[richard in NC]

So as I was picking up a spare quart of oil for my M5, I started talking about the M550i on the dealership floor and got a test drive. Note I've already driven a G30 540i. For those in Charlotte NC area, here's a link: Hendrick Northlake M550i

Here are my thoughts:

Tech: great upgrades from F10. Would wait for full digital dash but not a deal breaker. Like the upgraded controls but not a big fan of the shiny multi-touch areas. Would miss M buttons but settings are semi-customizable.
Interior: This car didn't have the quilted perf'd leather. IMHO, only a must have in hot climates. But overall improvement from F10. Would miss the full leather of the M5.
Performance: Smooth and strong off the line and at speed, not quite the F10 M5 at high end. A boost upgrade would cure that. I was in sport mode most of the drive which wasn't as touchy as the M5 sport mode.
Handling: Even on 20s, a better ride than the M5. Yet excellent handling & feel. Minimal understeer and no push even when entering a curve wrong. It didn't even have the dynamic handling. I would change out tires to Michelin PS4S. It had Goodyear F1 runflats.
Sound: Better than stock F10 M5. More like the M6 GC I recall...

Overall I'd be perfectly happy in it, trading next spring.
But I have to rule out a whole different idea for an M2.

[Roadkiller]

Originally Posted by richard in NC

So as I was picking up a spare quart of oil for my M5, I started talking about the M550i on the dealership floor and got a test drive. Note I've already driven a G30 540i. For those in Charlotte NC area, here's a link: Hendrick Northlake M550i

Here are my thoughts:

Tech: great upgrades from F10. Would wait for full digital dash but not a deal breaker. Like the upgraded controls but not a big fan of the shiny multi-touch areas. Would miss M buttons but settings are semi-customizable.
Interior: This car didn't have the quilted perf'd leather. IMHO, only a must have in hot climates. But overall improvement from F10. Would miss the full leather of the M5.
Performance: Smooth and strong off the line and at speed, not quite the F10 M5 at high end. A boost upgrade would cure that. I was in sport mode most of the drive which wasn't as touchy as the M5 sport mode.
Handling: Even on 20s, a better ride than the M5. Yet excellent handling & feel. Minimal understeer and no push even when entering a curve wrong. It didn't even have the dynamic handling. I would change out tires to Michelin PS4S. It had Goodyear F1 runflats.
Sound: Better than stock F10 M5. More like the M6 GC I recall...

Overall I'd be perfectly happy in it, trading next spring.
But I have to rule out a whole different idea for an M2.

Nice write up -- thanks. I'm surprised about the sound being better than the F10 M5. Not sure if this says a lot about the M550i exhaust or very little about the F10 M5. I like the idea about boost upgrade (Dinan -- where are you?).

[Nivarox]

Thanks for your insights ,I have heard and read that G30 550i xDRive is offering a faster acceleration over F10 M5

[TreyWaters]

Originally Posted by Roadkiller

Nice write up -- thanks. I'm surprised about the sound being better than the F10 M5. Not sure if this says a lot about the M550i exhaust or very little about the F10 M5.

Just got back from my ED, and I, too, am surprised at this comment (I have not ridden/driven an M5). In comfort mode, with Active Sound (mostly? fully?) off, the engine sounds great. However, switch to Sport, and - at least in the cabin, and to both my wife and I - it is horrible. To both of us, it really sounded fake. I can't really nail it down, but to me I think the pitch is just off.

Outside the car- the exhaust sounds GREAT, though!

Once I get the car stateside, I'm going to look at unplugging the Active Sound module and see if I can compare the difference. If that is all it takes to disable it, with no other issues, I may just do that.

[Greer]

Richard,

Glad you liked the car. Now, are you going to get the F90 M5?