10-28-2018, 11:15 AM | #1 |
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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? |
10-28-2018, 07:10 PM | #2 | |
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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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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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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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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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From Motor Trends initial review of both cars: Quote:
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11-13-2018, 03:04 PM | #11 | |
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11-15-2018, 08:10 AM | #12 | |
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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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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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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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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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11-24-2018, 09:38 AM | #19 |
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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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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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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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