More money than sense?
Discussion
IIRC the f10 version didn’t happen because the steering column wouldn’t fit. This wasn’t an issue for the X5, etc, so those do exist.
No idea for the current model whether that still holds true.
I suspect hiring someone to sit in the passenger seat of an LHD version just in case you reach a pesky ticket machine or barrier would be cheaper than getting a bespoke one created though!
No idea for the current model whether that still holds true.
I suspect hiring someone to sit in the passenger seat of an LHD version just in case you reach a pesky ticket machine or barrier would be cheaper than getting a bespoke one created though!
MagicMonkey said:
Yeah I've seen that, but an unnamed source and 2020 launch doesn't add up to confirmation to me. MagicMonkey said:
Back in the "good old days", there used to be a notable difference in mechanical specification between the M5, and the next model down the 5 series food chain (hand built cars, with exclusive, hand built, bespoke engines), and a noticeable gap in performance between them too.Today, there's barely any difference in mechanical specification (as with all M series engines these days, the M550's engine appears to be the same basic engine as the M5's, but detuned, and with some simpler, cheaper parts inside it, to make it sound as though it's less special, even though it can be tuned back up to the M5 levels), and the performance gap in the real World is negligible (0~62mph 0.6 seconds slower than the M5? - That's pretty much meaningless in the real world).
It used to be obvious why you'd spend tens of thousands more to have an M5 - Today, it doesn't really make much sense at all
As for the original question: No - Because BMW cannot physically do it.
4rephill said:
Back in the "good old days", there used to be a notable difference in mechanical specification between the M5, and the next model down the 5 series food chain (hand built cars, with exclusive, hand built, bespoke engines), and a noticeable gap in performance between them too.
Today, there's barely any difference in mechanical specification (as with all M series engines these days, the M550's engine appears to be the same basic engine as the M5's, but detuned, and with some simpler, cheaper parts inside it, to make it sound as though it's less special, even though it can be tuned back up to the M5 levels), and the performance gap in the real World is negligible (0~62mph 0.6 seconds slower than the M5? - That's pretty much meaningless in the real world).
It used to be obvious why you'd spend tens of thousands more to have an M5 - Today, it doesn't really make much sense at all
As for the original question: No - Because BMW cannot physically do it.
Totally agree if i bought an m5 i wouldn't be happy about the m550iToday, there's barely any difference in mechanical specification (as with all M series engines these days, the M550's engine appears to be the same basic engine as the M5's, but detuned, and with some simpler, cheaper parts inside it, to make it sound as though it's less special, even though it can be tuned back up to the M5 levels), and the performance gap in the real World is negligible (0~62mph 0.6 seconds slower than the M5? - That's pretty much meaningless in the real world).
It used to be obvious why you'd spend tens of thousands more to have an M5 - Today, it doesn't really make much sense at all
As for the original question: No - Because BMW cannot physically do it.
MagicMonkey said:
What with the arrival of the M550i to the UK market, as a die hard diesel fan, I was wondering that if someone really REALLY wanted a RHD M550d would BMW produce a one-off if the client was willing to throw a ridiculous sum of money their way?
Not a chance.What about an Alpina D5S as an alternative?
okenemem said:
Totally agree if i bought an m5 i wouldn't be happy about the m550i
The thing is that LHD markets have had the choice of two flavours of V8 for ages so I can only imagine that the introduction of the 550i is due to consumer demand for something to fill the performance void between the 540i with 340hp and the 600hp M5. aeropilot said:
Not a chance.
What about an Alpina D5S as an alternative?
If the UK D5s shared the engine and performance of its LHD stablemate then, obviously, it’d render my initial question invalid but seeing as it’s down on power from the previous generation being, effectively, a rebadged 540d in a pretty skirt. Some devotees to the brand will swear that it retains some of that ALPINA magic of yesteryear but, for me, I’d want something a bit more special than that!!What about an Alpina D5S as an alternative?
MagicMonkey said:
aeropilot said:
Not a chance.
What about an Alpina D5S as an alternative?
If the UK D5s shared the engine and performance of its LHD stablemate then, obviously, it’d render my initial question invalid but seeing as it’s down on power from the previous generation being, effectively, a rebadged 540d in a pretty skirt. Some devotees to the brand will swear that it retains some of that ALPINA magic of yesteryear but, for me, I’d want something a bit more special than that!!What about an Alpina D5S as an alternative?
BMW production lines won't allow for bespoke creations full stop, but given Alpina products are effectively bespoke they might cater for your needs if you wave a big enough wad of folding stuff at them.
aeropilot said:
My point was, given the greater bespoke nature of Alpina products, there's a higher chance of Alpina creating a bespoke product using the D5S as a base.
BMW production lines won't allow for bespoke creations full stop, but given Alpina products are effectively bespoke they might cater for your needs if you wave a big enough wad of folding stuff at them.
Okay... now THAT is something I hadn’t considered before!!BMW production lines won't allow for bespoke creations full stop, but given Alpina products are effectively bespoke they might cater for your needs if you wave a big enough wad of folding stuff at them.
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