because the reliability of the M5 is pathetic and the E55 has more usable power around town.

yet another clueless comment. Brake by wire is primary and backup is still a live connection to master cylinder etc. There is a failback. BMW is just as bad.. ever read how much oil the m5 motor is burning, SMG issues, gremlins.. oh wait.. you've never owned one so you don't know... oh wait.. you've never owned an audi either or a MB for that matter...

Good point, but not sure I'd like to deal with Audi/ VW ever. Just asking for reliability problems.

So we're back to square one: get a BMW. :nanana:

i told him to look at a 550i.

My cousin has a 04 SL 65 AMG, I drove it a couple times it is ungodly fast, makes my 4.4 X5 feel like a power wheels. You can probably pick one up for $70k or less!!!

Uncle has 2003 E55 and damn it's fast as hell.

I had 05 E55 and it was an awesome car. Also, the E55 puts out more torque than the M5 makes. There are spotty issues with it, but what car doesn't have some issues? Personally, I don't think you'd do wrong with either car. Having said that, I'd like to get one of them Audi's to see how the compare.

i just traded in an AMG CL 63 for an X5. The AMG is a felony speeding ticket waiting to happen. On an open highway I'd be up to 130 mph without knowing it. amgs are twitchy and handle like race cars. they are so tight that if you sneeze you can be off the road in a heart beat. also, the amg front spoiler is so close to the ground, i was always dinging it on curbs etc. a new one costs $1400. needless to say I loved the car, but if I had kept it I would have surely lost my license. in the east at least, you can't drive fast anymore.

if you're worried about reliability stay away from 03 and 04 models
most problems are with those 2 years in the e55 and s55
05 models are better
+kleemann and you'll forget m5 even exists ;)