Finally, the 2014 F10 BMW M5 Competition Package versus the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S 4Matic - MotorTrend screws up again

[Sticky]

Finally. The battle we have all been waiting for, the 2014 BMW M5 equipped with the new Competition Package versus the facelifted Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S 4Matic model. The new Competition Package gives the BMW M5 a horsepower bump to 575 along with suspension tweaks which MotorTrend tested out last week. They now are pitting it against its main rival, the facelifted E63 AMG S model which gets a horsepower bump to 577 along with the additional of 4Matic all wheel drive.

So which one is faster? MotorTrend states it is the E63 AMG S once again struggling to interpret what trap speed means. The E63 AMG is QUICKER, not faster. It runs through the 1/4 mile at [email protected] compared to the M5's [email protected]. This network called MotorTrend a bunch of morons last week for not understanding how trap speed relates to performance and this network will do so once again this week.

Yes, the E63 is quicker as to be expected with its all wheel drive. The M5 is faster due to its higher trap speed. What does this mean? Simply that the E63 will cross the 1/4 mile marker quicker than the M5 but the M5 is pulling harder at the 1/4 mile marker. Essentially, from a roll the M5 is favored in a race and from a stop the E63 is favored in a race by virtue of its traction advantage. Both cars are incredibly close to one another but why MotorTrend struggles with digesting basic information is anyone's guess.

Does the 4Matic on the AMG comes with a weight penalty? Yes. It's up to a hefty 4511 pounds. The M5 is no lightweight but it is lighter at 4369 pounds. The difference is not huge but it has been a while since one could say an M model was decisively lighter than the competition.

MotorTrend takes both cars to the dyno at K&N but unfortunately the dyno they have is a SuperFlow dyno. Why does this matter? Because versus the more popular Dynojet the SuperFlow dyno tends to read higher by about 10-12%. Keep that in mind when looking at the peak output figures. The E63 hits 541 to all four wheels whereas the M5 manages 508 to the wheels. What we can take away from this is the AMG is putting out more power but the all wheel drive drivetrain and extra weight due to it sap some of the performance making things fairly equal despite the raw power advantage. The automatic transmission in the E63 also will not be as efficient as the dual clutch transmission in the M5.

Enough about power and acceleration, what about the driving experience and handling? The M5 steering is stated to be heavy but slightly numb which is a common complaint with new M's. MotorTrend does state the M5 Competition Package is superior to the M5 and addresses many complaints. It still is slightly isolated though, not what one expects in their M.

MotorTrend states the heavier E63 AMG feels lighter oddly enough. The AMG's steering and feedback seems to be preferred. The reviewers seem to be split on the aspect as to which one is more fun in the canyons as the AMG's transmission is stated to be a liability in canyon carving as far as response is concerned. If you could combine the M5's transmission with the E63's steering feel you might have the world's perfect luxury performance sedan.

Honestly, these are both amazing sedans. AMG has really stepped up their game and BMW has essentially "fixed" what was wrong with the M5. You can't go wrong either way.

[Flinchy]

>The E63 hits 541 to all four wheels whereas the M5 manages 508 to the wheels. What we can take away from this is the AMG is putting out more power but the all wheel drive drivetrain and extra weight due to it sap some of the performance making things fairly equal despite the raw power advantage.

if it's putting out 541 to all 4 wheels vs 508 to the rear wheels.. no, it's not losing more to the drivetrain, it's making 541 after ALL LOSSES.. yeah the extra weight will hinder it in the corners, but that's about it? (compared to the M5).. then again, it's a relatively small percentage when it comes to their porkiness, and the AWD gives much greater mid corner grip and acceleration in theory?

however... a dyno that reads higher than the magical high numbers dynojet?! D:.. man you americans get all the good stuff.. here it's dyno dynamics after dyno dynamics haha

[Sticky]

if it's putting out 541 to all 4 wheels vs 508 to the rear wheels.. no, it's not losing more to the drivetrain, it's making 541 after ALL LOSSES..

Yes it's making more power after losses but it is still losing a greater % due to all wheel drive and an automatic.

[ezec63]

>The E63 hits 541 to all four wheels whereas the M5 manages 508 to the wheels. What we can take away from this is the AMG is putting out more power but the all wheel drive drivetrain and extra weight due to it sap some of the performance making things fairly equal despite the raw power advantage.

if it's putting out 541 to all 4 wheels vs 508 to the rear wheels.. no, it's not losing more to the drivetrain, it's making 541 after ALL LOSSES.. yeah the extra weight will hinder it in the corners, but that's about it? (compared to the M5).. then again, it's a relatively small percentage when it comes to their porkiness, and the AWD gives much greater mid corner grip and acceleration in theory?

however... a dyno that reads higher than the magical high numbers dynojet?! D:.. man you americans get all the good stuff.. here it's dyno dynamics after dyno dynamics haha

The trap speeds are basically the same even though the E63 has more power to the wheels. I believe that difference is because of the DCT in the m5 with 7 speeds i bet they went through 4 gears by the end of the quarter so it had 4 times to make up that extra power. But the distance it put on it the m5 will likely never recover now they are in higher gears shifting wont matter as much and the E63 has more power with better aerodynamics so its essentially gone on the launch and theres no catching up. A roll from about 40 should be interesting

[Sticky]

The trap speeds are basically the same even though the E63 has more power to the wheels. I believe that difference is because of the DCT in the m5 with 7 speeds i bet they went through 4 gears by the end of the quarter so it had 4 times to make up that extra power. But the distance it put on it the m5 will likely never recover now they are in higher gears shifting wont matter as much and the E63 has more power with better aerodynamics so its essentially gone on the launch and theres no catching up. A roll from about 40 should be interesting

What is the reason for better aerodynamics?

It really boils down to stop favors the E63 and roll favors the M5. Not much has changed.

[ezec63]

What is the reason for better aerodynamics?

It really boils down to stop favors the E63 and roll favors the M5. Not much has changed.

The current E class has some of the best aerodynamics available in any class of car including exotics. It has a cd of .024-.025 which is absolutely incredible ! The F10 M5 has a cd of .33. Huge difference ! Thats going to come into play bigtime once you start pulling over 120 and all while the E63 is putting down 40 more whp ! Now the DCT advantage can be nullified since your not shifting much and weight doesnt matter much up top especially when its such a small difference of 100-150 pounds

[Sticky]

The current E class has some of the best aerodynamics available in any class of car including exotics. It has a cd of .024-.025 which is absolutely incredible ! The F10 M5 has a cd of .33. Huge difference ! Thats going to come into play bigtime once you start pulling over 120 and all while the E63 is putting down 40 more whp ! Now the DCT advantage can be nullified since your not shifting much and weight doesnt matter much up top especially when its such a small difference of 100-150 pounds

The standard E-class does not have the aerodynamic components of the AMG model which increase drag and downforce. The E63 is at .29 pre-facelift, really not much of a difference and not enough of one to reverse the outcome of a roll on race as the trap speed shows.

[BlackJetE90OC]

Take that $10k you save on the Merc and put it into mods.

[Sticky]

It's going to be interesting to see how strong that all wheel drive setup is too...

[Flinchy]

The trap speeds are basically the same even though the E63 has more power to the wheels. I believe that difference is because of the DCT in the m5 with 7 speeds i bet they went through 4 gears by the end of the quarter so it had 4 times to make up that extra power. But the distance it put on it the m5 will likely never recover now they are in higher gears shifting wont matter as much and the E63 has more power with better aerodynamics so its essentially gone on the launch and theres no catching up. A roll from about 40 should be interesting

and i'd also assume the E63 has it's peak power slightly lower in the rev range? i could be totally wrong

gearing also plays into it.

Yes it's making more power after losses but it is still losing a greater % due to all wheel drive and an automatic.

true, but if it's putting more power to the wheels, it's putting more power to the wheels

gearing, transmission, power/torque curve... notwithstanding.

[Sticky]

and i'd also assume the E63 has it's peak power slightly lower in the rev range? i could be totally wrong

You're right.

true, but if it's putting more power to the wheels, it's putting more power to the wheels

gearing, transmission, power/torque curve... notwithstanding.

Nobody is saying it isn't just that it has higher losses which it does.

[timore]

I would still take the m5 anyday over the merc