[Stormbitch]

My speed date with M550i - How did it go?

Having owned almost all and every 5 - It was time to take my camera out with the M550i.

What I loved

The seat - What a seat! The seat and position is better than a 7!

The iDrive screen - Goodbye flat look. Hello detail.

The looks - Classic, modernised, delicious.

Paint choices - I even mentioned the dude on this forum with his red one. What a red.

Smoothness - Engine is just so amazing to turn on and off. I kept stopping so I could start it again.

Nappa - Sadly it is a must. Dakota is a no in this car.

Driving Pleasure - Super cruiser perfection.

Head up display - Best in the world, the end.

Wheels - Oh good god.

Not so much.

Run flats - Yawn sorry.

Price - Does it have to be this expensive?

Feels its weight - Scary on small British roads. M5 probably more suited.

Verdict - Worth every penny of the fuel it will use.

Verdict 2 - Get a red one

Video

If you can open this in another tab then you don't need to leave the forum.

[Ellinas]

Funnily I rewtached this just 2 days ago!

[Stormbitch]

Ha! You are ahead of the curve my friend.

[YETIinFL]

I watched that video a few months ago while doing research on the M550. It helped solidify my decision after the test drive.
I wish they still had the auto reverse feature, that would come in handy.

[jcal65]

I have to say this video has helped keep my sanity while waiting for my car to arrive. I like the style of this video and the sound of the V8 captured during acceleration!

[Ellinas]

Originally Posted by jcal65

I have to say this video has helped keep my sanity while waiting for my car to arrive.

Yep, same here!

[Stormbitch]

This is great cheer me up news today boys and girls. Sorry about your wait times.

[Boosted_8]

Originally Posted by Stormbitch

My speed date with M550i - How did it go?

Having owned almost all and every 5 - It was time to take my camera out with the M550i.

What I loved

The seat - What a seat! The seat and position is better than a 7!

The iDrive screen - Goodbye flat look. Hello detail.

The looks - Classic, modernised, delicious.

Paint choices - I even mentioned the dude on this forum with his red one. What a red.

Smoothness - Engine is just so amazing to turn on and off. I kept stopping so I could start it again.

Nappa - Sadly it is a must. Dakota is a no in this car.

Driving Pleasure - Super cruiser perfection.

Head up display - Best in the world, the end.

Wheels - Oh good god.

Not so much.

Run flats - Yawn sorry.

Price - Does it have to be this expensive?

Feels its weight - Scary on small British roads. M5 probably more suited.

Verdict - Worth every penny of the fuel it will use.

Verdict 2 - Get a red one

Video

If you can open this in another tab then you don't need to leave the forum.

Only point I would pull out for disagreement is "scary and too heavy for small british roads." I don't find I have to pull over when driving down lanes. Here in the country side of East Cheshire, three quarters of all vehicles are Range rovers, Q7's, Cayennes and I don't need to edge past. When driving a wider car like an Audi R8 you will be paranoid about what comes around every bend. I Think the additional width and extra 100kg of an M5 would add to the stress if anything.

[Stormbitch]

Sure I get you - I mean even on two way roads, and I mean on heavy braking.

What I found is, (and have a clip off it!) when you accelerate in it the perception of how fast you are going in relation to how heavy the car is - is slightly misleading. This resulted in my having to do screech on the road in a straight line, after misjudging speed approaching a bend.

Another car was coming round the bend and I was not aware how much speed and weight was being stopped until I tried to stop. Impressive to avoid accidents for sure, but the M5 slightly makes you more aware of what is going on and seems to be much more confident under braking.

Again this is not really for hoon-ing around in anyway. In that particular case I was trying to get the audio of approach / pass and distant and so in real world scenarios would drive at probably 90% slower than that.

Because the torque in the M550i isn't that strong again your revs are high and thus you have stealthy carried speed. The M5 shoves you in the direction and you are earlier to back off the throttle.

[Boosted_8]

In that situation, the 265 section Ultra high performance tyres on the front of the M5 are the key difference.

[Stormbitch]

Sure and the M5 being more than 200lbs lighter...

[Boosted_8]

I need to correct my last post it's actually 275 front tyres used on the F90. I'm not 100% sold on the weight values for a stripper spec M550i I believe it's closer to 1800kg. Regardless the M5's spring rates, factory geometry setup and thicker roll bars also play a role in its dynamics.

[eliphil]

I test drove 2 2021 M5's and didnt like either of them. The transmission was hyper agressive, harsh ride and the seats were not great. The M550 has great seats and is plenty fast enough for me.

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by eliphil

I test drove 2 2021 M5's and didnt like either of them. The transmission was hyper agressive, harsh ride and the seats were not great. The M550 has great seats and is plenty fast enough for me.

Lots of M5 owners swap out the springs with M550 ones.
I'd like to see how "harsh" the ride is in an M5 because my car has DHP and in Sport + mode its pretty damn stiff !

[eliphil]

Oh boy, I am about to find out. My car will be in this week and has the DHP but I have to say that even in the calmest settings the M5 was really harsh and I am coming out of an RS7 which is far more civilized and provides serious fun factor.

[Stormbitch]

What all you Americanians do for a job with your M550is and Ms?

[2022M550i]

Great video, thanks for putting it out there. I'd say you're spot on with your assessment. With respect to the price....I test drove everything out there from many manufactures and I think the price is not all that bad for everything you are getting. Mercedes and Audi were more $$ for comparable performance and options. I thought the transmission and ride quality were better than the competition at that price point...plus the M550i is a V8, these will be extinct in a few years. Just my thoughts.

Originally Posted by Stormbitch

What all you Americanians do for a job with your M550is and Ms?

Are you asking what we do for a living?

[eliphil]

I used the same logic when I chose the M550 which i just got last night. I only drove it for 12 miles a joy ride w my kid and then to detailer so I am reserving judgment for about 60 days. I did put the car in sport plus w the DHP and it was light years smoother then the M5. I came out of an RS7 and just didnt like the M5, glad i got the M550 but again I will review ina few months.

[SomaM550i]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

Great video, thanks for putting it out there. I'd say you're spot on with your assessment. With respect to the price....I test drove everything out there from many manufactures and I think the price is not all that bad for everything you are getting. Mercedes and Audi were more $$ for comparable performance and options. I thought the transmission and ride quality were better than the competition at that price point...plus the M550i is a V8, these will be extinct in a few years. Just my thoughts.




Are you asking what we do for a living?

If you're shopping 2022's, actually the performance isn't comparable. The '22 M550i blows the Audi S6 and MB e53 AMG out of the water in the same class of price range.

I'm a gigolo, Storm. My last post I accidentally deleted, I got the "red" although I refuse to classify it as "red".

[Boosted_8]

^ Can I call it Brandywine?

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by Boosted_8

^ Can I call it Brandywine?

Burgundy, Ron Burgundy.

[SomaM550i]

Originally Posted by HerkHealer

Burgundy, Ron Burgundy.

I'm Ron Burgundy?

Definitely don't give in that I have a red car - maroon, burgundy, Pinot Noir, Caymus, brandywine...take your pick..