[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by DNYC1919

thats for base 540. my 540 pretty much fully loaded sticker was about 76k similarly built 550 was 84k

So basically what you are telling me is that you need spend an additional $7k on the 540 that you would not have to spend on the 550 because it is included. Hmmm....seems like a no brainer to me, get the 550 for only $8k more.

[DNYC1919]

for me the 8k was not worth the additional HP or adjustable suspension. i dont have the roads to use the HP and too many cops pulling people over. so for me it was a no brainer

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

So basically what you are telling me is that you need spend an additional $7k on the 540 that you would not have to spend on the 550 because it is included. Hmmm....seems like a no brainer to me, get the 550 for only $8k more.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by DNYC1919

adjustable suspension is nice and not available on the 540 and also B&W. oh yea and also a couple of colors.
i would of liked the adjustable suspension but not sure i would want the increased cost for B&W, although i would imagine the sound is great.

It doesn't sound like we are talking apples to apples, or rather it is not possible to configure apple to apples. Introducing B&W into the discussion is not applicable to the 540.

I still think the spread is $15,000, but sure you can add items to the 540 to get it closer, but you can't take things off the M550 that are standard.

It's all good, which bring us back to one of the points made, they are vastly different cars.

[Trout1]

I own a 2020 M550i. It's highly optioned, including DHP. I generally drive in Comfort Mode and have non-run flat tires on M668 (20") wheels. The ride is quite smooth and comfortable...Tom

[crypto]

Originally Posted by LuvMyE92

Yes.

And there are options (leather dash for example) available on the M550ix and n/a on the 540i. Leather seats are standard on the 550, optional on the 540. Soft close doors optional on the 550, n/a on the 540. Wheels, adjustable suspension... it's quite a list. Of course, right now the soft close doors have been dropped d/t semiconductor shortages.


I had a 19" 540i on conventional tires, and test drove a 20" 550i on RFT, and the difference was noticeable. Of course, as noted above, RFT + larger wheel = harsher ride.

There's not been soft close doors as an m550i option for a few model years now btw.

Also included but extra on the 540i are sport brakes w/ painted calipers, Harman Kardon sound, and remote engine start.

Maybe wireless charging too? For some reason I thought it was in a package for the M550i but I don't see it listed. Then I was thinking maybe it was removed for 2022 but I see it's an available option for the 540i? Odd.

[J2045678]

Originally Posted by crypto

There's not been soft close doors as an m550i option for a few model years now btw.

Also included but extra on the 540i are sport brakes w/ painted calipers, Harman Kardon sound, and remote engine start.

Maybe wireless charging too? For some reason I thought it was in a package for the M550i but I don't see it listed. Then I was thinking maybe it was removed for 2022 but I see it's an available option for the 540i? Odd.

I ordered a 540 last week and wireless charging was available again as an option. Surround view cameras were the only thing I wanted that was not available on the 540 at least. Believe you can still get on the 550.

[YETIinFL]

Originally Posted by J2045678

I ordered a 540 last week and wireless charging was available again as an option. Surround view cameras were the only thing I wanted that was not available on the 540 at least. Believe you can still get on the 550.

My car went into production yesterday. I ordered the Parking Assist Package -- dealer General Manager even verified that it was available on the 550 -- and then someone in Germany removed it from the build.

I have all the options I ordered except for the parking package. I only wanted it for the 360 camera.

They are trying to correct it for me, but maybe it's hit or miss.

[J2045678]

Originally Posted by YETIinFL

My car went into production yesterday. I ordered the Parking Assist Package -- dealer General Manager even verified that it was available on the 550 -- and then someone in Germany removed it from the build.

I have all the options I ordered except for the parking package. I only wanted it for the 360 camera.

They are trying to correct it for me, but maybe it's hit or miss.

Seems like it is hit or miss. Unfortunate that they are not more consistent. It's like we just keep our fingers crossed that they have enough parts laying around to complete our builds as ordered..lol.

[YETIinFL]

Originally Posted by J2045678

Seems like it is hit or miss. Unfortunate that they are not more consistent. It's like we just keep our fingers crossed that they have enough parts laying around to complete our builds as ordered..lol.

Agree.

Dealer told me that if they could not correct it, then my options:
1. Take the car as is
2. Drop my claim on this order and wait for the next allocation

I think waiting for the next allocation is even more risky -- how many more options will not be available then?

Do I risk getting it right and waiting, or just take it without the 360 camera? It's not a deal breaker, but I want the car to come exactly as I specified. I'm spending a lot of money here BMW!

[J2045678]

Originally Posted by YETIinFL

Agree.

Dealer told me that if they could not correct it, then my options:
1. Take the car as is
2. Drop my claim on this order and wait for the next allocation

I think waiting for the next allocation is even more risky -- how many more options will not be available then?

Do I risk getting it right and waiting, or just take it without the 360 camera? It's not a deal breaker, but I want the car to come exactly as I specified. I'm spending a lot of money here BMW!

I completely get it. I too will miss the 360 cameras, but like you worried that if I waited, I may lose out on something else that I can get now like Harmon Kardon.

[DNYC1919]

Originally Posted by J2045678

I completely get it. I too will miss the 360 cameras, but like you worried that if I waited, I may lose out on something else that I can get now like Harmon Kardon.

Just wondering if there are no 360 cameras, do you lose front camera ? If so does it still have audible front and rear sensors ?

[Brucelinc]

Originally Posted by DNYC1919

Just wondering if there are no 360 cameras, do you lose front camera ? If so does it still have audible front and rear sensors ?

I was told that the front and rear cameras would be there even without the parking assistance package. However, losing the other features of that package would be a deal breaker for me.

I just took delivery of a 550 and it has the parking package and the hands free trunk. The sales manager at my dealership told me that he could even order 550s with the wireless charger now.

[YETIinFL]

Originally Posted by Brucelinc

I was told that the front and rear cameras would be there even without the parking assistance package. However, losing the other features of that package would be a deal breaker for me.

I just took delivery of a 550 and it has the parking package and the hands free trunk. The sales manager at my dealership told me that he could even order 550s with the wireless charger now.

Interesting. I knew the rear camera was still there, but didn't think the front one was without this package.

Wireless charging is in my build. Here are the standard features from my build. I paid for the space saver spare tire, so not sure why it's also listed here. No mention of the hands free trunk.

STANDARD FEATURES
40/20/40 Split Rear Seat
Active Protection
Additional 12-V power sockets
Auto dimming driver ext mirror
CarPlay / Android Auto Compat.
Comfort Access keyless entry
Connected Package Pro
ConnectedDrive Services
Daytime driving lights
Heated front seats
Increased top speed limiter
Multi-contour seats
Power tailgate
Remote Engine Start
SiriusXM with 360L + 1 year Pl
Space-saver spare
Tire pressure monitor
Universal garage-door opener
Wireless Charging
iDrive Controller Classic

[M1903a3]

Originally Posted by YETIinFL

Interesting. I knew the rear camera was still there, but didn't think the front one was without this package.

Wireless charging is in my build. Here are the standard features from my build. I paid for the space saver spare tire, so not sure why it's also listed here. No mention of the hands free trunk.

(snip)

Is that from My Garage or the BMW internal sales tools? If My Garage, do you have a VIN yet? I think the list in My Garage is just a generic list of current standard items, at least until the car is in production.

[YETIinFL]

Originally Posted by M1903a3

Is that from My Garage or the BMW internal sales tools? If My Garage, do you have a VIN yet? I think the list in My Garage is just a generic list of current standard items, at least until the car is in production.

It's from My Garage. I received a VIN yesterday, plugged it in, and that's when I found out about the Parking Assist Package missing.

Car is at the "Production Begins" stage -- third bubble. It shows all of the correct options except that one.

[H_T]

Sorry for the late post, but I wanted to note the following for my situation:

- I have the 360 cameras (Parking Assistance), which have been a big help parking with the overhead view. The it helps with low clearance on the m550 not hitting the parking curb.

- Another reason I went for the m550 is the 540 is a "mild hybrid" system. I didn't want another failure point in a fairly new system after warranty is up.

- I don't know if the V8's will be around in a few years. Many manufactures stopped producing them and put a 6 cylinder in its place (for example, Lincoln Navigator). The European manufacturers have hybrid/electric goals now too. I can see this car being a classic.

- The m550 is a beast. I plan on keeping mine a long time and extending the warranty.

[AlexInChicago]

Another difference between the MY22 M550 and the 540 is that the M550 does 155 mph while the 540 is limited to 130, even with performance summer tires. That's a shame, since the 540 would do 155 easily. In a 3 series, performance summer tires automatically get you a 155 mph limit. And the car rides quite smooth at that speed.

[BMW012]

Originally Posted by AlexInChicago

Another difference between the MY22 M550 and the 540 is that the M550 does 155 mph while the 540 is limited to 130, even with performance summer tires. That's a shame, since the 540 would do 155 easily. In a 3 series, performance summer tires automatically get you a 155 mph limit. And the car rides quite smooth at that speed.

Where do you get to try out 130 or 155?

[engineer2020]

I would be interested if anyone thought to compare the E63 vs the M550 eventhough they are far from each other.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by DNYC1919

adjustable suspension is nice and not available on the 540 and also B&W. oh yea and also a couple of colors.
i would of liked the adjustable suspension but not sure i would want the increased cost for B&W, although i would imagine the sound is great.

It does sound phenomenal but the cost is not as valuable to all. Also, I am pretty sure DHP on the 540 does not have rear steering. I could be totally wrong but check on it. The rear steering is what makes the option what it is.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Brucelinc

I was told that the front and rear cameras would be there even without the parking assistance package. However, losing the other features of that package would be a deal breaker for me.

I just took delivery of a 550 and it has the parking package and the hands free trunk. The sales manager at my dealership told me that he could even order 550s with the wireless charger now.

In the US a rear camera is a requirement so they could not sell the car without one.

[turbobeagle]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

The other thing for me was some type of exclusivity. There are a zillion 5-series on the road and on a weekly basis, if you see 100 of them, 99 are 530's and 540's. It's nice having something different although 90% of people on the road don't know the difference, but I do.

I must say that I rarely see a 5 series of any kind here. There’s no shortage of people that can afford it where I am, but it’s all X3/X5s that I encounter. And when I do see one, it’s almost never a 540i. The most common is a 530e (presumably for the carpool lane sticker) or the 550 or M5. The 540i seems to be a “no man’s land car” because (and this is just my theory) it’s pretty expensive but has almost no flash. The enthusiasts find it too soft/numb, and the badge snobs don’t see the value. I think the 540i also gets squeezed out by the M340i which is so much faster, and similarly priced. It’s tricky to figure out who exactly the target market is now for the 540i.