Around the Shop: M vs. AMG

18 May Around the Shop: M vs. AMG

So walking around the shop I realized we had two main competitors in the shop that deserved some recognition. The classic E55 AMG fairly modified and an RD Sport E60 M5 which raises the question – What would you choose, E60 M5 or E55 AMG?

Personally, I have always been a fan of BMW and the craftsmanship that the M Division has been able to produce the last 40 or so years but in recent time the down and dirty style of the masterminds at the Mercedes AMG plant has grabbed my attention. There has been countless arguments on the topic of AMG vs. M and it seems like most consumers miss the point of each.

To me Mercedes has always been more of a “get driven around in” type car and the the BMW’s have been more along the lines of a drivers type car, which I believe is unarguable to most.

In my experience with the E55 AMG’s I have learned that these cars are absolute monsters, dubbed the “Z06 killer” I think it is a very intimidating, yet sporty super sedan. Every E55 I have driven, modified or not has succeeded in providing me with a smile. The torque that these cars produce from the factory is scary as is but then you get involved with the tuning world and these cars turn into serious animals. The most popular mods for the E55 have become very available to the consumer and have been comprised with the following:
180mm ASP pulley
Long Tube Headers with cat less exhaust, x-pipe, 3.5 inch all the way back to the stop AMG tips, (Muffler choice varies)
Phenolic cooling package
Cooling reservoir (Hot track days)
Custom Tune (Choice of tuner is debatable as always)

^Compile that complete list of aftermarket modifications and you have yourself a 500+whp 650+wtrq monster of a sedan. All of this makes it a very attractive car on the used market and to put a cherry on top you can pick up most E55’s with average miles for under $30,000!

Now on to the almighty V-10 powered BMW M5! The E60 5 series was debuted in 2003 to replace its predecessor; the e39. Like with the E39 platform the M Division was late to release their latest M5 creation into the E60 platform debuting in 2005 as a 2006 model year. To many the BMW M5 is the gold standard as far as “super-sedan” car buyers are concerned.

The first BMW M5 was introduced in 1984 at the Amsterdam Motor Show utilizing a modified BMW M1 engine slammed into an E28 chassis which made it the fastest production sedan in the world at its time of introduction. I think the title still stands today with the current M5.

The E60 M5 features the 5.0L S85 V10 redlining at 8,250 rpm and producing a max output of 500 bhp and 380 lb-ft of torque. Aside from the spec list we can move into the most popular after market modifications for the E60 M5 which include the following:
Custom exhaust, headers back. (Primary cats prove to be extremely restrictive)
Underdrive pulley
Improved intake setup (Many options)
Custom tune
Suspension upgrades (Lowering Springs or Coilover conversion kits)
And the mod that I have recently been looking into that has proven extraordinary power is the Schrick cam upgrade!

All in all, when comparing both it all leads back to personal taste. If you want an all out drag machine that has become cheaper and cheaper to modify, a clean looking monster that will kill other cars at every redlight take the E55 AMG.

And if you are the type that is more about the driving experience and the type that heads to the track for the weekend then I recommend the M5.

Personally if I had to choose, it would be the E60 M5. I think the E55 AMG is an absolutely amazing vehicle that turns my head everytime I see one. The styling is spot on and fully loaded it comes with a great deal of attractive options but the problem is that I don’t love the car. Everytime I sit in an E60 M5 I am in love, the feel that you get when pressing that start button and hearing the F1-like V10 sound screaming from the exhaust. Just cruising on the expressway and having the ability to press the M button requesting the full 500bhp is just an absolute thrill!

So when when the argument is presented to me there is no “AMG vs. M” – it is simply “M” and a few other competitors that keep on trying to beat the best.