RE: BMW M550i: Driven

Author
Discussion

moffat

1,020 posts

224 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
Terrible article and way off the mark, it's the perfect competitor to the Audi S6 and S7.

There is a large market for M 'lite' cars. Just look at the success of Audi S and now MB's 43 cars. Just wait and see how successful the M340i and M440i cars will be, the new B58 engine is a cracker and combine with a BMW remap, decent exhaust and more focused suspension equals a decent car. I know I love my 440i which has been fettled with the M Performance Power and Sound Kit (MPPSK - remap and exhaust) and the M Performance bodykit.


cobra kid

4,907 posts

239 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
650 rpm tickover?

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
Shaoxter said:
Krikkit said:
Have to admit that this sounds like just the ticket - I think anything short of an M5 should be a comfy cruiser rather than trying to be a hard-edged sports car.
Er but the M5 is a comfy cruiser and certainly not a hard-edged sports car.
Sorry, I used hallowed words.

Alright, the M5 is supposed to be the super-fast super saloon, capable of eye-popping feats of grip and speed. Cruising speed takes a back seat.

Scooby_S2K

20 posts

243 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
This review has really annoyed me, especially the last line - "we should be grateful that it's not coming here". How can the option of buying a petrol, 460bhp, V8 5 Series Touring be a bad thing, regardless of their view on the dynamics.

I currently own a manual F10 535i Touring and had been looking forward to the M550i as a possible replacement. From the review, it sounds perfect - a characterful V8 in a comfortable and family friendly estate platform. My young kids are probably glad of the more relaxed set up.

As others have stated, I'm sure this car fares very well against it's target rivals - it's surely not meant to be the last word in dynamic edge. It's easy to moan about lack of steering feel, but unfortunately that's the modern world we live in.

It's a real disappointment that BMW have chosen not to import this to the UK. I'm sure that unfairly negative reviews like this are not helping the case.

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
Whilst I agree that the review isn't really fair and that it's silly celebrate a lack of choice in the UK, it has to be said that BMW were asking for this sort of review when they started putting M badges on normal BMWs with big engines.

NDNDNDND

2,001 posts

182 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
THE PISTONHEADS COMMENTARIAT HAVE SPOKEN!

WE DEMAND MORE CARS THAT HAVE MASSIVE NUMBERS ON THE SPEC SHEET, BUT ARE st TO DRIVE!

HUZZAH TO THE FUTURE!

Ninja59

3,691 posts

111 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
In honesty I find it disappointing that BMW UK have decided not to import these (in d or i version).

Hopefully one day, the rate of progress is amazing though when previous M cars are getting outgunned by more cooking models now.

D200

514 posts

146 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
Yeah, I also don’t understand why pishonheads are glad this isn’t coming to the UK.

I guess they are more interested in limited edition Porsches that you cannot buy even though they are supposedly for sale in the UK

A touring M550I X Drive would be a nice car as there is no Touring M5. Saying that – I much prefer the look of the F10/F11 to this new 5 series – the front especially looks a bit vulgar and too much like a 7 series or X5. It’s just a pity the didn’t make the F10 with xDrive – as people in the UK seem to want 4wd cars regardless of our climate.

I haven’t drove a new 5 series yet [so I could be wrong] but I can’t imagine the steering being that unbelievable terrible? Going by this article this car seeming has the worst steering feel of any car currently on the market.

Is it that terrible compared to an E class, Audi A6, Jag XF/XJ, Maserati, Porsche Panamera etc? It must be obviously massively worse than all these cars to merit such criticism?

The Surveyor

7,576 posts

236 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
Not really bothered about the M550i, but it is refreshing to read an article which isn't just pointless praise. Nice to see a journalists having the courage of their conviction to say they don't like it.

Sir_Dave

1,494 posts

209 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
gofasterrosssco said:
Well except the M135/140i are decent to drive (not exactly the last word in steering feel, but that's EPAS for you..) and far more than straight line hero's as implied to the M550i.
Having had one, i tend to disagree hehe

Mine was so disappointing in the handling/steering feel perspective i bought myself out of the lease 6 months early & got an e46 M3 instead!
It just felt like a 120d with a bigger engine, which from the article, is how they seem to describe this M550i thingy.


Edited by Sir_Dave on Thursday 28th September 13:48

Chestrockwell

2,624 posts

156 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
My dad was interested in the M550d but now that they're not going to make one, I hope they make a faster 5 series diesel, a 540d is an obvious choice but I haven't heard of any plans to sell one in the UK

aaron_2000

5,407 posts

82 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
Chestrockwell said:
My dad was interested in the M550d but now that they're not going to make one, I hope they make a faster 5 series diesel, a 540d is an obvious choice but I haven't heard of any plans to sell one in the UK
They're bringing out a 540d at some point to replace the 535d. As with the old 535d, I'm sure you could map it close to m550d numbers, albeit without the bragging rights of a quad turbo engine, and the response of one too.

D200

514 posts

146 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
The Surveyor said:
Not really bothered about the M550i, but it is refreshing to read an article which isn't just pointless praise. Nice to see a journalists having the courage of their conviction to say they don't like it.
It’s not the criticism of this car that people are complaining about. As stated I prefer the F10/F11

It’s complaining about steering feel and comparing it with an E60M5 [from 2005] is a tad silly.

The ‘steering feel’ in 99% of new cars isn’t great and worth calling out for sure.

But is it a reason to be glad the car is not for sale in the UK? Even though all its competitors are much the same

If the S6, e43 etc weren’t available in the UK would you be glad? Same with all sporty Lexus, Jags etc?

Maybe as a part of Brexit the UK should ban the sale of all cars with substandard ‘steering feel’ [whatever that is!]? Wouldn’t be many cars for sale then smilesmile



kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
D200 said:
Maybe as a part of Brexit the UK should ban the sale of all cars with substandard ‘steering feel’ [whatever that is!]? Wouldn’t be many cars for sale then smilesmile
Well that would be one way to make Lotus profitable. hehe

mylesmcd

2,521 posts

218 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
fourscore said:
umm, 'it doesn't feel like a true M car'

That's because that's not it's remit. It's meant to be a very fast but more comfortable cruising model, which by the write up, it is.
Why is the car not reviewed on what it is, not the tired comparison against a true M car..
Yes - I think PHBloke didn't get the memo about it not being an M5 - just a faster 540i. Current 540i is a very nice place to be, this would just be a faster, nice place to be.

Herbs

4,912 posts

228 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
moffat said:
Terrible article and way off the mark, it's the perfect competitor to the Audi S6 and S7.

There is a large market for M 'lite' cars. Just look at the success of Audi S and now MB's 43 cars. Just wait and see how successful the M340i and M440i cars will be, the new B58 engine is a cracker and combine with a BMW remap, decent exhaust and more focused suspension equals a decent car. I know I love my 440i which has been fettled with the M Performance Power and Sound Kit (MPPSK - remap and exhaust) and the M Performance bodykit.
I agree to a certain extent however:

The largest engine you can get in the Audi A6 is a 3.0L

The S6 is petrol only and is 4.0L

BMW already comes in a raft of SE, M sport trims as well as RWD and 4WD, petrol and Diesel. There simply isn't room for a 540i, 540 xdrive, 550, 550d and M5 at the top of the tree.

I just check on how many left and there are 22 different variation of the 540 sold alone in 2017!





Edited by Herbs on Thursday 28th September 14:32

gofasterrosssco

1,235 posts

235 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
Sir_Dave said:
gofasterrosssco said:
Well except the M135/140i are decent to drive (not exactly the last word in steering feel, but that's EPAS for you..) and far more than straight line hero's as implied to the M550i.
Having had one, i tend to disagree hehe

Mine was so disappointing in the handling/steering feel perspective i bought myself out of the lease 6 months early & got an e46 M3 instead!
It just felt like a 120d with a bigger engine, which from the article, is how they seem to describe this M550i thingy.


Edited by Sir_Dave on Thursday 28th September 13:48
Currently having one, we'll agree to disagree.. wink An 'M' car it is not, but its 80% good at most of the performance car stuff, without being exceptional at any, which IMO fits the usage profile of myself and many other performance car enthusiasts.. Its a welcome antidote to my VX220! But yeah all the current 'hyper-hatches' have very poor steering and general feel through the wheel or chassis..

mylesmcd

2,521 posts

218 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
gofasterrosssco said:
Sir_Dave said:
gofasterrosssco said:
Well except the M135/140i are decent to drive (not exactly the last word in steering feel, but that's EPAS for you..) and far more than straight line hero's as implied to the M550i.
Having had one, i tend to disagree hehe

Mine was so disappointing in the handling/steering feel perspective i bought myself out of the lease 6 months early & got an e46 M3 instead!
It just felt like a 120d with a bigger engine, which from the article, is how they seem to describe this M550i thingy.


Edited by Sir_Dave on Thursday 28th September 13:48
Currently having one, we'll agree to disagree.. wink An 'M' car it is not, but its 80% good at most of the performance car stuff, without being exceptional at any, which IMO fits the usage profile of myself and many other performance car enthusiasts.. Its a welcome antidote to my VX220! But yeah all the current 'hyper-hatches' have very poor steering and general feel through the wheel or chassis..
Not having one, i ll step in as referee here and congratulate yourselves in a disagreement well discussed. Something not seen in the modern world that often.

Kudos to you both.

Roma101

835 posts

146 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
Sorry, have to completely disagree with the tone of the article. It is a 2 tonne (near enough) modern barge. It is not a sports car. What were you expecting? The M5 is where the hard work will have gone - the Sub M models are, generally speaking, slightly fettled standard cars with whopping big engines. That's certainly what the M140i is.

Also, probably a majority of people in this country don't commute to work on lovely Alpine passes or beautiful B roads. We sit on motorways, dual carriageways and boring urban roads where straight line pace, comfort and toys are more important than steering feel and chassis delicacy. So perhaps, this is not really the type of car if you are looking to go out and have a blast?

This car is exactly what I would consider for commuting / general family duties, so it is a shame it is not coming to the UK. IMO the 540i isn't quite quick enough and the M5 is too quick (for my budget and needs). This sits perfectly in between. Another strange decision by BMW.

Herbs

4,912 posts

228 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
quotequote all
Roma101 said:
Sorry, have to completely disagree with the tone of the article. It is a 2 tonne (near enough) modern barge. It is not a sports car. What were you expecting? The M5 is where the hard work will have gone - the Sub M models are, generally speaking, slightly fettled standard cars with whopping big engines. That's certainly what the M140i is.

Also, probably a majority of people in this country don't commute to work on lovely Alpine passes or beautiful B roads. We sit on motorways, dual carriageways and boring urban roads where straight line pace, comfort and toys are more important than steering feel and chassis delicacy. So perhaps, this is not really the type of car if you are looking to go out and have a blast?

This car is exactly what I would consider for commuting / general family duties, so it is a shame it is not coming to the UK. IMO the 540i isn't quite quick enough and the M5 is too quick (for my budget and needs). This sits perfectly in between. Another strange decision by BMW.
confused

How is a sub 5 second barge that is limited to 155MPH not fast enough for day to day duties when we sit on "motorways, dual carriageways and boring urban roads"?