What's next for the 550i?
05-30-2007, 11:44 AM
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I know the 2008 model year has only just been released here in the U.S., but what will 2009 & 2010 (the final years for the E60) bring for the 550i?
We've all noted how the fantastic new 535i makes the 550i somewhat less appealing, so if sales of the 550i do slip, will BMW do anything about it? Well, here's two data points I recently found that may add up to something.
Will the 550i get more horsepower? Check out this post on Bimmerfest from a BMW sales rep. " ... after reading that in 2008 an '09 550i will come out with possibly a twin turbo V8, or just an increased HP V8 ..."
Will the 550i get a replacement for SMG? The news today is that the new M3 will get a DSG-like, seven-speed, double-clutch gearbox (called M DCT), starting in March, 2008.
A different version has been developed for the 5 series.
Put these two together ... I'm buying.
We've all noted how the fantastic new 535i makes the 550i somewhat less appealing, so if sales of the 550i do slip, will BMW do anything about it? Well, here's two data points I recently found that may add up to something.
Will the 550i get more horsepower? Check out this post on Bimmerfest from a BMW sales rep. " ... after reading that in 2008 an '09 550i will come out with possibly a twin turbo V8, or just an increased HP V8 ..."
Will the 550i get a replacement for SMG? The news today is that the new M3 will get a DSG-like, seven-speed, double-clutch gearbox (called M DCT), starting in March, 2008.
A different version has been developed for the 5 series. Put these two together ... I'm buying.
05-30-2007, 12:05 PM
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BMW develops their cars and engines all the time.
Since the production on the new N54 engine (535i) is still limited we Europeans can't buy the car.
The N54 engine is available for the E90-93 cars but not for the E60-64, yet.
OK, we have the new N53 family engines (523i, 525i and 530i) but also the old 540i V8.
The DSG will come soon, but notice that the new 6-speed auto trans is after the LCI update much
faster than the old one.
The stick shift is available as it was.
The environment needs new thinking, therefore the new gas and diesel engines are much less consuming.
But don't worry, for those who do not care a more powerfull M5 will be introduced next year and the V8's
will get more power and less consumtion, in the near future.
But when, keep your eyes wide open.
Since the production on the new N54 engine (535i) is still limited we Europeans can't buy the car.
The N54 engine is available for the E90-93 cars but not for the E60-64, yet.
OK, we have the new N53 family engines (523i, 525i and 530i) but also the old 540i V8.
The DSG will come soon, but notice that the new 6-speed auto trans is after the LCI update much
faster than the old one.
The stick shift is available as it was.
The environment needs new thinking, therefore the new gas and diesel engines are much less consuming.
But don't worry, for those who do not care a more powerfull M5 will be introduced next year and the V8's
will get more power and less consumtion, in the near future.
But when, keep your eyes wide open.
05-30-2007, 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Ricracing' post='429963' date='May 30 2007, 03:05 PM
... a more powerfull M5 will be introduced next year ...
05-30-2007, 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by tachyon' post='429957' date='May 30 2007, 12:44 PM
I know the 2008 model year has only just been released here in the U.S., but what will 2009 & 2010 (the final years for the E60) bring for the 550i?
We've all noted how the fantastic new 535i makes the 550i somewhat less appealing, so if sales of the 550i do slip, will BMW do anything about it? Well, here's two data points I recently found that may add up to something.
Will the 550i get more horsepower? Check out this post on Bimmerfest from a BMW sales rep. " ... after reading that in 2008 an '09 550i will come out with possibly a twin turbo V8, or just an increased HP V8 ..."
Will the 550i get a replacement for SMG? The news today is that the new M3 will get a DSG-like, seven-speed, double-clutch gearbox (called M DCT), starting in March, 2008. A different version has been developed for the 5 series.
Put these two together ... I'm buying.
We've all noted how the fantastic new 535i makes the 550i somewhat less appealing, so if sales of the 550i do slip, will BMW do anything about it? Well, here's two data points I recently found that may add up to something.
Will the 550i get more horsepower? Check out this post on Bimmerfest from a BMW sales rep. " ... after reading that in 2008 an '09 550i will come out with possibly a twin turbo V8, or just an increased HP V8 ..."
Will the 550i get a replacement for SMG? The news today is that the new M3 will get a DSG-like, seven-speed, double-clutch gearbox (called M DCT), starting in March, 2008.
A different version has been developed for the 5 series. Put these two together ... I'm buying.
05-30-2007, 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by tachyon' post='429971' date='May 30 2007, 11:30 PM
Are you saying that an E60 M5 will be released next year with more than 507HP?
05-30-2007, 06:14 PM
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My Ride: 2007 BMW 550, Sport, Navi, PS, CWP, Sirius
I wish they would put the upcoming 7-series V8 into 550 (the former rumored to have 400hp) but it is doubtful. Most probably they will continue selling the current underpowered V8 till 2010 with the help of various incentives to the point where 550 will be cheaper to buy/lease the 535.
05-30-2007, 06:38 PM
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Originally Posted by SergeyM' post='430085' date='May 30 2007, 10:14 PM
I wish they would put the upcoming 7-series V8 into 550 (the former rumored to have 400hp) but it is doubtful. Most probably they will continue selling the current underpowered V8 till 2010 with the help of various incentives to the point where 550 will be cheaper to buy/lease the 535.
05-30-2007, 09:27 PM
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My guess, which is as good as yours, would be a small tweak to bump the HP to around 380HP for 550i.
I have a feeling BMW wouldn't mind losing a little sales of 550i to 535i; if you look at the yearly sales, BMW will hit 50K plus unit for 5-series, more than the W221 Benz E-class. Forget Lexus GS and Infinity M on sales number.
The double clutch trans will be more risky than HP tweak, maybe on 2010 MY before the re-design to F-10.
I have a feeling BMW wouldn't mind losing a little sales of 550i to 535i; if you look at the yearly sales, BMW will hit 50K plus unit for 5-series, more than the W221 Benz E-class. Forget Lexus GS and Infinity M on sales number.
The double clutch trans will be more risky than HP tweak, maybe on 2010 MY before the re-design to F-10.
05-30-2007, 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by HPIA4v2' post='430150' date='May 31 2007, 01:27 AM
My guess, which is as good as yours, would be a small tweak to bump the HP to around 380HP for 550i.
I have a feeling BMW wouldn't mind losing a little sales of 550i to 535i; if you look at the yearly sales, BMW will hit 50K plus unit for 5-series, more than the W221 Benz E-class. Forget Lexus GS and Infinity M on sales number.
The double clutch trans will be more risky than HP tweak, maybe on 2010 MY before the re-design to F-10.
I have a feeling BMW wouldn't mind losing a little sales of 550i to 535i; if you look at the yearly sales, BMW will hit 50K plus unit for 5-series, more than the W221 Benz E-class. Forget Lexus GS and Infinity M on sales number.
The double clutch trans will be more risky than HP tweak, maybe on 2010 MY before the re-design to F-10.
05-31-2007, 04:05 AM
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Originally Posted by SergeyM' post='430154' date='May 31 2007, 12:46 AM
Agree. BTW last time around BMW did almost exactly that. In 2002 they introduced a new V8 for 7-series (745) whereas 5-series only got a small bump in power from 282hp to 290hp (US).