After college I aspire to own one if not both at some point in my life. 0-60, lateral accel, top speed, driveability? I'd like to hear your thoughts!

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Elliot Easton
1987 300D Turbo 151K
1996 C220 stock (Mom's car)

The E34 M5s were certainly a beast...i think Car and Driver did a comparison test many years ago...and the M5 won only because it was the better value. Other than that...the 500E won...the uber sedan of uber sedans!

I would be interested in knowing how the E34 M5s are holding up compared to the 500Es.

If it was me...I'd take an 500E.

- Ren

When these cars were originally released, the 500E was something like $20k more than the Bimmer...but was also more luxurious.

Regarding the comparison test Ren refers to, it was indeed C&D-4/92 issue. The test is posted at Dean Albrect's site
http://www.need2speed.web.com/

Bottom line is that the M5's likely a better track car, and the 500's a better road car. Both are sweet IMHO

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

I found myself hesitating between those two also.

I finally picked the 500E because it was more refined, and the big engine/slush box combination appealed more to me.

I definitely agree with Michael's conclusion.
The M5 has a very sweet gearbox/engine combination, and the sound those Bavarian inline-sixes make is worth half the price at least. No need for a radio, just lower the window.
Also, the M5 has been praised numerous times for its oversteering ability.

The M5's engine will need more revving to produce every horsepower, while the 500e low end torque means you can just press the loud pedal and waft away.

As far as the red light grand prix, those car pretty much match in terms of acceleration, but I am quite sure that the Bimmer is better on the twisty stuff.

Oh just an idea, have you ever considered the 1995 E34 540i?
It has a six-speed manual, and a 286 hp V8.
Sounds like the best of both worlds.

But anyway, whichever you choose you won't be disappointed.

My advice to you is to just take the one you like most now. You'll own the other sooner or later. That's what I'll do, for sure.

Drive safe

Manu
1991 500e
1963 Impala SS

I remember faintly there was some issue about the engines of the 5 series...something about there is more sulfur in the fuels in the US and it was causing problems for the 5 series

Also in the US i don't think we got the M5 all those years...we just got the 540i "Sport" as the "m5" replacement

http://www.kindel.com/bmw/

great site if u wanna know more!....plus some really awesome pics ;-)



Enjoy,

Reny

Reny,

The sulfur-related engine problems I believe were confined to the V-8 cars. I'm not absolutely certain, though; hopefully another more knowledgeable member will chime in

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

A sweet powerplant but...

The M60 3.0 and 4.0 liter V8's were introduced by BMW in 1993, installed in the 5,7 and 8 series models. In 1996 they were replaced by the M62 4.4 liter V8, with BMW dropping the 3.0 liter engine in the US. Outside of the US, vehicles received the M62 3.5 liter V8's. The early production M60 engines were made of Nikasil, an aluminum impregnated with Nickel and Silicone. The Nikasil blocks reacted adversely to the sulfur content in fuel found in some parts of the US, causing pitting in the top few millimeters of the cylinders. Blemishes on the cylinder wall prevents proper sealing of the piston rings, causing excessive leak down (the amount of air that escapes past the piston as it attempts to compress that air into the combustion chamber). Valves that don't seal properly can also cause leak down.

Reny/All-

That BMW pictured sure looks like a U.S.-spec M5 of about 1992, albeit with non-OE "Star" wheels (car came w/ stupid-looking alloys that looked like whitewall tires). I know that in '92 they had a 6-banger-per my 4/92 Car & driver, the M5 had a 3,535 cc inline 6 with 310 bhp@6,900RPM and 265 lb-ft@4,750RPM. Better plan to wring it out if you want it to really go!

Also in that test, the 500E won 0-60, 0-100, 0-120, the 1/4 mile, street start 5-60, braking distance, and roadholding (skidpad). But, the BMW carried the 1,000 ft slalom, quite telling of its track prowess.

Sometimes, though, nothing beats cubic inches (er, centimeters-forgot for a sec that this was a metric shop!)

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

The picture is a sport version if I remember correctly. There was no M when the 8 cylinders first came out but there was a small number of sports and I believe those where the standard wheels. Also notice the mirrors are different. Stiffer suspension too - I can't remember all the details. Someone else can chime in.

Randy
'94 E500
'00 S500

Actually there was a second type of E34 M5.

It was produced from 1992 to 1995 and had a 3'795cc inline-six producing 340hp @ 6900 and 295lb/ft @ 4750 . The 3,8l had an automatic adaptive suspension system. The rear tires and anti-roll bar were upgraded as well. There was an option which allowed the driver to manually control the adaptive system.

The 315 hp 3,5 engine was dropped in 1993.

In 1994 the box was changed for a close-ratio six-speed system, and the brakes were upgraded to floating disc upfront. The wheels were changed for 18 inchers to make room for them.

The car pictured is a standard post 1994 3,8l M5 on standard wheels, except for the mirrors who came off an E36 M3.

The 3,8l with six-speed's official figures were 5,4 to 60 and 13.6 to 100.

The problem here guys is that we are mixing up US and European cars. The sport I was referring to in the US was the standard V8 (540) with some suspension tuning, upgraded wheels and mirrors (like in the photo) and was avalable before the new body style came out in the mid-90's. Having said all this, I've never owned a BMW so I may be full of *****.

Randy Grubbs
'94 E500
'00 S500

Randy,

your full of ****! lol (take no offense..but u set ur self up)

but to clarify...the pic I posted is a BMW 540i Sport and it does have a V8 not the I-6

I test drove an automatic version of this car (can't drive manual) ... what a rush!

compared to the E500 it was more nimbler but the E500 for sure felt more stable...but the 540 couldn't compare to the massive low end torque the E500 had

both are great cars...but still my nod is for the E500...it had that unique presence when u walked up to it

- Ren

PS for all info everyone is discussing check out the link from my other post

I love that body style, even though I'd still prefer a W124, I'd not mind at all owning the E34!
Maybe if I ever see a mint 540i with stick I'll take a dip into the BMW teritory

I remember when they started selling the 530i (V-8) in Indonesia.. the car had the V-8 sticker in the back and I remember drooling at it in a dealer... The exhaust rumble of a V-8 and the thought of having a mid-size car w/ a V-8 definitely got me.
Until I found out that MB had 400E's and 500E's too...

__________________
2008 BMW 335i Coupe

For details regarding E34 M5, check out
www.bmwm5.com, you'll find lots of info about new and old styles

RogerT
'94 E420
'91 M5

Hello All. FYI, I have these two comparison test articles posted at need2speed:

Souls of Fire: Audi S4, BMW M5, M-B 500E (Motor Trend, Aug 93)

On Your Marks: M-B E500, BMW M5, Jaguar XJR (Top Gear, Feb 95)

Enjoy!

__________________
Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto