550i Touring no more

[r999]

Although the 550i Touring appears in BMW UK's 5-Series printed price list dated January 2014, it has disappeared from the 'Build my BMW' section of the UK website.

When I asked why, BMW UK informed me that production of the 550i Touring ceased on 9 February 2014.

So the F11 LCI models are going to be very rare indeed, having been in production for just six months. I forgot to ask BMW UK whether they actually sold any at all.

I know there are some 550i Touring fans on PH apart from me. If anyone knows of an F11 LCI that might be for sale, please post!

[r999]

jboy72 said:

The e61 550i was even rarer in SE spec than Sport - Sometimes I wonder whether mine is the only one on the road!

That makes two of us.

What I am fairly certain of is that if one considers optional extras, each of these cars is unique in the UK. The first owner of mine put £14,000 of options on it. Then he drove it just 2000 miles a year. Thank you very much, sir!

[r999]

Synchromesh said:

But the 550i won't average 28mpg in the real world though, will it?

It will. Mine is an E61 LCI 550i and I get 26 if I include some town work and some very hard acceleration in the country. If I'm a bit more restrained, I can get 28 over weeks of mixed use, and if I try hard on a cruise, 32. (I have seen 35 on a 60-mile run.) I admit I do not sit much in stationary traffic with it, and if I do I turn off the engine. But this (the 4.8) is a dated engine. The F11 is considerably more economical, and the F11 LCI improved things further.

[r999]

redtwin said:

Is that with an autobox?. Quite impressive figures nonetheless.

Yes, the six-speed auto. The newer car of course has the 8-speed auto which is one reason why it's more economical.