Discussion
, what's the performance like?I did start looking at the XF 5.0 and XFRs, Jaguar are offering a two year warranty on used cars at present, FYI, although BMW AUC will provide the same if you negotiate it. I drove the F10 528i and XF 3.0D back to back a couple of years ago and really preferred the F10, although the Jaguar was good.
The 550i is very good, more refined and a little quicker than the older 550i but a lot quieter. Too quiet, in fact, and that will have to be looked into. That's really my only complaint. Performance is not lacking, it is a very quick car although it will also trundle along at 70-80 and return 30MPG. I'd have to keep the E60 under 70 to return anything above 28. Now we are only talking a few MPG here and there but in percentage terms I reckon it's 10-15% better from what I have seen so far in the couple of hundred miles experience I have of it.
I had a W211 E500 5.5 recently and that was a very refined and rapid car which is in some ways better than the E60 550i (and in other ways, not as good). Alas, it is also unfortunately rare. If you can find one, or the CLS 500 5.5, they are also worth looking at IMHO.
On the subject of Mercedes, there is a new shape CLS500 out there at present, 4.7 turbo. These are supposed to drive really well and are in the lower tax band, but I didn't get very far in discussions with Mercedes on the car (it was quite a bit more expensive, not a particularly well optioned car, and had quite a few more miles on it than the 550i I ended up buying).
The 550i is very good, more refined and a little quicker than the older 550i but a lot quieter. Too quiet, in fact, and that will have to be looked into. That's really my only complaint. Performance is not lacking, it is a very quick car although it will also trundle along at 70-80 and return 30MPG. I'd have to keep the E60 under 70 to return anything above 28. Now we are only talking a few MPG here and there but in percentage terms I reckon it's 10-15% better from what I have seen so far in the couple of hundred miles experience I have of it.
I had a W211 E500 5.5 recently and that was a very refined and rapid car which is in some ways better than the E60 550i (and in other ways, not as good). Alas, it is also unfortunately rare. If you can find one, or the CLS 500 5.5, they are also worth looking at IMHO.
On the subject of Mercedes, there is a new shape CLS500 out there at present, 4.7 turbo. These are supposed to drive really well and are in the lower tax band, but I didn't get very far in discussions with Mercedes on the car (it was quite a bit more expensive, not a particularly well optioned car, and had quite a few more miles on it than the 550i I ended up buying).
Edited by texasjohn on Sunday 19th April 21:17
I bought this one 6 months ago having gone to the local dealer to add an economical 640d to the fleet. When push came to shove I couldn't bring myself to own a diesel, spotted this hiding at the back of the showroom and I walked out having added another V8 to the drive.
For me the 550i is the mile muncher. I have the Alpina B7 for high performance antics and the missus E89 Z4 3.0 for summer fun. The 550i is comfortable, has lots of toys (I love the HUD & 360 cameras) and doesn't lack performance.
That said, compared to the B7 it's dull and underpowered and I'm a little surprised by how wide the gap is to be honest but ultimately I wasn't out to replace the Alpaca, I hope the M6 GC will do that in two years time.
I was an E39 fan boy for many years and had 3 in total. I never got on with the E60 which is how the E65 had the opportunity to seduce me but I have to say the F10 is a very good substitute for the E39.
On the economy front, 28mpg @ 80-90mph and maybe 21 around town which for all the advances of the bi-turbo lump isn't any better than the supercharged V8 of the B7.
A solid performer but it doesn't wow me.
Unlikely to disappoint if weighed up against a diseasal!
Crombers said:
I bought this one 6 months ago having gone to the local dealer to add an economical 640d to the fleet. When push came to shove I couldn't bring myself to own a diesel, spotted this hiding at the back of the showroom and I walked out having added another V8 to the drive.
For me the 550i is the mile muncher. I have the Alpina B7 for high performance antics and the missus E89 Z4 3.0 for summer fun. The 550i is comfortable, has lots of toys (I love the HUD & 360 cameras) and doesn't lack performance.
That said, compared to the B7 it's dull and underpowered and I'm a little surprised by how wide the gap is to be honest but ultimately I wasn't out to replace the Alpaca, I hope the M6 GC will do that in two years time.
I was an E39 fan boy for many years and had 3 in total. I never got on with the E60 which is how the E65 had the opportunity to seduce me but I have to say the F10 is a very good substitute for the E39.
On the economy front, 28mpg @ 80-90mph and maybe 21 around town which for all the advances of the bi-turbo lump isn't any better than the supercharged V8 of the B7.
A solid performer but it doesn't wow me.
Unlikely to disappoint if weighed up against a diseasal!
Crombers said:
theboss said:
Great car... I'm quite surprised at how much less it drinks than its S63tu engined brother!
What does that achieve in real terms?theboss said:
Crombers said:
theboss said:
Great car... I'm quite surprised at how much less it drinks than its S63tu engined brother!
What does that achieve in real terms?
Diesal schmeisel, terrible ,I mean my F30 330d Gloucester to West London bascially the A417/9 dual carriage race track followed by M4 to Chiswick 115 miles in a hour and 35 mins.....showing 50 mpg...... fast as you ever need in Sport mode ,dont get the enthusiasm for Petrol anymore.Great car though OP wish you luck with it.
smashy said:
Diesal schmeisel, terrible ,I mean my F30 330d Gloucester to West London bascially the A417/9 dual carriage race track followed by M4 to Chiswick 115 miles in a hour and 35 mins.....showing 50 mpg...... fast as you ever need in Sport mode ,dont get the enthusiasm for Petrol anymore.Great car though OP wish you luck with it.
Because depending on the year of his 550 it's got around 150bhp and 100lbft more over a lot bigger rev range than your 330d! The 330d are pretty quick in gear but ultimately only as quick as ~260hp, it wouldn't see which way this went!It's also... very fast, quiet, smooth, it's rare, it's a V8!, and as the OP can clearly afford to fuel it I'm assuming he doesn't care about mpg.
Other than not affording to or not wanting to put a few extra quid in the tank (which when running new cars that depreciate heavily is probably a piss in the ocean) why wouldn't you buy a 550i?
smashy said:
Diesal schmeisel, terrible ,I mean my F30 330d Gloucester to West London bascially the A417/9 dual carriage race track followed by M4 to Chiswick 115 miles in a hour and 35 mins.....showing 50 mpg...... fast as you ever need in Sport mode ,dont get the enthusiasm for Petrol anymore.Great car though OP wish you luck with it.
Oddly enough what I didn't like about the 40d engine in the 6 is not entirely different from what I didn't like about the 20i & 28i 4pot petrol turbos in the Z4 which we were shopping for recently. I'm not hung up on which type of fuel goes goes in the tank but in terms of experience, and of course in my humble opinion, none of the engines mentioned can hold a candle to the string of 6 & 8 cylinder petrols which I've had the pleasure of driving over the last 15 years. The 40d I'll grant you is far better than those petrol 4pots. Actually, I'll go a step further which is something I can't quite get my head around but the Ford Focus rental I had last week had a far more pleasing lump than those 4 pots and that turned out to be a 1.0 eco job! I nearly wept!
I can understand if you're doing 30k a year why you'd pick a diesel..
But you're missing the point if you don't see where someone can use a car that's quicker than your 330d..
I live semi-rural so have the chance to really open my 550 out every time I drive it. It's more than just speed you get out of these engines though, they change the whole character of the car for the better. I'm an ex 335d owner too!
I've got more respect for my license to be doing 90 down a motorway so I couldn't create an argument there!
But you're missing the point if you don't see where someone can use a car that's quicker than your 330d..
I live semi-rural so have the chance to really open my 550 out every time I drive it. It's more than just speed you get out of these engines though, they change the whole character of the car for the better. I'm an ex 335d owner too!
I've got more respect for my license to be doing 90 down a motorway so I couldn't create an argument there!
smashy said:
Your missing something Philmots ,my car is quick ,where is this 550i going to be used ..at le mans maybe?
...and I do 30k a year ,I am responding to "mile muncher" I quite like doing 90 mph at 2k RPM.
Just an alternative view
As good as they are, a 330d isn't going to 'out-waft' a 550i. The petrol V8 is quieter, more refined, more effortless and probably turning just as slowly in top gear at cruising speeds. It's just using more fuel in the process. The diesel isn't doing anything better other than possibly staying away from the pump and saving the owner a bit of cash....and I do 30k a year ,I am responding to "mile muncher" I quite like doing 90 mph at 2k RPM.
Just an alternative view
Absoloutly agree but sadly most of us do not live in a car ad where we are the only ones on the road and no speed cameras ,thats my point so if it was 1970 give me a V8... 2015 commuting from london out on the M4 ,M3, M40 to appts every day give me 50mpg in a big BMW Derv and for 8/10ths what difference?
Crombers said:
All things considered - not unreasonable
I suppose in a way its a shame it can't quite 'act like a 550i' when you want it to, but that would be having my cake and eating it and I accept it can't be all things without being too heavily compromised (many here would argue it already is). I have heard of people getting high twenties but short of driving through a 50-mile SPECS zone I don't think I have the patience to do it and maintain it. You could coax 28mpg out of the car over 150 miles then pull a few hard overtakes on the A-road near your house and find yourself back down at 23mpg having driven like Miss Daisy for the previous few hours. For what you've bought it for a 550i seems perfect, especially if you can get your fun from something else.Back in my diesel days I'd have laughed at the notion of putting heavy miles on any large petrol V8 but I'm now spoiled and would find it incredibly hard to go back.
Edited by theboss on Monday 20th April 15:31
theboss said:
I suppose in a way its a shame it can't quite 'act like a 550i' when you want it to, but that would be having my cake and eating it and I accept it can't be all things without being too heavily compromised. I have heard of people getting high twenties but short of driving through a 50-mile SPECS zone I don't think I have the patience to do it and maintain it. You could coax 28mpg out of the car over 150 miles then pull a few hard overtakes on the A-road near your house and find yourself back down at 23mpg having driven like Miss Daisy for the previous few hours. For what you've bought it for a 550i seems perfect, especially if you can get your fun from something else.
Back in my diesel days I'd have laughed at the notion of putting heavy miles on any large petrol V8 but I'm now spoiled and would find it incredibly hard to go back.
Intersting you reckon you may get high twenties going through a SPEC Motorway Zone....I had miles and miles of that the other day and reset the OBC as I went in at the end of it showed 71MPG ...and that is why ill take a Big Beemer full of Derv anyday my 2ltr Diesel showed 72 in a similar test so only 1mpg less is nuts but there you go,I know what this thing is capable of...I have to say in a way I wish these diesels were not invented then I wouldnt know what was possible,to look down and see 23 would kill me now Back in my diesel days I'd have laughed at the notion of putting heavy miles on any large petrol V8 but I'm now spoiled and would find it incredibly hard to go back.
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