The BMW M5 Goes Head-To-Head With The M550d xDrive - WHICH Is The Better Sport Sedan?

It almost seems laughable that the BMW M5 is even being compared side-by-side with a diesel. But you have to remember that diesel technology has seen some serious advancements that make it less chattery, much cleaner and a ton of torque-filled fun.

And the all-new M5 is one of those fabled cars that's -- once again -- being lauded over by the press. According to some reports, it's the best one yet. Others, on the other hand, have not been so flattering.

The M550d xDrive is really the first of its kind -- it's the first of the M Performance vehicles, which is a new class for BMW. What we've been wondering is if the diesel-powered machine will be sporty enough. Given that M put the iconic badge on it, we assume it has to have some serious credentials.

All of that said, we never thought we'd see the day a true M car goes head-to-head with a DIESEL but then again, we never thought we'd see BMW make a lot of the moves it has in recent years.

**Take a look at the test's results below and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!!




1st place: BMW M550d x-Drive (512/700 points, 73,1 %)

• Weight: 2040 kg
• 0-100 km/h: 5,2 s
• 0-160 km/h: 12,0 s
• Braking (100-0 km/h), warm: 35,6 m
• Noise at 130 km/h: 69 dB(A)
• Average fuel consumption: 9,2 l / 100 km

2nd place: BMW M5 (495/700 points, 70,7 %)

• Weight: 1950 kg
• 0-100 km/h: 4,4 s
• 0-160 km/h: 8,6 s
• Braking (100-0 km/h), warm: 33,9 m
• Noise at 130 km/h: 72 dB(A)
• Average fuel consumption: 11,6 l / 100 km

Driving Center Groß Dölln laptimes:
1:30.11 min - BMW M5
1:33.55 min - BMW M550d x-Drive


Verdict:
The diesel M won because of its comfort and fine-tuning: great balance between sportiness and everyday usability. Less costs. The M5 is a first-class sportsaloon.

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chewy - 6/5/2012 1:14:10 AM

+1 Boost

The M550d Xdrive doesn't look to be any quicker than the 550i. I know there was tons of hype about it before it came out because of the M name attached and everyone was expecting some crazy acceleration but it's no M5 in that regard and doesn't look to be any quicker than the 550i. It did get 25% better mpg though.

chewy - 6/5/2012 8:41:13 PM

+1 Boost

Considering the 10% premium over the 550xi shouldn't one expect it to be a little closer in performance. I haven't seen a head to head comparison with the new Audi bi-turbo V6 but looking at separate comparisons it looks like the M550d xDrive is only a couple tenths quicker in most acceleration categories than the 313 horsepower A6 Avant TDI. I would have expected a bigger difference.

valhallakey - 6/5/2012 1:15:37 AM

+4 Boost

Depends on what you want and how much you want to spend on it.

bigheadmazda - 6/5/2012 4:13:28 PM

+5 Boost

I agree. The M5 has had a tough week.

pepito66 - 6/5/2012 5:13:57 PM

0 Boost

Wow two monsters , both are great...

jeffy210 - 6/5/2012 7:25:18 PM

0 Boost

And sadly, the US does not get the M550d :-(