Motor Trend 550i review
#1
Thread Starter
Contributors
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,119
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, California, USA
My Ride: 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S Convertible. Midnight Blue, 6 Speed.Retired - 2007 997 Carrera S, Midnight Blue, Grey leather, premium audioRetired - 2007 550i, Monaco Blue over Beige, Navigation, Logic 7, Cold Weather Pack, Comfort Access, Sport Package
Model Year: 2008
#3
Btw, Jesus didn't invent yesterday, today and tomorrow. There may be a reference to him as regards the year 2010 AD but nothing to do with Jesus as regards yesterday and tomorrow. It's just a matter of the earth rotating around the sun.
#4
Senior Members
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Suburbs
My Ride: 2011 BMW 550i; Dark Graphite Metalliic/Oyster, 4.4 TT V8, 8-sp AT, Sports Package, Dynamic Handling, Premium Package 2, Cold Weather Package, HUD
Review says nothing new which hasn't been said before.
#6
Senior Members
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Suburbs
My Ride: 2011 BMW 550i; Dark Graphite Metalliic/Oyster, 4.4 TT V8, 8-sp AT, Sports Package, Dynamic Handling, Premium Package 2, Cold Weather Package, HUD
What's lackluster about it? They just said that the F10 emphasizes more luxury than sport compared to previous generations. Nothing wrong with that....unless your priority is sport. Besides, it's just one guy's opinion. (and he even indicated than the E60 is not as good as the E39).
Furthermore, you shouldn't base your purchasing decision based solely on what you read in magazines in the first place....you need to test-drive the car yourself and then make up your own mind.
BTW, here are reviews which are more "positive":
http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/conte...ating/series/5 Series/5 SERIES/5 Series/all/0/0/false/5 Series/all/all/5 SERIES
#7
Contributors
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,799
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
My Ride: F90 M5 Singapore Grey Executive package blacked out grill, body matched paint
Model Year: 2019
No your wrong he did, it was the first thing he did after he was ressurected. Lrn2invinttimemachine. Its not that hard
#8
I owned a 2003 E39 530i. IMHO it was a fine car with a rare combination of handling, performance and comfort.
I replaced the E39 with a 2010 E61 535i. My wagon is clearly faster, more comfortable and handles at least as well as the E39 and equals its fuel economy. The E39 did offer better steering feedback and felt better balanced to me, but this may be partly due to the comparison of a wagon to a sedan. I have fond memories of the E39 but do not regret the move to the E61. If the F11 was available in the US, particularly with a diesel engine, I likely would have purchased one instead of the E61. YMMV.
I replaced the E39 with a 2010 E61 535i. My wagon is clearly faster, more comfortable and handles at least as well as the E39 and equals its fuel economy. The E39 did offer better steering feedback and felt better balanced to me, but this may be partly due to the comparison of a wagon to a sedan. I have fond memories of the E39 but do not regret the move to the E61. If the F11 was available in the US, particularly with a diesel engine, I likely would have purchased one instead of the E61. YMMV.
#9
"All this high-tech spec overwhelms the sporting sedan spec. The gizmos hinder driver involvement, and what two generations ago was an appropriately luxurious sport sedan has become a 7/8ths-scale 7 Series, a full-on high-tech luxury sedan requiring too much time to find the sport."
'Nuff said.
'Nuff said.
#10
Senior Members
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,845
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, GA
My Ride: 2008 535i:
(8/07 Build) Metallic Bronze, Beige NASCA Leather, Ventilated Seats, Sport Pkg, Cold Wxr Pkg, Logic-7 Sound, HUD, Night Vision, PDC, Split Rear Seats, NAV, Premium Pkg, Comfort Access, HD Radio, Sport Auto Trans
Current mods: M-Aero Kit, JB4, Motorcepts 6000k HID Foglamps
Umnitza ICE-Lite 10w LED 6000k AE's
1992 Camaro RS:
Fully Restored w/Custom Interior, 5.0L V8, T-tops, OEM Z28 Foglamps, Inst Cluster, & Spoiler, Custom Sound, Too many engine mods to list
"....All this high-tech spec overwhelms the sporting sedan spec. The gizmos hinder driver involvement, and what two generations ago was an appropriately luxurious sport sedan has become a 7/8ths-scale 7 Series, a full-on high-tech luxury sedan requiring too much time to find the sport.
Our instrument testing occurred about the same time as we tested the new Audi A8 and the Jaguar XJL, cars that compete with the 7 and long wheelbase 7 Series, respectively. While the 400-horsepower BMW 550i's straight-line performance numbers are exemplary, the car is just 0.1 seconds quicker than the A8 and 0.1 seconds slower than the big, lightweight XJL on the Motor Trend figure eight.
Subjective driving feel bears this out. The 550i is quiet and smooth at quickly reached highway speeds, then feels too big and heavy to negotiate canyon roads with tight, fun corners......
I don't think I ever heard anybody who drove an E60 550i make a statement like that.
Our instrument testing occurred about the same time as we tested the new Audi A8 and the Jaguar XJL, cars that compete with the 7 and long wheelbase 7 Series, respectively. While the 400-horsepower BMW 550i's straight-line performance numbers are exemplary, the car is just 0.1 seconds quicker than the A8 and 0.1 seconds slower than the big, lightweight XJL on the Motor Trend figure eight.
Subjective driving feel bears this out. The 550i is quiet and smooth at quickly reached highway speeds, then feels too big and heavy to negotiate canyon roads with tight, fun corners......
I don't think I ever heard anybody who drove an E60 550i make a statement like that.