Cyclist

Hello,

I too am waiting for the 550 after almost buying a 545 4-days ago (not knowing about the 550 till Saturday)

this will be my first BMW

I hear the 550 will have a ventilated/air condintioned? seat as an option as well as comfort access.

Will anything else be different? I'd be curious what people here have heard.

Thanks

ULtraPLanet

Welcome to the board! And...... it would depend on your location (country) as to what options will be available to you. Let us know.

Merzbow

Saturday - lol - me too. On Friday my guy had located a white 545i coming right off the boat in LA with the options I wanted, I almost said yes right then but said I'd better think about it over the weekend. Saturday morning I stumble across the BMW Internet boards and read about the 550i. I feel sorry for the average car buyer who's clueless enough never to do any research about one of the biggest purchases of his life.

Cyclist

Hi Ultra

Boston area

Cyclist

Saturday - lol - me too. On Friday my guy had located a white 545i coming right off the boat in LA with the options I wanted, I almost said yes right then but said I'd better think about it over the weekend. Saturday morning I stumble across the BMW Internet boards and read about the 550i. I feel sorry for the average car buyer who's clueless enough never to do any research about one of the biggest purchases of his life.
[/quote]


Well it is expensive but I sure hope it's not one of the most expensive purchases in my life


I was lucky, they didn't have the color / options combo I wanted but they had one they could build for me in 8 weeks

Iceman

Welcome aboard, Cyclist !



Ventilated seats are allready available in the US. They are a priority one option.

CVTBenhogan

Hi all,

Been away from the board for awhile, but I'm back. Seems like 550 vs 545 debate is gathering steam. I'm doing ED this year and now the clock is ticking on either 550 or 545. What do you guys think?


550 Pros

Faster and slightly lighter (0-60 in 5.0 flat assuming the recent 750 test results)
Further refinement and less electronics glitches
Better option packages -order AS separately, get intelligent key
Less depreciation - a 05 545 will have a big value drop in the fall
Cost will be similar because of the competition from Infinity and Lexus


550 Cons

Performance only marginally better
Much higher lease rates
Higher price
Potential new alloys (current ones look great)
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
C'omn is 30 hp really worth it?


Just my three cents

CVT Benhogan

stream

Hi all,

Been away from the board for awhile, but I'm back. Seems like 550 vs 545 debate is gathering steam. I'm doing ED this year and now the clock is ticking on either 550 or 545. What do you guys think?


550 Pros

Faster and slightly lighter (0-60 in 5.0 flat assuming the recent 750 test results)
Further refinement and less electronics glitches
Better option packages -order AS separately, get intelligent key
Less depreciation - a 05 545 will have a big value drop in the fall
Cost will be similar because of the competition from Infinity and Lexus


550 Cons

Performance only marginally better
Much higher lease rates
Higher price
Potential new alloys (current ones look great)
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
C'omn is 30 hp really worth it?


Just my three cents

CVT Benhogan
[/quote]


I can't see how the 550i will do 0 - 60 MPH in 5.0 secs. We discussed the 0 - 60 times a while back in another thread, and given that the 545i is 5.7 secs (5.8 w/ step), and BMW is quoting the 750i 0.1 sec faster than the 745i, I don't see how the 550i would be 0.7 - 0.8 sec faster than the 545i. Am I missing something?

Merzbow

Hi all,

Been away from the board for awhile, but I'm back. Seems like 550 vs 545 debate is gathering steam. I'm doing ED this year and now the clock is ticking on either 550 or 545. What do you guys think?


550 Pros

Faster and slightly lighter (0-60 in 5.0 flat assuming the recent 750 test results)
Further refinement and less electronics glitches
Better option packages -order AS separately, get intelligent key
Less depreciation - a 05 545 will have a big value drop in the fall
Cost will be similar because of the competition from Infinity and Lexus


550 Cons

Performance only marginally better
Much higher lease rates
Higher price
Potential new alloys (current ones look great)
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
C'omn is 30 hp really worth it?


Just my three cents

CVT Benhogan
[/quote]


I can't see how the 550i will do 0 - 60 MPH in 5.0 secs. We discussed the 0 - 60 times a while back in another thread, and given that the 545i is 5.7 secs (5.8 w/ step), and BMW is quoting the 750i 0.1 sec faster than the 745i, I don't see how the 550i would be 0.7 - 0.8 sec faster than the 545i. Am I missing something?
[/quote]

Essentially a 10% increase in power should result in the square root of 10% increase in acceleration, right? So 3%. It seems most road tests have measured the 545i at around 5.5 to 60 (5.8 is too high). Minus 3% brings us to around 5.3. Not a huge deal, but not insignificant either.

Cyclist

Hi all,

Been away from the board for awhile, but I'm back. Seems like 550 vs 545 debate is gathering steam. I'm doing ED this year and now the clock is ticking on either 550 or 545. What do you guys think?


550 Pros

Faster and slightly lighter (0-60 in 5.0 flat assuming the recent 750 test results)
Further refinement and less electronics glitches
Better option packages -order AS separately, get intelligent key
Less depreciation - a 05 545 will have a big value drop in the fall
Cost will be similar because of the competition from Infinity and Lexus


550 Cons

Performance only marginally better
Much higher lease rates
Higher price
Potential new alloys (current ones look great)
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
C'omn is 30 hp really worth it?


Just my three cents

CVT Benhogan
[/quote]


I can't see how the 550i will do 0 - 60 MPH in 5.0 secs. We discussed the 0 - 60 times a while back in another thread, and given that the 545i is 5.7 secs (5.8 w/ step), and BMW is quoting the 750i 0.1 sec faster than the 745i, I don't see how the 550i would be 0.7 - 0.8 sec faster than the 545i. Am I missing something?
[/quote]

Essentially a 10% increase in power should result in the square root of 10% increase in acceleration, right? So 3%. It seems most road tests have measured the 545i at around 5.5 to 60 (5.8 is too high). Minus 3% brings us to around 5.3. Not a huge deal, but not insignificant either.
[/quote]

I think you guys should start measuring to the nearest 1/100th of a second.