[Gautam]

Originally Posted by NGT2

X7 has alcantara and I just think it’s a premium look. I agree on the leather dash. The sensatec dash texture clashes with the smooth Nappa. Not a huge deal but my car was $94k MSRP with DHP and Bowers, etc. so why not order the $700 leather dash??? Some builds really make me scratch my head! Haha

I think many if not most of even the very well equipped ones, even and maybe especially the ones with individual paint options were speced by dealers and/or were demo cars. The BMW's on the lot usually seem like their options were selected by rolls of dice, and I think that's not that far from reality.

Originally Posted by adhrp

Both can be done by a good upholstery shop, so you can "refresh" your car in the future to suit your tastes. I am a big fan of tan interiors myself.. my F30 had it and I loved it so I wanted it in my G30 as well, but alas, only available in Dakota or Merino, one of which I didn't want and the other was hard to find. In my reupholstery future, if I get there, I will switch to tan. Was watching some videos on YouTube and boy do they do an amazing job with reupholstering these days!

In principle I'm interested, in reality, I bet the pricing is eye watering.

[GSMCCASH]

Originally Posted by 23109VC

It really just comes down to how much money you want to spend. The newer cars are going to cost you more the older ones will cost you less.

There’s nothing wrong with the older pre-LCI cars. They still have shit loads of torque and are plenty fast. If you are willing to tune them, you can make them even faster.

If you could find a 2020 or newer for a reasonable price, I would definitely try and do that as you’re going to get quite a bit more power stock. When I bought my 2018 two years ago, the LCI cars were much newer and we’re significantly more expensive. The best deals were 2018’s. If you were buying today I would try to get 2020 and if you could swing it go 2021 because you’ll get the LCI body style, which looks newer.

If you’ve got the money, skip the M550 and get an M5. I really like my M550 but if I was going to get another car, I would absolutely upgrade to the end five which is what I may do. Everyone who has made the upgrade reports that it drives like a completely different car. Everything is better faster better handling.

The M550 is not an M5 light. Think of the M550 like a really fast 540.

I had to do it

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

It’s pricey, but it’s the only game in town. I would do it again in a heartbeat. It really elevates the system to where it should be.

I started with just the amp to see How it would work out. The amp can easily overdrive the HK speakers… but would be fine if you listen to your music at moderate levels. I splurged for the rest of the speakers and the difference was crazy.. the new speakers took a few days of playing to really open up. Once they did, this system is the nicest system I’ve heard.

I literally would find myself putting the battery on charger and sitting in the car cranking all kinds of music. It makes everything sound fantastic no matter what genre

The X7 is a 2021 and has the HiFi! I think Covid shortages probably had the HK on hold when it was built. I knew when I bought it, my wife didn’t care. But she hears mine and gets jealous I think. I’m not sold we will keep it as long. If I get comfortable we will, I’ll be open to investing in the stereo. Like a lot of us, I think now that she has a BMW and knows more about them there are things she wishes she’d gotten different.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by Gautam

In principle I'm interested, in reality, I bet the pricing is eye watering.

I wish they’d just let me volunteer to spec the dealer cars. I’d have fun and the damn cars would make more sense!

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by Gautam

In principle I'm interested, in reality, I bet the pricing is eye watering.

I am not ready to confront that yet lol. I'm still at the 'in principle' stage seeing as it is a long way away, if I ever get there. My wife makes fun of me for how paranoid I am about maintaining the interior, so I might keep the interior in good condition until the engine dies on me.

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by GSMCCASH

I had to do it

I love it! What a coincidence...ha ha.

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by 23109VC

The M550 is not an M5 light. Think of the M550 like a really fast 540.

Aww man...you're one of those glass half empty kind of guys...

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

Aww man...you're one of those glass half empty kind of guys...

Obviously the glass is too big!

[Gautam]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

Aww man...you're one of those glass half empty kind of guys...

He is right, though, and IMHO it's not a bad thing. The M550i is not like a slower M, it's the fastest non-M. The character is not M-like at all, hence even some ex-M5 owners have switched to it for the plushness.

The Mercedes E53 AMG is an example of a "light" motorsport car. It's peppy, somewhat unrefined, visceral, and actually feels worthy of wearing an AMG badge, despite the raw numbers being only so-so for this level. MB follows a different philosophy here from BMW. Not to my taste, though. I haven't driven an E63 but I'd guess the difference in character is nowhere near as large as the M550i vs the M5, which are two entirely different types of cars.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by Gautam

He is right, though, and IMHO it's not a bad thing. The M550i is not like a slower M, it's the fastest non-M. The character is not M-like at all, hence even some ex-M5 owners have switched to it for the plushness.

The Mercedes E53 AMG is an example of a "light" motorsport car. It's peppy, somewhat unrefined, visceral, and actually feels worthy of wearing an AMG badge, despite the raw numbers being only so-so for this level. MB follows a different philosophy here from BMW. Not to my taste, though. I haven't driven an E63 but I'd guess the difference in character is nowhere near as large as the M550i vs the M5, which are two entirely different types of cars.

I’ll just reiterate my position that the M5, M550, and the 540/530 are just different cars that shouldn’t really be compared or related. I say this as someone that’s had a 540 and M550.

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by NGT2

I’ll just reiterate my position that the M5, M550, and the 540/530 are just different cars that shouldn’t really be compared or related. I say this as someone that’s had a 540 and M550.

Agreed. Regardless, I love my M550i…. especially in this cold weather, it pulls like a raped mule… whatever that really means 😁

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by Neusser

Although I am an inline-6 guy, if I were to get an M550i, I would have to go with a facelift car. It will not handle like an M5 or even a 540, but you at least get over 500 hp to make up for it.

The only big negative with the facelift is the front end. Everyone over here says it looks like a Skoda, which is VW's entry-level badge-engineered brand.

Skoda is most certainly NOT Volkswagen’s Group entry level brand. Have you ever seen and driven the Skoda Superb?

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

Skoda is most certainly NOT Volkswagen’s Group entry level brand. Have you ever seen and driven the Skoda Superb?

The Superb is just a less expensive version of the VW Passat…have you driven the Passat?

At least in the circles I move in the consensus is people buy Skoda or Seat if they can’t afford a VW

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by NGT2

If anyone is looking in Dallas, this 2019 popped up and it is LOADED. If it were a 2020, I’d be tempted to swap just for the interior and the wheels.

https://www.sewell.com/VehicleDetail...-TX/5727285970

Wow, that's around what I paid for my 540 back in 2022

[Neusser]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

Aww man...you're one of those glass half empty kind of guys...

Well he is right.

It is one of the reasons I took the 540. Both have the same M-Sport suspension (as evidenced in the German spec sheets I have), with the only real difference being the ability to add the rather silly adaptive dampers to the 704 setup.

Otherwise, it's an R6 vs a V8, and less weight in the nose took priority for me.

What other differences are there that would make it a baby M5?

[Neusser]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

Skoda is most certainly NOT Volkswagen’s Group entry level brand. Have you ever seen and driven the Skoda Superb?

Not sure if serious.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by Neusser

Well he is right.

It is one of the reasons I took the 540. Both have the same M-Sport suspension (as evidenced in the German spec sheets I have), with the only real difference being the ability to add the rather silly adaptive dampers to the 704 setup.

Otherwise, it's an R6 vs a V8, and less weight in the nose took priority for me.

What other differences are there that would make it a baby M5?

It’s faster, louder, and chicks dig it. Boom

Mic drop

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by NGT2

It’s faster, louder, and chicks dig it. Boom

Mic drop

Exactly…nuff said

[Neusser]

Originally Posted by NGT2

It’s faster, louder, and chicks dig it. Boom

Mic drop

It's not a baby M5 though. Which was the point.

The M5 can go multiple laps on a track without much of an issue as the suspension and brake setup is much different; the 550 and 540 are road cars with two different engines.

[GSMCCASH]

Originally Posted by Neusser

It's not a baby M5 though. Which was the point.

The M5 can go multiple laps on a track without much of an issue as the suspension and brake setup is much different; the 550 and 540 are road cars with two different engines.

But chicks DO dig the luxurious ride of the 550….lol

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by Neusser

It's not a baby M5 though. Which was the point.

The M5 can go multiple laps on a track without much of an issue as the suspension and brake setup is much different; the 550 and 540 are road cars with two different engines.

I think the levity of my argument may have gone unnoticed…

Yeah. M5, M550, 540 are three different cars with the same clothes on. Said that a few times.

[Neusser]

Originally Posted by GSMCCASH

But chicks DO dig the luxurious ride of the 550….lol

I would never have dated a chick that would comment on something so silly.

Probably why I am happily married with kidos and far away from modern American women (some of whom I hear are no longer actual women?).