[downsouth]

HI All

Just got my 550 in last night and have been adjusting the settings here and there while I can but figured I would reach out to you all to see if you had any must apply settings or tricks or tweaks that caught you off guard and wish you had known of sooner. Any recommendations are much appreciated as I search through this forum.


In addition to the settings here are some other things I was planning to do to the car:

1. I am going to try pulling the fuse tonight so that the exhaust flaps stay open in comfort and see how it sounds. I love the sound in sports plus but find it a bit quite in comfort.

2. Vinyl or replace the front reflectors - saw the HDI ones but install seems a bit cumbersome

3. Windows Tinted

Anything else I am missing? I have Exec Package, Parking Assistant Plus, Drivers Assistant Plus options included

[cartaozinho]

Originally Posted by downsouth

HI All

Just got my 550 in last night and have been adjusting the settings here and there while I can but figured I would reach out to you all to see if you had any must apply settings or tricks or tweaks that caught you off guard and wish you had known of sooner. Any recommendations are much appreciated as I search through this forum.


In addition to the settings here are some other things I was planning to do to the car:

1. I am going to try pulling the fuse tonight so that the exhaust flaps stay open in comfort and see how it sounds. I love the sound in sports plus but find it a bit quite in comfort.

2. Vinyl or replace the front reflectors - saw the HDI ones but install seems a bit cumbersome

3. Windows Tinted

Anything else I am missing? I have Exec Package, Parking Assistant Plus, Drivers Assistant Plus options included

I don't think this is specific to the M550i but, kicking the gearshift left which puts the transmission into sport mode (while staying in Comfort) changed the way I drive the car. It's a nice option when you need more throttle modulation/control. Plus, it's easier to locate the gearshift by touch alone.

[dlf750]

Re: the front reflectors. I have a new 540, but same difference. I pulled mine out and just sanded and painted them body color with clear coat, looks great but in hindsight, assuming you have a black car, just get some vinyl wrap and use that. I did that for my rear reflectors - looks great. and much easier than removing the reflectors in the front fenders with a heat gun.

[downsouth]

Originally Posted by cartaozinho

I don't think this is specific to the M550i but, kicking the gearshift left which puts the transmission into sport mode (while staying in Comfort) changed the way I drive the car. It's a nice option when you need more throttle modulation/control. Plus, it's easier to locate the gearshift by touch alone.

Great tip as I just found that out today. 100miles on the odomoter and 2/3 of a tank later I realized that this is a great driving mode instead of always being in sport plus! This car is scary fast.

[downsouth]

Originally Posted by dlf750

Re: the front reflectors. I have a new 540, but same difference. I pulled mine out and just sanded and painted them body color with clear coat, looks great but in hindsight, assuming you have a black car, just get some vinyl wrap and use that. I did that for my rear reflectors - looks great. and much easier than removing the reflectors in the front fenders with a heat gun.

My car is black on black and I also think the vinyl route would be the safest. The aftermarket kit requires pulling on the fender etc that I don't feel really comfortable doing.

[dlf750]

I did the heat gun, pull on fender move when I did the fronts. It's fine, not a huge issue, just takes some time but in hindsight, with a black car, just do the vinyl wrap, so much easier and quicker.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by cartaozinho

I don't think this is specific to the M550i but, kicking the gearshift left which puts the transmission into sport mode (while staying in Comfort) changed the way I drive the car. It's a nice option when you need more throttle modulation/control. Plus, it's easier to locate the gearshift by touch alone.

It is not unique to the M550i. You can do the same thing by configuring sport individual to meet your needs and not have to throw the gear shift to the left.

[AP]

in addition by configure sport individual to be your ideal set up, ASS is off here as well by default. So with one press of a button , the car is set up the way you want it!

don't forget you can preset the shortcut buttons to pretty much anything that's in the idrive, to give you some examples, I have some of mine set to:-
switch off idrive display (for long dark drives)
display tyre pressures
display the sport display (instantaneous power and torque figures read out)

enjoy, only wish we had the 550i here in the UK (rumour is that it may be coming..)

[hlothery]

Whenever I am in traffic, I flip the shift lever to the left to sport mode for the transmission. This keeps the car in gear longer, so there is less shifting and more engine braking in stop and go traffic. I used to do this in Drivelogic 2 mode on my DCT, when I had the M4, and the ZF8 acts much the same in Sport mode (shift lever to the left). It is a fantastic driving mode, Comfort mode with the shift lever to the left, IMHO. Now, in Sport Plus, with the lever to the left.......well, now we're talking about why I traded the M4 for the M550i! Kaboom, baby!!

[dlf750]

love that the one touch buttons do almost anything. I too did the HUD on a button. I don't always like it on. And I did it for presets on the radio since my car never reverts back to where it was when I turn it back on, annoying. Will try it for sport display.

[downsouth]

Originally Posted by dlf750

love that the one touch buttons do almost anything. I too did the HUD on a button. I don't always like it on. And I did it for presets on the radio since my car never reverts back to where it was when I turn it back on, annoying. Will try it for sport display.

I have
1. Car Play
2. Radio Presets - XM
3. Interior lights (daughter constantly wants to change the color)
4. Sports Gauges

[cartaozinho]

Originally Posted by downsouth

(daughter constantly wants to change the color)

Because my daughter does the same thing I've got interior lighting set up at #6.

"papai...make it blue...now purple...now green..."

[dlf750]

Originally Posted by downsouth

I have
1. Car Play
2. Radio Presets - XM
3. Interior lights (daughter constantly wants to change the color)
4. Sports Gauges

ya know, it's funny, never thought of car play and every time I think i want to use car play, I can't seem to find it in the iDrive settings! once I do though, I'm setting a button! really...can't find the damn sucker...and I know I have it...

[dlf750]

Originally Posted by downsouth

I have
1. Car Play
2. Radio Presets - XM
3. Interior lights (daughter constantly wants to change the color)
4. Sports Gauges

Can you tell me exactly how you got Car Play to save to a button? I just tried it and said it couldn't be saved...I did get Car Play to work fine, had to delete and reinstall the phone. But when I go to Car Play and hold one of the buttons, it says can't be saved... need some steps here... thanks!

[downsouth]

Originally Posted by dlf750

Can you tell me exactly how you got Car Play to save to a button? I just tried it and said it couldn't be saved...I did get Car Play to work fine, had to delete and reinstall the phone. But when I go to Car Play and hold one of the buttons, it says can't be saved... need some steps here... thanks!

Hmm I did it without issue the first day I got the car and don't really recall. I believe I clicked on the car play icon bottom left from i drive screen and when it pulled up carplay held down 1 while it was on the main screen.

[dlf750]

think i tried that and didn't work but I'll try again, thanks!

[Bymep]

Originally Posted by cartaozinho

Because my daughter does the same thing I've got interior lighting set up at #6.

"papai...make it blue...now purple...now green..."

+1

that, and always gesture control on the 3D view...

[dlf750]

nope, tried it again, no dice...damn...

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by dlf750

love that the one touch buttons do almost anything. I too did the HUD on a button. I don't always like it on. And I did it for presets on the radio since my car never reverts back to where it was when I turn it back on, annoying. Will try it for sport display.

I used to use a button but now use the voice command. Saves the button for other uses.

[clee1982]

Yea I use voice command for HUD too

[maxm6]

Wondering if downsouth you pulled the fuse if anything changed. I have a 2020 M550 so curious about your results. What fuse is it?

[LuvMyE92]

dlf750 I sometimes experience the same issue trying to program buttons. It's weird. Keep at it.

I must be going deaf, because I can't tell any difference in exhaust sound/volume between normal and sport. 2019 540 sport line.