There is an article referenced on autospies this week: http://www.autospies.com/news/BMW-550i-vs-...500-E550-28618/

The 550i finished 3rd overall and, this is the clincher: 2nd to Jag in driving dynamics!!!

I thought the exact same thing that you will when you see the article.....Why didn't they test the 550i sport?

I have driven 530i/xi, 535i, pre-LCI 550 sport and LCI 550 sport. I have never driven a non sport 550. In fact I don't think I've ever seen one on the road!!!! Its kind of a pointless offering. The 6s are strong enough. The only need for the 550 is to have a performance machine...which requires stiffer suspension, big wheels and tires, sport seats etc, etc... Althoug I've never driven a 550 non-sport, I can say that an LCI 550 sport is a totally completely different animal than all other 5 series cars period! The 30 series rubber and M-sport suspension really transform the car considerably.

IN FACT, HAS ANYONE EVER SEEN AN LCI 550 SPORT IN A MAGAZINE COMPARISON TEST??? EVER??? It would smoke everything! They would have to use smelling salts to wake up the drivers of the competing cars! Seriously, can anyone refer me to an article, foreign or domestic, that pits an LCI 550 sport against other "saloons"? The last time Road & Track or Car & Driver featured a 550i sport, they were pre-LCI cars with heavy runflat 18 inch tires/wheels, non-sport transmission without paddle shifting, and significantly less sporty suspension and exhaust tuning.

Bitter party of one here...I know. I shelled out a lot of clams to get my 07' 550i sport to 08' specs (LCI sport exhaust, shocks, springs, bump stops, wheels & tires, M bodykit) It was a huge expense, but it made a world of difference. Now I want to see a proper 08' 550i sport vaporize a Merc. E550 and the new Jag in a comparison test!!! Its my right isn't it?

DRP

And yet one of the US magazines tested a non sport 545i against its key German and Japanese competitors a couple of years ago and the 545 won with significant praise for its ride and handling. It's by no means certain that the M-Sport would have made a difference - some wouldn't buy a car without it, some find it harsh. This was a European test from a respected German magazine and the result is what it is. As much as I like the 550i, other tests are showing that the E550 is quicker, and the Jaguar is getting a lot of praise for being a great handling car. At the end of the day the E60 is into its 5th model year and now other, newer cars are getting praise. What's the big deal? The F10 will be a better car than the E60, just as the E60 was better than the E39.

The Pontiac is getting great reviews against the 550i as well. The point that always need to be made is that the BMW is always that sports sedan that measure everythint against. At least for me there is not a car that combines that luxury and performance you get from the BMW.

As soon as they said that the comfort seats improved comfort "somewhat" I knew this article was a crock. There is absolutely no way you can compare anything else and say that it's more comfortable, adjustable or supportive.

I believe Motor Trend tested an '07 550i sport. I recall it finished first or second. They were enthralled with the E550's 5.5 liter 385hp motor but the 550i won everything else.

I think it was Car & Driver - tested the 550i, E550, M45 and GS450h. It was the M45 that took the test. 550i was a close 2nd and the E550 came in 3rd.

That's right. I remember now. The 550i was better than the M45 and significantly out-performed it but the price advantage and no iDrive won it for the M45. I don't understand why journalists hate the iDrive. I tried using the M45 controller at a car show. You'd absolutely wreck trying to use it on the road.

A jag over the 550i HAHAHAHAHA No F'n Way

Obvioulsy they didn't consider depreciation. That jag will be worthless (almost) in three years.

I'm surprised you haven't gotten any hate mail in response to that last comment. Many a BMW owner praise allegedly "superior build quality" in the the E39. I'd have to agree that my 550 has a few too many rattles and squeaks. In total I respectfully disagree with your assessment. I believe that by every means certain, an M sport would have made an incredible difference. The M sport and standard cars are very dissimilar in personality, much more so than a base 997 carrera and an S w/PASM and sport exhaust, IMHO. Automotive journalists seem by and large to be real enthusiasts, placing a lower priority on ride quality than handling, i.e. The 550i sport is a comfortable car but its handling with the hydraulic anti roll bar and sticky big summer tires is a big improvement over a standard 5. Combined with a sport tuned transmission and nice exhaust note (both of which the standard car lacks), the 550 sport leaves a much different impression. This response was merely to address your "What's the bid deal?" question. The big deal to me is that BMW has a recipe for success. It doesn't get old or deteriorate with time. Power goes up and acceleration times go down, but the souls of these cars remain the same. Merc=effortless low rpm grunt and drives like the Titanic, Jag is for the sybarites, always posh with a touch of good handling; Lexus is an overachiever with no personality, and Audi has the broadest appeal, but seemingly excels in no one category. Anyway, to an auto journalist, a 5 series should always offer the best handling dynamics in a sedan comparison, save for maybe a Quattroporte. That, to me, is a big deal.

Happy motoring

DRP

OK. Now the Jag XF has taken on the 550i Sport (in addition to the Audi A6 4.2 and MB E550) - and it still wins.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...7/pageId=138539