GrimReaper

Hey, this is my first comparison review ever so please feel free to give constructive criticism and not just a 'your reviewing skills suck' kinda thing.

Where do I start? Well with the car history ofcourse! We got the SL55 by chance I must say. It was a graduation gift from my dad to my eldest brother. Initially my dad was like change the Vauxhall VX220 since my dad hated that car. An uncle suggested my dad to go for the SL500 but then my brother squeezed him into getting an SL55. We were pretty much in disbelief that my dad actually agreed to get such an expensive and amazing car. We took delivery in August of 2003 and I unfortunately hadn't learned to drive that time so was just stuck as a passenger Well no harm done since now I am quite capable of driving and occasionally take out the car when wanting a quick spin.

Now onto the E60 M5. This again was a gift from my dad BUT this time it was for me! It was more of a gift because I had done something good. I had placed my order in September of 2005, with production in November and delivery first week of Jan. I was immensely happy and had a blast waiting as well as lamenting whether this was the right choice or no for me. I got delivery and I must say, since that day its been a rollercoster with the constant repair pains and the great feeling of joy when the car is actually working at maximum capacity.

LOOKS:
I must say, never has a decision between two cars evoked such passion in me. The M5 is an absolute beast while the SL is just beauty and elegance personified. There isn't one line I can find fault in in the SL which says a lot. The M5 though has its days. Head-on, the M is one of the most meaning looking cars I've ever seen in real life. It just has this brash attitude about it which is just so appealing and scary at the same time. Sometimes when I look at the butt from certain angles, I realize why this car has been criticized so much due to its looks. It just doesn't look proportionate. And wierdly for this reason, I must say the M5 overall is the better looker. It is very mean looking, ver brash, very 'young' very modern and evokes a lot of passion amongst people (whether good or bad) which IMO personifies the general attitude of todays 'youth' of which I am a part of. This isn't to say the SL is old, its just too perfect, too rounded, too simplified.

INTERIOR
Honestly, to everyone who says BMW has gone way ahead of Mercedes in the quality, build etc. really hasn't done his research correctly. The buttons ARE plasticky on the SL, but they are on par with the M5. The only problem with the SL interior compared to the M5 are the indicator stalks. They are extremely clumsy and have an incredibly flimsy stalk connecting to the steering so SOMETIMES it doesn't push into the position quite as smoothly as you would expect. Design wise honestly, I would prefer the SL. It has more of a charm to it than the quite industrial IMO design of the M5. More curvy, better use of aluminium and more strategic placement means this round goes to the Merc.

ENGINE
Is it really fair to compare two such different engines? I mean its like oil and water. One needs to be thoroughly cooked with something else and one can be consumed directly. I know this may sound dumb but let me explain. The SL's engine is the water. It is the be all and end all. Everything about that car is plainly focused on the engine and nothing else. The engine is about 95% of the cars charm. While the M5's engine is like oil. You need to cook the food with it so you get the perfect blend of different tastes to make it an exquisite dish. Its not to say the engine is not fabulous (which it completely is), but its a large part of an even larger concept. The noise which the M5 makes is absolutely crazy. It just shows where the roots lie and that is F1. It makes a very similar sound to the one heard during F1 races of Yore. While the SL has a very beastly exhaust. Its more unrefined, more grumbly. It is extremely quiet at low speeds and extremely brutal at the full burst of the throttle. Overall though, I would say the rev-happy S62 engine is much more refined, much more racy and much more 'lovable' although it isn't exactly very efficient for stop go city traffic driving.

HANDLING
Well as most of you would have probably guessed or known, more aptly put, the M5 is just mountains apart in comparison to the SL55. Frankly put, a couple of years back when I had just driven the SL, I felt can a car really be better? I wanted to drive an M car desperately just to see how people could complain so much about the AMG's not having feeling and handling etc. Now I can truly vouch for this fact. For about a year now I constantly drove the M except for when it kept going to the dealership for usual E60 M5 issues. and After a long hiatus I drove the SL. I just couldn't get comfortable with that car! There was too much oversteer too the point where even if I applied the slightest throttle the entire rear end would just let go. I couldn't achieve high speeds without getting terrified of my rear end just letting loose. I mean now I'm more comfortable driving in the M without DSC than I am in the SL with all electronics! And mind you, this is not due to any specific problems with the car since it just underwent a complete servicing with everything from the brake pads etc. being serviced/replaced. The M5 is just that good!

LIVING WITH IT
Alright! This is the area where all of my complaints come out. Both cars are EXCELLENT daily drivers. IF THEY ARE NOT IN THE SERVICE CENTER! I hate the fact that now out of almost 11 months of ownership of the M, its been with the dealer for maybe 3-31/2 months. I've had problems ranging from varying engine oil, complete clutch,flywheel,SMG failure which took them just one and a half month to DIAGNOSE and then another 2 weeks to order and replace the parts. I've had the steering angle sensor replaced, the engine oil measurement sensor replaced. My brake pads are squealing like babies every few seconds. Now I've noticed my aluminum trim has slightly been raised at one edge. AND the leather has become incredibly 'folded' but that may be upon me considering me and my family are large.
The SL? Well its had its share of problems. First the infamous brake-by-wire Sensotronic (?) failure. Then the roof got stuck after which it never closed fluidly until the complete rehaul just a month ago. The horn is incredibly moody. It just works when it wants to. The car had a COMPLETE electronic shutdown about 2 months back due to which there was no A/C (required in hot & humid Indian weather), no roof operation etc. I mean at one point in time, a bump came on the road and the COMAND system just blanked! Well now its running like a charm so lets see. (knock on wood)

I must point out. These cars are not easy to maintain. Many people would be able to afford the initial cost, but to maintain it later? That is what takes guts.


CONCLUSION
BY now everyone must be thinking "Oh, we already know what the answer is. Who the final winner is". But, its not so simple. The SL with all its problems, with all its issues, still has a place in my heart. I love to take it out at nights just to get that rush feeling when you press that throttle and the immense torque just pushes you back into the seat like no other car. I don't care how many people say you get the same feeling in the M, IMO its not true. The feeling with the top down and the torque push is just something you have to feel. It's like no other car I've ever tested/driven. The SL is absolutely the best cruiser if you want to go out on a cold day (well over here we generally welcome the winter). But at the end of the night, I take out the keys to my M and drive in peace knowing I have the choice with me to drive two amazing, equally 'historical' cars to drive.


P.S. Many of you may not realize from this article, but I actually am a HUGE follower of Mercedes Benz, so maybe you can get a different light from this comparison.

P.P.S. Please feel free to ask any details you would like to know regarding these two cars.

Just_me

Great review!

Personally Im more of a BMW guy than a MB guy. Im more into sport than comfort so M5 is my choice.

Regarding electronics , that isnt the germans good side, many germans suffer from reliability issues, the japanese cars are unbeatable here.

SL is the best looking Benz and might be one of the best designs today but for me a car is more than the look. Im looking at the overall package and I find the M5 more attractive.

I just wish my father would give me a nice present sometimes and I hope its a M5

BTW I dont know how this rating system work..

Mr. M

HOLY MAMA! Grim I never knew you had the M5 nor did your family have the SL55! And I always thought you were from Australia... Anyway, respect man, respect! I love your review.

I'm now stuck in your situation as being a passenger, I'm really longing to drive.

I'm surprised the M5 has so many service issues. Is it a early production vehicle?

Just_me

BMW are still today having electronic problems for SMG. Its like a computer, very complexed.

klier

When compared, the electronics in a Lexus are from 1990, while the electronics in a German car are from 2010. That's the difference.

Anyways, awesome review man! Very nice read. You gyts have some fantastic cars in the family

GrimReaper

Thanks for the great words.
Anyways hang on, It surely gets better and you can always imagine that in 2 odd years or so you'll be cruising down the freeway in a Quattraporte!
The M5 is a maintainer's nightmare. Though its been relatively calm these past couple of months even though I cannot drive it anymore since am in Boston doing my Bachelors! Its a 2006 MY which is the second year production for E60 M5's so relatively new but still wouldn't expect this from a car costing <$200,000 (in India).

Anyways, I just wanted to update that the SL has gotten a silver metallic paint like the SLR (supposedly) and my brother has gotten the wheels powder-coated in black/grey. We've also changed both the exhausts (M5 and SL55) to the ones from Eisenmann but I unfortunately haven't had any chance to listen to them. I'll post some pictures of the SL from a recent drag race where my brother had taken part.

GrimReaper

Here are the pics:

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- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Mr. M

Both the M5 and the SL55 have been done up really tastefully... Karma for you!

The Artist

That SL is drop dead gorgeous.. nice colour combo

and yes i would take the SL over the M5

dOmInIX

Great cars GrimReaper, I love both SL55 and M5. Didn't know M5 had that much issues, but I guess that's what you have to pay to own a car like that.