5 Series BMW M550d xDrive First Drives/Reviews/Tests

[DeDe]

Not spory enough compared to an M5 ok. But to let's say, 550i?

Not enough sporty for an M-car.

 

[klier]

But it's not, so that's ok. Whether it's sporty enough compared to a 550i is an interesting question.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

But it's not, so that's ok.

If it's not meant to be a sporty car then why the hell has it got an M badge?

It's being marketed as an M car. It's been developed with the help of the M Division. It's even called an M550 for God's sake. If BMW want to reap the profits from milking the M badge they sure as hell better expect journalists to be asking some serious questions. I seem to remember Chris Harris wasn't particularly sure about the M badging.

 

[south]

If it's not meant to be a sporty car then why the hell has it got an M badge?

It's being marketed as an M car. It's been developed with the help of the M Division. It's even called an M550 for God's sake. If BMW want to reap the profits from milking the M badge they sure as hell better expect journalists to be asking some serious questions. I seem to remember Chris Harris wasn't particularly sure about the M badging.

No, it's being marketed as M Performance car which is quite a difference.


Best regards,
south

 

[Deckhook]

^You are both right, South's right in saying its different from a full M which is why it's called M-Performance but Betty's is also right in saying its been developed with the full force of M-Division and by officially wearing the M badge means its been endorsed by them to be much much more than a normal BMW.

I personally think they have got the balance just right.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

No, it's being marketed as M Performance car which is quite a difference.

So what exactly are M meant to bring to the table if it's not their knowledge and know-how when it comes to making things "sporty"? If BMW get the M division involved then I'm sorry, it's quite logical that people/journalists are going to be thinking the car is meant to be sporty. If BMW don't intend for that impression to be given then they should stop sticking the M badge onto everything.

 

[south]

So what exactly are M meant to bring to the table if it's not their knowledge and know-how when it comes to making things "sporty"? If BMW get the M division involved then I'm sorry, it's quite logical that people/journalists are going to be thinking the car is meant to be sporty. If BMW don't intend for that impression to be given then they should stop sticking the M badge onto everything.

You don't really expect BMW to offer the same performance as e.g. the M5 for 20k € less, do you? It's meant to sit between the regular models and the M cars. If you expected more than that you misunderstood the idea of the M Performance cars.


Best regards,
south

 

[chonkoa]

So what exactly are M meant to bring to the table if it's not their knowledge and know-how when it comes to making things "sporty"? If BMW get the M division involved then I'm sorry, it's quite logical that people/journalists are going to be thinking the car is meant to be sporty. If BMW don't intend for that impression to be given then they should stop sticking the M badge onto everything.

If they do that how are they going to justify the price-premium..

 

[K-A]

Obviously, first and foremost, the purpose of these "M" variants is to make more ///Money. If you really look at it with a clear head, the M-Sport, M-Performance, in relation to the "real deal" M are intended to ///Milk the name as much as they can.

In a world of all things sacred, they'd keep "M" supreme without letting it become as accessible as they can possibly make it.

 

[Zafiro]

These M's are like Audi S-versions....

 

[Deckhook]

These M's are like Audi S-versions....

If the rumors of a diesel S6 is true than you are 100% right.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

You don't really expect BMW to offer the same performance as e.g. the M5 for 20k € less, do you?

Of course I don't, and I never said I did. I also never mentioned the M5 so I don't know why you're bringing that up. My post was purely in response to Autobild saying it wasn't "sporty enough" and Klier saying it's "not an M car". Whilst I don't expect performance levels of the M5, if BMW are going to market it as an M product, and they are, then it certainly IS an M car. Otherwise they should have just called it a bog standard 550d.

If you expected more than that you misunderstood the idea of the M Performance cars.

I didn't misunderstand anything. BMW can expect a lot more disappointed people/journalists. The M badge carries with it a lot of kudos and therefore certain expectations, and if they're going to start plastering it over 4x4 diesels then they should step up to the plate or they should have called them something other than M Performance.

 

[south]

Of course I don't, and I never said I did. I also never mentioned the M5 so I don't know why you're bringing that up. My post was purely in response to Autobild saying it wasn't "sporty enough" and Klier saying it's "not an M car". Whilst I don't expect performance levels of the M5, if BMW are going to market it as an M product, and they are, then it certainly IS an M car. Otherwise they should have just called it a bog standard 550d.

First of all, Autobild said it wasn't sporty enough to be called M5d (DeDe's post was a bit misleading). That being said, your point is inconsistent when you don't expect M5 performance levels but then say it's an M car nonetheless.

I didn't misunderstand anything. BMW can expect a lot more disappointed people/journalists. The M badge carries with it a lot of kudos and therefore certain expectations, and if they're going to start plastering it over 4x4 diesels then they should step up to the plate or they should have called them something other than M Performance.

No, only those who didn't get the point of the M Performance cars (yet) will be disappointed.


Best regards,
south

 

[Deckhook]

Forgetting about the extra power the question that needs to be asked is whether it drives better than a 535d M/Sport? If the answer is yes then I don't know what the argument is here, if the answer is no then Betty has a point.

 

[klier]

Forgetting about the extra power the question that needs to be asked is whether it drives better than a 535d M/Sport?

Of course it does, this is not a question that needs to be answered, it's far too obvious.

If the rumors of a diesel S6 is true than you are 100% right.

And if these 'rumors' are not true, he is not?
The M550d already competes with the 2012 S6.

If it's not meant to be a sporty car then why the hell has it got an M badge?

It's being marketed as an M car. It's been developed with the help of the M Division. It's even called an M550 for God's sake. If BMW want to reap the profits from milking the M badge they sure as hell better expect journalists to be asking some serious questions. I seem to remember Chris Harris wasn't particularly sure about the M badging.

It's being marketed as an M Performance car, you're telling half truths so it will fit in your street of thinking.

 

[Deckhook]

Of course it does, this is not a question that needs to be answered, it's far too obvious.

I wasn't aware there had been a comparison done...do you have a link?

And if these 'rumors' are not true, he is not?
The M550d already competes with the 2012 S6.

How can you make this claim that it competes with the S6, as far as I'm aware there has been no test conducted by any mag so no data. But if it's anything like the S4 then it's official time of 4.8s will be well and truly hammered.

As for the diesel S6, some are saying its a done deal and it's spec will be known by this autumn, if true I wonder will it use two or three turbo and if three then it might show the possible direction a tri-turbo V6 M3 might take.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

(DeDe's post was a bit misleading).

Fair enough. I was mislead.

That being said, your point is inconsistent when you don't expect M5 performance levels but then say it's an M car nonetheless.

I'm not being inconsistent. Of course it's an M car if they've helped tweak it and it's got an M prefix. That doesn't mean I expect M5 levels of performance.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

It's being marketed as an M Performance car, you're telling half truths so it will fit in your street of thinking.

Oh give over. "Half truths"? BMW have quite knowingly called this M Performance. Whether they like it or not, that's going to create certain expectations from the public and journalists. It's being marketed as a product (even if it is minimal input) of the M division. If they'd just called them BMW Performance then people's expectations might be lower and rather than journalists saying "not as good as an M5", they may have been saying "much better than a standard BMW".

BMW know full well the M badge has an enormous marketing potential and may justify the price of the M550xd, but you can't blame people from having high expectations, hence Autobild saying "not sporty enough". BMW can't have their cake and eat it.

 

[emve]

In our local mags there have been a few interesting tests featuring M550d.

Power of M550d was measured on dyno at 352hp. Which also explains the minimal differences in performance against 3.0 TDI 313hp (which has probably more than 313hp).

Another mag tested turbo boost and injector pressures. The real turbo boost is around 3,5 bar (997 GT2 RS is at 1,6 bar), as opposed to claimed 3,0 bar. Injectors pressure is also 10% higher than claimed (the claim is already high). They reckon that the engine is stressed to the maximum and doubt long-term reliability. Basically all the local mags complained about huge fuel consumption when using the power and compared it to F10 M5, if they were driving together with same speed.

 

[Deckhook]

The fuel consumption would be a worry especially if no better than a similarly driven M5 did as well, kind of defeats the purpose don't you think. Also this is the first time I've heard concerns over engine longevity but if true then it puts into question why BMW went this route to get extra output instead of the logical way from increasing capacity.