[isapple]

Hi all - I'm looking to lease my 5 series and personally think it looks great.

How does the M60 fare as a daily? I've been on the fence between 540i and M60 since with the NJ rebates and no sales tax, they both come out to a similar drive off costs (540i actually is like a bit more expensive). Charging won't really be an issue and I probably won't use the car to go very far. Would be a first time EV owner so I have no clue on the "ideal zone" and other factors when it comes to owning an EV except for obvious things like the charging situation and such.

I currently lease an 2021 Audi A5 sportback 45 tfsi.

I test drove the i5 M60 and wow it was a monster - I loved the speed on it (gf didnt lol). However I found the pedal a little sensitive as any pressure would just fling that thing forward. Interiors are identical (except for bowers and wilkins) so that is a wash.

I've only been able to test drive a 530i and found it a bit unimpressive since the HP is basically the same as my Audi but the 530i weighs like 500 lbs more. Honestly it felt like it was struggling a bit on the hill I was test driving on. Will the 540 be significantly better with the added 100 hp?

Also will be a first time BMW owner so I don't have that much reference data in my head - would really appreciate you guys' wisdom here! I'm set on getting either the m60 or 540i though.

Thanks in advance!

[RichardInCA]

Originally Posted by isapple

Hi all - I'm looking to lease my 5 series and personally think it looks great.

How does the M60 fare as a daily? I've been on the fence between 540i and M60 since with the NJ rebates and no sales tax, they both come out to a similar drive off costs (540i actually is like a bit more expensive). Charging won't really be an issue and I probably won't use the car to go very far. Would be a first time EV owner so I have no clue on the "ideal zone" and other factors when it comes to owning an EV except for obvious things like the charging situation and such.

I currently lease an 2021 Audi A5 sportback 45 tfsi.

I test drove the i5 M60 and wow it was a monster - I loved the speed on it (gf didnt lol). However I found the pedal a little sensitive as any pressure would just fling that thing forward. Interiors are identical (except for bowers and wilkins) so that is a wash.

I've only been able to test drive a 530i and found it a bit unimpressive since the HP is basically the same as my Audi but the 530i weighs like 500 lbs more. Honestly it felt like it was struggling a bit on the hill I was test driving on. Will the 540 be significantly better with the added 100 hp?

Also will be a first time BMW owner so I don't have that much reference data in my head - would really appreciate you guys' wisdom here! I'm set on getting either the m60 or 540i though.

Thanks in advance!

I’ve got 5months and nearly 4K miles on my M60 as a daily driver and it’s phenomenal. I think you adjust very easily to the throttle sensitivity and it varies quite dramatically by driving mode - if you put it into the efficient mode, the throttle reponse dulls right down relative to say Sport mode. I tool around in personal mode most of the time and find it very easy to use. I don’t accidentally lay down 600hp of whipass while trying to park, if that’s what might be in the back of your mind. You can drive this thing like a little kitten or an angry lion without any risk of mixing those things up.

The ride quality is really just excellent, and I appreciate that I’m not burning gas or just getting hot when I’m unlucky enough to be in heavy traffic.

The other key thing - not sure if this is true with the 540 - the IAS/all wheel steer is like voodoo magic. It’s crazy how maneuverable this car is with the all wheel steer, you can get into tight spaces that you really shouldn’t be able to manage.

Lastly, and key for me - charging is just effortless - I have L2 at home and at work, and haven’t touched a DC fast charger for months. My range has been great - typically 270-280miles based off solid and reproducible 3.4mi/kWh efficiency.

[Theophilus]

I would personally go with the 540i. As an i5 M60 owner, I can say it is a great car, but it's an EV, which has plenty of negatives to along with the positives. I think any EV—even the i5 which drives great—is essentially a disposable connected device unlike the cars of old which were made to last a long time.

Once there is a used market for my i5, I may sell it and get something more traditional.

[isapple]

Originally Posted by Theophilus

I would personally go with the 540i. As an i5 M60 owner, I can say it is a great car, but it's an EV, which has plenty of negatives to along with the positives. I think any EV—even the i5 which drives great—is essentially a disposable connected device unlike the cars of old which were made to last a long time.

Once there is a used market for my i5, I may sell it and get something more traditional.

I was thinking something along the same lines. It looks like ICE is on its way out and there will be plenty of opportunities in the future for a powerful electric car. Only reason why I'm debating is because of the 7.5k lease cash + 0% sales tax on EV's that makes a 90k car comparable to a 74k car lol. Thanks for the insight!

[isapple]

Originally Posted by RichardInCA

I think you adjust very easily to the throttle sensitivity and it varies quite dramatically by driving mode - if you put it into the efficient mode, the throttle reponse dulls right down relative to say Sport mode. I tool around in personal mode most of the time and find it very easy to use. I don’t accidentally lay down 600hp of whipass while trying to park, if that’s what might be in the back of your mind. You can drive this thing like a little kitten or an angry lion without any risk of mixing those things up.

Good to know that the different modes changes the response time - thanks for that. Do you ever wish you went with the 540?

[bmw_maniac]

For the type of daily use you describe, an EV will be perfect. Your car will always be fully charged every morning.

For reference, I used to drive a BMW 550i (F10), then a Tesla Model S, and now an i5 eDrive 40. The i5 is by far the best car. Only thing missing are massage seats.

[RichardInCA]

Originally Posted by isapple

Good to know that the different modes changes the response time - thanks for that. Do you ever wish you went with the 540?

Nope, never looked back. I don’t want to speak for Theophilus but I know he recently had a bad experience road tripping with charging and range. That’s not been my experience at all, and the tech has been flawless for me. This is my first EV and the experience has been great. I’ve had PLENTY of repair/replace bills with ICE before so I don’t really view ICE as being more durable than EV’s personally.

The key factor you don’t mention is whether you want to buy or lease - I assume you might be leasing which gets better discounts on EV’s, in which case long term ownership is a moot point. I’m leasing and plan to move with the technology as my lease is up, but I’m very happy I went EV so far.

We have other ICE vehicles in our household so it’s important to note that I’m not 100% reliant on EV as my only transportation option.

[COBodom]

If you're leasing and the EV gimmicky range is not an issue then get the M60. The EV will be very quick, it will lease better and can be equipped better (rear steering).

This is coming from a guy who had two 540 G30 and just got a G60 540.

I hope one fine day range/charging won't be such an inconvenience. I will then subscribe to the EV religion too, voluntarily that is without the government's "encouragement"

[digriz]

The M60 works great for me. It’s my daily driver and in most cases I drive no more than 200 miles a day. I recharge at home most of the times, and only occasionally do I ever need to use a Level 3 fast charger.

I did learn a lot before I decided to go for an EV, so I was aware of many potential issues before buying, and I went for it because it worked in my case. The power, maneuverability, and comfort this car gives me result in a truly superior driving experience. But everyone’s context is different, and what fits my needs may not fit someone else’s.

Not sure if it helps, but that’s my 2c.

[tsbrown]

I own the old generation G30 540i M sport and have test driven the new G60 530i non sport and 540iX M Sport. To me the 530i non sport was very dull, about like driving a 7 year old Camry.

OTOH, the 540iX M sport drives like a traditional sporty BMW should, other than it’s bigger than the old generation. It really was night/day difference. It doesn’t have the adjustable dampers or rear wheel steering like the i5 M60 and those additional features would make the 540i much better.

While the charging network is possibly adequate currently in some regions it will certainly improve. Europe seems to be a good bit ahead of the US in this respect based on what I saw there last fall. There are those here that haven’t had issues and those that have. But I’m a contrarian around here and believe ICE cars will be around for a while so would recommend a closer look at the 540iX, especially M sport.

[Theophilus]

I just read this and thought I would add to the conversation about EVs. I had a rough idea about some of these issues before, but didn’t realize the extent of it if this article is to be believed.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/evs-climate-agenda-national-security-threat-weaken-ultimately-destroy-expert-warns

[pfannenstiel]

Originally Posted by Theophilus

I just read this and thought I would add to the conversation about EVs. I had a rough idea about some of these issues before, but didn’t realize the extent of it if this article is to be believed.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/ev...y-expert-warns

This article is riddled with inaccuracies and he seems be a most unserious writer.

[RJH52]

I went with the 540i because I didn’t want my first BMW to be electric. The car to me has plenty of power and gets up to speeds quickly.

[Scrapula]

I have had my i5 M60 for 4 months. I went full EV because my husband already had an EV with a home charger installed. Without a home charger, I probably would not have bought an EV. There are fast chargers 5 minutes from my house, but it’s always raining out and you can get pretty wet while getting connected. Yesterday, I got home. My car was at 50%. Parked, plugged in, went inside. It’s way more convenient than stopping for fuel in an ICE car or hybrid.

My car has been perfect for commuting and running errands. It’s dead quiet and the ride is smooth and comfortable. The B&W sound system is quite good. It makes for a relaxing commute. I don’t even get aggravated at traffic, because sitting in the car is pleasant. Comfortable seats and a great stereo. I require AWD where I live. There are lots of hills and the roads are usually wet. I’ve not touched the boost paddle once, as the car has ample acceleration for daily driving. If the X drive was out last year, I would have bought that over the M60.

[JMD]

[QUOTE= I don’t accidentally lay down 600hp of whipass while trying to park[/QUOTE]

LOL! Luv this line...