[mvigod]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Take it from someone who used to sell Teslas during college; the Model S is overrated. The fit and finish was crap, interior was crap, and it wasn't fun to drive in anything but a straight line. Even at that, it was boring to just step on the pedal without the ability to shift your own gears or hear the rumble of an engine.

Yup. My detailer has worked on 100's of Model S and dozens already of the X. Said the same thing as you did above. Fit and finish is very poor. It gets even worse if you get an end of quarter build car when they are just pushing cars out the door as fast as possible. Panels and seals not lining up. Tesla seems to still have a way to go to get their quality up.

I agree the interior is not up to 85k to 135k standards. For what you pay you should get much more. You do in Audi, BMW and Mercedes in those price ranges.

The Model S and X are both straight line cars and let's face it, any driver can go fast in a straight line. Takes no skill and gets old fast. I've test driven the P85D and P100D. Didn't buy one. It just lacks in driving experience to my F10 M5 in so many ways and the quality difference is night and day inside and out. I do think they got much better since I drove the first one a couple years ago so the trend is better. I'm closer to thinking about it but not there yet. Tesla has some more work to do to get me over the edge.

Ok onto the M550i. I have no problems with the lack of 4 zone climate. Not sure why this is such a big problem for people. I rarely have anyone in the back seat and if I do well they won't notice the climate if I'm driving the car the way it was meant to be driven

I am hoping my dealer has a loaded up M550i demo so I can feel if the suspension and driving dynamics compare to a true M car like the M3/4/5 or if they are a bit more softer than those. If it's passable, I might sell my M5 and get into the M550i until the new M5's come out and bake in for a year or two (work out any bugs and wait for individual options).

Spec'd my M550i on the config. Also got some wonky error. Did finish though and finished out at $93,035 optioned up to my spec. Wonder if the dealer will slash 8% off?

[raysspl]

Needs red

[visualguy]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Take it from someone who used to sell Teslas during college; the Model S is overrated. The fit and finish was crap, interior was crap, and it wasn't fun to drive in anything but a straight line. Even at that, it was boring to just step on the pedal without the ability to shift your own gears or hear the rumble of an engine.

The quality of the interior of the current model S is fine. They improved a bunch of things, including the seats. It's not as good as the Germans in some ways, and it's more minimal, but it's more than acceptable. The ability to drive in the carpool lane more than compensates for the less impressive interior in my view. The build quality may be variable - I don't know (wouldn't surprise me in a US-made car), but the ones I looked at were fine.

The 5-series isn't any more fun to drive fast in corners than the Model S. I've driven both (my 550i M Sport and my colleague's 90D). My Cayman GTS was a different story - you need a real sports car for that. Anyway, it's irrelevant - how often do I actually get to do that? Rarely.

Sure, if the 5-series or A6 or E-class had an all-electric model, I would prefer those, but the Germans woke up late on this. I hope they get their act together soon. They must, because more and more European countries are adopting regulations prohibiliting internal combustion cars not too far ahead in the future. Also, they are losing a lot of market share to Tesla in the mid-to-large luxury class. Meanwhile, Tesla is it, although I wish they had some competition.

[Herofmine]

Better wait for LCI model!

[ArchJR]

Originally Posted by visualguy

Give us a 5-series size car which is all-electric. It's hard to justify spending this kind of money these days on an internal combustion engine car when you can get a Tesla Model S 60D or 75D for similar money.

I share your frustration with BMW not keeping up with Tesla. I am contemplating a 530e, but it sounds like a heavy and complicated compromise designed mostly for lower Euro road taxes. When I leased my 528i, though, a lightly equipped Model S was about double the cost. They just don't discount or incentivize leases. Plus, my car does not rattle incessantly after 10,000 miles like my friends' Teslas.

[wesleyan92]

What the f is wrong with the bmwusa.com? Errors abound and I hate the new car configurator. The previous one was just fine.

[TreyWaters]

Originally Posted by hinckley

For a car company with the best overall tech (by far), BMW's digital dash is just a gimmick imo.

(full disclosure, I haven't seen either in person yet).

I completely agree with you that the full digital dash is just a gimmick compared to what's available elsewhere. However, the plastic trim on what we get just exacerbates this. Yeah, we all know that it's not customizable. But, when we are shuttling friends, if there's the cheap plastic part, it's obvious that it's a gimmick. However, if it's a full screen, they'll think it's cool and might not question the lack of customizability.

[spuntyb]

Can't wait to configure it in one of several, super exciting shades of grey!! I kid, but that is a pretty limited palette.

[SDRX]

Is this model launching in U.K.? Anyone know when ?

[Axxlrod]

Originally Posted by mvigod

Yup. My detailer has worked on 100's of Model S and dozens already of the X. Said the same thing as you did above. Fit and finish is very poor. It gets even worse if you get an end of quarter build car when they are just pushing cars out the door as fast as possible. Panels and seals not lining up. Tesla seems to still have a way to go to get their quality up.

I agree the interior is not up to 85k to 135k standards. For what you pay you should get much more. You do in Audi, BMW and Mercedes in those price ranges.

The Model S and X are both straight line cars and let's face it, any driver can go fast in a straight line. Takes no skill and gets old fast. I've test driven the P85D and P100D. Didn't buy one. It just lacks in driving experience to my F10 M5 in so many ways and the quality difference is night and day inside and out. I do think they got much better since I drove the first one a couple years ago so the trend is better. I'm closer to thinking about it but not there yet. Tesla has some more work to do to get me over the edge.

Ok onto the M550i. I have no problems with the lack of 4 zone climate. Not sure why this is such a big problem for people. I rarely have anyone in the back seat and if I do well they won't notice the climate if I'm driving the car the way it was meant to be driven

I am hoping my dealer has a loaded up M550i demo so I can feel if the suspension and driving dynamics compare to a true M car like the M3/4/5 or if they are a bit more softer than those. If it's passable, I might sell my M5 and get into the M550i until the new M5's come out and bake in for a year or two (work out any bugs and wait for individual options).

Spec'd my M550i on the config. Also got some wonky error. Did finish though and finished out at $93,035 optioned up to my spec. Wonder if the dealer will slash 8% off?

You'll be disappointed. Of course the suspension and driving dynamics won't compare to a true M car. The M550 is not a real M car.

For some reason, many people on the forums seem to think the M550 is going to be close to an M5. Why? Just because BMW marketing people slapped an M onto the front of the name doesn't suddenly make it an "M5 light".

It will fit into the lineup just like the F10 550 did... same car as the other 5 series, with just some more power, and some different wheel options this time around.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by Axxlrod

For some reason, many people on the forums seem to think the M550 is going to be close to an M5. Why? Just because BMW marketing people slapped an M onto the front of the name doesn't suddenly make it an "M5 light". It will fit into the lineup just like the F10 550 did... same car as the other 5 series, with just some more power, and some different wheel options this time around.

I think the M550 is a bit different than the outgoing F10 550 in that it comes standard with all the dynamic/sport toys that were optional on the old car. That's a good thing to better compete with the likes of the S6, but I think that there's an upscale, "I want the biggest and best", luxury-oriented buyer that the new car may alienate. These are people that are in their 40s and 50s that don't want to be saddled with the "old-man" MB moniker (congrats to BMW's brand marketing, btw). I know several of them that own a F10 550 "luxury line". They like the fact that they're driving a BMW and a V8. But they really want a more Lexus/MB-like drive, and I wonder how that market will react to only having the option of the more testosterone-driven M550.

Funny, related story 1 . . . a good friend of mine who has been driving non-MSport 550s for years, recently upgraded to a 7er. He was very proud of the car and wanted to show it off to me and have me drive it. He's not really a car guy at all but is all over the brand-thing. Anyway, when I saw the car, I was really surprised that he had de-badged it (not his style). But when I drove it, I realized he had bought a 740 and didn't want anyone to know he didn't buy the bigger-engine car! That's the BMW driver that may be turned-off by the new M550.

Funny, related story 2 . . . I've lived, worked and traveled in Europe for many years and was always intrigued by the de-badging thing there (I once came home from business trip to Germany and immediately de-badged my E39 540). Anyway, it's interesting that the Europeans de-badge their cars because they want to hide the fact that they're driving big, gas-guzzling engined cars. We Americans of course de-badge to hide the fact that we're not driving big, gas-guzzling engined cars. Too funny some times.

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

Can't wait to configure it in one of several, super exciting shades of grey!! I kid, but that is a pretty limited palette.

Haha. Yeah I realised for m sport there is a shade of grey or blue (black and white being shades of grey). That's it. Some of the standard colours seem nice but not with m sport we can't!

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by SDRX

Is this model launching in U.K.? Anyone know when ?

No
There are currently no plans to make a RHD version.
So we will have to wait for the M5.

[SilverRevlis]

Originally Posted by Axxlrod

You'll be disappointed. Of course the suspension and driving dynamics won't compare to a true M car. The M550 is not a real M car.

For some reason, many people on the forums seem to think the M550 is going to be close to an M5. Why? Just because BMW marketing people slapped an M onto the front of the name doesn't suddenly make it an "M5 light".

It will fit into the lineup just like the F10 550 did... same car as the other 5 series, with just some more power, and some different wheel options this time around.

I think the purpose of the M550i is to go fast straight. The target demographic that will be leasing/purchasing this car aren't the ones that need, or are likely interested in //M level handling.

[BGT3]

Originally Posted by SilverRevlis

I think the purpose of the M550i is to go fast straight. The target demographic that will be leasing/purchasing this car aren't the ones that need, or are likely interested in //M level handling.

While it's true the M550 is not a sports car and it's strong point will be acceleration not handling it will handle pretty well for what it is, a fairly heavy 4 door luxury sedan. For those of us that do appreciate a well engineered luxury sedan that can handle pretty well for what it is this fits the bill pretty well.

If you want a car that really handles well, a 4,000 lb. 4 door sedan with or without an M badge is not the answer.



ordered- 2018 M550ix
2014- 550ix, 2014- X5
Porsche- 997 GT3
Porsche- 96' C2 Cab.
ordered- 2017 Mustang GT350

[JRobUSC]

Originally Posted by hinckley

Funny, related story 1 . . . a good friend of mine who has been driving non-MSport 550s for years, recently upgraded to a 7er. He was very proud of the car and wanted to show it off to me and have me drive it. He's not really a car guy at all but is all over the brand-thing. Anyway, when I saw the car, I was really surprised that he had de-badged it (not his style). But when I drove it, I realized he had bought a 740 and didn't want anyone to know he didn't buy the bigger-engine car! That's the BMW driver that may be turned-off by the new M550.

That buyer will probably just end up in a debadged 530 or 540 then anyway, since it's doubtful they would care about 465hp or 0-60 in 3.something seconds. Having recently driven a 540 I can honestly say I was shocked at how quick it was. It felt like it would blow away my 340. I was extremely impressed with the car all the way around.

[tyler9595]

Would love to have this car to replace my M4 and X3 leases at year-end. The full digital display cluster shown in the other thread is super cool...disappointed it won't be available on the M550i.

[LASIK]

Originally Posted by JRobUSC

That buyer will probably just end up in a debadged 530 or 540 then anyway, since it's doubtful they would care about 465hp or 0-60 in 3.something seconds. Having recently driven a 540 I can honestly say I was shocked at how quick it was. It felt like it would blow away my 340. I was extremely impressed with the car all the way around.

I've driven the stock 340xi and I loved the way that car pulls off the line and I'm wondering if the 540xi would be similar (still waiting for local dealer to get one in). I like the extra space/legroom the 5er affords but didn't want to get one if it wasn't at least as fast as the 340xi. I'm open to ordering the 540xi with the MPPSK when it becomes available to achieve comparable performance to the 340xi. But if you think both cars are just as quick, I'd rather spend the extra money for some CF bits instead of the MPPSK.

[Jdubya]

It's pretty fast. I'm coming out of a 2014 550i M Sport (N63tu) and my new 540i feels as fast in everyday driving using the "butt-o-meter". I'm sure the 550i was technically faster using launch control but I haven't noticed much difference.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by JRobUSC

That buyer will probably just end up in a debadged 530 or 540 then anyway, since it's doubtful they would care about 465hp or 0-60 in 3.something seconds. Having recently driven a 540 I can honestly say I was shocked at how quick it was. It felt like it would blow away my 340. I was extremely impressed with the car all the way around.

That's probably correct. I think the 540 may be the sweet spot of the new lineup.

[BGT3]

Originally Posted by hinckley

That's probably correct. I think the 540 may be the sweet spot of the new lineup.

Plus there's allot less weight over the front axle with the 540 vs. the 550 so handling should be better as long as you get the M Sport suspension.

[visualguy]

The M550i has a MUCH stronger engine than the 540i. The acceleration experience will not be similar. I have a 2016 550i and it is just brutal when the power kicks in at any speed. Even without straining the engine. No comparison to, say, the 340i with the B58.

However, the power of the 550i is overkill in real-world driving. There are some moments when I'm able to enjoy it, and it is a different experience to have so much power even without straining the engine. On the other hand, I would say that it isn't worth the extra cost of the car, the gas guzzling, and the long-term headaches of owning this engine which is not the most reliable/durable engine out there to say the least.