Chime in if you’ve driven an M550i

[PJ M4]

I currently have an F80 M3 which I am trying to transfer out of the lease so I can try and get a bit of a better deal on the lease pricing and a more comfortable car. Have any of you guys driven an M550? I know it's not a full-fledged M car but I have never tracked my M3 and would like a better daily driver especially with kids in the near future. Any feedback would be great

[ZoneLaps]

I haven't driven it, but two pluses are AWD and the fact that you can get a decent stereo system.

[Jaymax85]

Originally Posted by PJ M4

I currently have an F80 M3 which I am trying to transfer out of the lease so I can try and get a bit of a better deal on the lease pricing and a more comfortable car. Have any of you guys driven an M550? I know it's not a full-fledged M car but I have never tracked my M3 and would like a better daily driver especially with kids in the near future. Any feedback would be great

X5m, do it

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by PJ M4

I currently have an F80 M3 which I am trying to transfer out of the lease so I can try and get a bit of a better deal on the lease pricing and a more comfortable car. Have any of you guys driven an M550? I know it's not a full-fledged M car but I have never tracked my M3 and would like a better daily driver especially with kids in the near future. Any feedback would be great

Didn't drive it but it has

a) X-Drive for better traction
b) better interior quality
c) better sound system if you go with the Bangs & Olufsen
d) the possibility to add rear entertainment package for the kids to have screens and play their own movies/media
5) more spacious

For a family guy who doesn't track his car, it's more suited toward you.

If you can afford it and still wanna be in the M family, then consider the M5

[PJ M4]

Would love an M5 but it's out of my price range at the moment considering I have a lot of new expenses coming my way in the next three years. I know there frugal options for a car but I would still like to have something relatively quick and luxurious while staying with BMW. From the research, I've done there are not too many great lease deals with other brands for a car that comes close to an M3 or M550. I'm not sure if it's wishful thinking but I think I can stay under $900 pretty easily on an M550 that isn't fully loaded (don't need every option anyways). I've seen some marked down a bit on some dealers websites and that's without any negotiating. Plus, should I be able to unload my lease I'll get money back from all the parts on my M3 so seems like a no-brainer to me.

[dkhm3]

Originally Posted by isaywhateveryo

I haven't driven it, but two pluses are AWD and the fact that you can get a decent stereo system.

awd is not a plus

[CanAutM3]

M550 will be a better DD than an M3. No question here.

[PJ M4]

Originally Posted by dkhm3

awd is not a plus

Lol, you know I actually wouldn't mind being able to put the power down all the time. I've driven some AWD cars and not all are bad.

[uniqueMR]

Check this out:

Gives you really good input on 550i

[F83]

Originally Posted by PJ M4

I currently have an F80 M3 which I am trying to transfer out of the lease so I can try and get a bit of a better deal on the lease pricing and a more comfortable car. Have any of you guys driven an M550? I know it's not a full-fledged M car but I have never tracked my M3 and would like a better daily driver especially with kids in the near future. Any feedback would be great

I have driven it. As others have said;

- Bigger (obviously)
- More luxurious.
- Faster (slightly)
- All wheel drive
- Quieter. Engine, exhaust, wind, etc
- Softer. Smoother ride. Nice handling but definitely softer.

If you want something that is still fast but has more comfort and luxury - it's a good choice.

[Golfster]

V8

[Msane]

It’s fast off the line but feels like a tank compared to f8x. It’s definitely more practical but is missing something to make it put a smile on my face.

I test drove both and went with an M and awd beater.

[blschaefer1]

If shopping in this class, consider looking at the Audi S6 as well. I have one in the garage currently. Simply an excellent all rounder. The V8 is glorious. Dual clutch works very well. Car is fast, particularly in dynamic mode. Very tunable as well (though not my thing). Smaller than M550, and I prefer the styling.

Dealers are apt to discount as well, not so much on M550's at least when I shopping.

[///M4ster Yoda]

Originally Posted by dkhm3

awd is not a plus

Was thinking the same thing.

OP. I see these questions posed all the time and no one can answer it but you. Personally I think the 5 series and beyond are Land Yachts and would never consider one (including the M5). They are just way to big for my liking. Honestly the F8x is on the cusp of being to big IMO.

Having now owned an ///M car I can never go "backwards" to a plebeian offering. I begrudgingly drive the wife's 340 occasionally and the same thoughts always go through my mind. This thing is ok for her but it just doesn't do it for me.

I'm gonna get flamed for this but the 5 series and up are grandpa cars

[PJ M4]

Originally Posted by ///M4ster Yoda

Was thinking the same thing.

OP. I see these questions posed all the time and no one can answer it but you. Personally I think the 5 series and beyond are Land Yachts and would never consider one (including the M5). They are just way to big for my liking. Honestly the F8x is on the cusp of being to big IMO.

Having now owned an ///M car I can never go "backwards" to a plebeian offering. I begrudgingly drive the wife's 340 occasionally and the same thoughts always go through my mind. This thing is ok for her but it just doesn't do it for me.

I'm gonna get flamed for this but the 5 series and up are grandpa cars

I can see where you're coming from in saying they are "grandpa" cars. I am by no means old, only 26, but as I have just begun to prioritize certain things. I put a lot of money into modding my car and I really do love it but I can't shake the feeling of driving ti sometimes and feeling like its a waste of money. It isn't terribly comfortable, not as spacious for when kids come along, and to be honest I pay $945 a month for a car which I barely use half of its potential. I think I could either move down a class and save some money or move to a car that fits the bill as a daily driver more.

How likely would it be for BMW to take my leased car off my hand if I traded it in on an M550? Am I dreaming or are my only options transferring the lease, waiting or getting the payoff on a sale.

[breakfastlinks]

I’ve driven one for an extended period.
If you want to be comfortable all drive long but once in a while do some massive straight line pulls, while having all the comfort and luxury that our M cars don’t have, this is for you. I tried all the tech and it’s insane how everything’s evolved since. I didn’t think I’d use the gestures but they work great and actually more comfortable than using buttons. Seats massage me while I drive, semi autonomous drive for traffic jams, perspective view camera works pretty great but trippy at first. My M4 feels a lot more raw and angry and it’s really just a totally different car. Fast and comfortable sedan go for it. Raw drive feel, keep the M. If you can tolerate SUVs then X5M. I’m actually switching over to one in donnington grey.

[FriskyDingo]

Got a drive in one recently. I liked it more than I thought it would. In town it felt super quick, rode well, has a much improved interior, and was generally a nice place to be. Would be a great daily or long-distance car.

[ClothSeats]

I liked the M3 more but if you want something bigger and more comfortable a 550 is the obvious choice. Try to get one with the leather dash and instead of the Sensatec.

[///M4ster Yoda]

Originally Posted by PJ M4

I can see where you're coming from in saying they are "grandpa" cars. I am by no means old, only 26, but as I have just begun to prioritize certain things. I put a lot of money into modding my car and I really do love it but I can't shake the feeling of driving ti sometimes and feeling like its a waste of money. It isn't terribly comfortable, not as spacious for when kids come along, and to be honest I pay $945 a month for a car which I barely use half of its potential. I think I could either move down a class and save some money or move to a car that fits the bill as a daily driver more.

How likely would it be for BMW to take my leased car off my hand if I traded it in on an M550? Am I dreaming or are my only options transferring the lease, waiting or getting the payoff on a sale.

The only way to get out of a lease early would be to have someone assume it for you. I don't think BMW is in the business of "forgiving" leases to get people in other cars.

Look. We all "waste" money on these cars. All of us on this forum could get around in a $15,000 Hyundai but we choose not to. I have my reasons like everyone else. For me I feel you only live once and if I'm going to spend a lot of time in a car it's going to be one that I enjoy driving.

There are two kinds of people IMO. People who love cars and people who consider cars to be an appliance. Which one are you?

[REDEV217342]

I don't have to drive it. This and the M5 are about as boring a design I have seen from BMW in quite some time. No thanks.

[FlyLikeEagle]

I wasn't sure what kind of car I wanted, so I test drove both the M3 and M550i before choosing the M3. If you want driver engagement and connection with the driving experience, then the M3 is the better choice. It's like a true sports car in sedan format. If you want softer luxury, but with monster acceleration below 80MPH, and the traction benefits of awd, then the M550i is the one. But it's nowhere near as much fun to drive. They really are two different experiences, and a quick drive in each will let you know immediately the right choice for you.

[RobbyMack]

I was torn between an f10 550 and the f80. Had I been doing a lot of commuting at the time I probably would have chosen the 550. It's a nice place to be but no where as fun as the f80. There are days when my back is sore from doing something stupid around the house (like laying tile a week ago) where I think, yeah should have gotten the 550. Then their are perfect days like today blasting around the bends to my sons tennis practice all the while he's hooting and hollering in the back to go faster.