[Lucky1]

Hi, how does the M5 non-comp compare from a ride comfort perspective and steering weight to the BMW 2018 340i xdrive? I am thinking of trading mine for an M5 or Panamera (or Taycan given gas prices). I like how well damped the ride is on the 340i but the steering is slushy and handling not great. Its also smaller interior wise than I thought. Its comfortable at city cruising speeds and goes through snow like nobody’s business (important) but sometimes it makes me feel dead inside at how slushy and numb it is even with the 6 speed I have.

Don’t want to get an F90 550i for example if the steering and chassis are also slushy so thought I’d understand what the M5 is all about because I did hear it was fairly comfortable, whatever that means for a modern ///M car.

[allinon72]

Those 2 cars are drastically different and hard to compare. The M5 base is going to be considerably stiffer than a 340, especially pre-LCI. The steering will feel more performance oriented but still pretty numb on the M5, as most all BMWs are with electric steering. The biggest difference is with the tires, that’s where the M5 is going to handle considerably better than an F30, but keep in mind you’ll need winter tires for snow, ice and cold temps.

And FYI an M550 is a G30, not an F90

[Mpower1981]

Originally Posted by allinon72

Those 2 cars are drastically different and hard to compare. The M5 base is going to be considerably stiffer than a 340, especially pre-LCI. The steering will feel more performance oriented but still pretty numb on the M5, as most all BMWs are with electric steering. The biggest difference is with the tires, that’s where the M5 is going to handle considerably better than an F30, but keep in mind you’ll need winter tires for snow, ice and cold temps.

And FYI an M550 is a G30, not an F90

Agree with you on most points here, winter tires not really needed I think last winter used the my M5 on al daily base even with 20cm of snow on Michelin pilot sports the car has plenty of grip and if you put it in rwd mode a lot of fun on a closed road offcourse.

[Lucky1]

Originally Posted by Mpower1981

Agree with you on most points here, winter tires not really needed I think last winter used the my M5 on al daily base even with 20cm of snow on Michelin pilot sports the car has plenty of grip and if you put it in rwd mode a lot of fun on a closed road offcourse.

Whats your braking distance like if you need to make an emergency stop? I’m not seeing good things in this scenario.

[b_w.]

I daily my f90 in the winter and it is a tank with wint rs on. Unless the snow is really built up way better than my truck.

It is the perfect all around daily between being a ballistic missile in the summer and great in the winter. All with massaging heated or cooled seats!

[tpl.mallon]

Coming from a 2018 340i xDrive, the F90 M5 is much more planted and controlled. Ride in Comfort mode is surprisingly smooth for an M car, and it handles city cruising, highway, and even rougher roads very well. The steering is heavier and more precise than the 340i, but still a bit numb—not super “connected.” Overall, it’s a bit firmer and feels a small step up from your 340i, yet still very livable day-to-day. The interior is noticeably bigger too, so you get more space and presence without losing comfort.

[badgerman]

Not driven a F30 340i, but have owned an M140i and extensively driven my missus' old F30 320d.

I have an F90 pre-LCI non-comp M5 and the ride is LUSH in comfort mode, very comparable to the two cars above which both rode great. Couldn't believe how different it is compared to my missus' F80 M3 which is a proper bone rattler - don't know how she drives it every day... Albeit the F80 is definitely superior to take on a spirited drive, far more rewarding.

I have found the F90's steering to be very numb - definitely it's short fall and weakest point (for me). Ride does stiffen in the sporty modes and it doesn't half shift when you want it to on the twisting roads. It did make a light lunch of a 911 GTS once