BMW 550 M Sport - purchased
Discussion
Hi
Well, after looking at 6 and 7 series mainly over the last 3 months, I have actually ended up buying a 2006 550 M Sport Auto^^. It has 53k miles, and is Carbon black/black. It is a slightly lower spec car, with no satnav (which I prefer actually, I always use my oen with full Europena mapping and traffic updates), no Xenons or active steering or adaptive suspension or whatever its called. It has all the M Sport spec and thats about it - which is what I wanted and I think was reflected in the price. It does have a few stone chips on the nose, but tbh I might not get them done because there will definitely be more - might as well tidy it up when I sell at some point. The GF kerbed the back wheel within 5 mins of driving it last night (she has never done it before as far as I remember^^...sigh...) but these things happen.
The first 150 miles or so has told me that the 550 is much tauter than the outgoing 1997 540, somewhat quieter and on the way home last night gives around 2-3mpg more on the motorway than the 540. Having said that, I did have a bit of a play with an SL500 who I wafted by at 145...err.kph....and I had no idea I was going that fast.
I think I was expecting the 550 to be a little more obviously a hooligan, but it is very deceptive and so I think I am going to have to get used to it more before making any further comments.
As I said at the start I was actually looking at 6 and 7 series originally, but there are relatively few 550's around (as far as I can see) and I like to have something a little bit unusual.....I guess the 6 is a bit prettier, but is a big car - and I settled for the slightly unusual choice which I think does have good dimensions with the M Sport body. Will I regret not buying the 535d or the 645**+ Who knows, but this is clearly a very capable car in alot of respects with deceptively huge pace. I guess I have the GT3 for the more involving (and somewhat quicker) driving experience!!
So overall first impression is very positive - I-drive excluded - obviously after spending 20 mins getting the radio to play at all I must say it got better after that but they jury is out.
Incidentally, this car has the 18" alloys with RFT's. I think I woudl prefer 19's with normal tyres. in my own experience RFT's make for harsher ride, so I figured to go to 19's with normal tyres should be about the same? Were 19's available as an option? The main reason for this thought is that I think with the M Sport look it could really benefit from it visually....any comments? (Also any ideas as to where to get hands on some 19's that fit...for a good price?)
Thanks for reading!
Well, after looking at 6 and 7 series mainly over the last 3 months, I have actually ended up buying a 2006 550 M Sport Auto^^. It has 53k miles, and is Carbon black/black. It is a slightly lower spec car, with no satnav (which I prefer actually, I always use my oen with full Europena mapping and traffic updates), no Xenons or active steering or adaptive suspension or whatever its called. It has all the M Sport spec and thats about it - which is what I wanted and I think was reflected in the price. It does have a few stone chips on the nose, but tbh I might not get them done because there will definitely be more - might as well tidy it up when I sell at some point. The GF kerbed the back wheel within 5 mins of driving it last night (she has never done it before as far as I remember^^...sigh...) but these things happen.
The first 150 miles or so has told me that the 550 is much tauter than the outgoing 1997 540, somewhat quieter and on the way home last night gives around 2-3mpg more on the motorway than the 540. Having said that, I did have a bit of a play with an SL500 who I wafted by at 145...err.kph....and I had no idea I was going that fast.
I think I was expecting the 550 to be a little more obviously a hooligan, but it is very deceptive and so I think I am going to have to get used to it more before making any further comments.
As I said at the start I was actually looking at 6 and 7 series originally, but there are relatively few 550's around (as far as I can see) and I like to have something a little bit unusual.....I guess the 6 is a bit prettier, but is a big car - and I settled for the slightly unusual choice which I think does have good dimensions with the M Sport body. Will I regret not buying the 535d or the 645**+ Who knows, but this is clearly a very capable car in alot of respects with deceptively huge pace. I guess I have the GT3 for the more involving (and somewhat quicker) driving experience!!
So overall first impression is very positive - I-drive excluded - obviously after spending 20 mins getting the radio to play at all I must say it got better after that but they jury is out.
Incidentally, this car has the 18" alloys with RFT's. I think I woudl prefer 19's with normal tyres. in my own experience RFT's make for harsher ride, so I figured to go to 19's with normal tyres should be about the same? Were 19's available as an option? The main reason for this thought is that I think with the M Sport look it could really benefit from it visually....any comments? (Also any ideas as to where to get hands on some 19's that fit...for a good price?)
Thanks for reading!
I haven't driven a 535d so I have no idea
The 535d is probably far quicker of course.
Pricewise, I got this one around £10K cheaper than any of the other very few I have seen (the other 2 have had 36k and 42k miles, so also a bit lower)....so part of that will be lack of satnav I suppose...?
The 535d is probably far quicker of course.Pricewise, I got this one around £10K cheaper than any of the other very few I have seen (the other 2 have had 36k and 42k miles, so also a bit lower)....so part of that will be lack of satnav I suppose...?
christer said:
Hi
Well, after looking at 6 and 7 series mainly over the last 3 months, I have actually ended up buying a 2006 550 M Sport Auto^^. It has 53k miles, and is Carbon black/black. It is a slightly lower spec car, with no satnav (which I prefer actually, I always use my oen with full Europena mapping and traffic updates), no Xenons or active steering or adaptive suspension or whatever its called. It has all the M Sport spec and thats about it - which is what I wanted and I think was reflected in the price. It does have a few stone chips on the nose, but tbh I might not get them done because there will definitely be more - might as well tidy it up when I sell at some point. The GF kerbed the back wheel within 5 mins of driving it last night (she has never done it before as far as I remember^^...sigh...) but these things happen.
The first 150 miles or so has told me that the 550 is much tauter than the outgoing 1997 540, somewhat quieter and on the way home last night gives around 2-3mpg more on the motorway than the 540. Having said that, I did have a bit of a play with an SL500 who I wafted by at 145...err.kph....and I had no idea I was going that fast.
I think I was expecting the 550 to be a little more obviously a hooligan, but it is very deceptive and so I think I am going to have to get used to it more before making any further comments.
As I said at the start I was actually looking at 6 and 7 series originally, but there are relatively few 550's around (as far as I can see) and I like to have something a little bit unusual.....I guess the 6 is a bit prettier, but is a big car - and I settled for the slightly unusual choice which I think does have good dimensions with the M Sport body. Will I regret not buying the 535d or the 645**+ Who knows, but this is clearly a very capable car in alot of respects with deceptively huge pace. I guess I have the GT3 for the more involving (and somewhat quicker) driving experience!!
So overall first impression is very positive - I-drive excluded - obviously after spending 20 mins getting the radio to play at all I must say it got better after that but they jury is out.
Incidentally, this car has the 18" alloys with RFT's. I think I woudl prefer 19's with normal tyres. in my own experience RFT's make for harsher ride, so I figured to go to 19's with normal tyres should be about the same? Were 19's available as an option? The main reason for this thought is that I think with the M Sport look it could really benefit from it visually....any comments? (Also any ideas as to where to get hands on some 19's that fit...for a good price?)
Thanks for reading!
Wow - serious machine!Well, after looking at 6 and 7 series mainly over the last 3 months, I have actually ended up buying a 2006 550 M Sport Auto^^. It has 53k miles, and is Carbon black/black. It is a slightly lower spec car, with no satnav (which I prefer actually, I always use my oen with full Europena mapping and traffic updates), no Xenons or active steering or adaptive suspension or whatever its called. It has all the M Sport spec and thats about it - which is what I wanted and I think was reflected in the price. It does have a few stone chips on the nose, but tbh I might not get them done because there will definitely be more - might as well tidy it up when I sell at some point. The GF kerbed the back wheel within 5 mins of driving it last night (she has never done it before as far as I remember^^...sigh...) but these things happen.
The first 150 miles or so has told me that the 550 is much tauter than the outgoing 1997 540, somewhat quieter and on the way home last night gives around 2-3mpg more on the motorway than the 540. Having said that, I did have a bit of a play with an SL500 who I wafted by at 145...err.kph....and I had no idea I was going that fast.
I think I was expecting the 550 to be a little more obviously a hooligan, but it is very deceptive and so I think I am going to have to get used to it more before making any further comments.
As I said at the start I was actually looking at 6 and 7 series originally, but there are relatively few 550's around (as far as I can see) and I like to have something a little bit unusual.....I guess the 6 is a bit prettier, but is a big car - and I settled for the slightly unusual choice which I think does have good dimensions with the M Sport body. Will I regret not buying the 535d or the 645**+ Who knows, but this is clearly a very capable car in alot of respects with deceptively huge pace. I guess I have the GT3 for the more involving (and somewhat quicker) driving experience!!
So overall first impression is very positive - I-drive excluded - obviously after spending 20 mins getting the radio to play at all I must say it got better after that but they jury is out.
Incidentally, this car has the 18" alloys with RFT's. I think I woudl prefer 19's with normal tyres. in my own experience RFT's make for harsher ride, so I figured to go to 19's with normal tyres should be about the same? Were 19's available as an option? The main reason for this thought is that I think with the M Sport look it could really benefit from it visually....any comments? (Also any ideas as to where to get hands on some 19's that fit...for a good price?)
Thanks for reading!
I still sometimes find myself doing totally illegal speeds without noticing in my 545. You have to be careful when overtaking too. Blink and you're doing prison speed.
To make it a bit more "hooligan" just stick the box in sports mode, or better yet, manual, 2nd gear, 3500 revs, boot it
Great stuff, I do love the 550 as I think Tiff turned up at a V Max in a touring and went sideways everywhere except the main runway in it 
WRT the radio/i-drive, once you've scanned in you local stations, the button on the steering wheel changes channels and you can also program the little diamond button with your choice of function, which for me is media source (radio/CD etc.). My daughter sussed out how to use it when she was 9! You will get used to what is where fairly quickly IMO.
Are you thinking of an LPG conversion at all?
WRT the radio/i-drive, once you've scanned in you local stations, the button on the steering wheel changes channels and you can also program the little diamond button with your choice of function, which for me is media source (radio/CD etc.). My daughter sussed out how to use it when she was 9! You will get used to what is where fairly quickly IMO.
Are you thinking of an LPG conversion at all?
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