BMW 550i Sport Touring Manual
Discussion
So, this is my new sensible family wagon. Since the arrival of Hornet Jr I'd not been using my MX5 at all, and the E39 530i Sport Touring was hogging all my time. So I figured I may as well rationalise down to one car, which needed to be as practical as the E39 but provide some of the driver involvement that I'd lose from the MX5.
So, when this car came up I was toying about changing, and it seemed spot on for my requirements. 1 owner FBMWSH, and the spec list was rather good indeed. However another PHer viewed it and reported it was a bit unloved and had a swimming pool in the boot. Bugger. A couple of months later when my mind was firmly made up to change, it resurfaced at a more reputable BMW specialist for a bag more, so I thought I'd go and view. Sure enough I found there was a pool in the boot, it had numerous trolley dings and there were various other issues. Nevertheless I took it for a drive and... despite the problems AND the clutch going (felt for the salesman at that point!) I was completely sold on the car, and as they are so rare I decided I just had to have it.
I didn't do a deal on the day as we couldn't quite agree figures, but a few days later a deal was struck and the prep list I insisted on was LONG!! I won't go into all the gory details but it took three weeks from confirming the deal to when the car was ready - by that time I was itching to pick it up! Since I got it a month ago I've added a new gearknob as the original was a bit worn, and the black grilles which the beards will hate but I think look very well against the shadowline and black lower grille. When I chew through these 18s I'll be looking to get some 19s - what flavour I haven't quite decided yet.
Anyway - enough waffle, here's some pics. New photobucket seems a bit crap and possibly lower-res than it has been, so apologies for the quality of the pics.
So, when this car came up I was toying about changing, and it seemed spot on for my requirements. 1 owner FBMWSH, and the spec list was rather good indeed. However another PHer viewed it and reported it was a bit unloved and had a swimming pool in the boot. Bugger. A couple of months later when my mind was firmly made up to change, it resurfaced at a more reputable BMW specialist for a bag more, so I thought I'd go and view. Sure enough I found there was a pool in the boot, it had numerous trolley dings and there were various other issues. Nevertheless I took it for a drive and... despite the problems AND the clutch going (felt for the salesman at that point!) I was completely sold on the car, and as they are so rare I decided I just had to have it.
I didn't do a deal on the day as we couldn't quite agree figures, but a few days later a deal was struck and the prep list I insisted on was LONG!! I won't go into all the gory details but it took three weeks from confirming the deal to when the car was ready - by that time I was itching to pick it up! Since I got it a month ago I've added a new gearknob as the original was a bit worn, and the black grilles which the beards will hate but I think look very well against the shadowline and black lower grille. When I chew through these 18s I'll be looking to get some 19s - what flavour I haven't quite decided yet.
Anyway - enough waffle, here's some pics. New photobucket seems a bit crap and possibly lower-res than it has been, so apologies for the quality of the pics.
Edited by hornetrider on Sunday 24th February 21:17
Excellent choice! I had a E60 530D for a year and remapped it. Totally brilliant and not much kept up with it, but cost me a lot of £. It had 100k on the clock and lots of random electrical gremlins and a dual mass clutch replacement whilst i had it. Cost circa £1500 of costs for various bits but it got us to the wrong side of europe and back in fantastic style, drove for over 13hrs one day and still felt fresh after we booked in to the hotel.
Still miss it now, enjoy the power! Hope yours is a good'en;)
Still miss it now, enjoy the power! Hope yours is a good'en;)
Cheers folks 
C36 Nico said:
its a manual. Stick it in 6th everywhere. With the power on tap, im sure you could average 20-25 mpg without trouble if you accelerate with an egg under your sole...
Indeed. Done about 700 miles in it so far and averaging 24-25, which isn't too bad. That's a mix of exploring the vast fullness of power and driving like a nun. The engine is a peach, and is really smooth and flexible at low revs.hornetrider said:
Cheers folks
epic epic car mate. the 50i engine suits the character of a wagon much better than the M5. Perfect gruntmobile, on the same cool level as a 300c Hemi 6.1 or a CTS-V - but with an actually acceptable interior C36 Nico said:
its a manual. Stick it in 6th everywhere. With the power on tap, im sure you could average 20-25 mpg without trouble if you accelerate with an egg under your sole...
Indeed. Done about 700 miles in it so far and averaging 24-25, which isn't too bad. That's a mix of exploring the vast fullness of power and driving like a nun. The engine is a peach, and is really smooth and flexible at low revs.
I love the M5 too, but for different reasons. Thats a racecar in a family car frock.
Looks very nice
I've been looking for a 550i for a while now, they're very hard to come by, especially a manual version.
I'm currently running a manual E60 530i and got my backside handed to me yesterday by an Octavia VRS, so my search continues for a 550 in the hope I can find one soon and find Mr Skoda
I've been looking for a 550i for a while now, they're very hard to come by, especially a manual version.
I'm currently running a manual E60 530i and got my backside handed to me yesterday by an Octavia VRS, so my search continues for a 550 in the hope I can find one soon and find Mr Skoda
Congrats, I do miss mine. I thought this was my old car until I saw the number plate. 1 of 7 from my investigations with BMW. Here's my car -
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Hi scZ4... here's your old car:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
coincidentally I added these photo's yesterday. There must have been something in the air which made owners of grey manual 550i E61's give them a polish!
Car is still fantastic by the way.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
coincidentally I added these photo's yesterday. There must have been something in the air which made owners of grey manual 550i E61's give them a polish!
Car is still fantastic by the way.
CrazyHorse said:
Hi scZ4... here's your old car:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
coincidentally I added these photo's yesterday. There must have been something in the air which made owners of grey manual 550i E61's give them a polish!
Car is still fantastic by the way.
Yours is very nice - does look good on the Spiders. I'm going to use up these 18s then use them as winters I think. I'm mighty tempted by Style 167s, think they look fantastic on Sport Tourings.http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
coincidentally I added these photo's yesterday. There must have been something in the air which made owners of grey manual 550i E61's give them a polish!
Car is still fantastic by the way.
When I was looking for the car, I had a list of 'must haves' then a list of 'like-to haves'. The 19" spiders were in the like-to have list, along with logic 7, comfort seats and panaramic roof. This one has all the must-have's + logic 7 and 19" spiders which I do think look great.
There are a lot of E61 sports out there in various engine sizes and the 19" wheels just make it look like the top of the range car the 550i is. I'm also fairly boring when it comes to modding the appearance of cars; I almost always think the manufacturer has got it right with there choice of top-of-the range look, especially when it comes to wheels.
There are a lot of E61 sports out there in various engine sizes and the 19" wheels just make it look like the top of the range car the 550i is. I'm also fairly boring when it comes to modding the appearance of cars; I almost always think the manufacturer has got it right with there choice of top-of-the range look, especially when it comes to wheels.
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