The test data for the 550i on the left are taken from a test produced by Auto Zeitung. The related article in on the BMW Germany website. The average test data on the right below are based on my 5 best adjusted passes. These values were produced in Phoenix AZ in February and March of 2006 at 1,600' using my Pro RR. They have been adjusted for weather and altitude from 1,600' to 500'. The test data on the right are from RT 7/06.

My arguments are based on what is "known" at this time via actual tests. And, of course, I can be accused of over generalizing. And, who knows about the quality of any of the tests? And, what about the noncomparabilities? And, what about ...? But, just for fun and to keep things interesting around here, my arguments are as follows.

My car keeps up with the Manual 550i tested in MT 7/06 and is faster than the Step 550i tested by Auto Zeitiung. And, the manual 550i is faster than the Step 550i since my car is faster than the Step. Thus, the fastest 545i, the Step, is as fast as the fastest 550i, the manual. Thus, the fastest 545i is as fast as the fastest 550i, and we can say a little loosely that the 545i is as fast as the 550i. We might even say that the Step 545i is faster than any 550i since my average is 13.4@106, while the best known 550i pass is 13.5@105.

.......................................Step....... .............Step.................Manual
.................................................. .........Best 5--Adjusted
0 to:...........0 to:...............550i..................Znod's Avg............550i
..............20.00m.............................. ...............99...................1.1
40k.........24.85m...............1.6.............. .........1.32
..............30.00m.............................. .............1.70...................1.8
60k.........37.28m...............2.8.............. .........2.54
..............40.00m.............................. .............2.80...................2.6
80k.........49.71m................4.1............. .........3.80
..............50.00m.............................. .............3.80...................3.9
..............60.00m.............................. .............4.90...................5.0
100k.......62.14m...............5.5............... ........5.36
..............70.00m.............................. .............6.60...................6.6
120k.......74.57m...............7.5............... ........7.28
..............80.00m.............................. .............8.10...................8.3
140k.......86.99m...............9.6............... ........9.30
..............90.00m.............................. .............9.90..................10.1
160k.......99.42m.............12.4................ ......11.95
.............100.00m.............................. ...........12.00..................12.1
..................1/4m.....................................13.4 @ 106..........13.5@105

Here are some of my unrounded data:

Adjusted for Weather and Altitude to 500'--Best Five Overall Tests:

..............................#1................#2 .............#3.............#4............#5...... ...Average
1/4 Speed...........104.646......105.098.....106.396.. ...106.518....106.110....105.747
1/4 Time...............13.483........13.497......13.37 0.......13.415......13.423.......13.438
1/8 Speed............82.785........83.057......83.838. ......83.912......83.828.......83.484
1/8 Time................8.766..........8.776........8. 687.........8.719........8.726.........8.735
0 to 100...............12.077........12.115......11.788 .......11.903......11.927.......11.962
0 to 60...................4.988..........5.004........4 .867........4.915........4.929.........4.941

(Altitude?1,600?; DS-mode; DSC/DTC off; Pro RR meter; 1? rollout; 91 octane; Tries for Minimal Wheel Spin using Minimal Brake Torquing)

 

I suspect that a 550 in the hands of an acceleration specialist such as your good self would turn in times that are better than you get with a 545. I strongly suspect that most 545 owners haven't got close to the times that you and grogan etc have produced and I also suspect that we have yet to see the best of the magazine times for the 550. Incidentally I'm not sure that all the mags tests are optimized for the fastest possible accleration. On the step, for example, I'm not sure that all the mags would brake torque - some claim to use more "real world" driving so their results more accurately mirror their readerships' skills and experiences.

Long story short is that on any reasonable apples to apples basis the 545 can't possibly be quite as quick as the 550 with a close to 10% power and torque shortfall but similar weight and equipment. I suspect the 550's tested so far haven't been pushed as hard as you push your 545, and I'm not aware of any 550 owners on here (yet) showing your level of dedication to the pursuit of 0-60 times

 

In theory you could of just put:

Fast: 550i Steptronic

Faster: 550i SMG

Fastest: 545i Steptronic

 

Sort of good points swaja. First, I only do modest brake torquing--actually trying for zero wheel spin. Driving a Step doesn't take a lot of skill. It's totally point and shoot provided one minimizes wheel spin. So, if the mags, are not particularly agressive, then that's good for 550i acceleration--even with a manual. Wheel spin seems to be anathma to acceleration for any 545i/550i.

Here is all I have been able to learn about the U.S. mag's test procedures. CD adjusts only for weather and goes from a 5 MPH roll. RT uses aggressive (probably more aggressive than one normally would use on the street), yet not abusive, test procedures, a 1' rollout, and makes no altitude/weather adjustments. MT adjusts only for weather and uses a 1' roll out.

Anyway, I have no reason to believe that MT would have been so aggresive that if produced way excessive wheel spin. And, I have to believe that the mags push the cars as hard as needed to get excellent results. For example, one doesn't get a 4 sec. 0-60 out of a 2002 Z06 without a darned hard push. There are many more cases where it is clear that the mags pushed darn hard--although probably not to the point of being abusive.

Superficially, the 550i should be faster even though it, by many, but not all, accounts picked up about 100 lbs. And, there are a variety of cases where a newer model with more cubes and more rated HP have under performed earlier models.

Thank you for playing.

 

I like it, but no 545i/550i SMG has been tested as far as I know. Realtyman got a 5.35 0 to 60 in his SMG 545i--measuring with his GT2.

 

And, some have meters, but have not posted any results. And, some with mods have meters and have not posted any results.

 

I think Znod's 545 has to be one of better ones off the production line... maybe it was a S85 prototype engine that they dumped in his car or a S62 engine with a N62 cover!

 

 

That would be me.

Just wait until July 30th. You will have data from 545s and 550s. We just need to find a place.

EBMCS03 hows the search going? Hollywood, Ice, bmw4life -- Guys, try finding us a place.

 

I really dont know of any... cant really tell online... Let me PM Black and see if he knows of any.