I don't get all the M5 favoritism. They both have slushbox trannies with boring cheap plastic paddle shifters. M850i is comfortably nimbler with shorter wheelbase vs M5, styled better and feels more exclusive so I would vote in favor of M850i.
It just shows how far M division has fallen in its failure to offer exclusive M driving experience. M5 with its button gimmicks try too hard to be something that it is not. M850i would be perfect if they removed the stupid striped emblem in front of the number.
This thread is basically a battle of which is worse...