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      10-28-2018, 11:15 AM   #1
thedead
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BMW M550i vs M5

Hi Guys,

I tried searching for a 2018 compare of these two but couldn't find much. Can someone help me understand the differences between these two cars? I understand the M5 has a different xDrive/Engine; what else is different?
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      10-28-2018, 07:10 PM   #2
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Hi Guys,

I tried searching for a 2018 compare of these two but couldn't find much. Can someone help me understand the differences between these two cars? I understand the M5 has a different xDrive/Engine; what else is different?
M550i is essentially a standard 5 series with a 4.4L V8 (turbocharged) and normal X-Drive (which means essentially rear drive bias, but power can be sent to the front wheels) compared to the M5, the x-drive can't be turned off. In an M5, the front axle can be disengaged, making the M5 rear wheel drive, allowing pure drifting to occur.

The M5 has a different version of the 4.4L V8 which makes more power. While both cars have a ZF 8 speed, the M5 has more adjustments, as steering, power, transmission, and throttle, among other things have multiple stages of adjusting (comfort, sport, sport plus, etc.) while the M550i has multiple drive settings, but they aren't individualized for each aspect of the car, making it less customizable. The M5 also has 2 driving presets in which you can set, say one for comfort driving, and one for track-orientated driving.

The M550i is more comfort orientated, with a different suspension, and steering is most likely to be better/offer more feel in the M5.

Styling is somewhat differentiated, with the M5 having a different exhaust setup/exhaust pipes, different bumpers fenders, as well as air breathers, and more sport designed seats to hold the driver tightly in place

Last of course, even though the M550i has M-badges, it isn't really per-say tuned by M, as an M5, M3, or M2 would be.

An M5 is mostly for those who want top of the line handling, power, as well as the ability to take to the track. The M550i is more for those who like power, but don't necessarily want/need an M5 (as well as maybe can't afford), or for someone like myself, who doesn't really need an M car, but does like a V8. Either car is great in their own way, it all depends on how you drive, what you want the car to drive like and your wallet.

This article may help -> https://www.motortrend.com/news/2018...-m550i-xdrive/
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      10-29-2018, 04:59 PM   #3
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Some video reviews for good measure:

M550i:



M5:

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      10-30-2018, 06:24 AM   #4
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Just got my M550iX, having traded my 2016 M4. Thought about the M5, but it was very expensive. I believe the M550 is the best deal out there. It is really quick off the line, but very roomy and comfortable, with lots of luxury and convenience items. M2,3,4,5 are absolute beasts, but they do not make the best DDs or tourers. I decided my need for the later, and the financial considerations were the driving forces. I rarely found any situation, except on the track, where the M4 could safely be let loose, and you really had to be careful about wheel-spin. Like I said......a beast!
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      11-07-2018, 02:02 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hlothery View Post
Just got my M550iX, having traded my 2016 M4. Thought about the M5, but it was very expensive. I believe the M550 is the best deal out there. It is really quick off the line, but very roomy and comfortable, with lots of luxury and convenience items. M2,3,4,5 are absolute beasts, but they do not make the best DDs or tourers. I decided my need for the later, and the financial considerations were the driving forces. I rarely found any situation, except on the track, where the M4 could safely be let loose, and you really had to be careful about wheel-spin. Like I said......a beast!

interesting take, I actually have my 2016 M3 in for service and got a 540 xdrive (2019) as a loaner, it has a ton of tech features my M3 doesn't and thought I would never use, I have to say they are nice... I agree the M3/M4 is tough to use in DD, not much advantage over a M550 (if any now) and price wise they aren't too different. My issue is the size, the 5 series seems so big to drive (this coming from a person who owned M Roadster/coupes before my M3).

I am really hoping the X3M/X4M fill that gap of giving a practical DD car without the cost of the M5 (extra cargo room, AWD, M performance)
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      11-12-2018, 11:09 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thedead View Post
Hi Guys,

I tried searching for a 2018 compare of these two but couldn't find much. Can someone help me understand the differences between these two cars? I understand the M5 has a different xDrive/Engine; what else is different?
Having had my M550i now for over two weeks and 1500 miles, I can say that if you are looking for luxury four person touring, with very fast acceleration and nice performance otherwise, this is the car for you. For $35K less than the M5. Although, it is not the beast the M5 is for sure, it is very quick off the line, and corners reasonably well. The luxury and tech items are amazing, but you can get those on the M5 as well. In comfort mode, the ride has the luxurious feel of a refined tourer, which my wife and friends appreciate. In sport plus, while it does not match my former M4, it is sporty enough for me, since I never tracked the M4 anyway (I did drive BMW's M3/4's at COTA in Austin, however). The V8 sound in sport plus is fantastic. To me, it just depends on whether you are planning to track it. If so, get the M5 if you have the means. Just my $.02.
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      11-12-2018, 09:28 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thedead View Post
Hi Guys,

I tried searching for a 2018 compare of these two but couldn't find much. Can someone help me understand the differences between these two cars? I understand the M5 has a different xDrive/Engine; what else is different?
IMHO...At this price point, you really owe it to yourself to drive both. If your local dealer doesn't have both, it would make sense to drive or travel a bit to a big city dealer that does (most likely new). You might not (shouldn't) drive them flat since they're new cars but just a good, robust drive of each with a knowledgeable BMW "genius" ride along will answer a lot of your questions. Good Luck!
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      11-13-2018, 09:41 AM   #8
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The devil is the details. There are one zillion differences between the M5 and M550i. The engine itself receives so many updates that it's difficult to compare the two except that one is based on the other.

Everything on the M5 has been adapted for this car to be a killing machine on a track (it seems all European car makers want to be the best on the Nurburgring). You need to test the two cars prior to decide.

The training guide document from BMW, with high level explanation of the differences, takes 145 pages...
https://f90.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1510506

If it remains a 4 doors saloon, don't be fooled, BMW made the M5 a super fast car, and this comes with some cons you might no agree to finance...

I didn't go for it because I was so disappointed by my M3 F80, too track oriented and boring or dangerous on a standard road. I've not tested the M5, not really interested. No rear steering wheels and this annoying rear active LSD that drove me nuts on the M3. Nice to do drifts (too easy in fact), but impossible to "understand" the rest of the time (the cornering function which confused me each time it activated, I hated it).

So that's up to you at the end of the day, depending on what you want to do with the car. If you plan to go on race tracks or drift like hell, M5 is the way to go. If not...

Cheers
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      11-13-2018, 10:29 AM   #9
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Are M5 downpipes and exhausts interchangeable or are there different physical dimensions under the hood?
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      11-13-2018, 01:18 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NTTY View Post
There are one zillion differences between the M5 and M550i. The engine itself receives so many updates that it's difficult to compare the two except that one is based on the other.
Actually, although the engines are different, they are pretty close. $1,700 in Dinan will even get you within 10HP (still not the same car however).

From Motor Trends initial review of both cars:
Quote:
The two versions of this mighty 4.4-liter V-8 are actually pretty darned similar, sharing their 88.3mm bore, 89.0mm stroke, 10.5:1 compression ratio, basic Valvetronic/double VANOS valvetrain hardware, and more. The primary differences that account for the S63 engine's estimated 144-hp/41-lb-ft difference in peak output are its higher-pressure direct fuel injection system (5,100 psi versus the N63's 2,900) and larger twin-scroll turbochargers that produce more boost. (Official M5 power, torque, boost levels, and other specifics will be revealed in Frankfurt this September.) Also, although a hard redline is painted on the M550i's tach at 7,000 rpm, it won't rev beyond 6,500 rpm, whereas the M5 will rev out to 7,000 or slightly beyond.

Because it's expected that the M5 will be tracked more than its little brother, the M550i, it features an oil sump designed so that the pump's pickup never sucks air during sustained high-g cornering. The cooling system is also fortified with a total of nine heat exchangers.

Both cars get larger-diameter, freer-flowing M Sport exhaust systems, and—at least when sampled a day apart—the M550i's sounds nearly as fabulous as the M5's. That exhaust sound is a CO2 liability, however. I found myself rocketing away from every 50-kmh village limit in second gear, roaring back up to the 100-kmh rural limit (or slightly beyond) just to please my ears. You also gotta love that the loud-exhaust mode is the default when starting up an M5.
https://www.motortrend.com/news/2018...-m550i-xdrive/
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      11-13-2018, 03:04 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ksoze View Post
Actually, although the engines are different, they are pretty close. $1,700 in Dinan will even get you within 10HP (still not the same car however).
Here is a comparison of the two engines from Car and Driver: https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...-them-the-same
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      11-15-2018, 08:10 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ksoze View Post
Actually, although the engines are different, they are pretty close. $1,700 in Dinan will even get you within 10HP (still not the same car however).

From Motor Trends initial review of both cars:


https://www.motortrend.com/news/2018...-m550i-xdrive/
Yeah, power is not all, and there are plenty of updates in the M5's engine to achieve more power and cope with additional heat and potential (track) use (abuse) of the car.

Motortrend mentioned some but not all of them (I'm thinking of the air intake for instance, and BTW the compression ratio is not the same between the two engines). The document I referenced before is badly documented mixing comparison with the M550i N63TU2 engine and previous S63 engines in the M5 F10 and X5/6M F8x (S63B44T0 and S63B44T2).

To get the complete picture, one would need to read in full N63TU, N63TU2 and all S63 training guides :-)

Cheers
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      11-21-2018, 01:36 PM   #13
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For the money, its really hard to beat the value of the M550i... I would assume you will pay more than double to lease a M5 compared to a M550i.

Test drive both if you can!
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      11-21-2018, 01:52 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by manooch View Post
For the money, its really hard to beat the value of the M550i... I would assume you will pay more than double to lease a M5 compared to a M550i.

Test drive both if you can!
M5 is probably too much car to drive on the street on a daily basis. I find the M550i to be a better balanced vehicle in that respect.

I'd say that if you own a M5 you have to track it to justify owning it.
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      11-21-2018, 02:15 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 530iDriver View Post
M5 is probably too much car to drive on the street on a daily basis. I find the M550i to be a better balanced vehicle in that respect.

I'd say that if you own a M5 you have to track it to justify owning it.
No, the M5 is a better public road car as well. It's tuned much better in terms of throttle and transmission response, for example. Everything feels better, including the steering and brakes. The extra power is noticeable, and you also notice the better handling on mountain roads.

Whether this is worth the price difference or not is a personal decision, but the M5 is absolutely better and more enjoyable to drive even on public roads.
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      11-21-2018, 05:09 PM   #16
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No, the M5 is a better public road car as well. It's tuned much better in terms of throttle and transmission response, for example. Everything feels better, including the steering and brakes. The extra power is noticeable, and you also notice the better handling on mountain roads.

Whether this is worth the price difference or not is a personal decision, but the M5 is absolutely better and more enjoyable to drive even on public roads.
I would agree, the only thing I noticed when sitting in the M5 was that the seats are way more narrow and not as comfortable as the M550i.... If you have the money and don't mind spending it... M5 all the way.

If you can't justify the premium, go for the M550i.
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      11-22-2018, 09:02 PM   #17
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The M550i is a really cool car . It's a more refined M3 in my opinion . It's really comfortable and has the power there . It's not a 2018 M5 but it does have VERY similar performance to the F80 M3 and also f10 M5 but just AWD
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      11-22-2018, 10:08 PM   #18
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This was always one if my favorite M550i reviews:
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      11-24-2018, 09:38 AM   #19
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Quote:
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The M550i is a really cool car . It's a more refined M3 in my opinion . It's really comfortable and has the power there . It's not a 2018 M5 but it does have VERY similar performance to the F80 M3 and also f10 M5 but just AWD
Yea, also the M3’s interior feels pretty dated at this point.
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      11-25-2018, 10:21 PM   #20
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Yea, also the M3’s interior feels pretty dated at this point.
Truth. I’m in a 2016 M4 and it just feels soooooo old tech. My lease runs out in late April, so I won’t be able to get into a 2020 550i with the updated engine, as those won’t be in the States until the fall.
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      11-26-2018, 08:51 AM   #21
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Truth. I’m in a 2016 M4 and it just feels soooooo old tech. My lease runs out in late April, so I won’t be able to get into a 2020 550i with the updated engine, as those won’t be in the States until the fall.
The current engine can be tuned to provide similar if not better performance than the 2020 engine. I do not think the new engine has any hardware differences, and is likely tuning anyway.

EDIT: Most of the press seems to refer to the M850 engine as a "new" engine, but it is unclear what is new.
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Last edited by ksoze; 11-26-2018 at 10:00 AM..
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      11-26-2018, 04:33 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ksoze View Post
The current engine can be tuned to provide similar if not better performance than the 2020 engine. I do not think the new engine has any hardware differences, and is likely tuning anyway.

EDIT: Most of the press seems to refer to the M850 engine as a "new" engine, but it is unclear what is new.
Yeah, I hear you. I leased a 2014 LCI 550i which had a bump from 414hp to 445 -- test drove both back to back and it was a noticeable improvement. I know going from 456 in the 2017-19 to 520 (rumored) is going to be noticeable. Can I get a tune instead? Yeah, of course.
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