[G30EPE]

And btw...eco pro is for lazy people. It's easy to beat eco pro by 2-3mpg if you're paying attention and drive in manual trans mode with cruise control off.

[oldtexasdog]

Me I would look and shop for a well maintained 2020 M550 that my budget would take for. Why? The newer engine that not only is more powerful but has addressed the problems of the previous iterations and as such should be more dependable. It's looking like the last big one they will make.

[iamcc88]

Originally Posted by G30EPE

And btw...eco pro is for lazy people. It's easy to beat eco pro by 2-3mpg if you're paying attention and drive in manual trans mode with cruise control off.

Hmm… paying attention and driving in manual trans mode always results in the worst gas mileage for me? Like 15-16 or so.

Oh wait, that’s a me problem… 😆

[Viper31]

I owned a 2012 550i with stage 4 Dinan tune (cold air, intercoolers, exhaust, wheels/shocks) and in a 6 speed manual. It was heavy, but sneaky fast and I got around 20 mpg because there was no way I was driving her like a little old lady!

After a few years in Maserati Gran Turismos, I’m back to BMW with a 2017 540i, with cold air and Dinan axle back exhaust. It feels lighter, more nimble, and very quick during my daily drives in Sport+ mode. I usually get around 24 mpg.

Honestly, the 550 was faster and a blast to drive, but the 540 is a better daily driver and still loads of fun.

Good luck with your decision! You can’t go wrong with either selection, IMHO.

[23109VC]

Did the OP ever buy a car?

If you can swing the extra $10k - M550 all day!

I have a 2018 M550. My mother owns a 2019 540i MSport. I have driven her car many times. NOTHING wrong with a 540i..it’s a great car and has plenty of pep..but it’s very different than the M550. The 540i feels like it has turbo lag compared to mhy M550… the 540 builds power and you get more of a top end rush… the M550 just hits you hard down low in the RPM range with waves of low end torque.

If I had a second car for pure sports car duties - like a 911 or something - I could live with a 540i as a daily..but if it was my only car - I’d be depressed if I had to swap out my M550 for a 540i… the 540i is too slow for me for a daily.

Or just spend antoher $40-50k and get a CPO m5!

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by 23109VC

Did the OP ever buy a car?

If you can swing the extra $10k - M550 all day!

I have a 2018 M550. My mother owns a 2019 540i MSport. I have driven her car many times. NOTHING wrong with a 540i..it’s a great car and has plenty of pep..but it’s very different than the M550. The 540i feels like it has turbo lag compared to mhy M550… the 540 builds power and you get more of a top end rush… the M550 just hits you hard down low in the RPM range with waves of low end torque.

If I had a second car for pure sports car duties - like a 911 or something - I could live with a 540i as a daily..but if it was my only car - I’d be depressed if I had to swap out my M550 for a 540i… the 540i is too slow for me for a daily.

Or just spend antoher $40-50k and get a CPO m5!

I have had a 2018 540 and now have a 2020 M550. I agree with all of the above.

My only “complaint” with the M550 is that I rarely get to use the benefits. Even though it’s slower (relatively), you can drive the 540 hard more often. The M550 will be doing 70 in a heartbeat if you start driving hard.

I did a little 150 mile round trip last weekend. Half of it on a two lane highway. Passing is so effortless that it’s almost boring. But that also makes me feel great about the car. There’s not a situation that I cannot either quickly brake or accelerate out of. And I’ve experienced the collision avoidance and it worked perfectly and saved me a high speed side collision.

[Neusser]

I was in the same situation a year ago.

Thought I wanted an M550 and did not initially consider the 540. Then I did some test drives and compared the differences in setup/equipment.

Key for me was that the car handled well enough and that power was adequate in the 540. I have some German catalogs here showing that the M-Sport suspension is the same in both cars, only that it is combinable with adaptive in the M550. Didn't want adaptive and appreciated the lighter front end in the 540i.

So I went 540. No regrets. I find it is better balanced than the M550, and spec'd up with the M-Sport goodies, the car is more or less the same as the M550, aside from the V8. I don't need more than 400 hp and the R6 is one of BMW's best.

540 gets a vote from me.

[overcooked]

I felt the 540’s front end is a bit agile, and the B58 is powerful enough for a daily while being silky smooth and fuel efficient. I don’t want to refuel a daily all the time, it’s just annoying.
That being said I do have a Bronco as a toy and shopping for an R8 as a sports car, so I don’t need my daily to be that powerful.

[SquareWheels]

Originally Posted by Neusser

I don't need more than 400 hp...

I don't need 400+ either, but it sure is fun.

[Benjamin_Nicholas]

If you can, you do.

Get the M550i. I had one in 2018 and my partner now has the 2023 model.

I've got a full M5, but drive his more often tbh.

[kosmokratur]

In early 2021, I went shopping for a nice 540ix. I simply couldn't find one, at that time, with the options I wanted. I should say, I saw an ad for a 2017 in Boston, Med blue with almost every option and 4K miles, at some off the beaten track-night mom and pop used car dealer. I'm pretty sure another poster showed us pictures of this one a few weeks later - obvious flood damage, but I digress...

High-option 540's were rare as hen's teeth, but I had little trouble finding a suitable 550. Had everything I wanted except the hen's teeth-rare night vision (my house is deep in deer-infested woods). Yeah, I prob would have bought the 6 if I could find what I wanted, but that V8 is so so sweet. No regrets!

[aharper00]

I own a 2021 540i and a 2021 M550i. I liked the 540i so much that I bought a matching (same colors) M550i. I'll give you my thoughts.

I've had 5 BMW's in the past 2 years. Two of them were M850i's and I loved the engine. I needed a commuter to put about 100 miles a day on and the M850i's were simply too tight with the suspension. The 5 series turned out to be a perfect match of size and comfort and the dealer let me swap an M850i with a creaky sunroof for the 540i and a bunch of cash back. The 540i is simply smooth. It's not as fast as the 8cyl engine but wow is it smooth. And it doesn't take long to figure out how best to use it's power.

So then I bought the M550i expecting to absolutely love it. I do... it's a great car and the extra power is nice but it's not as SMOOTH as the 540i. The M550i wants to run more and has a thoroughbred coursing through it's veins. That's nice when you want to play but may not be necessary for every day driving.

After buying the M550i, I later got in the 540i for the commute and was so pleasantly surprised. If you aren't an "always on the gas" type of person, the 540i likely won't disappoint you. If I had to let one of them go (I likely will) I will likely let the 540i go but not for any other reason than attitude. If I was between LCI vs non-LCI, I would take an LCI 540i over non-LCI M550i for sure. Hope this helps.

[AP]

Echo the comments about the i6 being smooth

I’d say it’s smoother than the v8 , in theory I think that’s always going to be the case as all the forces are equally balanced out
The i6 is also very quiet
As a test, turn on th engine and turn the fans down to zero so the air conditioning is not doing anything whilst the car is in a quiet garage and then listen
You will be amazed at how insignificant the engine is, it’s barely detectable

I think where the 2 engine differ is also power delivery

The i6 has enough torque but in comparison you’ll find using higher revs for more press on driving. The smoothness disguises it though
The v8 by comparison has a ton of torque (at 1000rpm it’s torque is already matching the maximum that the i6 produces!) and there isn’t the requirement to be thinking about higher revs to achieve some more sororities acceleration

I could limit the rpms to 2500 on the v8 and still be more than happy with its performance.

They are both great in my opinion and am so glad I’ve been able to drive both and it comes down to the character of them that distinguished them from each other. Neither will disappoint

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by 23109VC

Did the OP ever buy a car?

If you can swing the extra $10k - M550 all day!

I have a 2018 M550. My mother owns a 2019 540i MSport. I have driven her car many times. NOTHING wrong with a 540i..it’s a great car and has plenty of pep..but it’s very different than the M550. The 540i feels like it has turbo lag compared to mhy M550… the 540 builds power and you get more of a top end rush… the M550 just hits you hard down low in the RPM range with waves of low end torque.

If I had a second car for pure sports car duties - like a 911 or something - I could live with a 540i as a daily..but if it was my only car - I’d be depressed if I had to swap out my M550 for a 540i… the 540i is too slow for me for a daily.

Or just spend antoher $40-50k and get a CPO m5!

It looks as though OP got himself a X3 m40i….

https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2044187

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by aharper00

I own a 2021 540i and a 2021 M550i. I liked the 540i so much that I bought a matching (same colors) M550i. I'll give you my thoughts.

I've had 4 BMW's in the past 2 years. Two of them were M850i's and I loved the engine. I needed a commuter to put about 100 miles a day on and the M850i's were simply too tight with the suspension. The 5 series turned out to be a perfect match of size and comfort and the dealer let me swap an M850i with a creaky sunroof for the 540i and a bunch of cash back. The 540i is simply smooth. It's not as fast as the 8cyl engine but wow is it smooth. And it doesn't take long to figure out how best to use it's power.

So then I bought the M550i expecting to absolutely love it. I do... it's a great car and the extra power is nice but it's not as SMOOTH as the 540i. The M550i wants to run more and has a thoroughbred coursing through it's veins. That's nice when you want to play but may not be necessary for every day driving.

After buying the M550i, I later got in the 540i for the commute and was so pleasantly surprised. If you aren't an "always on the gas" type of person, the 540i likely won't disappoint you. If I had to let one of them go (I likely will) I will likely let the 540i go but not for any other reason than attitude. If I was between LCI vs non-LCI, I would take an LCI 540i over non-LCI M550i for sure. Hope this helps.

Smooth. I’ve said the exact some thing. Have had pre-LCI versions of both models. The I6 is just SMOOTH.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by AP

Echo the comments about the i6 being smooth

I’d say it’s smoother than the v8 , in theory I think that’s always going to be the case as all the forces are equally balanced out
The i6 is also very quiet
As a test, turn on th engine and turn the fans down to zero so the air conditioning is not doing anything whilst the car is in a quiet garage and then listen
You will be amazed at how insignificant the engine is, it’s barely detectable

I think where the 2 engine differ is also power delivery

The i6 has enough torque but in comparison you’ll find using higher revs for more press on driving. The smoothness disguises it though
The v8 by comparison has a ton of torque (at 1000rpm it’s torque is already matching the maximum that the i6 produces!) and there isn’t the requirement to be thinking about higher revs to achieve some more sororities acceleration

I could limit the rpms to 2500 on the v8 and still be more than happy with its performance.

They are both great in my opinion and am so glad I’ve been able to drive both and it comes down to the character of them that distinguished them from each other. Neither will disappoint

Yes, this is my experience exactly. The level of acceleration that can be achieved under 3k RPM in the M550 is really wild. The 540 has to work harder but not overworked and like you said, they made it so smooth that you hardly notice. A big part of it is the awesome transmission.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by AP

I could limit the rpms to 2500 on the v8 and still be more than happy with its performance.

There is something about getting up to speed without revving up the rpm range that I really like. Also helps getting up to speed during cold starts without worrying about going too high up the rev range.

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

It looks as though OP got himself a X3 m40i….

https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2044187

Good find re: OP's purchase decision. For the sake of common decency, the least he could have done is update us.

[BMWKLG]

I can't imagine driving anything other than an M550i from the 5 Series line up. It checks all the boxes for me. I don't find it guzzles gas (I'm not a speedster and I only drive it on the weekends) but I can't imagine buying a premium automobile and then worrying about gas. I drove the 540i as a loaner and it didn't beckon the same excitement I feel in my M550i.

I will say that because of the inline 6, the cabin was quieter than with the V8 during acceleration and incremental speed increase. Other than that, I'd stick with the M550i.

[Neusser]

Originally Posted by SquareWheels

I don't need 400+ either, but it sure is fun.

That quote is out of context, so one could miss the point I was making.

I liked the balance in the 540. Noticibly less nose-heavy in the corners, and the B58 being a Reihensechser is about the most balanced engine one could ask for. I prefer the serpentine country and Alpine roads here to white-knuckle left-lane blasts down Autobahn.

No regrets here.

[dEvilJin]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

It looks as though OP got himself a X3 m40i….

https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2044187

Hah, thats funny as I just switched from an X3 M40I to a M550i. I loved the B58 and can definitely understand all the benefits/positives people are mentioning. It will likely be a much more reliable engine and could easily get as much if not more horsepower with a tune and minimal mods than the M550i has. But thats not why I swapped to the M550i... I swapped because I know I won't ever be able to justify buying a V8 in the future.

I had my last car for about 12 years - highschool in 2009 to 2021 - so I fully intend to have my current car for at least 6 years before I will seriously consider buying another car. At that time, I don't think i'll be able to put off buying an electric car or at least a hybrid. All car manufacturers are transitioning to them hard including BMW.

So yes, I'd def get the V8.

[AP]

Got my m550 as it was the last chance to get one in the U.K. (unless you buy a m5)
The g60 didn’t appeal whilst reading all the leaked details and now that I’ve actually sat in one and read the specs, I know I made the right decision

I just love the effortless power this has but I have to say that there is a flip side to all of this power, and that is actually not being able to use it
It’s so fast that in a matter of a couple of seconds you can be on the wrong side of the speed limits so it does require rather a lot of constraint
As I wrote in my review of the car, it is still a pleasurable car to drive in a relaxed way. And there is always that inward smug feeling you have knowing that it is capable of so much more
As a friend stated to me, your car is probably faster than 98-99% of cars on the road.
It’s also very understated. Even at a bmw event I attended , it didn’t get any attention so it is very under the radar which I do like.

I hope to be able to drive this for a very long time and even if the government makes me pay per journey, I will still use it. I have put money away to cater for this.

[Joe-BMW33]

I can't believe this thread and debate is still going on. I can't even remember what I wrote. It really depends on what you want, what you care about and what kind of driver you are. The 540 is a solid car with good power and yes you can dress it up and tune it to be more aggressive looking and performing, but the M550 is just in a different class in both those areas, which it should be as it's a different model that costs significantly more.