[TreyWaters]

Originally Posted by Harrison Spalding

...
So now at the M550i, it's comfortable, road noise is handled, all wheel drive, tons of torque, and smooth as silk on the highway. Wishlist for the car would be a louder exhaust note in sport mode similar to M4. The M550i is not a track car but I'm mostly driving the kids or work commuting. It covers the adrenaline need every once in awhile we all seek.

This! Very well said! Though, to clarify, I would agree with louder exhaust note...as long as it's a real exhaust note and not a fake exhaust note.

[Roger_M]

Originally Posted by TreyWaters

This! Very well said! Though, to clarify, I would agree with louder exhaust note...as long as it's a real exhaust note and not a fake exhaust note.

Second that Trey - it feels a little too comfortable at times and I'd certainly like to hear more of that V8 (real) sound when pushing on....

[Roger_M]

Originally Posted by Roger_M

Second that Trey - it feels a little too comfortable at times and I'd certainly like to hear more of that V8 (real) sound when pushing on....

Hey what timing, I can reply to myself!

New review:

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review...0i-2017-review

[visualguy]

Originally Posted by Roger_M

New review:

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review...0i-2017-review

In summary, it says no reason to bother with the M550i other than on the Autobahn because elsewhere it doesn't do any better than the 540i, so just get a 540i...

[SANguru]

I picked my M550i 1.5 months ago up via european delivery & looking forward to getting it back this week. Great car and absolutely love it. Sold my F83 M4 for it as the new daily driver along with my X5 50 xdrive. The 540 just doesn't have enough IMO. The V8 is definitely a must as it changes the character of the car.

[Roger_M]

Originally Posted by SANguru

I picked my M550i 1.5 months ago up via european delivery & looking forward to getting it back this week. Great car and absolutely love it. Sold my F83 M4 for it as the new daily driver along with my X5 50 xdrive. The 540 just doesn't have enough IMO. The V8 is definitely a must as it changes the character of the car.

That's true - I think also the article tries to highlight the relative unsuitability of the 550i for UK roads, which are far more clogged up and badly-maintained than in most of Europe and certainly in the US. Maybe this was a factor in the minds of the marketing guys.

It gets 4* and not 5* mainly because it's not sufficiently sporty or involving to drive. This is very true also, and I think any "M-performance" purchaser has to be aware of that - it is not an 'M' car. But some people, myself included, are not primarily seeking the uncompromising nature of the M5; some power and a lot of comfort is good enough.

[Nivarox]

I don't know not being an owner of an M550i whether or not is it to be a proper behavior for me to post a manifestly a M550i Owners thread but I thought this link would also add some more quality discussions :
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review...0i-2017-review

I would like to own a M550i but with a non M Steering Wheel because I like non M version better to my tastes

[visualguy]

Originally Posted by Roger_M

That's true - I think also the article tries to highlight the relative unsuitability of the 550i for UK roads, which are far more clogged up and badly-maintained than in most of Europe and certainly in the US. Maybe this was a factor in the minds of the marketing guys.

Clogged and badly-maintained pretty much describes US roads in the crowded areas where people actually buy expensive cars such as this. I really wish you were right... Regardless, even if you manage to find a road that's well-maintained and not crowded, there's nothing anywhere near legal that you can do with an M550i that you can't do with a 540i.

[SilverRevlis]

I would opt for the M550i over the 540i. To me, it just feels better to get the car going and not hear the engine feel like its anywhere near struggling. Sometimes you just want to already have passed someone without an engine screaming making you look like a hooligan.

[Falafel Combo]

These are great posts and a very helpful discussion.

I am pretty much leaning towards the M550i. I want a V8. I just gotta have it. That much I know.

Every time I look for M550i's I start drifting towards CPO 550i M Sport. Practically half the price. Still trying to justify the jump.

I prefer the f10 interior to be honest.

[Roger_M]

Originally Posted by Falafel Combo

These are great posts and a very helpful discussion.

I am pretty much leaning towards the M550i. I want a V8. I just gotta have it. That much I know.

Every time I look for M550i's I start drifting towards CPO 550i M Sport. Practically half the price. Still trying to justify the jump.

I prefer the f10 interior to be honest.

Dear Falafel,

Go for the V8 you will not regret it.

First V8 I ever owned and I love it.

The extra cost will be soon forgotten. Apart from the fuel consumption

[TreyWaters]

Originally Posted by Roger_M

Dear Falafel,

Go for the V8 you will not regret it.

First V8 I ever owned and I love it.

The extra cost will be soon forgotten. Apart from the fuel consumption

Gotta second this. My only "regret" is the wait from ED drop off to re-delivery! It's killing me!!!! My first V-8, too.

And, I'm happy with the gas mileage. Even with some, um, spirited driving on the Autobahn, I still ended up with around 23mpg average when I dropped the car off. Considering I average 18mpg in my current V-6 that I don't push as hard, I've got zero complaints on mileage!

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by Roger_M

Dear Falafel,

Go for the V8 you will not regret it.

First V8 I ever owned and I love it.

The extra cost will be soon forgotten. Apart from the fuel consumption

Originally Posted by TreyWaters

Gotta second this. My only "regret" is the wait from ED drop off to re-delivery! It's killing me!!!! My first V-8, too.

And, I'm happy with the gas mileage. Even with some, um, spirited driving on the Autobahn, I still ended up with around 23mpg average when I dropped the car off. Considering I average 18mpg in my current V-6 that I don't push as hard, I've got zero complaints on mileage!

I had an e92 ZCP as my first V8. Wait for it ... HATED IT!!!! But the main problem with that engine is all the dead weight under 4,000 RPM. The 6MT didn't help either. Very sluggish in most daily driving situations.

I'm pretty sure the low torque turbo boost and sport ZF8 will make things just right.

[Canuck99]

Originally Posted by Falafel Combo

...
I am pretty much leaning towards the M550i. I want a V8. I just gotta have it. That much I know.

Don't do it! it will ruin you for life! Okay, I'm only partly joking. Seriously, 4s and 6s just can't match the low end torque of a decent 8 (not to mention the sound) and it spoils the hell out of you.

[visualguy]

Originally Posted by SilverRevlis

I would opt for the M550i over the 540i. To me, it just feels better to get the car going and not hear the engine feel like its anywhere near struggling. Sometimes you just want to already have passed someone without an engine screaming making you look like a hooligan.

The engine will strain on the V8 as well when you accelerate fast. You have to remember that these cars are MUCH heavier than the cars with the I6.

[SilverRevlis]

Originally Posted by visualguy

The engine will strain on the V8 as well when you accelerate fast. You have to remember that these cars are MUCH heavier than the cars with the I6.

Visual, from my test drives it felt like that V8 in the M550i, M5 and F10 550i didn't even break a sweat!!

[Canuck99]

Originally Posted by visualguy

The engine will strain on the V8 as well when you accelerate fast. You have to remember that these cars are MUCH heavier than the cars with the I6.

Ummm, maybe if you're comparing a small Honda to the 5 series but I think the context here is the M550i versus other 5 series models.

[Roadkiller]

Originally Posted by SilverRevlis

Visual, from my test drives it felt like that V8 in the M550i, M5 and F10 550i didn't even break a sweat!!

Ditto -- very smooth IMHO.

[visualguy]

Originally Posted by SilverRevlis

Visual, from my test drives it felt like that V8 in the M550i, M5 and F10 550i didn't even break a sweat!!

I own a 2016 550i. When accelerating quickly, the transmission downshifts and the engine revs pretty high up. You don't just accelerate on low-end torque. Not sure what you mean by not breaking a sweat.

[Harrison Spalding]

Originally Posted by visualguy

I own a 2016 550i. When accelerating quickly, the transmission downshifts and the engine revs pretty high up. You don't just accelerate on low-end torque. Not sure what you mean by not breaking a sweat.

In Sport mode it holds it in gear longer to keep a responsive pedal. It also down shifts to the lowest possible gear when getting on it initially. If you drive in comfort mode the car doesn't do that. It's very, very smooth.

This car is not an M car at all nor did I expect it to be. I bought it because it's not a full M car as the experience I had daily driving my M4 was not great. The 540i is a great car but under powered for the weight IMO. Not having a back road for to open up the 550i doesn't really matter, I would think you'd be doing a lot of 0-60 in those areas. Anyways, the M550i is a great in between car for daily driving. Mine has 2 child's car seats in the back. Lol

[visualguy]

Originally Posted by Harrison Spalding

In Sport mode it holds it in gear longer to keep a responsive pedal. It also down shifts to the lowest possible gear when getting on it initially. If you drive in comfort mode the car doesn't do that. It's very, very smooth.

I don't know about the M550i, but the 550i drives poorly in Comfort mode. The transmission is reluctant to downshift from very high gears, so the car is unresponsive when you need to accelerate. At some point, it realizes that you are really serious about it, and then it finally downshifts, and you get abrupt acceleration. This process is anything but smooth. The throttle response is also sluggish in Comfort mode. If the M550i is better in Comfort mode, then that's good news.

[SilverRevlis]

Originally Posted by visualguy

I own a 2016 550i. When accelerating quickly, the transmission downshifts and the engine revs pretty high up. You don't just accelerate on low-end torque. Not sure what you mean by not breaking a sweat.

Drive a 535i or 4 banger 528 in moderate highway traffic and on streets with a speed limit of around 50 with some stoplights. You will then thoroughly understand what I am referring to. The n63 has more TQ and HP available further down in the rev range. You absolutely should be accelerating on low-end torque the majority of the time. That's the key benefit of an early-full-boost-reaching, twin turbo V8. If you feel that you need to get the RPMs up pretty high in the rev range, you may:

• Need to make a service appointment due to a possible drivetrain issue

• Be looking for a VTEC-like (VTAK!!) change over higher up in the rev range

• Be used to daily driving a Veyron or something