[Chappers 71]

This looks rather nice….if you can look past those tacky m grill stripes

https://www.edmunds.com/bmw/5-series...ue&radius=6000

[Bob in IL]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

If it has DHP, it will show package ZDH. Trust me, I've looked at enough M550i VIN decodes to know. I owned a 2019 540i for 6 years before trading for a 2023 M550i in March. I looked DAILY at the listings for over 6 months...had pre-configured searches at about 30-40 dealerships and cars.com, autotrader, etc. Just missed on a couple that I thought were "the one" and finally found the one. Be patient and get what you want, but don't just jump at something that has red flags you have to convince yourself is fine. You shouldn't have to rationalize the bad things away.

This is good advice. Remember the saying, "if a car has a story, there's probably more to the story".

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

So here is just an example. Has DHP, isn't too far from you, very well equipped, but no Bowers. One owner and only 17k miles. That speaks volumes, a car I have a feeling was treated very well. The car you are looking at is 4 owners I think? Former lease car, which I don't love.

This car is 3 years newer and probably can be had for only $10k more. A BMW dealer would not keep this car on a trade if it wasn't worthy of selling with their name on it. It would have ended up at CarMax. It does have a minor accident which usually means a bumper respray.

Just an example.

https://www.bmwusa.com/certified-pre...13BK08MCG53247

or this bad boy:
https://www.bmwusa.com/certified-pre...13BK04MCF71211

A couple recommendations for the OP....listen to Joe...he knows as much, probably more, about the M550 as anyone here and gives great advise. Learn the M-decoder and Bimmer.work decoders to find what's actually on the car. Using a VPN allows you to get more than the max searches per day. Looking at a lot of listings helps you get a better sense of the landscape for what you can get in your budget.

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of B&W, especially if you've already had it in a G30 and want it again. But if you're buying a pre-LCI G30 with the NBT-Evo iDrive 6 and HK audio and it isn't enough for you, there is an option to get it close to B&W. It's expensive but worth it...the BimmerTech Lightwave amp for $2k. The iDrive 6 generation HK audio is a different animal than the LCI HK (MGU with iDrive 7), and it really only needs a better amp. The speakers are good. I did the Lightwave amp upgrade in my 2019 and it was awesome, but had to use the Alpha One in my 2023 because it's a different setup. I have zero affiliation with them, just a satisfied customer who's let them take my $$$ twice. The reality is B&W probably won't add $2k to the cost of the car so if you're holding out for that, they seem to be easier to find in pre-LCI.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

If it has DHP, it will show package ZDH. Trust me, I've looked at enough M550i VIN decodes to know. I owned a 2019 540i for 6 years before trading for a 2023 M550i in March. I looked DAILY at the listings for over 6 months...had pre-configured searches at about 30-40 dealerships and cars.com, autotrader, etc. Just missed on a couple that I thought were "the one" and finally found the one. Be patient and get what you want, but don't just jump at something that has red flags you have to convince yourself is fine. You shouldn't have to rationalize the bad things away.

Well said Tom.

EDIT - we crossed posted!

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

or this bad boy:
https://www.bmwusa.com/certified-pre...13BK04MCF71211

This one is attractive! I would have bought it if I were in the market. Looks like it has had a few coolant leaks and AC evaporator taken care of already.

For a change though, given the red exterior, I would have optioned it with a black interior. I don't normally choose black interiors otherwise.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by adhrp

This one is attractive! I would have bought it if I were in the market. Looks like it has had a few coolant leaks and AC evaporator taken care of already.

For a change though, given the red exterior, I would have optioned it with a black interior. I don't normally choose black interiors otherwise.

My interior is reluctantly black. I say reluctant because I don't not like black, I have just had SO MANY black leather interiors. I wanted something different, but as we say all the time, you have to cut bait on some things for others. Nappa only came in black, creme and mocha. I don't love the latter two on CBM. So it would have been finding my car with a Merino color and that is pretty rare.

Now on this red one here, Merino Tartufo would have been the balls.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

My interior is reluctantly black. I say reluctant because I don't not like black, I have just had SO MANY black leather interiors. I wanted something different, but as we say all the time, you have to cut bait on some things for others. Nappa only came in black, creme and mocha. I don't love the latter two on CBM. So it would have been finding my car with a Merino color and that is pretty rare.

Now on this red one here, Merino Tartufo would have been the balls.

I actually would have preferred Mocha on the CBM, however I prefer lighter brown so Mocha would have not been ideal anyway but that was the only brown available in Nappa. Tartufo (the color, not necessarily the Merino leather) would be my top preference and go-to color for pretty much any exterior!

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by adhrp

I actually would have preferred Mocha on the CBM, however I prefer lighter brown so Mocha would have not been ideal anyway but that was the only brown available in Nappa. Tartufo (the color, not necessarily the Merino leather) would be my top preference and go-to color for pretty much any exterior!

100%. I have it in my white X5. Stunning.

[eliphil]

Colors are so subjective. Black is my go to interior color still trying to get used to the Ivory interior in my M550 exterior skyscraper grey which I really like. I took this combo because it was one of the last M550’s around at the time with all the features I wanted with the exception of DHP. The BW stereo and the wheels really make the car great and the Ivory interior comes with the territory…..

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by koopa

AOS->Repair Manuals and Diagrams (AIR).
Then click on "start".
Enter the VIN in search.
Scroll to the bottom of the resulting page for the car
Expand "Vehicle Histories"

this is awesome! Never knew I could get this, but haven't had a pre-owned BMW ever where the early history was cloudy or unknown. I just signed up for 24 hour access and got more history than my long-time dealer gave me on the car when I first took it in. Thank you!

[koopa]

Black interiors are always a safe option, completely unoffensive and go with everything, it's just a little boring. I prefer all the wild colors and the browns. I remember driving a Sao Paolo M3 a few years ago at a drive event and it had the Yas Marina Blue interior, even that looked great to me.

If I could pick any though it would probably be tartufo. It's just so classy.

[MegaTurd]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

If it has DHP, it will show package ZDH. Trust me, I've looked at enough M550i VIN decodes to know. I owned a 2019 540i for 6 years before trading for a 2023 M550i in March. I looked DAILY at the listings for over 6 months...had pre-configured searches at about 30-40 dealerships and cars.com, autotrader, etc. Just missed on a couple that I thought were "the one" and finally found the one. Be patient and get what you want, but don't just jump at something that has red flags you have to convince yourself is fine. You shouldn't have to rationalize the bad things away.

I appreciate it. If you scroll back you’ll see that this situation was a little different. This car def has DHP despite not showing ZDH. VIN decoding revealed adaptive m suspension professional which apparently you can only have if you have DHP. Confirmed via BMW garage that this one def has DHP.

[MegaTurd]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of B&W, especially if you've already had it in a G30 and want it again. But if you're buying a pre-LCI G30 with the NBT-Evo iDrive 6 and HK audio and it isn't enough for you, there is an option to get it close to B&W. It's expensive but worth it...the BimmerTech Lightwave amp for $2k. The iDrive 6 generation HK audio is a different animal than the LCI HK (MGU with iDrive 7), and it really only needs a better amp. The speakers are good. I did the Lightwave amp upgrade in my 2019 and it was awesome, but had to use the Alpha One in my 2023 because it's a different setup. I have zero affiliation with them, just a satisfied customer who's let them take my $$$ twice. The reality is B&W probably won't add $2k to the cost of the car so if you're holding out for that, they seem to be easier to find in pre-LCI.

Thanks. The car I’m talking about has the B&W. That’s what I had in my first M550 which is why it’s a top priority. I liked it that much esp compared to the HKs. The one question we debated was whether it actually has DHP, which it does.

Hoping someone more technically savvy than me can check out the service records I uploaded to see if there are any major red flags. I think I can get past some of the cosmetic issues that are all fixable for a 7 year old car under 50k.

[MegaTurd]

Originally Posted by koopa

Black interiors are always a safe option, completely unoffensive and go with everything, it's just a little boring. I prefer all the wild colors and the browns. I remember driving a Sao Paolo M3 a few years ago at a drive event and it had the Yas Marina Blue interior, even that looked great to me.

If I could pick any though it would probably be tartufo. It's just so classy.

I prefer for my cockpit to look and feel like a cockpit as opposed to looking like Spock’s quarters on the Enterprise… even if it is a little Darth Vader and boring

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by eliphil

Colors are so subjective.

Indeed. That realization hit me hard so many times when I was on the market for my M550i...there were multiple times when I thought "this is such a well-equipped car, why in the world did they go with that color combination?!?!". In the end, color is always my main compromise on the used car market...I value the other options more and can live with most colors except for the really loud "out there" ones.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by MegaTurd

Thanks. The car I’m talking about has the B&W. That’s what I had in my first M550 which is why it’s a top priority. I liked it that much esp compared to the HKs. The one question we debated was whether it actually has DHP, which it does.

Hoping someone more technically savvy than me can check out the service records I uploaded to see if there are any major red flags. I think I can get past some of the cosmetic issues that are all fixable for a 7 year old car under 50k.

I could be wrong but I'm still not seeing DHP on this car. DHP order code is ZDH and includes individual components 2VW Adaptive M Suspension Plus, Z1A Integral Active Steering, ZX5 Active Roll Stabilization. Those should show even if the package name doesn't. It's not showing up on the full history of this car (attached) or the VIN decode from both M decoder and bimmer.work (also attached). Service history as far as BMW NA knows is on the AIR doc.

[koopa]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

I could be wrong but I'm still not seeing DHP on this car. DHP order code is ZDH and includes individual components 2VW Adaptive M Suspension Plus, Z1A Integral Active Steering, ZX5 Active Roll Stabilization. Those should show even if the package name doesn't. It's not showing up on the full history of this car (attached) or the VIN decode from both M decoder and bimmer.work (also attached). Service history as far as BMW NA knows is on the AIR doc.

But it does show 2VW which is only available in the DHP package and not as a separate option, at least according to the pricing guide.

AIR doesn't seem to show any of the packages. You don't see ZCW, ZDA, ZDH, etc.

Edit: Check this old thread out. It kind of sounds like the consensus is 2VW includes those options instead of Z1A and ZX5 being listed individually. I don't know, but I know my car has DHP and I only see 2VW on the decoders as well.

Edit 2: And this old thread.

[MegaTurd]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

I could be wrong but I'm still not seeing DHP on this car. DHP order code is ZDH and includes individual components 2VW Adaptive M Suspension Plus, Z1A Integral Active Steering, ZX5 Active Roll Stabilization. Those should show even if the package name doesn't. It's not showing up on the full history of this car (attached) or the VIN decode from both M decoder and bimmer.work (also attached). Service history as far as BMW NA knows is on the AIR doc.

I appreciate your digging. As I laid out prev, this car includes 2VW (adaptive M professional) which seems to indicate that it has integral active steering and roll stabilization… which I believe is part of the dynamic handling package. When I orig ordered my 2028 M550 in 2017, I believe there were only two suspension options: standard active M and for an additional $3400, the DHP. Those were the only options I recall. I don’t recall seeing any way to select only a portion of the DHP… the 2VW - adaptive M professional). I believe if a car has 2VW, it has to mean it has DHP. I don’t think there was a way back in 2017 to order a car any other way.

In addition, I added the vehicle vin in BMW garage and it indicates the car has DHP under features. See the attached screenshot. I’d think BMW garage would get the features right for this vin but who knows.

If it really doesn’t have DHP then I’m confused… which is entirely possible.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by koopa

But it does show 2VW which is only available in the DHP package and not as a separate option, at least according to the pricing guide.

AIR doesn't seem to show any of the packages. You don't see ZCW, ZDA, ZDH, etc.

OK, misread that on mine. I have "only" 2VF Adaptive M Suspension, not the 2VW Adaptive M suspension Pro including IAS and ARS as on the one he's looking at.

[MegaTurd]

Originally Posted by koopa

But it does show 2VW which is only available in the DHP package and not as a separate option, at least according to the pricing guide.

AIR doesn't seem to show any of the packages. You don't see ZCW, ZDA, ZDH, etc.

Edit: Check this old thread out. It kind of sounds like the consensus is 2VW includes those options instead of Z1A and ZX5 being listed individually. I don't know, but I know my car has DHP and I only see 2VW on the decoders as well.

Appreciate your adding some clarity to this. I agree with you, if the car includes 2VW then it has to include DHP because that’s what DHP is. It’s possible that early on in 2017/18 that this is how DHP was coded. There were only two options available when I ordered this exact car in 2017: standard M suspension and DHP.

You’ve been immensely helpful with all of knowledge shares! Really appreciate it!

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by MegaTurd

I appreciate your digging. As I laid out prev, this car includes 2VW (adaptive M professional) which seems to indicate that it has integral active steering and roll stabilization… which I believe is part of the dynamic handling package. When I orig ordered my 2028 M550 in 2017, I believe there were only two suspension options: standard active M and for an additional $3400, the DHP. Those were the only options I recall. I don’t recall seeing any way to select only a portion of the DHP… the 2VW - adaptive M professional). I believe if a car has 2VW, it has to mean it has DHP. I don’t think there was a way back in 2017 to order a car any other way.

In addition, I added the vehicle vin in BMW garage and it indicates the car has DHP under features. See the attached screenshot. I’d think BMW garage would get the features right for this vin but who knows.

If it really doesn’t have DHP then I’m confused… which is entirely possible.

You are correct... I thought all M550's had 2VW (with or without DHP) and added IAS and ARS to get DHP. But 2VW effectively equals DHP because cars without it have 2VF, like mine. Sorry for the confusion. But do have a look at the service history in that AIR doc.

[MegaTurd]

Originally Posted by MegaTurd

In 2017 I ordered a fully loaded 2018 m550 and I absolutely loved that car. Fav car of all time. Owned it for a few years and other than blowing a few tires on Indy’s pothole/cratered sh!t roads I had zero issues with the car. For reasons I won’t go into, I had to part company with the car. To this day, I still regret selling it and miss it.

Fast forward to 2025 and I just happened to stumble across a 2018 m550 with 48k miles for $37k that is identical feature-wise (including the B&W) and in every other way to my first girlfriend. No accidents, was a CPO, 3 owners. I originally went on CarMax looking for another Infinity QX80 lol. Having the m550 shipped to a local CarMax.

I’m trying to evaluate (nostalgia aside) the prospect of purchasing/owning a 7 year old BMW and a discontinued model at that. I’m well aware of some of the known issues: cooling lines, etc., and familiar with some of the costs that come along with owning an m550 like having a set of dedicated winter/summer wheels. If I pulled the trigger I’d def purchase Carmax’s extended 100k mile warranty which doesn’t include maintenance.

I prefer the pre-LCI body and honestly I’m just not a fan of the direction bmw is headed from a design and engine perspective… why I gravitate toward the 2018-2020 m550s.

I’m concerned about the availability of parts as the car turns 8, 9, etc, owning an older car, engine issues that could potentially eat a giant chunk of the extended warranty total coverage ($38k) and the fact that m550s are just expensive to own. That said I freaking love that car! The plan would be to [...]

Now that we’ve collectively confirmed that the car includes DHP and is as maxed out as a 2018 M550 could be in 2018, is this car (with only 48k miles) worth $38K? The service records I uploaded seemed to indicate that it was serviced at BMW dealerships. I didn’t see any major red flags in the service history - coolant system was updated early on. It was a CPO. I think the cosmetic issues are to be expected on a 7 year old car. Hell even my orig 2018 M550 got rocked by a couple pot holes driving on Indy’s crap roads. Despite babying the heck out of that car I picked up scratches and chips here and there. I don’t know what the hell the prev owner did to the steering wheel (maybe he used some abrasive cleanser on it??) but it’s pretty easy to replace and I’d swap out the run flats regardless of how much life was left on the tires. Like I said, I’d def get the Maxcare 5 year/125k extended warranty.

I’m not trying to convince myself despite what I wrote up there. Subjective opinions on color/wheels aside, does this appear to be a good deal? Based on everything we’ve collectively uncovered I’m kind of convinced it is but I’m happy to consider opposing views or a diff perspective we haven’t yet. Wondering if the latest developments make anyone else feel better about pulling the trigger on this.