RE: BMW M550i: Driven
Discussion
hondansx said:
Ares said:
hondansx said:
BMW have lost it as far as i'm concerned. The new M5 already looks dull as ditchwater. Now they're releasing an even more dull verson? No thanks.
Anyone that thinks an M5 will be dull, and an M550i will be 'even duller' is either not an enthusiastic driver, foolish, or a mere troll.PH* whinges about the downsizing of engines, then BMW launch a 450bhp V8 and PH whinges that it isn't M5 enough.
(*and mostly the PHers that could never be in a position to buy a £90k M5, just critiquing it from their £2,500 s
tboxes.)In the last decade the 3 Series has taken over from the Mondeo and Vectra, whilst the fugly 1 Series competes with lowly hatchbacks. It just makes me wonder how much longer BMW can lean on their reputation of building driver's cars.
I would argue PH whinges more about the fact that manufacturers are ignoring the fact that we want driver's cars, not just 0-60 times. The 550i is a perfect illustration of this; a great car on paper ideal for pub chat, but not a driver's car. Given that is meant to be BMW's USP, that has to be a disappointing.
hondansx said:
Ares said:
hondansx said:
BMW have lost it as far as i'm concerned. The new M5 already looks dull as ditchwater. Now they're releasing an even more dull verson? No thanks.
Anyone that thinks an M5 will be dull, and an M550i will be 'even duller' is either not an enthusiastic driver, foolish, or a mere troll.PH* whinges about the downsizing of engines, then BMW launch a 450bhp V8 and PH whinges that it isn't M5 enough.
(*and mostly the PHers that could never be in a position to buy a £90k M5, just critiquing it from their £2,500 s
tboxes.)In the last decade the 3 Series has taken over from the Mondeo and Vectra, whilst the fugly 1 Series competes with lowly hatchbacks. It just makes me wonder how much longer BMW can lean on their reputation of building driver's cars.
I would argue PH whinges more about the fact that manufacturers are ignoring the fact that we want driver's cars, not just 0-60 times. The 550i is a perfect illustration of this; a great car on paper ideal for pub chat, but not a driver's car. Given that is meant to be BMW's USP, that has to be a disappointing.
And how did you find the 550i to drive to decide it isn't a drivers car and be therefore disappointed?
If you think the 1-series genuinely competes with lowly hatchbacks, and the 3-series is no better than a Mondeo or Vector (which hasn't existed for years), then there is not wonder you find BMWs (and all cars) dull. Driverless cars would, it seems, be made for you.
Kawasicki said:
hondansx said:
Ares said:
hondansx said:
BMW have lost it as far as i'm concerned. The new M5 already looks dull as ditchwater. Now they're releasing an even more dull verson? No thanks.
Anyone that thinks an M5 will be dull, and an M550i will be 'even duller' is either not an enthusiastic driver, foolish, or a mere troll.PH* whinges about the downsizing of engines, then BMW launch a 450bhp V8 and PH whinges that it isn't M5 enough.
(*and mostly the PHers that could never be in a position to buy a £90k M5, just critiquing it from their £2,500 s
tboxes.)In the last decade the 3 Series has taken over from the Mondeo and Vectra, whilst the fugly 1 Series competes with lowly hatchbacks. It just makes me wonder how much longer BMW can lean on their reputation of building driver's cars.
I would argue PH whinges more about the fact that manufacturers are ignoring the fact that we want driver's cars, not just 0-60 times. The 550i is a perfect illustration of this; a great car on paper ideal for pub chat, but not a driver's car. Given that is meant to be BMW's USP, that has to be a disappointing.
Kawasicki said:
E28
520i Slow, Gigantic roll
535i Moderately fast, Gigantic roll
M535i Moderately fast, very high roll, sports interior
M5 fast, moderate roll, sports luxury interior
What has changed with the latest 5 series range? Not much that I can see.
People have donned their rose-tints and have some kind of Mandela-effect moments where they recall cars which were effectively warmed-over standard cars with some add on bits and spec as some form of motorsport-tweaked specials.. Its a 5-Series..520i Slow, Gigantic roll
535i Moderately fast, Gigantic roll
M535i Moderately fast, very high roll, sports interior
M5 fast, moderate roll, sports luxury interior
What has changed with the latest 5 series range? Not much that I can see.
A manufacturers approach to offering progressively warmer models is absolutely not a new thing, so I'm not sure how people think its weird that BMW would stick some branded badges on a 550i..
People sometimes seem to have a 'top down' review where they assess (the M550i in this case) a new model as what it doesn't have in comparison to the top spec model. And maybe some people want an executive estate car that is easy to drive, but has a big engine.
gofasterrosssco said:
People have donned their rose-tints and have some kind of Mandela-effect moments where they recall cars which were effectively warmed-over standard cars with some add on bits and spec as some form of motorsport-tweaked specials.. Its a 5-Series..
A manufacturers approach to offering progressively warmer models is absolutely not a new thing, so I'm not sure how people think its weird that BMW would stick some branded badges on a 550i..
People sometimes seem to have a 'top down' review where they assess (the M550i in this case) a new model as what it doesn't have in comparison to the top spec model. And maybe some people want an executive estate car that is easy to drive, but has a big engine.
Yup...and don't forget the people that criticise the base model, whilst not having the will/opportunity/skill to even scratch the skin of what it is capable of.A manufacturers approach to offering progressively warmer models is absolutely not a new thing, so I'm not sure how people think its weird that BMW would stick some branded badges on a 550i..
People sometimes seem to have a 'top down' review where they assess (the M550i in this case) a new model as what it doesn't have in comparison to the top spec model. And maybe some people want an executive estate car that is easy to drive, but has a big engine.
Ares said:
Thats my post, and it isn't apparent. It is closer to a 530d M-Sport that an M5, IMO, having driven both. But it isn't closer to a 520i.
And the M550i isn't targeting the same market as an Alfa QV or M3?
So the 530d M Sport has better driving dynamics than the 520i M Sport(with less weight in the nose)?And the M550i isn't targeting the same market as an Alfa QV or M3?
mainaman said:
Ares said:
Thats my post, and it isn't apparent. It is closer to a 530d M-Sport that an M5, IMO, having driven both. But it isn't closer to a 520i.
And the M550i isn't targeting the same market as an Alfa QV or M3?
So the 530d M Sport has better driving dynamics than the 520i M Sport(with less weight in the nose)?And the M550i isn't targeting the same market as an Alfa QV or M3?
Ares said:
mainaman said:
Ares said:
Thats my post, and it isn't apparent. It is closer to a 530d M-Sport that an M5, IMO, having driven both. But it isn't closer to a 520i.
And the M550i isn't targeting the same market as an Alfa QV or M3?
So the 530d M Sport has better driving dynamics than the 520i M Sport(with less weight in the nose)?And the M550i isn't targeting the same market as an Alfa QV or M3?
fred bloggs said:
Theyll slap an M badge on anything if it gets a couple more sales. I wouldnt mind betting the dealers have a stash of eBay badges under the counter to stick on when a customer speccs the Msport valve caps.
BMW lost its 'premiumness' after around 2002 and just churn out rubbish that the masses buy because it wears a BMW badge.
I suppose if your a bottom rung rep,an Mbadge on your 320d makes you feel a little bit better about your life.
A new 320d is an incredible car though.BMW lost its 'premiumness' after around 2002 and just churn out rubbish that the masses buy because it wears a BMW badge.
I suppose if your a bottom rung rep,an Mbadge on your 320d makes you feel a little bit better about your life.
I've had cars from their "premium years" and my pride and joy is an e46 330i vert. It's possibly the highest specced e46 other than an m3 I've seen.
But a new 320d will accelerate almost as quick and achieve 70mpg. Whilst not as involving as my e46 they are pleasant enough to drive, grip very well and are absolutely a premium product, especially on the inside. You compare an e46 or e36 to a brand new 3er and you're looking at phenomenal improvement over twenty years. Just lose the rose glasses and go on auto trader to look at an e36 316ti SE to remember how bad their base models use to be.
Also can confirm that when I was 18 and on minimum wage, buying a 8 year old e46 318 for shed money because it was the sport trim made me feel excellent on the drive home despite how bad my day may have been!
Message to BMW and Mercedes: please can we have cars with big petrol engines WITHOUT the 'M' and 'AMG' addenda. Surely I am not the only person in the universe who cringes at the mere thought of these "brands". M-Performance and AMG have become like a steroidal Burberry, the very definition of today's Chav.
I partially agree with you but for different reasons I don't care who drives what & I'm not calling people whatever name it is this week, for me if you can afford to buy/run it more power to you, but for me AMG/M are supposed to be top of the tree in terms of models but diluting the name so that even the diesels are AMG is pointless & just takes the specialness away from the badge.
For me it's simple they need to make a sub badge in Mercedes case go back to the Sport Line name & BMW could go back to the Sport the trim level & make the M Sport the sub model across the range.
Audi have it right for me with their S/RS models also if AMG want to put their name to a diesel model I'd like them to do it properly.
For me it's simple they need to make a sub badge in Mercedes case go back to the Sport Line name & BMW could go back to the Sport the trim level & make the M Sport the sub model across the range.
Audi have it right for me with their S/RS models also if AMG want to put their name to a diesel model I'd like them to do it properly.
The msport thing makes sense though.
You buy a 325i which is nice. You then spec it as msport, thus giving it harder suspension, bigger alloys and in some cases brakes, bolstered seats and some badges to show your mates you like going fast around corners.
Or, you don't want the msport but you quite like the seats so you spec them independently.
Or you you're actually a doctor by day but a lunatic by night so you buy the m3 and you don't need m badges because you've got massive vents instead.
It makes the second hand market so easy as well.
You buy a 325i which is nice. You then spec it as msport, thus giving it harder suspension, bigger alloys and in some cases brakes, bolstered seats and some badges to show your mates you like going fast around corners.
Or, you don't want the msport but you quite like the seats so you spec them independently.
Or you you're actually a doctor by day but a lunatic by night so you buy the m3 and you don't need m badges because you've got massive vents instead.
It makes the second hand market so easy as well.
Badges don't bother me in the slightest and if I were buying a non-M BMW I'd more than likely buy M Sport trim just because I prefer the styling and suspension setup (as nice as a 550i SE would be!).
As for dilution, the harder it is to distinguish between my M5 and every 520d M Sport out there on the roads, the better as far as I'm concerned. The relative anonymity is half the reason I wanted one.
I know its contradictory to the above, but I do think MB have gone a little too far in plastering AMG on everything they sell, but again that wouldn't bother me in the slightest if I were buying an E63S.
As for dilution, the harder it is to distinguish between my M5 and every 520d M Sport out there on the roads, the better as far as I'm concerned. The relative anonymity is half the reason I wanted one.
I know its contradictory to the above, but I do think MB have gone a little too far in plastering AMG on everything they sell, but again that wouldn't bother me in the slightest if I were buying an E63S.
matthias73 said:
But a new 320d will accelerate almost as quick and achieve 70mpg. Whilst not as involving as my e46 they are pleasant enough to drive, grip very well and are absolutely a premium product, especially on the inside. You compare an e46 or e36 to a brand new 3er and you're looking at phenomenal improvement over twenty years. Just lose the rose glasses and go on auto trader to look at an e36 316ti SE to remember how bad their base models use to be.
Not sure I agree myself at the improvement - early E36s had a few build issues, but other than that they are still fine cars with a quality interior todayNothing wrong with an E36 Compact either IME, well built and good enough fun to drive, albeit not all that quick
(As a pedantic aside, there was no such thing as an E36 316ti, they only used the "ti" branding on the 318 & 323 Compacts)
matthias73 said:
You compare an e46 or e36 to a brand new 3er and you're looking at phenomenal improvement over twenty years.
I'd say the E46 has aged better than most cars of the age. Still a nice interior, feels modern enough with nice materials. I was never an E36 guy, but still aged better than the Merc's of the age. Etypephil said:
BMW made some great cars during the 80s and 90s; fast, involving and reliable, but seem to have lost their way in the search for increased market share. Sadly, they are far from alone in this.
Congratulations on the first post.I also challenge you to drive an M240 or similar. They can still make a damm fine car!
Kawasicki said:
Ares said:
mainaman said:
Ares said:
Thats my post, and it isn't apparent. It is closer to a 530d M-Sport that an M5, IMO, having driven both. But it isn't closer to a 520i.
And the M550i isn't targeting the same market as an Alfa QV or M3?
So the 530d M Sport has better driving dynamics than the 520i M Sport(with less weight in the nose)?And the M550i isn't targeting the same market as an Alfa QV or M3?
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