RE: BMW M550d: Chris Harris live blog

[wiffmaster]

Agoogy said:

stealthy is one thing, but that's truly dull...

It's the alloys which make it appear dull I think. Spec it in a different colour and with different style alloys and I think it'd look a lot nicer.

Wish this was coming to the UK. Our 335d is pretty sufficient performance wise, so I suspect this engine will be an absolute beast. As an everyday commuting car I can think of little better - massive power, comfort, won't attract attention and cheap to run. Plus, I'd be willing to bet that, point-to-point on UK roads, the 4WD system would mean that it could keep pace with an M5. As wonderful as M5s are, I'd probably have this instead and then spend the money saved on fuel/purchase price for something special for the weekend.

[lgomgf]

ZeeTacoe said:

lgomgf said:

surveyor said:

Some people want a fast car, but do too many miles to justify the petrol.

Count me in on that list... I do about 40k a year, cant afford that much gas... Most of the time I am just cruising on highways but, whenever in Germany, Austria, Swiss or Italy I do appreciate the extra hp...

That's one thing I don't understand , save money on fuel by spending a fortune on the car.

And 60 grand is a lot almost as much as the old M5

60k Euro was the price of my A4 after all the optional crap i ordered... Also here the price of petrol and diesel are 1.68Euros/l for petrol and 1.51Euros/l for Diesel. So about 11% cheaper fuel. Consumption was rated at about 5.5l/100km for the diesel, so about 8.30 euros per 100km versus the normal M5 at 8.25l/100km at 13.85 euros per 100km in the petrol. In my case 40.000km a year it is a saving of about 2.220 Euros. I keep my cars for about 4 years so 8.880 euros saving just in fuel.

You can do the math in Pounds and MPG and I bet you will come to the same result... I also can tell you that in real life no way any car will reach the estimated MPG and that the petrol M5 will be absurdly off the mark when compared to the diesel... at least by my driving standards...

What are the prices and running costs differences between the normal new M5 and the diesel wannabe?

Edited by lgomgf on Friday 24th February 14:52

[New Scot]

ism123 said:

Greenwich Ross said:

That is the wurst photograph I've ever seen in my life.

Clearly he was shaking at the sight

As it's clearly a thread about bangernomics it should be in a shed not a box...

[Agoogy]

wiffmaster said:

It's the alloys which make it appear dull I think. Spec it in a different colour and with different style alloys and I think it'd look a lot nicer.

Hmm I understand that.... but you don't look at a silver M5 and think quite the same thing...the wheels are already specified correctly and there are other styling identifiers/enhancements...

Wondering why this "M" gets less, to the extent it looks THIS bad...

[wiffmaster]

Agoogy said:

Hmm I understand that.... but you don't look at a silver M5 and think quite the same thing...the wheels are already specified correctly and there are other styling identifiers/enhancements...

Wondering why this "M" gets less, to the extent it looks THIS bad...

Good point. In the configuration pictured, it does look 'Vauxhall Insignia' dull. Perhaps it's one of those 'spec sensitive' cars which only works styling wise in a few configurations?

[Agoogy]

wiffmaster said:

Good point. In the configuration pictured, it does look 'Vauxhall Insignia' dull. Perhaps it's one of those 'spec sensitive' cars which only works styling wise in a few configurations?

99% of modern cars then

[lgomgf]

dave87 said:

Agoogy said:

Man alive that's Bland


stealthy is one thing, but that's truly dull...

Badge it 520d and have some fun?

Yes it is dull... But if you are a sales person, or make a living of trade that is great... your customers will never know the difference and in Germany believe that is important... My customer once said to me "I hope next time you ate not coming in a A6 (I have a A4), other wise I will know that I am paying you too much"...

[bodhi]

Agoogy said:

Hmm I understand that.... but you don't look at a silver M5 and think quite the same thing...the wheels are already specified correctly and there are other styling identifiers/enhancements...

Wondering why this "M" gets less, to the extent it looks THIS bad...

Because BMW realise its going to be fairly tedious like all other fast diesels, so decided not to dress it up as anything else.

• DISCLAIMER* I just picked up a 330d yesterday, so am allowed to say such things about the turbodagdags.

[varsas]

Blown2CV said:

Penneth said:

0a said:

Is BMW just going to add 'M' in front of every powerfulish car from now on? Are 'M' actually involved?

Relates to http://www.pistonheads.com/news/25038.htm I believe.

so now you can have:

normal model + M-Sport (badges only)
M + normal model (badges plus errr stuff)
M + single digit (the actual M cars)

?

brand dilution I'd say

Have had 'M' + 'model' for nearly as long as the M brand has been around, old M535 for example. Granted it's not been used in a while, first car missing it might have been the 850csi which could/should have been an M850?

[lgomgf]

"20.1mpg?! Er, driven flat-out, it does."

What is the real M5 MPG driven flat-out???

[BigTom85]

lgomgf said:

"20.1mpg?! Er, driven flat-out, it does."

What is the real M5 MPG driven flat-out???

Single figures for sure.

[PascalBuyens]

dave87 said:

Badge it 520d and have some fun?

Debadge it and no one will know what type of 5 series it is...

[turbobungle]

Agoogy said:

Man alive that's Bland


stealthy is one thing, but that's truly dull...

I must admit I though Chris was joking when he posted this pic! Why not just call it the 550d? I suppose the M could be for Mundane in this instance?

[surveyor]

I see a test opportunity. M5 vs M550d. Would be interesting.

[lgomgf]

lgomgf said:

60k Euro was the price of my A4 after all the optional crap i ordered... Also here the price of petrol and diesel are 1.68Euros/l for petrol and 1.51Euros/l for Diesel. So about 11% cheaper fuel. Consumption was rated at about 5.5l/100km for the diesel, so about 8.30 euros per 100km versus the normal M5 at 8.25l/100km at 13.85 euros per 100km in the petrol. In my case 40.000km a year it is a saving of about 2.220 Euros. I keep my cars for about 4 years so 8.880 euros saving just in fuel.

You can do the math in Pounds and MPG and I bet you will come to the same result... I also can tell you that in real life no way any car will reach the estimated MPG and that the petrol M5 will be absurdly off the mark when compared to the diesel... at least by my driving standards...

What are the prices and running costs differences between the normal new M5 and the diesel wannabe?

Edited by lgomgf on Friday 24th February 14:52

So as for the prices 102.800 Euros for the real M5 and 80.800 Euros (can PH confirm the prices??) for diesel another 22.000 Euros saving... Adding to a total saving of more than 30.000 Euros for me... so a fun petrol "7" for the track day worth of savings... For sure if we go check taxes and insurance we can get even more money...

[0a]

surveyor said:

I see a test opportunity. M5 vs M550d. Would be interesting.

Autocar did M5 vs Alpina D5 this week.

[turbobungle]

wiffmaster said:

As wonderful as M5s are, I'd probably have this instead and then spend the money saved on fuel/purchase price for something special for the weekend.

If that was the case, why not have a 535d M Sport (0-62mph 5.5 seconds, same top speed as M5 & 550d) for £47000 instead of £60-70k on a M550d and spend the money saved on yet another car!

M5
or
M550d + 2nd hand Caterham
or
535d M Sport + 2nd hand 996.2 GT3/E46 M3 CSL/......................................

[Steve Gunnis]

surveyor said:

I see a test opportunity. M5 vs M550d. Would be interesting.

In what way? In the 'M5 is much faster in every possible way and more fun to drive but has worse mpg' way? Yeah, I couldn't see that coming.

[Steve Gunnis]

turbobungle said:

If that was the case, why not have a 535d M Sport (0-62mph 5.5 seconds, same top speed as M5 & 550d) for £47000 instead of £60-70k on a M550d and spend the money saved on yet another car!

M5
or
M550d + 2nd hand Caterham
or
535d M Sport + 2nd hand 996.2 GT3/E46 M3 CSL/......................................

or
E28 M5 + E34 M5 + E39 M5 + E60 M5 + VW Polo Bluemotion for when you need economy...

[evosticks]

I know it's a minor thing and it's possible to delete them but the //M 550d badge looks far too cramped where it is. 550d on the bottom right of the boot lid and the M on t'other side would look more pleasing to my eye.