One of my friend is looking into an e60 530 and wondering if it will be faster than his current ride, a TL type-S. I think his is from 01 or 02, for sure is the last generation. The type-S has 260hp on around 3500 lb while the e60 has 255hp and quite heavy.
Any thoughts?

Those engines are over rated. My buddy's '01 CL type S feels like it hits a brick wall at ~99 mph. Plus it is near impossible take off smooth with that engine. The 530i should be faster. Its RWD and has a 6 speed.

I owned an 03 type S and it is faster than the 530 without question.

thanks guys.
have never seen him going at any where close to 100mph so high speed doesn't really matter to him.
i believe my zhp (e46 of cause) is a bit faster than a type S, guess i'm faster than an e60 330 as well.

The type-S has 260hp on around 3500 lb while the e60 has 255hp and quite heavy.
They are actually pretty equal in that regard. An E60 manual has a curb weight of 3472, which rises to 3494 with auto or SMG. The 5 series isn't geared for low speed accelleration, but rather it is geared for autobahn crusing. So they aren't going to win "stop light races". The results could be very different in the +100mph range.

Now if you were to swap to a higher ratio diff...

They are actually pretty equal in that regard. An E60 manual has a curb weight of 3472, which rises to 3494 with auto or SMG. The 5 series isn't geared for low speed accelleration, but rather it is geared for autobahn crusing. So they aren't going to win "stop light races". The results could be very different in the +100mph range.

Now if you were to swap to a higher ratio diff...
he looked up the weight on bmw site and it showed 1800kg, that's 4000lb. i found that impossible. i told him about the diff swap as well as i'm one happy owner with a 3.46 in my 330i.