[NGT2]

My wife is watching trash TV and I spent the last hour screwing around, reading the forum and building random BMW’s. There just isn’t one I’d trade my M550 for. If you just prefer an SUV then I get that, otherwise I can’t talk myself into any other option being worthy of a hypothetical fantasy trade.

There are other models that do certain things better but none that put it all together the same. The 7 is basically dead to me. The 3/4 are cool cars and the driving dynamics of a M340 would be fun as hell. But not worth the significant drop off in quality interior and seating. 8 is badass and brings the hammer as far as “presence” goes. But it’s enormous, especially the GC which would be the comparison here. Hell of a car for highway cruising… but so is the M550 or 540i and the 5 isn’t too big to enjoy on a smaller road.

M5 would be the obvious option but frankly I need the daily driving comfort, especially on these Memphis roads.

X5M would be pretty tempting. But for the premium price, you’re still in an SUV and not a car. If you don’t need the cargo space, just get the M5. And if I’m daily driving, I’m back to trading the handling I’ll rarely use for the M550 daily driving suspension I’ll use… well, daily.

And then the G60… let’s just forget the looks for this purpose. Aside from that, the only real significant changes are Highway Assistant and a coming I6 PHEV powertrain for the US. No more V8 option. There just isn’t anything there to entice a trade up to the newer version. I’ll admit, I’m glad I have the M550 because my ego would want the extra hp of the new 540 (375 hp) and the mental satisfaction of knowing it’s (supposedly) faster at a 4.4 0-60. But the truth is you can put a modest tune on a G30 540i and get that and then some. And without a tune, I doubt you can actually feel a difference. Oh, and the G30 is hands down a better looking car. Hands. Down.

When you drive around town or screw around online and you think “oh that would be sweet!” and then you’re immediate next thought is “but I couldn’t trade what I’ve got, just can’t let it go” then you know you’ve got the right ride for yourself. It’s a good feeling. I haven’t had this feeling in a long time in a vehicle. I have a wandering eye for cars and always will, I’ve embraced it. But push comes to shove, even hypothetically, I couldn’t let go of this car.

I’ve got a solo 500 mile round trip coming up with a mix of two lane and interstate. Looking forward to it. Will be the first in the M550. It’s a trip I do multiple times a year and it was great in the 540. I’m expecting the DHP to make up for the heavier front end on the two lane curves and hills.

[LogicalApex]

I feel the same.

The G60 BEV pulls me as it is in line with my plan when I got my 530e. Tip my tow in the EV world and if it worked I'd move onto the BEV. Intending for that to be a BMW.

But outside of not being very compelling to me currently the pricing is far outside of what I'm willing to pay right now.

I'd need xDrive so I'd need to go i5 M60 starting at $85K ($93K with acceptable options). I don't lease. So the costs alone will keep me planted for a while.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

I feel the same.

The G60 BEV pulls me as it is in line with my plan when I got my 530e. Tip my tow in the EV world and if it worked I'd move onto the BEV. Intending for that to be a BMW.

But outside of not being very compelling to me currently the pricing is far outside of what I'm willing to pay right now.

I'd need xDrive so I'd need to go i5 M60 starting at $85K ($93K with acceptable options). I don't lease. So the costs alone will keep me planted for a while.

Yeah that’s a heavy price tag when you’re really just looking for the xDrive and not as compelled by the power.

I’ll give you that BEV from PHEV is a significant change and would be a justifiable reason to switch, regardless of make and model.

But that said, there’s just no compelling improvement in finish or material or options. It’s just the same stuff (maybe even less stuff) in a different wrapper. And it’s a less attractive wrapper!

[AP]

Agree, I think the g30 particularly in its LCI flavour and with eithe r the b58 or n63tu3 are one of BMWs best

Generally speaking I think it’s fair to say that the model that replaces a current model is one to aspire to but for me , it’s not the case today

I got my m550 as I had seen and read a about the rumours of what the g60 would be and I am so glad I got the g30
It is classic bmw with a nod to the future although the future doesn’t make sense to me

I’m now of the mindset that I don’t like any bmw with idrive 8 or later, I feel that bmw have moved away from good ergonomics to gimmicky technology (some of which crept in on the g30) and seem to be on a cost cutting excercise now and Using cheaper materials and keeping spec to a minimum

If you ignore styling of the g60 which is subjective, the use of touch controls for just about everything , which I don’t think is great. You have to look away from the road to use them and finger prints get left everywhere cheaper looking materials . Many reviews haven’t picked up on that in videos but when you sit in one , it’s apparent at least to me and some reviews here are starting to comment on it

If you ignore the electric i5 which is a different animal altogether, does the g60 actually improve upon the g30? I mean what does it do better?
I struggle to come up with anything other than potentially some enhancements to the autonomous driving

I personally think it’s a backward step and quite a bit more expensive at the same time

The g30 I think got it right, the only technology I would criticise is gesture control which I think is a gimmick, mkickily it can be turned off and the 4 zone climate control which is touch screen, I preferred the buttons on the pre LCI more

It saddens me that I don’t have a new bmw model to look forward to at this point in time, not a fan of where they are going. I don’t like the design which yes is subjective and I know other do like , fair enough, it there is no excuse for bad ergonomics and use of gimmicky gadgets.

Rant over!

I will continue to enjoy the best car I’ve owned (with the exception of a e39 530i msport in the past), the g30 LCI M550

[Joe-BMW33]

I mean, look at this thing??? Could they have fucked up a good thing any worse?

Both ugly, but the Sport (with Chrome??) looks better than the $3,000 M-Sport Package.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I mean, look at this thing??? Could they have fucked up a good thing any worse?

Both ugly, but the Sport (with Chrome??) looks better than the $3,000 M-Sport Package.

Seriously. If BMW keeps going in this direction, I'm going to say screw them and move on to Porsche. I'm already watching Porsche videos even though I will be hanging onto my M550i until at least 2030. I love how Porsche has kept their designs constant for eternity. Why fix it if it ain't broke.

[tsbrown]

Agree. Posted this on a G60 thread, but for $78k I can get most of the same functionality as I have currently on my 5yr old 2019 540i with only 40k miles and paid for years ago. And I think many of you read my post a couple days ago how I feel about the G30…love it. Eventually I’ll trade for the G60 540iX, but it needs to add back some suspension and seat options first. At least 6-12 months away though. By then my G30 will still have less than 50k miles.

[530iDriver]

I have yet to see the new G60 in person, but call me unimpressed with this car. For current BMW asking prices, the design is a fail from every angle. Hopefully the interior is on point but that’s not even enough motivation for me to consider it. I am not interested in the i5 so the only options for me are another 530 or 540. But close to $80K grand for a 540 specced to my liking is just sheer insanity.

Quite frankly, I don’t see another BMW replacing my 2017 G30 530i. BMW got so many things right with the G30 and still looks like a BMW. Alas my car doesn’t even have 50K miles yet but it is getting older and come April 2024 my BMW Platinum extended warranty will have expired. One more year after that, the emissions warranty would also come to an end. BMW just doesn’t have enough confidence in the durability of their products past 7-8 years, sad.

Not sure what to do
Next, but I will be in the market for a new vehicle in a year or two (Don’t keep cars
More than 7-10 years). Nothing from BMW appeals at the moment. The only mild and remote possibility would be a G20 M340i but the hard seats turn me off. Been entertaining the idea of going on a total opposite direction for my next car: VW Golf R MK8.5 DSG.

[iamcc88]

As a G30 owner I completely agree. It gives me great pride to drive around and see other cars on the road and almost 99% of the time I’m like “nope”.

There are only two cars I would take over my M550 (at least that are inside the realm of possibility)

1. Porsche Panamera GTS/Turbo
2. Porsche 911 - I don’t care what trim just give me that 911 dammit

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by iamcc88

As a G30 owner I completely agree. It gives me great pride to drive around and see other cars on the road and almost 99% of the time I’m like “nope”.

There are only two cars I would take over my M550 (at least that are inside the realm of possibility)

1. Porsche Panamera GTS/Turbo
2. Porsche 911 - I don’t care what trim just give me that 911 dammit

#2 for me, but in addition to the M550, not instead of.

One more semester of college tuition and six months left on Alimony/Child Support.

[Gautam]

Originally Posted by iamcc88

As a G30 owner I completely agree. It gives me great pride to drive around and see other cars on the road and almost 99% of the time I’m like “nope”.

There are only two cars I would take over my M550 (at least that are inside the realm of possibility)

1. Porsche Panamera GTS/Turbo
2. Porsche 911 - I don’t care what trim just give me that 911 dammit

Also very tempted by Porsche, I don’t hate the new BMW’s as much as many folks but they aren’t the sort of cars I’d daydream about.

The g60 is a step down in quality and options compared to the g30.

Even base 911’s are monsters.

[iamcc88]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

#2 for me, but in addition to the M550, not instead of.

One more semester of college tuition and six months left on Alimony/Child Support.

Yep my plan is to keep the M550 and hopefully add a 911 in 3-5 years. I almost bought a 2007 C2S back in 2014 and it had 35k miles… aftermarket exhaust… they wanted $42,000 for it.

I literally scream inside every time I think about driving home without that car. The same one would be almost $65-70,000 today JUST BECAUSE.

Hopefully the market calms down…

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by NGT2

Yeah that’s a heavy price tag when you’re really just looking for the xDrive and not as compelled by the power.

I’ll give you that BEV from PHEV is a significant change and would be a justifiable reason to switch, regardless of make and model.

But that said, there’s just no compelling improvement in finish or material or options. It’s just the same stuff (maybe even less stuff) in a different wrapper. And it’s a less attractive wrapper!

I'd definitely love the power, but I'm still to young to be trusted with that much power

But I work from home, and have for over a decade now. It is just not justifiable for me to spend that much money on a car I don't even have an actual commute to use it on.

Hopefully the COVID price bubble bursts and BMW becomes a lot more sane like they were in 2019 pricing wise.

[misterpangulo]

One thing that moved me to buy my 540i last week was the fact that the G30 seems to me to be one of the last "classic" BMW's. Still traditionally powered, normal looking grille, etc. I'll keep this thing as long as it's economically feasible to do so.

The G60 isn't as bad looking as the 7 series, but it's certainly a step down from the G30. And for me the interior is even worse. I'm not ready to abandon the classic instrument cluster for an iPad.

[misterpangulo]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I mean, look at this thing??? Could they have fucked up a good thing any worse?

Yes, it's called the G70.

[BMW012]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I mean, look at this thing??? Could they have fucked up a good thing any worse?

Both ugly, but the Sport (with Chrome??) looks better than the $3,000 M-Sport Package.

Once you see it drive past you, you might say its stunning, has great road presence as well. but ill let you judge after you see it.

[div1ne]

I feel the same way. I really don't like the big screen that replaces the gauge cluster and the previous infotainment. I hope to get my hands on a 2023 540 or M550 in maybe a year from now and hold onto that car for as long as I can.

The new 5er looks interesting, but the big screen, removing the hand shifter, and most of the buttons are kind of a sad thing. Screens are much cheaper than all these things so I don't know if we're gonna go back to what we're used to.

[2022M550i]

Only time will tell. I think the G60 looks more family sedan’ish. Less sporty than a G30. And maybe because of the black trim along the base, it looks like a crossover to me.

I don’t know what the specs are, but it definitely looks higher off the ground to my eye…. That dashboard/gauge cluster stuff, I can totally do without. They took all the personality away from it and gave it a good lobotomy. Maybe this is something that we can grow into and appreciate…. all I know is, it will be a tough sell for me today.

[Chappers 71]

I was fortunate enough to have ‘done’ the M5 & V8 540i when I was young enough to enjoy them (late nineties early noughties), less traffic, better roads, no speed humps & mobile speeding cameras weren’t really a thing like they are now. So for me there’s nothing that I’d replace the G31 with, especially with its (indicated) 480bhp

As for the G60, I think it’s a compromise. It has to be so tall because of the batteries in the floor & still having to be able to accommodate an ICE, if/when bmw go all electric or stop with the ‘eco’ shit & don’t have a floor full of batteries or battery size vastly reduces, then I’m sure bmw will go back to the styling that got us all into BMW ownership…or maybe not

I’m not really into all the tech, I don’t care about updates or checking email, remote starting, driving assist or any of that stuff. My BMW’s have never been my dd & when I do get to use the bm it’s for my enjoyment, even if I’m just using it to do the chores in. It’s always an occasion, even in the beige estate car with its ridiculous pops & bangs.
I just couldn’t drive around in an electric car for fun, I know they can be fast but they are soulless & the bloody whiny noise they make…I’d have to have given up on life if that became my vehicle of choice.

[AP]

just look at this, classy, stylish, conservative.

no messy radar sensor, full 20 way seats, buttons and dials for music, climate controls, lights, round steering wheel , alcantara headlining, illuminated door pockets that are felt lined, decent indicator stalks, no black plastic trims to hide height, a V8 engine that makes a nice noise by itself without the aid of a composer, capable of at least 155mph (if you have somewhere you can legally use that), can fill it up in 5mins to get a range of ~400 miles
The design just flows.

Nuff said!

[Neusser]

Originally Posted by NGT2

My wife is watching trash TV and I spent the last hour screwing around, reading the forum and building random BMW’s. There just isn’t one I’d trade my M550 for. If you just prefer an SUV then I get that, otherwise I can’t talk myself into any other option being worthy of a hypothetical fantasy trade.

There are other models that do certain things better but none that put it all together the same. The 7 is basically dead to me. The 3/4 are cool cars and the driving dynamics of a M340 would be fun as hell. But not worth the significant drop off in quality interior and seating. 8 is badass and brings the hammer as far as “presence” goes. But it’s enormous, especially the GC which would be the comparison here. Hell of a car for highway cruising… but so is the M550 or 540i and the 5 isn’t too big to enjoy on a smaller road.

M5 would be the obvious option but frankly I need the daily driving comfort, especially on these Memphis roads.

X5M would be pretty tempting. But for the premium price, you’re still in an SUV and not a car. If you don’t need the cargo space, just get the M5. And if I’m daily driving, I’m back to trading the handling I’ll rarely use for the M550 daily driving suspension I’ll use… well, daily.

And then the G60… let’s just forget the looks for this purpose. Aside from that, the only real significant changes are Highway Assistant and a coming I6 PHEV powertrain for the US. No more V8 option. There just isn’t anything there to entice a trade up to the newer version. I’ll admit, I’m glad I have the M550 because my ego would want the extra hp of the new 540 (375 hp) and the mental satisfaction of knowing it’s (supposedly) faster at a 4.4 0-60. But the truth is you can put a modest tune on a G30 540i and get that and then some. And without a tune, I doubt you can actually feel a difference. Oh, and the G30 is hands down a better looking car. Hands. Down.

When you drive around town or screw around online and you think “oh that would be sweet!” and then you’re immediate next thought is “but I couldn’t trade what I’ve got, just can’t let it go” then you know you’ve got the right ride for yourself. It’s a good feeling. I haven’t had this feeling in a long time in a vehicle. I have a wandering eye for cars and always will, I’ve embraced it. But push comes to shove, even hypothetically, I couldn’t let go of this car.

I’ve got a solo 500 mile round trip coming up with a mix of two lane and interstate. Looking forward to it. Will be the first in the M550. It’s a trip I do multiple times a year and it was great in the 540. I’m expecting the DHP to make up for the heavier front end on the two lane curves and hills.

I agree, and another nice part about the G30/31 is that BMW has moved reliability to another level for the brand. Some complain that these cars have a bit of an appliance feel, but I actually welcome that to a degree for a daily driver.

The fact that Toyota is using the B58 and that the 8 cylinder seems vastly improved, really is the icing on the proverbial cake.

[530iDriver]

Nothing but praise for the new G60 i5 from Top Gear and calling its interior “World class and “Stunning”.

They also claim it’s performance, handling/road holding is so superior that the current Tesla Model S feels like a “Trolley shopping cart” by comparison.

I’ll reserve judgement when I sit in and test drive a G60: https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/bmw/i5