08 550 LCI Test Drive
04-16-2007, 06:51 PM
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My Ride: 2008 Sapphire Black on Black M5 - loaded sans soft close doors
Originally Posted by JSpira' post='414091' date='Apr 15 2007, 09:36 PM
Well, I had the keys.
04-16-2007, 09:43 PM
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I drove the 550i sport today. It feels really nice. The suspention makes it feel very light and spry and the acceleration seems more responsive, maybe because of the noticeably improved shifting speed of the automatic. Just felt like a great ride, nice and athletic. The steering wheel is thicker, like the M5 but not as thick. In short, I love it. I already have a 550i sport carbon black on black on order and that's what I drove today. It looks amazing, the aero kit w/ the 19s is very distinctive. No spoiler and the exhaust protrudes further and is blackened chrome. The exhaust note does seem a bit sportier but the change isn't all that noticeable. The colorless headlights look sweet and the fender reflector isn't as bad as I thought it'd be - the look of the headlights more than justifies the reflector placement. Pictures don't do the exterior justice. For me, the interior was not that bad b/c it was black on black. I like the driver's side door better b/c my knee no longer rests on the corner of the old handle which was a little uncomfortable. The black plate under the shifter still bothers me. The iDrive screen seems to be higher resolution with different color tones - looks good. I'm psyched. I was looking at a used M5 vs the 550 sport and I think I made the right decision - the 550 looks a lot like the M5, feels great to drive with plenty of power and an engine with proven longevity, it's a much better everyday car and better gas mileage VS the M5, although a little sexier and more powerful, IMO isn't well suited for everyday driving (stop and go) and the automatic mode is just unacceptable for a car of that price. I might drive the 550 until I can get a low mileage F10 M5 if they fix the transmission - or maybe not- b/c the 550 is kick ass. I couldn't be happier with my choice. 5 weeks to go! awwwwwwwwwwww yeah.
The dealership had a B7 which looked amazing, but they wouldn't let me drive it - already sold for 125k sticker.
The dealership had a B7 which looked amazing, but they wouldn't let me drive it - already sold for 125k sticker.
04-16-2007, 10:30 PM
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Originally Posted by pharding' post='414112' date='Apr 16 2007, 04:45 AM
Maybe BMW decided that German engineers and car designers are too expensive and they wanted to try farming out design work to India. Or maybe the door design got worked out at Oktoberfest.
ABC
04-17-2007, 12:29 AM
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My Ride: 07' 530d - M-Sport - Titanium Silver / Black Dakota leather
08' 120i - M-Sport - Alpine White III / Black Sensatec
From a ergonomic point of view the new door hadles are better, maybe nor from a design ditto. The new door sides also gives imho a more premium feeling.
04-17-2007, 12:33 AM
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Originally Posted by ipp' post='414655' date='Apr 17 2007, 09:29 AM
From a ergonomic point of view the new door hadles are better, maybe nor from a design ditto. The new door sides also gives imho a more premium feeling.
ABC
04-17-2007, 12:54 AM
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My Ride: 07' 530d - M-Sport - Titanium Silver / Black Dakota leather
08' 120i - M-Sport - Alpine White III / Black Sensatec
Originally Posted by aybeesea' post='414657' date='Apr 17 2007, 10:33 AM
Grab the door storage just like a Ford Escort, eh?
ABC
ABC
04-17-2007, 01:22 AM
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Originally Posted by ipp' post='414658' date='Apr 17 2007, 09:54 AM
I was thinking a handle close to the hinge was heavier to operate, the old handle is quite close to the hinge. Not saying I'm having a problem with the old one though.
The new form is fugly IMHO.
ABC
04-17-2007, 04:05 AM
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My Ride: 520d saloon, manual 6 ratios, olivin metallic, star spoke 122 alloys, delete boot badge, bi-xenon adaptive headlights including washers, graduated tinted windscreen, exterior and interior mirror auto dimming plus electric folding door mirrors, extended light package, dakota beige leather, dark poplar wood, electric seat adjustment including memory function, heated front seats, advanced climate control, velour floor mats, sliding front armrest, lumbar support for front seats.
I guess when everyone has upgraded to the LCI all these thoughts will disappear as did the knockers of the original E60 design that seemed to shock so many people at first.
I still love my pre-LCI though, doors and all.....
I still love my pre-LCI though, doors and all.....
04-17-2007, 05:43 PM
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My Ride: 2006 BMW 550i "Ben Hogan's 5 Iron"
SilverGrey/Black Sport, L7, NAV, CW, AS, Split FR
2003 Audi A4 3.0 CVT "Part of the Moniker"
Silver/Ebony, Prem, CW, Star 17s
Originally Posted by pharding' post='414112' date='Apr 15 2007, 10:45 PM
I agree that the relationship between the wood on the new doors is totally unrelated to the wood on the dash. The gap between the dash and the doors is unbelievably bad and ill conceived. I am amazed at how bad it is. The e60 design was wonderful until they did this. A lot of US companies are farming out professionally services to India. Maybe BMW decided that German engineers and car designers are too expensive and they wanted to try farming out design work to India. Or maybe the door design got worked out at Oktoberfest. Or maybe the new BMW Delivery Center is costing so much money that they had to cut corners on the design budgets for the cars.
Generally BMW does things consistently very well. Maybe Chris Bangle was too busy with other projects to review the e60 LCI. Whomever was in charge of the refresh design should be fired. Technically the refresh is well done. The exterior of the car is well done. The interior of the car was just trashed. What they did was careless and sloppy. The previous doors were so much better. Hopefully that horrible shifter plate patch will go away and they will use the design in the photo in this thread. Maybe BMW has been so successful with the new designs that they just take us enthusiasts for granted and slop the stuff together.
One final possibility is that they may have decided to follow the example of Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors and they put the accountants in charge of final design decisions.
Generally BMW does things consistently very well. Maybe Chris Bangle was too busy with other projects to review the e60 LCI. Whomever was in charge of the refresh design should be fired. Technically the refresh is well done. The exterior of the car is well done. The interior of the car was just trashed. What they did was careless and sloppy. The previous doors were so much better. Hopefully that horrible shifter plate patch will go away and they will use the design in the photo in this thread. Maybe BMW has been so successful with the new designs that they just take us enthusiasts for granted and slop the stuff together.
One final possibility is that they may have decided to follow the example of Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors and they put the accountants in charge of final design decisions.
That said, the technical upgrades are impressive and these count the most. Thus, the new 5er is the best yet. IMHO, the car guys still rule at BMW. I'm just worried the Bangle bashers will make Bayerische Motoren Werke more timid on the styling front. That will suck. The early pics of the F10 look like sh&t. HEAR THAT BMW!!!!!!!!!!!!
CVT Benhogan
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