me know before I sell the e60…

[@dickie8184]

Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres worked great on my touring.

[@Insectoid_]

I’ll stick with my alfa Romeo’s.. 155 Q4. Never going to beat a bmw. But considering seeing it was made in 1992 and it’s a LHD I adore it.

[@GeorgeAusters]

Not quite sure I’d have a pre LCI SE E60/61. The LCI M-Sports are much nicer and reliable👍🏻

[@Gorbyrev]

Would have to be a 535D for ultimate Pistonheads domination😁

[@garyhawkins9246]

Wheels looked way better in Silver as they were in the pictures

[@johngregg401]

I get your complaint about the diff. I got my M5 when I went looking for an lsd for my 545i manual.

[@robi4387]

Probably? I had the 540i M Sport Touring (7 of 11) for eight years, drove six e39 M5. Having driven seven e61 M5s (each felt subtly different) and owned one for 7 years may I point out . The 550i suspension is not adjustable, the M5's is. Although it is never what you might call supple it is better than the two examples of the 550i I drove. The S85 is low on torques well compared to its 507hp AND you really have to drive the SMG III box, you can't just get in and rob a bank. But if you do make it to the freeway no cop or news chopper is going to be able to keep track. As I've said driving the M5 is like riding a hungry cheetah you limp along grudgingly in Drive and a digitally restricted 400hp until you show it a gazelle.

[@tygokrebbers9853]

me parents have a 550 wagon with 20 inch 275mm wheels. there big. but i managed to get to 267 km/u on the autobahn engine was tuned up to 410hp and 450nm great car for the money

[@robi4387]

Difficult to top being driven by Sabine around the Ring in a v10 M5 - but I imagine buddying up with Misha Charoudin to go around in a 911 GT3 RS would be fun - just a suggestion you know.

[@kyleholloway3470]

I saw two E60 M5s on Tuesday. A blue estate and the typical silver sedan. Given the choice and if I knew I'd found a good example and had the cash, I'd definitely go for the M5, for the soundtrack if nothing else.

[@PinkGuy120]

The demo car had a cream interior, at least the one from the pictures

[@HodgsonKurt]

I have an 07 LCI top spec 550i wagon, got it for £7k, did the valve seals for 1k. Really enjoying it, good space and comfort :)

[@BigUriel]

I always thought this engine suited the car far better. The V10 is a great engine but not in a big saloon (they should have made a Z car for it!). This is far cheaper to run and in the real world is it really any slower? The V10 only makes more power than the V8 after like 4000rpm, how often do you rev your family saloon that high? Plus no SMG.

[@machohogan]

“Immediately shrinks the KZbin video and opens up auto trader to find the car”. Same way I start every Jayemm video

[@bradcomis1066]

I test drove a couple E60s last month and really wanted to buy one, but unfortunately the E60 is too large to fit in my tiny garage, so it would be hard to work on. Quite a nice chassis, engine and interior! One of the E60s was an ‘04 545i manual trans. Really quite spectacular.

[@The_North0]

E60 is not hard to work on.

[@Wavieraxe]

I've got a 545i manual and it's an absolutely brilliant thing. They've since gone up in value since I bought mine 4yrs ago and the manuals are extremely rare.

[@bradcomis1066]

@@The_North0 Hard to work on because it doesn't fit in the garage was the issue. E90 is over a foot shorter, so its much more manageable.

[@oscarzt1652]

oh wow driven around the 'Ring in a V10 M5 by Sabine S.? legendary!

[@Inflator82]

I've always lusted for almost top of the range petrol versions of cars like Merc E500, Audi 4.2 V8 and so on. They're still very fast but not to firm and cheaper to run too than top of the line models.

[@MR-xo1bh]

As the owner of an e61 m5 touring and an e63 650i, very interested on J thoughts here

[@comeberza]

The wind defelctores are...questionable to say the least. And the silver wheels looked specatular in the pictures

[@sameh2150]

I would get both you want the proper e60 it is the 550 you want the proper v10 version you get the m6. The 06 07 550i are special although they are not lci and do not look as good are actually mechanically simpler as they do not have dynamic drive and active steering. Pure bmw experience as it can get the e60 550i is a very special car.

[@N54B30BMW]

To answer your question Mr. JayEmm: I decided to go down both routes. So I'm running an E92M3 (manual) and as a family hauler the 545i touring (also with a manual). I enjoy both of those cars very much. I was thinking about replacing the 545i but to be honest I couldn't find anything that I would rather have. At least not without spending way too much money for a car that will get used on a day to day basis. Somebody said that Munich is located between Wolfsburg and Maranello and I think my two cars are very good examples for that. 🙂

[@JayEmmOnCars]

A good pair indeed!

[@N54B30BMW]

@@JayEmmOnCars Thank you! And also thank you for a very fast reply. And a third thank you for your very good video about the 612 Scaglietti. I am thinking about buying one. Let's see how that goes 🙂

[@ssduc1000]

i think i'd go for the 550i - the 545 is meant to be less reliable long term and don't get me started on the M5. Also that 4.8 is a beautiful engine

[@josefgordon7712]

Am now lusting, thanks 😜

[@drewdriftup4871]

I can't not hear a formula one car when I listen to your reviews 🏎️

[@dannyb1979]

An E61 550i touring would be the ideal replacement for my 'currently being sold E39 540i Sport Japanese import' - but they're are none in the UK that meet my requirements and the current shipping times from Japan are slower than slow unfortunately... I did miss out on a Japanese import one earlier this year; sods law it cropped up at the wrong time and was soon snapped up! I do hanker after an LCI version though; the pre LCI version for me inside isn't as nice and I don't like the switch pack placements on the doors etc They're a superb car though; personally I'd want to get the valve stem seals sorted as soon as I bought it for peace of mind; but that's personal preference

[@igorkrashunsky7193]

I noticed the DTC light was on your panel. That means that function was deactivated. Perhaps why you were sliding so easily.

[@PatrickLindemann22]

I had one and was nothing but trouble. Personally I’d stay away, even with a stick it was nice to drive when it worked but not special enough to justify the running costs.

[@brianriley5108]

I loved my 2006 550i and have been thinking of getting a newer M550. The only reason I sold it was because the break system went out and I didn't want to spend the money on fixing it.

[@steadfastandyx4947]

535 diesel. Sorry but it's perfect. Definitely touring. Prefect car.

[@jamescarl6187]

Compared to the early newer bmw V8 the n63 the n62 is bulletproof. It may have issues but once there done your good but the n63 is a complete nightmare

[@dedodododedadada6943]

I’ve had a 2018 540i Xdrive from new spec’d with everything except a sun roof (I’m quite tall and need the extra headroom). It’s silky smooth when driven moderately and with a 0-60 of 4.7 seconds should satisfy most boy-racers out there. It’s all the car I could ever need and I never have to curse the overly firm suspension of a 550 or M5. I’d say going beyond the 540 is just posing but with massive sacrifice to ride and comfort.

[@comeberza]

Thats an amazing car. Dream daily and honestly, I woulnt look for any other thing for a while if I got one

[@mc1703]

E60s could be factory ordered with 19s. For example the 172m 'spiders'.

[@dasstig5274]

I had an e46 330ci with the SMG (SSG) gearbox for a while. Why? -As a foreign driver in the UK, changing over my drivers license meant i got an 'automatic only' UK license so the SSG car was as close as i could get to a proper clutched manual legally -the SSG car still had 5 gears; most of the e46's had the standard for the time 4-speed auto -I hate old torque converters :)

[@7736164]

that's an LCI facelift E61, the LCI gearlever is the giveaway.

[@RandallSlick]

"Very much derided at the time" and very much derided now. Bangle's carbuncle has not aged well compared to the e39. Such a shame. I'm old but I still think 231hp in a 3.0 petrol e39 was the nigh-on perfect cross-country family car.

[@seigma5340]

A lot of people do not consider how much different the E60 is from an F10 and G30 when it comes to driving style. I would still consider the E60 a proper 5-series, while the F10 is a goddamn boat.

[@exgtt2061]

I’d take a manual swapped 550 over an M all day.

[@siriax1691]

Take a 7 series, convert to estate using coach builders, and enjoy peak BMW risk with that glorious V12.

[@WarHammer1911A1]

I did, F-10 M5 Comp (carbon brakes), and I have a E61 530xi, which in the US is a somewhat uncommon car.

[@Cloxxki]

I'm looking for a wagon. Most important are easy of loading big items (width between rear wheels, I guess), reliability and comfort/silence on long drives. Power is cool, but more than 300 seems well into the diminishing returns due to associated costs? Skoda Superb is boring and slow, but decent battery range. V90 now bigger battery range. But that's only nice in the city, it's just greenwashing on longer drives. Worth the extra cost to have that city EV experience, as long as you keep a light right foot?

[@macieksz2829]

Which is more expensive to maintain and has more reliability issues in daily use? 550i or Jaguar XF 4.2 supercharged?

[@fteoOpty64]

30s in the rear ?!! Ouch, that was just a small bump on the road...

[@Cloxxki]

These can be had for

[@andrewlucas6214]

On closing thoughts you forgot to mention the twin turbo diesel. Similar performance, better (potential) economy and greater reliability.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

I did give the 535D a fairly big mention

[@mynt253]

Looked pretty good when the Energy Motorsport pictures were taken. Now? Uh...

[@GoldenCroc]

Many miles: I would get a 535d with a remap. Not so many miles: 535i with some goodies. All out enthusiast vehicle: m5 with manual and supercharger. All of them being tourings of course.

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

Nice looking motor !

[@Spheredalai]

what?! you got a chance to be chauffered around Nurburgring by Sabine Schmitz?? that's AWESOME! must've been An experience that was.. of course rest in peace to the coolest lady i know

[@eze8970]

Thanks J, 🙏🙏

[@leylandlynxvlog]

Well I love a V8 so the 550i would not be a bad choice to me but could I afford to run it an M5 would be the one, the V10 F1-reminiscent soundtrack is musical. It would need to be a touring as I love a good wagon. However the 6 series coupe is such an affordable grand tourer and my favourite modern BMW (my favourite of all time is the original 8 series), while the 640d GranCoupe is such a fast yet economical car (on paper at least). So in short I've rambled on and come to no real conclusion as to which one I would want. But either way a JDM would be epic.

[@paulleggett9735]

Having a little look at these... 545s seem to be a LOT less money for, what I can only assume, is not a lot less car

[@stephenbrown1423]

I had a e61 550 with lpg was great car

[@vanperski]

what an AWFUL example of an E61, LCI parts crudely crowbarred into the interior, terrible aftermarket bodykit and a splattering halfords crap. Bleurgh

[@ThreeGeees]

Come from a e60 525d to a 2011 e92 335d.(welcome to review it) Miss the e60 even tho it was a boat in comparison!

[@ruk2023--]

Marketing is why some people got the smg…

[@garycartwright4860]

Buy a 535d get a stage 2 map, bigger intercoolers, gut the exhaust system out, upgrade brakes and suspension. And you’ve got an infinitely better car than this. It will also hang onto the bumper of an M5 in the real world all day long. You’ll see 400bhp and 42 mpg. Job done. 👍👍