Would YOU Take A BMW 550i Sport OR A 535i M-Sport? Are You All About The POWER Or LOOKS??

Erm... trade either in for the M3.

A car's apperance is important to me. It has to look good to me. I'm just not into BMW's current styling language. It's not ugly any more, now that Flame Surface is gone (thank goodness!) It's just not my cup of tea. And I drive a BMW now (which I love), so I'm not slamming the brand or the car.

So to answer your question, I'd keep walking right past BMW's show room. I'm sure this post will piss off a lot of readers for not sharing their taste in sheet metal.

blazinboy: Funny, I don't hear BMW using the term "Flame Surfce" any more than I hear them saying "Bangle Inspired." I might be wrong, and just not be *exposed* to BMW talking about it. Could you please point me to refences of BMW (not outside media) talking about how "Flame Surface" styling is used in today's generation of cars?

In any event, the point I'm making is that BMW's ugly duckling styling (e.g., previous generation 5) and bored-looking designs (e.g., the face on the previous 6) have been replaced with something more attractive -- what we see in the current generation of sheetmetal rolling out of BMW. Still, not what appeals to me, but definitely way more attractive.

blazingboy, how can BMW pioneer a design quirk in 2002 Z4 when a 1999 Toyota Celica features the very same thing?

blazinboy: My question to you still stands. Please be so kind as to point to where *BMW* is referring to their current stlyling as "Flame Surface". I know that's what *you* call it. I just don't agree with you. I'm asking you for proof that BMW agrees with you.

A 535d with the M sport pacage would be good enough for me. Plenty of power for where I drive. Merging would never be an issue and the fuel economy would be great!

your talking half a second faster at most 0 to 60 i would take 535 m sport and take the x drive too

Who cares? 001, post about anything else than BMW, OK? How about comparing the 5-series to something else instead of trying to make your BMW autospies-traffic quota?

BTW, I would take the 535M, it looks sweet. :)

I'd take the 550i and DINAN tune it to 500hp and get the M aero kit after :)

550i.

My heart says 550i, but my wallet says 535i.

it's just a few thousand dollars difference when optioned the same. 65 or 69k...who cares.

i bought the 535i. more than enough power. and a massive v8 to sit in traffic just seemed wasteful.

bought the 535i.

Can't complain about either. But I'd take the 550. It really hauls tail.

I'd prefer the M Sport on any 5-Series but I'd take a 550i without or or a 535i with it. The 550 is almost too fast. It pulls like a freight train, especially on the highway. Floor it at 60 and you're over 100mph before you can blink, and I swear it's accelerating faster at that point than it does at normal speeds. Makes me wonder how ridiculous the M5 is going to be.

But we all know the greater the speed the slower you accelerate. Well, unless you're driving a Formula One :)

535 m for me