US 2018 M550i Black Sapphire/Black Nappa/Piano Black pictures and mini-review

daveschroeder · 06-19-2017, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philippe4

I'm very curious as an audiophile. Did you have opportunity to compare the B&W speakers to the standard audio setup?

I did. Disclaimer: I am not an audiophile (though I like listening to different kinds of music), and this is my first system that represents the "high end" audio option in any BMW vehicle.

The difference in audio richness and clarity is definitely noticeable. The equalizer has some presets and also allows manual adjustment of each band (as expected), but the presets are decent.

I also use a lot of satellite radio, so the system likely exceeds the quality of what is delivered via the compression of satellite radio.

Is it worth the cost? I don't know...that's subjective. It's definitely good, and the sound is amazing at all volumes. I don't have the feeling of one frequency range "drowning out" the others, and I can turn it up loud and still hear the detail.

BMW mailing me a set of B&W P7 headphones was also a nice touch...which my wife has commandeered. ;-)

BMW Lunatic · 06-19-2017, 01:22 PM

What was the dynamics of your lease ? Did you buy lease ? Share some numbers

ljdavis · 06-19-2017, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveschroeder

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philippe4

I'm very curious as an audiophile. Did you have opportunity to compare the B&W speakers to the standard audio setup?

I did. Disclaimer: I am not an audiophile (though I like listening to different kinds of music), and this is my first system that represents the "high end" audio option in any BMW vehicle.

The difference in audio richness and clarity is definitely noticeable. The equalizer has some presets and also allows manual adjustment of each band (as expected), but the presets are decent.

I also use a lot of satellite radio, so the system likely exceeds the quality of what is delivered via the compression of satellite radio.

Is it worth the cost? I don't know...that's subjective. It's definitely good, and the sound is amazing at all volumes. I don't have the feeling of one frequency range "drowning out" the others, and I can turn it up loud and still hear the detail.

BMW mailing me a set of B&W P7 headphones was also a nice touch...which my wife has commandeered. ;-)

How did you get the B&W P7s? I'd like to get my hands on a pair. Appreciate the review and glad you're enjoying your car as much as I'm enjoying mine.

redrumm3 · 06-19-2017, 01:36 PM

I just got back last week from the BMW M Driver day at Homestead. We got to play around with the M550i. The car has some serious mojo. I loved it. Congrats on the purchase.

daveschroeder · 06-19-2017, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljdavis

How did you get the B&W P7s? I'd like to get my hands on a pair. Appreciate the review and glad you're enjoying your car as much as I'm enjoying mine.

I don't know, actually. They just showed up in the mail. The card indicated to me that it may have been a result of the 535, and trying to butter me up for the next purchase (which I don't think BMWNA knew I was about to make at that point).

DeeKay · 06-19-2017, 02:46 PM

Amazing car and I love the all black de-badges look - very clean and non shouty rocket. Congrats

M4 GTS · 06-19-2017, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveschroeder

Perhaps, but between corporate fleet and discounts, I didn't pay that. There is also a story behind the configuration:

I added all options (except night vision pedestrian detection) to see how the option codes broke out while doing research and to share on the forum during the ordering process. The vehicle entered production a week earlier than expected (the morning I was going to remove unwanted features, in fact), so the configuration was frozen. The 669M wheel set also added an inordinate amount (IMO) to the sticker price, considering the stock set is lost. (Note: the VPC is apparently launching a program to allow customers to keep stock wheel sets when an accessory set is installed at port.)

Between that, not really being able to wait for F90 M5, and the M550 ending up being a good "compromise" of sorts between the M5 and what I originally thought was going to be a non-M Performance 550, the M550 looked like a good option. I do agree that various F90 M5 configurations will probably be in this ballpark.

Got it!Very beautiful car anyway, and maybe next one will be M5

dbbude · 06-19-2017, 03:32 PM

I went ahead and ordered the blacked out options you listed for my incoming model.
Thank you for including the part numbers as it helped quite a bit!

PeterA90 · 06-19-2017, 04:02 PM

Badass ride, but not for that price tag.

Bmw doubles · 06-19-2017, 04:25 PM

Dope

Bosozoku · 06-19-2017, 04:40 PM

Perfect color choices!
Have fun with it!

CntryClub007 · 06-19-2017, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveschroeder

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTK24

beautiful car. great choices you made on color/wheels/interior combo.

Did you not like the M badge on the trunk?

Thanks! Now to try to keep it clean... ;-)

I have always debadged; partly habit, I suppose. I like a cleaner look on the trunk lid.

+1 - Option 320 (De-Badge) for life!

135iDCT · 06-19-2017, 05:20 PM

black on black

Flying Ace · 06-19-2017, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M4 GTS

Nice car, but 99k is in M5 territory.

Yep, but today, only the F10 M5 is available for sale. The M550 is in the F10's performance category.

Now the G30 M5 is a whole different discussion in terms of pricing compared to the M550.

M4 GTS · 06-19-2017, 05:37 PM

I understand that, but still 99k is still seep for 550. Also F10 M5 base price was 94k so I don't expect new one to be more than 10K from F10 base. Nevertheless car is beautiful.

M3 Adjuster · 06-19-2017, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M4 GTS

I understand that, but still 99k is still seep for 550. Also F10 M5 base price was 94k so I don't expect new one to be more than 10K from F10 base. Nevertheless car is beautiful.

Beautiful car... I haven't even looked at all the photos yet becuz.. $27K in options..

BMW sure is headed the route of Porsche.

midwest 340xi 6sp · 06-19-2017, 06:59 PM

Congrats, love a BMW V8!

Gotta put some spacers on that bad boy...

BklynNYBMW · 06-19-2017, 07:37 PM

That is a serious car. I am loving it. Enjoy it and drive safe. Wish we had waited for this instead of the X6. 5.0 we got in a few months ago.

GOLFFRR · 06-19-2017, 07:40 PM

what a awesome ride! nice right up as well

AWSB328iM · 06-19-2017, 08:01 PM

You didn't own an E12! Therefore not all the 5-series generations!

M3 Adjuster · 06-19-2017, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philippe4

I'm very curious as an audiophile. Did you have opportunity to compare the B&W speakers to the standard audio setup?

As an audiophile.. I can tell you ...

- stock speakers are from Harman Kardon - ( yes.. the speakers, along with the electronics)
- Harman Kardon speakers generally are rarely available and if you found a set for sale and listened to them critically.. I'm you would be disappointed.. (ask me how I know!)
- with the above info... I am pretty sure that if you have ever heard a B & W speaker... you now are well informed on how this was an easy decision for daveschroeder to pull the trigger on... even as a non audiophile.

Excellent comment from OP on the typical SOURCE for listening to music in a vehicle these days.. which are.. Radio....vs your choice of compressed audio from many locations....Fortunately.. it does look like there is a CD player in the center stack still..

550imsport2014 · 06-19-2017, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveschroeder

Continued:

Moneypit

06-19-2017, 01:22 PM	#24
BMW Lunatic Lieutenant 474 Rep 566 Posts Drives: 2020 M8 Convertible Join Date: May 2016 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	What was the dynamics of your lease ? Did you buy lease ? Share some numbers __________________ Current Stable - 2017 GLE 63S AMG Coupe 2020 BMW M8 Convertible
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06-19-2017, 01:36 PM	#26
redrumm3 Second Lieutenant 417 Rep 261 Posts Drives: M4 GTS, M3 GT4, E30 M3... Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW M3 GT4 [0.00]	I just got back last week from the BMW M Driver day at Homestead. We got to play around with the M550i. The car has some serious mojo. I loved it. Congrats on the purchase.
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06-19-2017, 02:46 PM	#28
DeeKay Captain 553 Rep 646 Posts Drives: 2021 Tesla Model 3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Denmark iTrader: (0)	Amazing car and I love the all black de-badges look - very clean and non shouty rocket. Congrats __________________ \| 2021 Tesla Model 3 \|
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06-19-2017, 03:32 PM	#30
dbbude Private 25 Rep 67 Posts Drives: 2018 M550i Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Mid South iTrader: (0)	I went ahead and ordered the blacked out options you listed for my incoming model. Thank you for including the part numbers as it helped quite a bit!
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06-19-2017, 04:02 PM	#31
PeterA90 Private First Class 86 Rep 151 Posts Drives: 340xi Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Badass ride, but not for that price tag.
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06-19-2017, 04:25 PM	#32
Bmw doubles Dream crusher 984 Rep 2,421 Posts Drives: Fast Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: westside iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 535 [0.00]	Dope __________________ 535i MIssion Performance, PS2, Helix HPFP Kit, Wagner FMIC, Spec 3 clutch, Steel SMF, Wolf Racing CP, UUC SSK, GFB dv, SprintBooster, Custom Dynomax Exhaust, M5 Sways, Eibach OE Springs, Koni Sports Adjustable, Custom Short Ram CAI IG: @bmwdoubles
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06-19-2017, 04:40 PM	#33
Bosozoku Almost completely sane 694 Rep 1,080 Posts Drives: '17 M2, '00 S2000 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Perfect color choices! Have fun with it! __________________ '17 BMW M2 (BSM 6MT Exec CarPlay, TechnicPnP ASD bypass, IND M Perf shift knob + keyhole cover, Pedal Haus pedals + heel plate, 3M CR90 tint, BavSound Ghost woofers, Racing Dynamics strut tower brace, Dinan midpipe, Turner intercooler) '00 Honda S2000 (Silverstone Metallic, black leather, factory titanium shift knob + front lip + trunk spoiler, front shock tower brace, front subframe x-brace)
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06-19-2017, 05:20 PM	#35
135iDCT Lieutenant 137 Rep 571 Posts Drives: 135I Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: wm iTrader: (0)	black on black
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06-19-2017, 05:37 PM	#37
M4 GTS Lieutenant 316 Rep 553 Posts Drives: 02M3 19X3M40 on order 21 GT4 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Del Mar CA iTrader: (0)	I understand that, but still 99k is still seep for 550. Also F10 M5 base price was 94k so I don't expect new one to be more than 10K from F10 base. Nevertheless car is beautiful.
	Appreciate 1 M3 Adjuster7904.50 Quote

06-19-2017, 06:59 PM	#39
midwest 340xi 6sp Lieutenant Colonel 359 Rep 1,797 Posts Drives: 2018 340xi Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Great Midwest iTrader: (6)	Congrats, love a BMW V8! Gotta put some spacers on that bad boy... __________________ Previous Rides: 535xi, M235xi, X3, E92 M3, E70 X5 35d, X6 50i, X6 35i, E60 550i, E46 M3 Cabriolet, E39 540i, E36 328i
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06-19-2017, 07:37 PM	#40
BklynNYBMW Lieutenant 392 Rep 467 Posts Drives: "24 X6M60i / "21 m340i xdrive Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Brooklyn, New York iTrader: (0)	That is a serious car. I am loving it. Enjoy it and drive safe. Wish we had waited for this instead of the X6. 5.0 we got in a few months ago.
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06-19-2017, 07:40 PM	#41
GOLFFRR 10794 Rep 27,588 Posts Drives: GOLFFRR cart Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: we sell BMWs to "ALL" US states iTrader: (4)	what a awesome ride! nice right up as well __________________ BEFORE YOU BUY YOUR NEXT BMW, EMAIL OUR GUY KOTE FIRST! Kote M Sales:Kotem@bmwofcamarillo.com Cell:805-368-9101 vipfinance@bmwofcamarillo.com for warranties!
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06-19-2017, 08:01 PM	#42
AWSB328iM Captain 397 Rep 647 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 328i M-Sport 6MT Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Memphis, TN iTrader: (0)	You didn't own an E12! Therefore not all the 5-series generations!
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