Auto123 critiques the 2020 BMW M550i sedan.
For 2020, the road separating the BMW M550i and M5 tremendous sedans – and sure, they’re each tremendous sedans, make no mistake – has gotten blurrier nonetheless, due to the M550i being given a dollop of added energy, to the tune of 68 additional hp and 73 extra lb-ft of torque. For the reason that M5 hasn’t obtained any energy increase for 2020, the M550i thus attracts even nearer to its “true M” sibling.
In actuality, although, these energy figures are solely a part of the story, because the M5 nonetheless has all of the craziness in its nook, like the power for drivers to lock it in RWD, map quite a few drive settings to 2 reminiscence buttons and truly have it really feel prefer it might very nicely belong on the race observe.
The M550i stays just a little softer (although my tester did nonetheless run an adaptive suspension set-up that you could possibly additionally tune your self) and rather less in-yer-face-looking than the M5, though the M Sport brakes with their blue M-logo’d calipers do draw the attention.
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The inside
Inside, in the meantime, the ceramic controls included in my tester’s Premium Package deal draw the attention much more than do these brakes, as does the splendid brown inside with cream-coloured piping on the seats. For his or her half, the seats are supportive however much less extremely bolstered than the M5’s, and extra snug consequently. The glassy look, in the meantime, seems on the shift lever, iDrive management wheel and on the temperature and quantity dials, making the entire shebang sit that a lot nearer to what you may see from BMW’s upmarket Rolls-Royce model.
Whereas I’m a fan of modern-looking interiors with carbon fibre inserts and brushed aluminum bits as a lot as the following individual, the little contact of sophistication from the glass components is welcome right here. Plus, it serves to additional differentiate the M550i from the M5.
Past that, the M550i’s inside is all fashionable BMW, and that’s factor.
The tech
It begins with the twin screens: your iDrive infotainment show on the proper, and your gauge cluster on the left. The gauge cluster is modifiable to any variety of alignments, out of your typical dual-gauge show to having your navi map span throughout the entire size. Personally, I choose to maintain the navi map small, as the best way BMW’s system tracks your progress – by having the roads displayed on the map progressively gentle up then fade as you move by them – is obvious sufficient. Extra means extra distracting.
My tester had the latest-generation iDrive 7.0, so the principle show is a tiled affair that permits you to transfer the alignment of the tiles round and alter what’s displayed on it. Accessible widgets run the gamut from information apps to car data and your audio show. Until, in fact, you’re making use of Apple CarPlay (Android Auto shouldn’t be supported), by which case that menu takes up all the major show. A fast observe: It feels just a little unusual to function CarPlay by way of the iDrive wheel to make sure however by no means worry; not like Mercedes’, you may function this technique by way of contact.
Although it really works by way of Bluetooth, a wi-fi charging pad spares you ugly cables sprouting from you sprint it doesn’t matter what. There are USB ports too, although they’re largely of the USB-C selection so hold that in thoughts. Nevertheless; whereas connecting wirelessly is sweet, CarPlay – in my expertise in quite a few automobiles – shouldn’t be an actual science and may require a re-boot once in a while, which often entails unplugging and re-plugging your cable.
Clearly, that’s not one thing that may be performed right here so a reboot does take extra time as it’s important to truly ask the automotive to overlook your system, and your system to overlook the automotive. In fact, whereas most each automotive has CarPlay lately, the tech remains to be in its relative infancy so I count on many of the apps to have ironed out all these foibles someday quickly at which level all this rebooting will grow to be moot.
Sufficient about that, although. In spite of everything, if all you had been actually involved with on the subject of your mid-size luxurious sedan was its inside tech, then a 540i might be simply nice. Likelihood is, you’re shopping for the M550i since you need to have the ability to let your hair down (alongside along with your proper foot) once in a while. So let’s try this.
The mechanics
In terms of the M550i’s engine the facility figures are essential to think about for certain, however that’s solely a part of the story. The best way that energy is deployed is one other.
The M550i’s twin-turbo V8 will get what’s referred to as the “scorching vee” remedy, which means the turbos are nestled between the 2 cylinder banks. Which means the exhaust required to fireside these turbos doesn’t must journey thus far, which means they spool up faster and deploy their energy extra readily and easily.
On the street
So, with turbo lag all however banished from the proceedings, the M550i positively explodes off the road on throttle tip-in, helped alongside by its intelligent xDrive AWD system that may shuffle energy round to provide the greatest grip on launch, then one of the best steadiness as you begin to delve deeper into your drive. Actually, it’s laborious to imagine that there’s truly a extra highly effective 5 (nicely, two extra highly effective 5s for those who embrace the M5 Competitors) than this as there’s extra energy right here than any luxurious sedan ought to ever want. In fact, I’m not saying that I don’t need producers to cease growing quick sedans, however you already know…
The automotive does all of it with such panache, too. The engine observe is current however not at all overbearing, as is the exhaust observe by the quad exhaust. It’s authoritative however not precisely shouty, extra barrel-chested than soprano. Certainly, probably the most discomfort I felt was throughout activation of the auto begin/cease system, which is just a little harsh and causes numerous shuddering upon start-up. That is particularly notable within the Eco Professional mode, because the engine is that a lot keener to enter this state of ignition purgatory when in Eco Professional.
Which form of is sensible, when you consider it. It is a darn quick automotive, this M550i, and so it must be impatient to get going once more. Certainly, on the facility entrance, it’s probably the greatest functions of the BMW M Efficiency moniker so far. And when in Sport or Sport Plus modes, that slog you’re feeling in Eco Professional is changed by positively bananas acceleration (with just a little extra noise, in fact) that basically made me wish to enter right into a drag race with an M5. Sometime. Perhaps.
The dealing with entrance is the place you begin to see just a little little bit of “commonplace” 5 Sequence trickle by; it’s not as if the M550i doesn’t really feel higher by the turns than the 540i, it’s simply that a couple of BMW schisms – the sensation that there’s an air bubble between the wheel and entrance axle, for instance, that robs the steering of some really feel – do stay. You need to look fairly laborious to search out them, although. Certainly, if I had been to place the information I’ve gleaned from driving as many efficiency sedans as I’ve apart, there’s no denying that the M550i is, above all, an excellent handler.
It is a dealing with package deal that’s punctuated by fast turn-in (once more highlighted in any of the 2 Sport modes) and suitably predictable chassis that does job of serving to you rotate by turns due to the intelligent energy dispersal by the AWD system. It will get just a little squishier as you edge nearer and nearer to 10/10ths, however even probably the most hardened automotive critic wouldn’t name the M550i “floaty” or “lazy” within the dealing with division.
The M550i is “snug” within the experience division, in the meantime. The seats look plush and they’re, and backed up by nice damper and bushing tuning which means if you wish to overlook all of the efficiency related to the “M” badge for a second and simply waft your manner house after a protracted day on the workplace, you shouldn’t have any downside doing so.
Efficiency-oriented it could be, however the M550i is a luxurious sedan above all else and it nails that facet of the expertise, from the best way the cupholders can (fairly successfully) cool or heat your drink, to the best way the seats can therapeutic massage your decrease again.
One of the best half is, you may get all this energy and status for about 30 grand lower than it takes to attain the keys to a blue-blooded M5, and that’s an actual boon for these in search of just a little extra efficiency from their luxurious household sedan. Certainly, no M550i proprietor is more likely to pull up beside an M5 and assume “man, I ought to have gotten that one”.
We like
Aces within the energy and dealing with division
Sensible, fashionable, highly effective infotainment
Effectively-appointed, spacious inside
We like much less
Steering just a little down on really feel
No Android Auto help
The competitors
Audi S6
Genesis G80
Mercedes-AMG E 53 Sedan
Volvo S90
Highway Exams and Opinions
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