I sure hope we're not going to re-hash your initial test drive experience again two months later.... I think you should just buy the 528 MT or even a 525d, it appears you'll be happier based on our perceptions, tastes and dislikes of the 550i. Good luck!

Cal

 

If I didn't know better I would think this guy is RWB messing with us. Did you remove the floor mats...make a huge difference on the 550.

 

WOW !! I just drove a 525 ! what a difference ! it felt really light and super fast............................

 

528 vs 550 .

Good thing it's not 545, or Alex would be .

 

Hey....I went from an M5 to a 550i , and I still think the 550i has some good power. The low-end torque is a breath of fresh air compared to the M5. And like one member said, you can still get up to higher speeds just by leaving it in 6th on the highway, unlike the M5, which needed a good kickdown to at least 4th or 5th (SMG) to get it going.

I test drove mine 3 times before I got it, and all 3 times I had a different opinion about the stick as to whether I'd like it or not as a daily drive. The first time I hated it, same for the second. Finally on the 3rd try I got it out on some windy country roads and had a great time. I was loving the car by the end of drive....like it was a totally different car compared to the first 2 crappy test drives.

Of course it's no M5, but I knew that going in. It serves my needs, and if you NEED to go like a bat out of hell, then look elsewhere....look M.

Now where do I get a fix for that CDV issue? And I think I need a SB too.

 

There is one other aspect of the 550 that some might attribute to "sluggish" accereration, which is how quiet the car is when applying WOT. Most of us assume that when launching cars more noise seems to go hand in handwith a faster car, making it seem like the 550i is not doing the job, when in fact it is. I have found it somewhat amusing when you let someone drive the car under WOT and they begin to complain about it not beeing fast enough, or expressing dissappointment until they look at the speedo. The interior DB rating on the 550i is almost 15 db less(+/- 2.7 db Depending on atmosphere and temp0 than my 911 turbo, In the end, the Turbo is indeed over 1.5 seconds faster than the 550i, but it sounds like your in an F-16 in full afterburner.

 

Good - I think this also shows the 525 is a sweet-spot for petrol heads who want power but not silly CO2/mpg figures :-)

 

or maybe he expected the performance of a ferrari

 

Probably a good idea with any E60 SAT test drive. The last driver might have been a little old lady who only drove it to her Thursday nite Bingo game.

BTW, this thread is amongst the most interesting and infoming I have seen on the forum. Thanks to all who have chipped in.

Back in the late 50s I got to tool around a bit in a 300SL Gullwing. As I recall it had a 3 liter inline six with a Bosch mechanical FI (ax 220BHP) and a 4 speed MT. Seems like you would not feel the Gs until you got up to maybe 3500revs in 2nd gear. Then it was like getting hit in the ass with a plank.

Obviously a SB wouldn't "fit" but I think the throttle linkage was pretty tight.

 

There must be something wrong with the car you tested.... many of my friends have 525s and when they tried the 550, they were all shockingly surprised with the car agility.... it is impossible to feel the 550 heavy when you are used to a 525