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Old 10-21-2020, 08:26 AM   #131
SARAFIL
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Looks great! I think they did a nice job with the proportions (door length, etc) - the extra length vs. X5 doesn’t jump out at you in that pic. Wheels, color, etc. are excellent too. Enjoy it! I still smile every time I get in our X5, it sounds great and tons of power.
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Old 10-21-2020, 08:47 AM   #132
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A couple of initial impressions-

- The steering is a big step forward compared to the F15. They have obviously put some effort into refining the EPS.

- As I mentioned, the four wheel steering is quite noticeable around the city. It's great.

- The fake engine noise piped through the speakers is fine - doesn't bother me at all.

- It has noticeably more headroom than the X5. It feels roomy. I'm very happy we got the captains chairs (so far, at least).

- This thing is very quiet around town. You can't hear the idle when stopped at a light (yes I'm sure the auto start/stop was off ). Must have more sound deadening than the X5.

- I'm glad I got the same color as our last car (carbon black). Most of my neighbors and coworkers won't even notice we got a new car.

We'll see how the first few months go. Unfortunately, it won't be making the trip to the farm anytime soon - we are huddling in Boston for the time being in an effort to limit contacts as much as possible.
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Old 10-21-2020, 08:20 PM   #133
Alan
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Love the color and those wheels too, the nicest X7 I’ve seen ... great choice Zach !!
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Old 10-22-2020, 08:34 AM   #134
wdc330i
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zach View Post
A couple of initial impressions-

- The steering is a big step forward compared to the F15. They have obviously put some effort into refining the EPS.

- As I mentioned, the four wheel steering is quite noticeable around the city. It's great.

- The fake engine noise piped through the speakers is fine - doesn't bother me at all.

- It has noticeably more headroom than the X5. It feels roomy. I'm very happy we got the captains chairs (so far, at least).

- This thing is very quiet around town. You can't hear the idle when stopped at a light (yes I'm sure the auto start/stop was off ). Must have more sound deadening than the X5.

- I'm glad I got the same color as our last car (carbon black). Most of my neighbors and coworkers won't even notice we got a new car.

We'll see how the first few months go. Unfortunately, it won't be making the trip to the farm anytime soon - we are huddling in Boston for the time being in an effort to limit contacts as much as possible.
Excellent! Those seemed huge to me when the first came out, but somehow don’t anymore. Maybe because everything else has gotten bigger, too.

I remember when I dumped my 2001 330i (Black with step and no sport suspension) and bought a 2002 330i speced properly (stick and sport), I ordered it in the same color so no one would notice! Also got the better steering out of the swap. Fortunately, I got a very good price from CarMax for the 2001, so the hit wasn’t horrible.

Kept the 2002 for 7 years, which is a long stretch for me. Excellent car. Replaced it with the 2006 M3 (bought used in 2009). Also black, but I knew people would notice it was a convertible and not a sedan!
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Old 10-22-2020, 09:24 AM   #135
FC
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Wheels look really nice.
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Old 11-29-2020, 02:33 PM   #136
Alan
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Maybe bmw got slower producing cars, Zach and my son got their cars pretty fast .... I ordered an M550 a month ago and think it won’t arrive until mid January ...

Looking forward to 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and having the 8 cylinder growl but the wait is brutal ...
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Old 11-29-2020, 03:03 PM   #137
SARAFIL
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BMW "Tartufo" leather color

Quote:
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Maybe bmw got slower producing cars, Zach and my son got their cars pretty fast .... I ordered an M550 a month ago and think it won’t arrive until mid January ...

Looking forward to 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and having the 8 cylinder growl but the wait is brutal ...

The X7 is made in US and your son’s might have been made in the new factory in Mexico, so much quicker turn around. 😀

Congrats on M550 - awesome car!
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Old 12-05-2020, 07:51 AM   #138
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Congrats on M550 - awesome car!
Thanks ... I loved my 2015 550 but I will tell you my 540 feels more than fast enough, the only reason I went with the 550 this time around was to change it up a bit plus it might possibly be the last 8 cylinder car I ever own.
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Old 12-05-2020, 09:01 PM   #139
SARAFIL
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Thanks ... I loved my 2015 550 but I will tell you my 540 feels more than fast enough, the only reason I went with the 550 this time around was to change it up a bit plus it might possibly be the last 8 cylinder car I ever own.

I had a 2016 550 previously so very similar car to your former 550. I liked that car a lot, but our X5 M50 (same engine as your M550) takes it to a whole different level. The 550 never felt slow when I had it, but this X5 is amazing. This is obviously a heavier car than 5 series sedan, but despite that the X5 feels a lot faster than my old 550, power delivery is effortless, throttle is very responsive even in “comfort” mode. I haven’t driven a M550 w/ the upgraded engine (2020+) but have to imagine the powertrain in my X5 is even better in a lighter sedan. Overall I think the latest crop of M performance models (M340, X3 M40, M550, X5 M50,...) are excellent all around vehicles - I thought they were a little gimmicky at first but after living with one for a year I’ve been very satisfied.
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Old 12-24-2020, 06:53 AM   #140
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I had a 2016 550 previously so very similar car to your former 550. I liked that car a lot, but our X5 M50 (same engine as your M550) takes it to a whole different level. The 550 never felt slow when I had it, but this X5 is amazing. This is obviously a heavier car than 5 series sedan, but despite that the X5 feels a lot faster than my old 550, power delivery is effortless, throttle is very responsive even in “comfort” mode. I haven’t driven a M550 w/ the upgraded engine (2020+) but have to imagine the powertrain in my X5 is even better in a lighter sedan. Overall I think the latest crop of M performance models (M340, X3 M40, M550, X5 M50,...) are excellent all around vehicles - I thought they were a little gimmicky at first but after living with one for a year I’ve been very satisfied.
Don’t know how I missed this post ... I remember your 550 and I do agree these M‘ish’ Models really are great, my son who had the 17 340 and now has the 21 M340 is really amazed by his car, he literally comes home everyday from the office and will tell me how much better it is then the previous model.

I’ve said this before I am really happy with my 540 I can’t even imagine how the M550 will feel but then again BMW is taking forever to build the damn car but that is another story
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