M550i

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Discussion

Boosted_8

Original Poster:

99 posts

38 months

Tuesday 6th July 2021
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I cross shopped the RS6 and M5 Competition in 2020. £30'000 difference new for new.

A closer match in outlay would be something in the region of an 18' or 19' plate base M5 F90. An excellent car with most of the depreciation paid by the first owner(s).

Boosted_8

Original Poster:

99 posts

38 months

Saturday 17th July 2021
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BMW fixed it!


ukpolak

173 posts

40 months

Sunday 18th July 2021
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I saw this on Broadspeed “hot deals” unfortunately no details on options and step 1 is a connection to the selling dealer.

Any insight if this is a good price?

https://mobile.twitter.com/broadspeed/status/14167...

£599 PM Inc VAT - or Cash Up To £13k OFF List ** BRAND NEW ** BMW M550i xDrive ** (0-62mph in 3.7 Seconds, 535PS). PCH 4YR 8kpa from £7k Down and £599.99 PM Inc VAT (PCP from £677 PM)


Boosted_8

Original Poster:

99 posts

38 months

Saturday 24th July 2021
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And in cooler weather she does:

Sam.F

1,144 posts

201 months

Sunday 25th July 2021
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Assume you've had the fix done that my dealer has contacted me about, something to do with the throttle control unit?

Boosted_8

Original Poster:

99 posts

38 months

Sunday 25th July 2021
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Sam.F said:
Assume you've had the fix done that my dealer has contacted me about, something to do with the throttle control unit?
Ja, das ist richtig.

Boosted_8

Original Poster:

99 posts

38 months

Boosted_8

Original Poster:

99 posts

38 months

Friday 20th August 2021
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Finally got a chance to visit the drag strip. Not bad for +3lbs of extra boost!


ExecutiveAction

337 posts

38 months

Monday 23rd August 2021
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Hi chaps!

I'm about to make a 5 series purchase, probably an M550, and I'd like the benefit of your wisdom.

I'm finding YouTube very contradictory. Jeremy Clarkson thinks it is wonderful. Autogefuhl thinks that you would be better buying a 540i, because the lighter engine gives better handling. Somebody else thinks that the 540i is trading on the reputation of past straight-six BMW's, and is not actually as good as the 530d (which was where I started). Some people think that you have to have the Adaptive Rear Wheel Steer option, others say it ruins the purity of the handling (the reason I first got a 5 series). There are as many conflicting opinions as stars in the sky.

I'm interested in handling, performance, driving pleasure, 4 hour autobahn blasts, alpine passes, all that good stuff. I'm prepared to sacrifice fuel economy for fun.

Which would in your opinion be best, 530d, 540i or M550i? The M5 is just too expensive, and I need to be able to use the car as a daily.

If the answer is M550i, what options do you consider important? Particularly the Adaptive Suspension/Rear Wheel Steer Package.

ExecutiveAction

337 posts

38 months

Monday 23rd August 2021
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ukpolak said:
I think if huge M8s and the 7 can attract discounts of £30k (per carwow front page) from RRP, either that RRP is way out or there just isn’t demand for huge and thirsty ICE cars any more. I guess at least an 850i or M8 could be considered a second car / expensive toy with decent looks to match, however I’m not really surprised to see 7ers with that much discount on list and all in plain carwow sight.
I don't think that is the issue. The problem with the 7 is that it is too big. Unless you need a limo, what is a 7 going to do that a 5 can't? Added to that, the current front end looks like a TikTok joke. This is purely personal view, but the 8 in any form is just a big heavy car. BMW have always produced huge barges like that, I don't understand why, they don't sell, they tank in value, they don't (imho anyway) even handle.

ExecutiveAction

337 posts

38 months

Monday 23rd August 2021
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Boosted_8 said:
Added some Burger motorsport 10mm front and 13mm rear spacers to give the car a bit more stance. Also thought while the wheels are off, why not fit the floating centre caps from the 7 series? That idea turned out to be a bit of a ball ache however, as they don't spin freely on the M668 20" wheels. I had to get the Dremel grinding wheel out to modify the pendulum inside them.
Total respect mate, you are getting the best out of that car.

JNW1

7,802 posts

195 months

Tuesday 24th August 2021
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ExecutiveAction said:
I don't think that is the issue. The problem with the 7 is that it is too big. Unless you need a limo, what is a 7 going to do that a 5 can't?
I thought the same until it was pointed out to me on another forum that the non-LWB 7-series is actually very similar in size to the 5-series; when you take into account the higher discounts and better standard spec on the 7 it arguably makes more sense to go for one of those than the 5 if you're looking at something to waft up and down motorways. Obviously a bit different when you start talking about more niche models like the 550i though....

liner33

10,696 posts

203 months

Tuesday 24th August 2021
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ExecutiveAction said:
I don't think that is the issue. The problem with the 7 is that it is too big. Unless you need a limo, what is a 7 going to do that a 5 can't? Added to that, the current front end looks like a TikTok joke. This is purely personal view, but the 8 in any form is just a big heavy car. BMW have always produced huge barges like that, I don't understand why, they don't sell, they tank in value, they don't (imho anyway) even handle.
I dunno I have a soft spot for the M8 and a few mods gives you a stonking motor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSJA5iqL5yA&ab...

rassi

2,454 posts

252 months

Tuesday 24th August 2021
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JNW1 said:
ExecutiveAction said:
I don't think that is the issue. The problem with the 7 is that it is too big. Unless you need a limo, what is a 7 going to do that a 5 can't?
I thought the same until it was pointed out to me on another forum that the non-LWB 7-series is actually very similar in size to the 5-series; when you take into account the higher discounts and better standard spec on the 7 it arguably makes more sense to go for one of those than the 5 if you're looking at something to waft up and down motorways. Obviously a bit different when you start talking about more niche models like the 550i though....
The SWB G11 7 series is 16 cm longer than a G30 5 series, and about 3 cm wider. The length does make a difference, and the 5 series is already a wide car.

ExecutiveAction

337 posts

38 months

Tuesday 24th August 2021
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ukpolak said:
I saw this on Broadspeed “hot deals” unfortunately no details on options and step 1 is a connection to the selling dealer.
I think that the Broadspeed site needs used with care but they do let you select options, and quote you an all in price, a very competitive one. I think that between now and the end of September is the time to place an order, though it may be mid-22 before you see your car.

Boosted_8

Original Poster:

99 posts

38 months

Tuesday 24th August 2021
quotequote all
ExecutiveAction said:
Hi chaps!

I'm about to make a 5 series purchase, probably an M550, and I'd like the benefit of your wisdom.

I'm finding YouTube very contradictory. Jeremy Clarkson thinks it is wonderful. Autogefuhl thinks that you would be better buying a 540i, because the lighter engine gives better handling. Somebody else thinks that the 540i is trading on the reputation of past straight-six BMW's, and is not actually as good as the 530d (which was where I started). Some people think that you have to have the Adaptive Rear Wheel Steer option, others say it ruins the purity of the handling (the reason I first got a 5 series). There are as many conflicting opinions as stars in the sky.

I'm interested in handling, performance, driving pleasure, 4 hour autobahn blasts, alpine passes, all that good stuff. I'm prepared to sacrifice fuel economy for fun.

Which would in your opinion be best, 530d, 540i or M550i? The M5 is just too expensive, and I need to be able to use the car as a daily.

If the answer is M550i, what options do you consider important? Particularly the Adaptive Suspension/Rear Wheel Steer Package.
I would say test drives are in order. Your selection criteria is very subjective and can’t really be settled by other peoples opinions.

JNW1

7,802 posts

195 months

Tuesday 24th August 2021
quotequote all
rassi said:
JNW1 said:
ExecutiveAction said:
I don't think that is the issue. The problem with the 7 is that it is too big. Unless you need a limo, what is a 7 going to do that a 5 can't?
I thought the same until it was pointed out to me on another forum that the non-LWB 7-series is actually very similar in size to the 5-series; when you take into account the higher discounts and better standard spec on the 7 it arguably makes more sense to go for one of those than the 5 if you're looking at something to waft up and down motorways. Obviously a bit different when you start talking about more niche models like the 550i though....
The SWB G11 7 series is 16 cm longer than a G30 5 series, and about 3 cm wider. The length does make a difference, and the 5 series is already a wide car.
Either a 5 or a 7 are bigger than I'd want but if I was looking at something around 5m long - which both are - a difference of 16cm (or 6") wouldn't strike me as terribly significant. The difference in size in moving from a 5 to a 7 is less than in moving from a 3 to a 5 and personally I think once you're in something as big as a 5 you'd barely notice the slightly larger footprint of a SWB 7 - whichever way you cut it they're both big cars!


anonymous-user

55 months

Wednesday 25th August 2021
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A very unique one it seems. She looks good. Enjoy!

ExecutiveAction

337 posts

38 months

Wednesday 25th August 2021
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JNW1 said:
Either a 5 or a 7 are bigger than I'd want but if I was looking at something around 5m long - which both are - a difference of 16cm (or 6") wouldn't strike me as terribly significant. The difference in size in moving from a 5 to a 7 is less than in moving from a 3 to a 5 and personally I think once you're in something as big as a 5 you'd barely notice the slightly larger footprint of a SWB 7 - whichever way you cut it they're both big cars!

Yes, but the 5 series is and always has been a sweet natural handling car. The 7? I don’t know, but more weight doesn’t help. The 3 series is just too small for business use.

ExecutiveAction

337 posts

38 months

Wednesday 25th August 2021
quotequote all
Boosted_8 said:
I would say test drives are in order. Your selection criteria is very subjective and can’t really be settled by other peoples opinions.
Trouble is, I can’t find a dealer who has a demonstrator available for a test drive. Do you have rear steer on yours?