E39 530i to E60 530i - will it feel faster?

[da_murphster]

It seems the book speed for the E39 530i (231 bhp) I currently own are very similar to the E60 530i (272bhp) I am looking at.

I was hoping for a slight performance increase - anyone made the same move?

Finding it difficult to confirm the weight and 0-60?

E39:

According to BMW:
0-60 in seconds - 6.8 for manual trans. / 7.5 for automatic
kerb is 1605 kg


E60:

Kerb Weight 1565 kg
Gross Weight 2090 kg

Edited by da_murphster on Wednesday 25th February 22:25

[philmots]

With that much extra power it will feel quicker.. I'd recommend the V8 though.

[Fox-]

It doesn't feel much quicker because almost all of the power is further up the rev range, so unless you really wring it out it's very similar to the E39. Which when you look at the torque figure is not surprising, its very similar to that of the E39 - only 20nm despite an extra 50bhp.

Not sure I'd upgrade. Hang onto the E39 and move to an F10 later on.

[andyeds1234]

Fox- said:

It doesn't feel much quicker because almost all of the power is further up the rev range, so unless you really wring it out it's very similar to the E39. Which when you look at the torque figure is not surprising, its very similar to that of the E39 - only 20nm despite an extra 50bhp.

Not sure I'd upgrade. Hang onto the E39 and move to an F10 later on.

This...
Skip the E60, its newer, but not better.
Having owned several versions of e39, e60, and f10, IMHO the e60 comes in 3rd.

[hornetrider]

Having owned an E39T and an E61, the E39 comes second. Upgrade if you fancy it, it's a lot more modern.

[da_murphster]

I really like my e39 but I could do with an estate and my budget does not run to a f10.

Might hang out for a 550i instead but getting bored of waiting!

[hornetrider]

Oh you're the guy that emailed me

[jboy72]

hornetrider said:

Having owned an E39T and an E61, the E39 comes second. Upgrade if you fancy it, it's a lot more modern.

Agreed, e39 530i v e61 550i - no contest, in favour of the latter

[jboy72]

jboy72 said:

Agreed, I owned an e39 530i and now a e61 550i - there is no contest, in favour of the latter

[andyeds1234]

jboy72 said:

Agreed, e39 530i v e61 550i - no contest, in favour of the latter

I too, would take the e61 550i over the e39 530i, but that wasn't the OPs question.
e39 530i to e61 530i? I wouldn't, having owned both.
That 4.8 v8 would let me overlook the e60s foibles though.

Edited by andyeds1234 on Thursday 26th February 16:32

[S800VXR]

Not driven an E39 but been in one and my LCI 530 auto is far superior in every way! Respectable off the line, cruises faultlessly and goes well when reved hard. It's still Shyte in very cold wet weather though, goes sideways without trying.

[abarber]

Have a look here, all on the same dyno. Note that it's the N52 shown here, the N53 should be better still.

The N52/3 has quite a bit more torque through the rev range. It won't feel night and day, but should be noticeable. They do need revving though, not great with an auto box.

http://www.dyno-plot.co.uk/dyno/dynoplot/id%3D786_...

Edited by abarber on Saturday 28th February 10:47

[The Stiglet]

I remember running late for the ferry back from Calais in my old E39 540i sport. Caught up in traffic, a British plated E60 530i decided he was going to park himself 3 feet behind my bumper and weave around as if I were holding him up. Once space permitted it was hilarious how quickly he fell off the back and still trying his ardest!

My point? Get a V8

[KiwiBMW]

The Stiglet said:

a British plated E60 530i decided he was going to park himself 3 feet behind my bumper . . . it was hilarious how quickly he fell off the back and still trying his ardest!

My point? Get a V8

Hmmm. You found a plonker E60 driver and this proves which is the better car??? Lot of laughs. I think it comes down to these factors (and the question is 530i: E39 or E60?). First, the E60 is a lighter car and with a better 6-spd box over the E39's 5-spd. That, with fractionally better torque, makes the E60 distinctly quicker in a straight line. But the E60 has awful, and I mean truly awful steering, compared with the E39's absolutely beautiful, perfectly weighted rack 'n pinion steering (which is not fitted to the V8). It is this, and the wonderful chassis, that makes the E39 the clear driver's choice. It is interesting to see in our market (New Zealand, where the country roads just BEG you to go for it) that the last of the good E39s are level or higher priced than the early E60s, with like miles and like condition. The E39 has 'elegant classic' written all over it. Can we imagine collectors in 10 years time getting all excited about an E60?

But, Stiglet, coming back to your point, I'm with you here in that you don't really expect an E60 driver to be an enthusiast (M5s sort of excepted). If it's a well kept E39, esp in Sport config. like yours, there's an automatic respect. You assume he's a 'driver'.

[da_murphster]

KiwiBMW said:

Hmmm. You found a plonker E60 driver and this proves which is the better car??? Lot of laughs. I think it comes down to these factors (and the question is 530i: E39 or E60?). First, the E60 is a lighter car and with a better 6-spd box over the E39's 5-spd. That, with fractionally better torque, makes the E60 distinctly quicker in a straight line. But the E60 has awful, and I mean truly awful steering, compared with the E39's absolutely beautiful, perfectly weighted rack 'n pinion steering (which is not fitted to the V8). It is this, and the wonderful chassis, that makes the E39 the clear driver's choice. It is interesting to see in our market (New Zealand, where the country roads just BEG you to go for it) that the last of the good E39s are level or higher priced than the early E60s, with like miles and like condition. The E39 has 'elegant classic' written all over it. Can we imagine collectors in 10 years time getting all excited about an E60?

But, Stiglet, coming back to your point, I'm with you here in that you don't really expect an E60 driver to be an enthusiast (M5s sort of excepted). If it's a well kept E39, esp in Sport config. like yours, there's an automatic respect. You assume he's a 'driver'.

I really think my E39 is one of the best cars I have owned and I still really enjoy a decent road in it.

But I need an estate.

What makes it worse is that I will almost definitely have to get an E61 auto as the manuals are never for sale.

Slightly depressing knowing that £10k+ of upgrade will probably end up with a car that is not as good to drive and probably be harder to maintain!