[Mattl0806]

Hey Everyone,

Curious to here owners feedback on the driving comfort of the i5 m60.

I had an m550 for a bit and thought it was quite comfortable but would still crash on some potholes and rougher roads. But overall pretty smooth. Can anyone compare the two having owned both?

Also, being a lower sedan the m550 didn’t have a lot of suspension travel so on highways I found the car would go up and down a lot with the road undulations making for a busier ride at times- possible the i5 m60 could make this even worse if it does not settle as quickly but then again the lower COG could help.. Would love to hear some feedback.

Also - anyone regret the purchase? After having read all the possible threads out there, it seems feedback is split btw happy owners, reviewers are mixed, and tons of non-owner hate lol.

Thanks!

[RichardInCA]

I can’t compare to the M550, but am comparing to a 3 series with sports suspension - the i5M60 (w/20” rims) just soaks up road imperfections. It’s incredibly smooth/composed. In sport mode I find that it does tighten up nicely in the corners, but there’s no substitute for taking a test drive on roads you know.

[Ossian]

Coming out of a G30 530e with adaptive M-Sport suspension, I find the M60 to be an interesting beast. There are a couple of uneven roads spots and a big pothole or two that I invariably hit on my commute, and they absolutely feel much harsher than they did in my last car, which I interpret subjectively as less suspension travel.

That lack of travel also translates to a somewhat busier ride on imperfect highways (which are all the highways in Texas) but I believe that the very low COG and the mass of the battery pack do help. It's not teeth-chattering harsh, but it is noticeable, and my family have all remarked on the stiffness vs; my previous BMW's. - but that's only when hitting a pothole, seam, or abrupt dip.

That said, for such a massive vehicle, the chassis tuning is brilliant and on smoother roads it is a dream in all driving modes. I've been impressed with the lack of body lean, even without DHP (which was not available yet in the US when I leased). Bottom line, I enjoy the driving dynamics more than I did my G30, it's extremely composed and comfortable 95% of the time, and the occasional bumps don't bother me -- I only think about them when I hit those same spots in our X5 with air suspension and don't feel them at all! It's the price for sport tuning and if I wanted a hovercraft I would've gone 7 Series.

I never did more than test drive the M550, but remembering the suspension discussions back when I got my G30, I can imagine that there are similarities between it and the M60 -- will be quite interested to hear from others who have owned both.

[Trevor G]

Ride is plenty smooth even on NY city roads. Going out to Montauk point Long Island, driving down to VA and up north to Buffalo NY I have no complaints about the ride. When the road is smooth the ride is perfect. An undulation on the highway and the car settles with just one motion. I avoid potholes like the plague though, have not hit one yet in 18K miles (knock on real wood trim). Only time when I had a bad ride was when I had a chassis fault message pop up and I guess the car set the suspension to max stiffness. That was no fun on a ride back from Montauk Point on Sunrise highway. The fault went away the next start and has been great since.

[MikeElmendorf]

I went from a 2021 M550 (best car I’ve ever owned, of many, overall) to my i5 M60.

The ride on the M550 was great—surprisingly better than my prior 2018 540–but the M60 is even smoother.

M550 might have a slight edge on handling, owing to its significantly lower weight, but even there what BMW engineered in terms of the handling on the M60 is beyond impressive.

[Mark444444]

I’m coming from a 2014 535i with DHP and 19” wheels and while I miss the handling of the DHP, the ride itself is night and day better. I have the 20” wheels on the m60 and driving around Philly in any mode has been smooth and comfortable. No complaints.

[Mattl0806]

Thank you all for your responses. Very helpful feedback! Sounds like the m60 would be a little softer than the m550 and this in line with the g60 vs g30 models overall.

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by Ossian

Coming out of a G30 530e with adaptive M-Sport suspension, I find the M60 to be an interesting beast. There are a couple of uneven roads spots and a big pothole or two that I invariably hit on my commute, and they absolutely feel much harsher than they did in my last car, which I interpret subjectively as less suspension travel.

That lack of travel also translates to a somewhat busier ride on imperfect highways (which are all the highways in Texas) but I believe that the very low COG and the mass of the battery pack do help. It's not teeth-chattering harsh, but it is noticeable, and my family have all remarked on the stiffness vs; my previous BMW's. - but that's only when hitting a pothole, seam, or abrupt dip.

That said, for such a massive vehicle, the chassis tuning is brilliant and on smoother roads it is a dream in all driving modes. I've been impressed with the lack of body lean, even without DHP (which was not available yet in the US when I leased). Bottom line, I enjoy the driving dynamics more than I did my G30, it's extremely composed and comfortable 95% of the time, and the occasional bumps don't bother me — I only think about them when I hit those same spots in our X5 with air suspension and don't feel them at all! It's the price for sport tuning and if I wanted a hovercraft I would've gone 7 Series.

I never did more than test drive the M550, but remembering the suspension discussions back when I got my G30, I can imagine that there are similarities between it and the M60 — will be quite interested to hear from others who have owned both.

Have you driving any other m-tuned products to compare the i5 to? Such as the x3 m40 or x5 m50/m60?

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by Trevor G

Ride is plenty smooth even on NY city roads. Going out to Montauk point Long Island, driving down to VA and up north to Buffalo NY I have no complaints about the ride. When the road is smooth the ride is perfect. An undulation on the highway and the car settles with just one motion. I avoid potholes like the plague though, have not hit one yet in 18K miles (knock on real wood trim). Only time when I had a bad ride was when I had a chassis fault message pop up and I guess the car set the suspension to max stiffness. That was no fun on a ride back from Montauk Point on Sunrise highway. The fault went away the next start and has been great since.

Live in the nyc/LI area too.
Have found some of the m tune products to be a bit too stiffy and busy on the highways here - worst by far x3 m40.
Have you had any other relevant cars in the past to compare too?

I’ve got an x5 40i w/ air suspension on order but my wife said I’d be a fool for not converting to electric with my commute (102 miles 3-4 days) so I’ve been doing a little exploring before signing any papers. I really like what I’ve experienced so far with the i5 m60. But they are hard to find for a test drive. Had 1 5 minute ride so far.

[bmwterp]

Had a M550 and now leasing a I5M60.

They are different cars. Other than being BMW's and maybe the dial that controls the idrive system, I can't think of really any other similarities. They are also very different experiences.

First and foremost, I always recommend that you are good with the electric car life. If you will need to do a lot of long distance driving, I would research the charging network. It's pretty bad. Also, electric cars are heavy and of course don't have that engine noise. You definitely loose some of that driving experience.

Now, if you are good with the charging, want a super comfortable soft ride and all the latest tech, the I5M60 is a fantastic car.

Overall, I loved my M550. That's probably my favorite car ever. I have to say I do miss it. But, I'm a new tech guy...So, its hard for me to go back on the tech. Overall, I am still very happy.

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by bmwterp

Had a M550 and now leasing a I5M60.

They are different cars. Other than being BMW's and maybe the dial that controls the idrive system, I can't think of really any other similarities. They are also very different experiences.

First and foremost, I always recommend that you are good with the electric car life. If you will need to do a lot of long distance driving, I would research the charging network. It's pretty bad. Also, electric cars are heavy and of course don't have that engine noise. You definitely loose some of that driving experience.

Now, if you are good with the charging, want a super comfortable soft ride and all the latest tech, the I5M60 is a fantastic car.

Overall, I loved my M550. That's probably my favorite car ever. I have to say I do miss it. But, I'm a new tech guy...So, its hard for me to go back on the tech. Overall, I am still very happy.

Thank you for the thoughtful response. Looking back - I got out of my m550 too fast. It truly was a great car.

Super comfortable soft ride is what I want.
Electric - ehh not entirely sold, but it does fit my commute and I would get a home charger. it’s the way to get a cool fast car right now with the latest gear.

[RichardInCA]

Originally Posted by Mattl0806

Live in the nyc/LI area too.
Have found some of the m tune products to be a bit too stiffy and busy on the highways here - worst by far x3 m40.
Have you had any other relevant cars in the past to compare too?

I’ve got an x5 40i w/ air suspension on order but my wife said I’d be a fool for not converting to electric with my commute (102 miles 3-4 days) so I’ve been doing a little exploring before signing any papers. I really like what I’ve experienced so far with the i5 m60. But they are hard to find for a test drive. Had 1 5 minute ride so far.

Will you get the chance to take it for another drive some time? Also wondering if you’re able to really put it through its paces in such a scenario. The M60 really feels docile/calm when you’re just driving around, but feels very different when you get to floor it in sport mode.

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by RichardInCA

Will you get the chance to take it for another drive some time? Also wondering if you’re able to really put it through its paces in such a scenario. The M60 really feels docile/calm when you’re just driving around, but feels very different when you get to floor it in sport mode.

Hopefully Going to try to find another car to drive there really are not many around as a lot of them are caught up in the stop sale.

My main concern is just how it will feel on the daily drive. I wanted air suspension to just glide over I95 highway rumble where some other cars I’ve had you go up and down and sideways as you’re going through it. It’s not like those cars were super rough and cranky feeling but rather Just a feeling of being tossed around constantly and not relaxing at all. I don’t need that on a daily basis.

The IX without air suspension is an example of what I do not like very bouncy compared to say an x5 50e

[SkykingUSA]

Both i5 models have air suspension in the rear. If you decide to go all-electric with an i5, I recommend leasing it. That way, you can take advantage of the $7,500 discount that BMW will provide in addition to whatever other discounts you can negotiate and/or are eligible for. Even if you don't want to lease, but want to buy - there is nothing stopping you from purchasing the vehicle early so you can still take advantage of the $7500 EV lease discount.

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

Both i5 models have air suspension in the rear. If you decide to go all-electric with an i5, I recommend leasing it. That way, you can take advantage of the $7,500 discount that BMW will provide in addition to whatever other discounts you can negotiate and/or are eligible for. Even if you don't want to lease, but want to buy - there is nothing stopping you from purchasing the vehicle early so you can still take advantage of the $7500 EV lease discount.

Definitely smart advice.
All over the lease deals on these cars. It’s what makes them so appealing. Throw in a broker 10% discount and you’re leasing a 95k sticker for about the same as your typical 75k bmw.

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

Both i5 models have air suspension in the rear. If you decide to go all-electric with an i5, I recommend leasing it. That way, you can take advantage of the $7,500 discount that BMW will provide in addition to whatever other discounts you can negotiate and/or are eligible for. Even if you don't want to lease, but want to buy - there is nothing stopping you from purchasing the vehicle early so you can still take advantage of the $7500 EV lease discount.

Just wanted to respond specifically to the lease to buy comment. It’s a little less straight forward as the financing option has its perks too. When financing bmw offers a $5000 incentive plus the same 1500 loyalty. So the difference is only 2500. They also give you promotional financing of 2.99 % of 60 months.

So if you were to lease then purchase it as a used car you would pay used car rates. If you are financing 75k at 6% instead of 2.99% over 60 months you will pay 6000 more in interest over the 5 years…

[Ossian]

Originally Posted by Mattl0806

Have you driving any other m-tuned products to compare the i5 to? Such as the x3 m40 or x5 m50/m60?

Only on test drives and most recently that was a G82 M4 comp that I briefly flirted with before settling on the far more sensible M60. Definitely not a fair comparison between the two suspensions. The only other comparison I have is the F30 I had prior to my G30. That car had the track handling package with adaptive M sport, and I never expected 5er ride quality from it.

As others have said, take an extended test drive on varied road surfaces and see what you think. It's a great cruiser and the lack of ICE noise makes it nicely serene on the highway.

[Trevor G]

[QUOTE=Mattl0806;31476583]Live in the nyc/LI area too.
Have found some of the m tune products to be a bit too stiffy and busy on the highways here - worst by far x3 m40.
Have you had any other relevant cars in the past to compare too?

I’ve got an x5 40i w/ air suspension on order but my wife said I’d be a fool for not converting to electric with my commute (102 miles 3-4 days) so I’ve been doing a little exploring before signing any papers. I really like what I’ve experienced so far with the i5 m60. But they are hard to find for a test drive. Had 1 5 minute ride so far.

I drive 100 miles a day for work also. Belt and Southern State prkwys. Previous car was a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu Premier and it is by no means a sporty car. Ride was always nice in the chevy but the i5 M60 is miles above. I use 30% battery power per commute and plug in every night. Costs me about 5 dollars per commute instead of 15 in the gad powered Malibu. Haberstadt BMW of Bayshore has some i5s.

[Mattl0806]

Thanks! Haberstadt Huntington shares the same cars and the oxide grey m60 is up in Huntington. That’s where I drove it but it was a short drive. Unfortunately I think ive worn out my welcome there. They know I use brokers and will not give them business when they are offering only 2k off the m60. Brokers are 10%. So I may try Freeport or drive all the way to south Hampton ! Bmw smithtown won’t let anyone test drive their stop sale cars. Other dealers don’t seem to care..

[Mattl0806]

Curious to also hear why you guys choose I5 over the IX? Anything rise standout besides the obvious major difference in looks?

[SkykingUSA]

Originally Posted by Mattl0806

Curious to also hear why you guys choose I5 over the IX? Anything rise standout besides the obvious major difference in looks?

For me, I wanted a sedan. No need for a Sport Utility Vehicle. I spent the past 20+ years driving a pickup truck and wanted something that looked classy and luxurious in comparison. To me, SUVs are as their name implies - "utility" vehicles. I have no need for a utility vehicle (no kids, no dog) and wanted a slick looking sedan.

I went electric because I wanted to save money on gas prices (which are very expensive here in southern California), wanted a quiet ride, and wanted something that felt responsive like the V8 I had grown used to.

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by Mattl0806

Curious to also hear why you guys choose I5 over the IX? Anything rise standout besides the obvious major difference in looks?

I considered both but went iX because I like the extra room and the availability of many higher end features (4 zone climate, better leather, electrochromic roof, massage seats, soft close doors, B&W diamond) that just aren't available on the i5 (at least in the US).