[G30Nashville]

You know where I am going with this.


As you can see from my previous posts, I currently have a 540i, but I need this V8 before is disappears and I want to build it….just wondering what feedback has been from anybody who has had or has both? Thanks!

[V3n0m51]

Originally Posted by G30Nashville

You know where I am going with this.


As you can see from my previous posts, I currently have a 540i, but I need this V8 before is disappears and I want to build it….just wondering what feedback has been from anybody who has had or has both? Thanks!

May not be exactly what you are asking for, but I had a MY18 M550 and a MY19 X5 50 (same engine, 460hp before the bump to 523 in the current X5 M50 & M550).

[NVRfollo]

What are your needs besides a V8? Do you prefer sedan vs SUV? Do you need cargo/luggage capacity?

[AmooManiak]

I've had both. 21 X5 M50i and a 2018 M550i. They are similar, but also very different.

X5 had the newer interior so not really apples to apples. Obviously felt more spacious and was much softer.

M550i feels smaller and nimbler.

If you need space, get the X5. If you want a sportier ride, get the M550i. If you are torn, get the X5 as it will satisfy 95% of the M550i needs and give you more space.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by AmooManiak

I've had both. 21 X5 M50i and a 2018 M550i. They are similar, but also very different.

X5 had the newer interior so not really apples to apples. Obviously felt more spacious and was much softer.

M550i feels smaller and nimbler.

If you need space, get the X5. If you want a sportier ride, get the M550i. If you are torn, get the X5 as it will satisfy 95% of the M550i needs and give you more space.

I know the ride isn't as sporty but is the X5 version still a lot of fun to drive and small enough not to be clumsy? I've got a 540 and just got an X7 40 for my wife and I can see where the appeal would be in something that splits the difference. But while I already know the X7 will be a dream on interstate travel, I think I'd miss the way the 540 is still small enough to be sporty and fun on the two lane highway drive from Jackson TN to Nashville (lots of hills and curves). I like how the G30 can go from cruising effortlessly at 90-100 mph down the interstate to having more fun on a two lane.

I'm not making any changes soon. I am still thoroughly enjoying my 540. But like I said, I can see the appeal of the X5 being a blend of the sedan and the SUV.

[Joe-BMW33]

I've driven plenty of X BMW's. Obviously the XM50i has some get up and go, but what you really need to decide is do you want to be high up in an SUV with lots of body roll or do you want to be low to the ground and corner nimbly. Then there is also how the car makes you feel driving it. Although the XM50i is more sporty then the X5, it's still just an SUV at the end of the day. In my opinion, SUV's serve a purpose and that purpose is not feeling like you are a bad ass in it. Not that my goal is feeling like bad ass in other peoples view, but feeling like I am in a sexy car. Just one man's opinion. I have two SUV's, they are my last choice to drive.

[Greywall]

It really comes down to sporty SUV vs. sporty Sedan. They're both sporty, go with what format you want your sporty to be.

[GTFISH]

I have both. The X5 has legroom in the rear seat and storage area, but the M550 is such a better drive all the way around. My wife doesn't like my car because it is "too loud" so it works out perfect for us.

[V3n0m51]

Also last year for the v8 in the M550.

[NGT2]

Sounds to me like having one of each is the way to go

[Sxs1687]

Originally Posted by V3n0m51

Also last year for the v8 in the M550.

Is this confirmed? ☹️

Originally Posted by GTFISH

I have both. The X5 has legroom in the rear seat and storage area, but the M550 is such a better drive all the way around. My wife doesn't like my car because it is "too loud" so it works out perfect for us.

I've been trying to convince my wife forever to upgrade her Lexus RX F-Sport for the X5 but she seems to like the MB GLE450 for whatever reason damnnit. She thinks my M550 looks great, but not the biggest fan of driving or sitting in it (too low...she likes sitting high), thinks the dash controls remind her of a spaceship (don't ask...) and thinks it's uncessarily fast lol. Maybe I can convince her to go GLE53 at least. I'm still hoping for the X5!

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by Sxs1687

Is this confirmed? ☹️

I've been trying to convince my wife forever to upgrade her Lexus RX F-Sport for the X5 but she seems to like the MB GLE450 for whatever reason damnnit. She thinks my M550 looks great, but not the biggest fan of driving or sitting in it (too low...she likes sitting high), thinks the dash controls remind her of a spaceship (don't ask...) and thinks it's uncessarily fast lol. Maybe I can convince her to go GLE53 at least. I'm still hoping for the X5!

Has she driven the GLE yet? I thought we were going to get one and I really like how they look. Then we drove one. Neither of us got much pleasure out of driving it. My wife's last two were Lexus RX and Lexus GX. The GX was a '22 and we already traded it. We ended up going with an X7 and we both love it. She test drove and X5 and really enjoyed it but we need access to a 3rd row. Not that often, but often enough to need one. The GLE we could have gotten by with. But we just couldn't make the X5 argument work. Again, we love the X7. BUT if your wife does like the GLE after she drives one, then you could do worse! It's still a great car.

The only thing I'm hung up on is she likes the Merc but she thinks the BMW is too much like a spaceship! Haha. Good luck in your search. Happy wife, happy life, right??

[Sxs1687]

Originally Posted by NGT2

Has she driven the GLE yet? I thought we were going to get one and I really like how they look. Then we drove one. Neither of us got much pleasure out of driving it. My wife's last two were Lexus RX and Lexus GX. The GX was a '22 and we already traded it. We ended up going with an X7 and we both love it. She test drove and X5 and really enjoyed it but we need access to a 3rd row. Not that often, but often enough to need one. The GLE we could have gotten by with. But we just couldn't make the X5 argument work. Again, we love the X7. BUT if your wife does like the GLE after she drives one, then you could do worse! It's still a great car.

The only thing I'm hung up on is she likes the Merc but she thinks the BMW is too much like a spaceship! Haha. Good luck in your search. Happy wife, happy life, right??

We test drove the GLE350, which I hated and I know my wife didn't love, though she tried to convince herself that she did. I could see it on her face. It was slow, heavy, and just felt like a boat. We need to go test drive the 450 and the 53. I'd imagine the 450 is a little quicker but still boat-like but the 53 I'm sure is a different animal...I guess we'll see. I'll need to find one of those with a 3rd row too and that's not easy.

Didn't like the GX, huh? I've always felt those things were truck like, although they measure up size wise almost the same as the RX. I do like our RX. It's our family hauler. It's comfortable and more than reliable, but I wish it was a little quicker and handled a little better. Also the 8sp trans in sport mode is the jerkiest thing ever! We just want to get a little extra space and an optional 3rd row, if ever it's necessary with kids' friends and all that.

I'd love a X7. I bet that thing is a comfy beast on the highway! I just don't know if she'll want to drive something that big everyday, park it, our garage is tight so that's another concern. I'd love a X5 M-sport with the 3rd row option (nearly impossible to find I know) for these reasons. My wife also thinks BMW owners are assholes lol, which we are sometimes but only because we can be...and culty but not as bad as Tesla owners. She's just always had this love for Mercs, since they used to have those hood ornaments back in the day. Maybe we fill that desire and hope she moves over to the dark side for the following car/SUV.

Btw, I've never driven the X7. How's the pick up and drive with the 40i engine? I've always wondered if it was too small for such a big car? M50i/50i engine is what I thought it wouldve come with standard, and some sort of optional bigger 60i engine.

[BMW012]

The 4cyl on the GLE350 is definitely not made for fun. The450 will drive better for sure but won't be magical. The 53 will have stiffer suspension for sure, not sure if this is something she is willing to tolerate.

If comparing just the ride vs ride - the X5 will probably be the way to go! As the base X5 is basically equivalent to the GLE450

[scungilio]

Originally Posted by NGT2

Has she driven the GLE yet? I thought we were going to get one and I really like how they look. Then we drove one. Neither of us got much pleasure out of driving it. My wife's last two were Lexus RX and Lexus GX. The GX was a '22 and we already traded it. We ended up going with an X7 and we both love it. She test drove and X5 and really enjoyed it but we need access to a 3rd row. Not that often, but often enough to need one. The GLE we could have gotten by with. But we just couldn't make the X5 argument work. Again, we love the X7. BUT if your wife does like the GLE after she drives one, then you could do worse! It's still a great car.

The only thing I'm hung up on is she likes the Merc but she thinks the BMW is too much like a spaceship! Haha. Good luck in your search. Happy wife, happy life, right??

My Gal has a '21 Lexus RX350. Typical Asian junk. Sloppy steering, poor N/A V6 that has the feel of a 20 year old pick up both sound and power. Cheapest vinyl on door cards brittle plastic trim everywhere. Great vehicle for an older person that has no taste in vehicles.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by Sxs1687

We test drove the GLE350, which I hated and I know my wife didn't love, though she tried to convince herself that she did. I could see it on her face. It was slow, heavy, and just felt like a boat. We need to go test drive the 450 and the 53. I'd imagine the 450 is a little quicker but still boat-like but the 53 I'm sure is a different animal...I guess we'll see. I'll need to find one of those with a 3rd row too and that's not easy.

Didn't like the GX, huh? I've always felt those things were truck like, although they measure up size wise almost the same as the RX. I do like our RX. It's our family hauler. It's comfortable and more than reliable, but I wish it was a little quicker and handled a little better. Also the 8sp trans in sport mode is the jerkiest thing ever! We just want to get a little extra space and an optional 3rd row, if ever it's necessary with kids' friends and all that.

I'd love a X7. I bet that thing is a comfy beast on the highway! I just don't know if she'll want to drive something that big everyday, park it, our garage is tight so that's another concern. I'd love a X5 M-sport with the 3rd row option (nearly impossible to find I know) for these reasons. My wife also thinks BMW owners are assholes lol, which we are sometimes but only because we can be...and culty but not as bad as Tesla owners. She's just always had this love for Mercs, since they used to have those hood ornaments back in the day. Maybe we fill that desire and hope she moves over to the dark side for the following car/SUV.

Btw, I've never driven the X7. How's the pick up and drive with the 40i engine? I've always wondered if it was too small for such a big car? M50i/50i engine is what I thought it wouldve come with standard, and some sort of optional bigger 60i engine.

We didn't go X5 because of that 3rd row, so I feel your pain. The X7 is a BMW but it's still a boat. But a very cool one! I like how it drives and I think the 40i has plenty of go for us. There's a whole thread on the X7 site that is full of 50i guys shitting all over it. Honestly, I only have second thoughts when I'm reading comments. When I'm driving it, I feel completely satisfied with the engine. Frankly, I feel that way in my 540i, also, but I would like to experience the novelty of the BMW 8 cyl sedan, eventually.

You should just find one and drive it. I like it.

Others that are smallish with a 3rd row option would be Audi Q7 (don't seem very big to me), Volvo XC90 (but sooo boring), or a domestic (Jeep Grand Cherokee/Explorer). And of course the RX with the 3rd row.

The GX was a truck. I begged my wife to test it out more before we bought it. She was set on it. Her dad had died earlier in 2021 and I just said screw it, and got it for her. Obviously, we should've done more homework. Agree that the RX was a great car, if you don't care about being fun/sporty. It's a comfy FWD small SUV. Never gave any problems.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by scungilio

My Gal has a '21 Lexus RX350. Typical Asian junk. Sloppy steering, poor N/A V6 that has the feel of a 20 year old pick up both sound and power. Cheapest vinyl on door cards brittle plastic trim everywhere. Great vehicle for an older person that has no taste in vehicles.

Yes. The cheapness of the interior on the GX probably turned me off the most. I get it's a step below Merc and BMW but it's still a $60k vehicle.

[Sxs1687]

Originally Posted by BMW012

The 4cyl on the GLE350 is definitely not made for fun. The450 will drive better for sure but won't be magical. The 53 will have stiffer suspension for sure, not sure if this is something she is willing to tolerate.

If comparing just the ride vs ride - the X5 will probably be the way to go! As the base X5 is basically equivalent to the GLE450

Yeah, I don't know why they made the 350 so underpowered, but I see them all over the road so people must like them? I guess we'll need to see how stuff the 53 is. I'm planning to start test drives again once the new year hits.

Originally Posted by scungilio

My Gal has a '21 Lexus RX350. Typical Asian junk. Sloppy steering, poor N/A V6 that has the feel of a 20 year old pick up both sound and power. Cheapest vinyl on door cards brittle plastic trim everywhere. Great vehicle for an older person that has no taste in vehicles.

I know, but I do kind of like it for the fact that it's so reliable lol...and gas is cheap. It take 87 somehow?! I just can't love it! There's def a distinct difference in quality when I get out of my car and get into that one. This one is the F-sport model so it's a little sportier, with bigger wheels, stiffer suspension, different seats, and nicer than the plain one overall, but still!

Originally Posted by NGT2

We didn't go X5 because of that 3rd row, so I feel your pain. The X7 is a BMW but it's still a boat. But a very cool one! I like how it drives and I think the 40i has plenty of go for us. There's a whole thread on the X7 site that is full of 50i guys shitting all over it. Honestly, I only have second thoughts when I'm reading comments. When I'm driving it, I feel completely satisfied with the engine. Frankly, I feel that way in my 540i, also, but I would like to experience the novelty of the BMW 8 cyl sedan, eventually.

You should just find one and drive it. I like it.

Others that are smallish with a 3rd row option would be Audi Q7 (don't seem very big to me), Volvo XC90 (but sooo boring), or a domestic (Jeep Grand Cherokee/Explorer). And of course the RX with the 3rd row.

The GX was a truck. I begged my wife to test it out more before we bought it. She was set on it. Her dad had died earlier in 2021 and I just said screw it, and got it for her. Obviously, we should've done more homework. Agree that the RX was a great car, if you don't care about being fun/sporty. It's a comfy FWD small SUV. Never gave any problems.

I'm sorry for your loss. I lost my FIL a couple yrs ago too. It's a rough time.

I don't know how I feel about Audis or domestics. The 3rd row RX looks like a station wagon so that's a no go immediately hah. I'm going to add the X7 to our test drive list. We'd do the 40i engine if we somehow ended up with it...no need for two v8s. There's a BMW and MB dealer right across from eachother near us. I'm just going to take her over there without saying anything. There's apparently also a new Acura MDX with 3 row and available with some sort of sport edition, which includes a special wheel package, higher HP, a different air based suspension and a few other things that might be nice. I know nothing about Acuras, but maybe...MAYBE we'll check that out too.

[Gautam]

Originally Posted by Sxs1687

We test drove the GLE350, which I hated and I know my wife didn't love, though she tried to convince herself that she did. I could see it on her face. It was slow, heavy, and just felt like a boat. We need to go test drive the 450 and the 53. I'd imagine the 450 is a little quicker but still boat-like but the 53 I'm sure is a different animal...I guess we'll see. I'll need to find one of those with a 3rd row too and that's not easy.

I had a pretty similar experience with my wife. We were supposed to get a) not a BMW and b) an SUV. She’s also had a soft spot for mb for years and had her eyes set on the amg gle 43 coupe - this was a couple of years ago new style was not yet out at the time.

All it took was test driving the competition- I scarcely had to raise a word in argument. The gle 43 was…not to our liking…. It’s not an exaggeration to say that it would’ve been a downgrade to my f30 328. slow and sloppy especially for something wearing an amg badge. Dated interior, surprisingly cramped too. The e43 was vastly better, a fine vehicle…but all it took was sitting in the m550 and we both knew it was the one. Driving it cemented it. we did test drive an x5 xdrive50, but ultimately the size was a liability with no real benefit. Athletic for what it was, too much for us.

[Sxs1687]

Originally Posted by Gautam

I had a pretty similar experience with my wife. We were supposed to get a) not a BMW and b) an SUV. She’s also had a soft spot for mb for years and had her eyes set on the amg gle 43 coupe - this was a couple of years ago new style was not yet out at the time.

All it took was test driving the competition- I scarcely had to raise a word in argument. The gle 43 was…not to our liking…. It’s not an exaggeration to say that it would’ve been a downgrade to my f30 328. slow and sloppy especially for something wearing an amg badge. Dated interior, surprisingly cramped too. The e43 was vastly better, a fine vehicle…but all it took was sitting in the m550 and we both knew it was the one. Driving it cemented it. we did test drive an x5 xdrive50, but ultimately the size was a liability with no real benefit. Athletic for what it was, too much for us.

So wait, did you get a SUV? Or while looking for a non-BMW SUV, you ended up with the M550? Haha

[Mandingo9]

I have an m550 and had a X7 40i loaner. It surprised me with how much pep it had for city driving. Youll need to pre plan overtakes above 50-60mph as it has a lot of heft to move. if performance isn't top of the list the trade offs for comfort are more than there.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by Mandingo9

I have an m550 and had a X7 40i loaner. It surprised me with how much pep it had for city driving. Youll need to pre plan overtakes above 50-60mph as it has a lot of heft to move. if performance isn't top of the list the trade offs for comfort are more than there.

This is what I haven't done yet - highway driving and overtaking. But if I'm in it, it means the wife and 2 kids are with me. So, less overtaking anyway. It's definitely enough in town. I'm looking forward to testing the limits more on a more open road. Two things kept me in the 40i market the whole time:

1 - I wanted the one I thought would be less maintenance over 5-7 years and wasn't buying new. Not to say the V8 wouldn't be a gem, but I just felt like odds favored the I6 for lower maintenance.

2 - She wanted better fuel economy. She hated having to fill up the GX constantly. The great thing is the X7 has two less cylinders, gets wayyy better mileage, and would smoke the GX in any driving competition on pavement. And she ain't leaving the pavement. You couldn't count on that GX to overtake a toddler's power wheel.