PHOTO GALLERY: Spies finish BMW rally in high style- Day two

Did you enjoy your frappuccino?

rgr that

Nice pictures.

Exsquisite Scenery- looks like a Beirstadt.

...that should be "exquisite"

Oh hell: that should read Bierstadt.

Damnit, i wish i knew you guys were gonna be here. I live in monterey.

001 is here till around 10am on thurs.

The team is at the monterey plaza...

001

If i could get off work i would be there in a second. If you guys go to the warf and a skinny 20 year old guys with piercings hits you guys up for some donations, tell him tyler said hi, and he owes me a beer.

It's so beautiful - where is it?

Monterey, CA.

Interesting cup holder position.

Love the new 5 series..wish i had one though..but unfortunately i live on an island with horrible roads

yea, right

a BMW unstable

lol

001

I know that tunnel, I got some amazing shots there when I took a road trip around the West Coast last summer.

001 / 004

So how in the world did someone flip a 5-series? I had the opportunity to drive an X3 extremely hard in an autocross, and it was rock solid....I would have imagined the 5-series to be even more so...

We were told it hit some gravel on a turn, slid over the edge of a rural road and flipped at least two times...see photos of it in the gallery

001

Man, good thing he was in a high-quality car when the accident happened. I hope for a speedy recovery.

it's 001's Canon SD800 - a point and shoot camera that also does video - all handheld. I was in charge of the "stable" video, but that was done on real video gear, so post production is longer. These small clips are just a way to get video up fast to show it as we shoot it. Cutting corners in the 5 series is rock solid, trying to hold a 7oz camera out in front of you is hard :).

Chip-

I can't believe BMW don't sell their cars with the M Sport package in the US. I'm a BMW and love the way they look anyway but the M Sport versions of the 3-Series and 5-Series on sale in Europe are just on another level...they really do look like "sport sedans".

BMW FAN ;)

As we'll cover later, the BMW 535 was the absolute biggest surprise this week. Its power was amazing, and when compared to the price of a 550, it is a hard sell to spend the extra money. A very hard sell. So in order for BMW to not kill itself with its own cars, they offer certain packages on certain trim levels and the M Aero Sport Package is only available on the 550. A very smart move by BMW, because the kit looks SO good, I would probably jump up to the 550, even though I like the engine in the 535 more.

Chip-

LOL, "I'm a BMW..."

I am getting a 335 beacause with the ~400lbs lighter weight of the 3-series and an aftermarket black box (increase boost / remap fuel) is installed it will just own a 550.

I have a 335 with the Vishnu kit, and it is incredible! It blows the doors off everything on the road.

I wish they'd give the 535 a more aggressive front fascia, similar to the M5, with a more pronounced central scoop...

Test a 335 coupe the other day, and I must admit that engine is EPIC; have a lovely note, and please for goodness sake, buy the MANUAL...

I really like the Alpine White on that M5.

I like it so much, I bought one. :)

Just had it for a week, and still getting used to SMG and iDrive. The number of programmable features that you can perform in this car is impressive….and daunting. Unfortunately, to get all things right I had to go through the manual page-per-page.

The V10 is spectacular and addictive….even if I’m still in the break-in period.

It’s very appropriate that you have a picture of the M5 in a gas station…cause you’re gonna be visiting it often …lol.

SMG is not as bad as I thought it would be. My first experience with it was when I test drove the M6, and even if the 1-2 upshift could be smoother, IMO --- it’s not any harsher a 6-spd manual. There’s still a learning curve if you’ve been driving a manual all your life, but that’s part of the M5’s appeal to me. I’m sure once I master it, the driving experience will be even better. Love the matching revs downshifting.

Also surprisingly, this M5 is a lot easier to drive around town than my E46 M3.

Do you have the time to write an article on it? I'm interested in the engine and transmission, because I can't choose whether to look at the 650i or M6 convertibles for my next car... is the M worth the extra money? Because even if it just comes down to $90K vs. $105K, the six figures is a huge psychological difference...

*Convertible. I thought I had erased the "s."

S4 I would get the M6, the 650 is just not quite there. Its a great GT, but for an enthusiast, you'll be disapointed with it. Another note, you must drive the M6 (after the break in period) with the "M" button ON. This makes it a totally different car.