[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by JNW1

Indeed - just a pity a lot of the components they were sharing across their various marques were pretty woeful even by the standards of the 1970's! And on the odd occasion the components themselves were decent you could be almost certain the finished product would be compromised by shoddy assembly - good old BL!

Indeed..... a bunch of crap designs with crap parts put together crappily.... occasionally a great design but the other bits were still crap.

There is definitely a reason why I like nice cars and I am sure some of it is the sh1t my dad used to buy!

[Sennen]

Originally Posted by 2CRO4TV

This is my dream next car but the numbers are just a bit too much for me on a HP purchase (not a PCP fan). Hoping to make a switch in about 18 months when hopefully the numbers are more realistic.

I reckon if you could 'nick' one for low 50's in 18 months it would be worth a punt.

[g9icy]

M5's are juuuuuust beginning to drop below £50k. Or hovering around it anyway.

I imagine the running costs between an M5 and M550i aren't that different?

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by g9icy

M5's are juuuuuust beginning to drop below £50k. Or hovering around it anyway.

I imagine the running costs between an M5 and M550i aren't that different?

I've never run a M, but I would highly doubt that last sentence. I'd imagine that most consumables on a M550i would be largely similar in cost to a 530d; but not so for a M5.

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

I've never run a M, but I would highly doubt that last sentence. I'd imagine that most consumables on a M550i would be largely similar in cost to a 530d; but not so for a M5.

starting with the M tax - otherwise known as the running in service which at full price is £700. Does the 550i need one of those....?

Fuel consumption wont be massively different.... I imagine depreciation could be a bit less, just because it starts at a lower price, the percent will probably be about the same or more.....

so I dont see it costing as much!

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

I've never run a M, but I would highly doubt that last sentence. I'd imagine that most consumables on a M550i would be largely similar in cost to a 530d; but not so for a M5.

I think the M550i sits in a very odd place in the range, 72k base price but comes with dakota leather and has a base spec like a 520d, to get to the spec up to where you'd expect it's another 15k so you have an 87k car with 12k discount and a circa 23k residual meaning it makes no sense to PCP or lease.

If paying cash then 80k gets you a pre reg/low miles LCI M5 which is always going to hold its value better so why would you get the M550i.

Running costs would be more than a 30d but probably a bit less than the M5, my M5 wasn't that bad though apart from the petrol and depreciation.

I think the 550i is a nice car but for me very expensive once you spec it.

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by Wills2

I think the M550i sits in a very odd place in the range, 72k base price but comes with dakota leather and has a base spec like a 520d, to get to the spec up to where you'd expect it's another 15k so you have an 87k car with 12k discount and a circa 23k residual meaning it makes no sense to PCP or lease.

If paying cash then 80k gets you a pre reg/low miles LCI M5 which is always going to hold its value better so why would you get the M550i.

Running costs would be more than a 30d but probably a bit less than the M5, my M5 wasn't that bad though apart from the petrol and depreciation.

I think the 550i is a nice car but for me very expensive once you spec it.

All fair points, I was being a bit literal and talking pure running costs like service, brakes, tyres, not the depreciation side. With numbers like you say, indeed why would you get a M550i. Dakota at that price level is a bit scary!

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by Wills2

I think the M550i sits in a very odd place in the range, 72k base price but comes with dakota leather and has a base spec like a 520d, to get to the spec up to where you'd expect it's another 15k so you have an 87k car with 12k discount and a circa 23k residual meaning it makes no sense to PCP or lease.

If paying cash then 80k gets you a pre reg/low miles LCI M5 which is always going to hold its value better so why would you get the M550i.

Running costs would be more than a 30d but probably a bit less than the M5, my M5 wasn't that bad though apart from the petrol and depreciation.

I think the 550i is a nice car but for me very expensive once you spec it.

I hadnt realised that the spec was so rubbish, I mean an M340i isnt the same as a 320d so why would a 5 series not follow same....?

Dakota wouldnt really bother me, it wears well and didnt notice that the leather in my M5 was as nice as that in my Audi....

And I'd always trade some gadgets for a better engine so to me its how much more than a 540i is a 550i.. especially if they did a Touring!

[TouringPleb]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

starting with the M tax - otherwise known as the running in service which at full price is £700. Does the 550i need one of those....?

Fuel consumption wont be massively different.... I imagine depreciation could be a bit less, just because it starts at a lower price, the percent will probably be about the same or more.....

so I dont see it costing as much!

I didn't realise the running in service on M models was chargeable. It used to be free.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

I hadnt realised that the spec was so rubbish, I mean an M340i isnt the same as a 320d so why would a 5 series not follow same....?

Dakota wouldnt really bother me, it wears well and didnt notice that the leather in my M5 was as nice as that in my Audi....

And I'd always trade some gadgets for a better engine so to me its how much more than a 540i is a 550i.. especially if they did a Touring!

The option packs tech/comfort/laser lights/fancy suspension/nappa leather comfort seats are all extras, most BMWs models have a pretty similar option spec regardless of the engine (it's always been that way), you don't get better leather for choosing the 550i over 520d you don't the tech pack included or a sunroof they want nearly 4k for the fancy suspension etc...that's the point.

A better engine? Yeah so as I said get the M5 better engine, better value...

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by TouringPleb

I didn't realise the running in service on M models was chargeable. It used to be free.

Hasn't been free for years

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

All fair points, I was being a bit literal and talking pure running costs like service, brakes, tyres, not the depreciation side. With numbers like you say, indeed why would you get a M550i. Dakota at that price level is a bit scary!

Servicing/brakes and tyres aren't really a running cost factor when you're bleeding £1000 a month.

On the 6 M cars I've had the running costs have always been pretty good in terms of servicing/tyres/brakes and I did 90k in my F80 M3 so it's not like I was doing 5k per year, the tyres on the M3 were no more than the tyres on my 740 as an example and lasted 20k miles.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Wills2

The option packs tech/comfort/laser lights/fancy suspension/nappa leather comfort seats are all extras, most BMWs models have a pretty similar option spec regardless of the engine (it's always been that way), you don't get better leather for choosing the 550i over 520d you don't the tech pack included or a sunroof they want nearly 4k for the fancy suspension etc...that's the point.

A better engine? Yeah so as I said get the M5 better engine, better value...

That's a big problem for BMW, speccing the car with the right options and particularly as the V8 5-series have always dropped like a stone in the UK. Making it a very high depreciation model.

Cars like the E60/61 545i models were not big sellers, I remember my dealer trying to get me to take a new E61 545i, (after my E39 540i) when BMW off loaded one on them, up in Perth, where 'no one' was buying a V8 petrol, outside of M-cars. Dread to think what they had to do, to get rid of it.

I'm surprised BMW are even trying to sell the M550i in the UK, after poor sales of previous V8 5-series models. Must be hopeful speculation on a very limited model.

[KRS_SN]

dropping a great engine into a car with an average suspension. Is anyone other than bmw partaking in this sin.

[TouringPleb]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

That's a big problem for BMW, speccing the car with the right options and particularly as the V8 5-series have always dropped like a stone in the UK. Making it a very high depreciation model.

Cars like the E60/61 545i models were not big sellers, I remember my dealer trying to get me to take a new E61 545i, (after my E39 540i) when BMW off loaded one on them, up in Perth, where 'no one' was buying a V8 petrol, outside of M-cars. Dread to think what they had to do, to get rid of it.

I'm surprised BMW are even trying to sell the M550i in the UK, after poor sales of previous V8 5-series models. Must be hopeful speculation on a very limited model.

Maybe they thought with the general switch from diesel to petrol there might be a market for it again? Especially with no 540d and a big gap between 540i and M5.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

dropping a great engine into a car with an average suspension. Is anyone other than bmw partaking in this sin.

You have suspension options (at cost), not available on other models, "Adaptive M Suspension" (M550i sits 10mm lower than the normal M-sports). Plus the "M Dynamic Professional" suspension option, with additional active roll bars and rear wheel steering.

"Professional" will shrink the car and make it a much more capable machine.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by TouringPleb

Maybe they thought with the general switch from diesel to petrol there might be a market for it again? Especially with no 540d and a big gap between 540i and M5.

I guess so. We hear a few on here saying they'd take a touring, but tourings sold even less with the big petrol's. I see tourings as an even smaller niche market, hardly worth a RHD model with the additional type approvals. BMW dropped the F11 550i touring in the UK very quickly, due to such a small take up.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Wills2

I think the M550i sits in a very odd place in the range, 72k base price but comes with dakota leather and has a base spec like a 520d, to get to the spec up to where you'd expect it's another 15k so you have an 87k car with 12k discount and a circa 23k residual meaning it makes no sense to PCP or lease.

If paying cash then 80k gets you a pre reg/low miles LCI M5 which is always going to hold its value better so why would you get the M550i.

Running costs would be more than a 30d but probably a bit less than the M5, my M5 wasn't that bad though apart from the petrol and depreciation.

I think the 550i is a nice car but for me very expensive once you spec it.

Exactly this.

[KRS_SN]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

You have suspension options (at cost), not available on other models, "Adaptive M Suspension" (M550i sits 10mm lower than the normal M-sports). Plus the "M Dynamic Professional" suspension option, with additional active roll bars and rear wheel steering.

"Professional" will shrink the car and make it a much more capable machine.

useful information about the m dynamic professional. Sounds perfect.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I guess so. We hear a few on here saying they'd take a touring, but tourings sold even less with the big petrol's. I see tourings as an even smaller niche market, hardly worth a RHD model with the additional type approvals. BMW dropped the F11 550i touring in the UK very quickly, due to such a small take up.

I would suspect things have changed a little now though, as when you look at Alpina they seem to sell more B5 and B3 tourings than saloons. A 550 touring makes sense when the M5 is only available as saloon, and when many performance saloon buyers are now going electric with the Taycan et al.

But completely agree that depreciation is likely to be ruinous, so it's a car that looks ideal if it can be picked up at 3 years as a AUC.

[CajunBMW]

I will be curious to see how the m550 sells in the US, but I think we basically have 5 rough models types for the 5 series. 530, 530e, 540, M550, and the various M's. So the M550 does provide those looking for an 8 cylinder sedan, but not an M, a choice. I agree as pointed out above that whether it makes sense or not is another story. But I'm thinking there is some like a $25k difference in base price between the M550 and base M5. Some of the American car magazines have called it a great highway cruiser as it has an avian dance of power and is a super smooth vehicle. Probably true, but in all things is it better than a loaded 540? But it will be interesting to see how it sells. After reading this thread I went to the bmw website and looked at the m550's after loading it up, it is a nice car. But….does that make it worth it?

[TouringPleb]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I would suspect things have changed a little now though, as when you look at Alpina they seem to sell more B5 and B3 tourings than saloons. A 550 touring makes sense when the M5 is only available as saloon, and when many performance saloon buyers are now going electric with the Taycan et al.

But completely agree that depreciation is likely to be ruinous, so it's a car that looks ideal if it can be picked up at 3 years as a AUC.

The problem is those of us who'd happily take a M550i Touring can't afford them!