C55 for BMW 550i?

[X55 MGR]

I'm considering trading my C55 for a BMW 550i, and will be heading to the dealer's today to test drive the 550I (I have not driven one yet). Does anyone have and input on the 550i - how it comapres to C55, relaibility etc.? I'm concerned that a short test drive might sway me and then I'll suffer buyer's remorse later. By the way, here's my C55 - I'll let it go to a forum member for $23k or a couple hundred less, if anyone's interested: http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...98035242&Log=0

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[MBfinatic]

Dont sell it! Its so nice! I regret letting mine go..

[jason 1432]

Tell us how it gose I really like the 550 also

[mgiannetto]

Originally Posted by X55 MGR

I'm considering trading my C55 for a BMW 550i, and will be heading to the dealer's today to test drive the 550I (I have not driven one yet). Does anyone have and input on the 550i - how it comapres to C55, relaibility etc.? I'm concerned that a short test drive might sway me and then I'll suffer buyer's remorse later.

By the way, here's my C55 - I'll let it go to a forum member for $23k or a couple hundred less, if anyone's interested:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...98035242&Log=0

It will be interesting to get your first hand impressions. My sense is that the C55 is faster and importantly it will feel quicker. The 550i is a great car (I had a 540i with a 6sp manual and sports package for 5 years before buying my C55). Like you I have considered going back to the 5 series, but I have not been impressed with the reviews of the car that I have read. Performance wise, I think the car has been "dummed-down". Appeal is less to the enthusiast and more to the average Joe. I've read that the handling characteristics have changed from a decade ago - car feels less connected to the road. Also, its not blisteringly fast - as you might think it would be given its twin-turbo 400hp and 450 ft lbs of torque. I guess the 4,400 lbs takes it toll on the quickness and crispness of the handling.

Anyway, I've droned on long enough and you are going to drive the car - no substitute for 1st hand experience. You should read all the reviews you can find too. It's a big slug of change and will be a real expensive mistake if you end up not liking it (or not liking it as much as the C55).

Good luck.

[jason 1432]

Im pretty sure you can up the hp very easy past the c55 also

[Saaboteur]

The current F10/F11 550i, or the last generation, E60 550?

The boss has an E60 545i which I have driven a little bit. Nice ride. When I was contemplating acquiring my C55, I also had a think about the E60s. Budget dictated 545i though. There is a big horsepower jump to the 550s if I remember right. No comparison to the F10/F11s though, with the twin turbos.

My big worry about the E60 came after chatting with one of our clients, who runs an independent BMW repair shop. While he did not indicate one particular worrying major issue with the platform, he did express concern about long term ownership on high mileage examples. The alternator is water cooled, which seems to me unnecessarily complex. There are definitely lots of trick electronics on the E60s, and they are packed with luxury items - factory Bluetooth, nav, optional DSG I believe, active suspension.

But you can't even replace the battery without factory diagnostics - apparently, one has to 'introduce' the battery to the car. Weird. That actually led to a bunch of weird electrical issues on the boss's 545 - wipers going on all the time was one.

I compared that to the C55 - simple, powerful, fairly luxurious - and stuck with Benz. But the E60 still sticks in my mind as a really nice car, the 545 would be a lovely daily driver. The M5 even cooler, but maintenance costs could be quite high.

[xxaarraa]

If it is the current turbo charged 550, I say hands down 550 over C55. What could be better than a high torque beamer? That's like having an AMG that handles as well as a, well, BMW.

[X55 MGR]

I WAS going to test the 2007 550i - got to the dealer's at 12:05 today for a 12:15 appointment. The desk clerk calls the sales person who, apparently, is "across the highway" at their new car delareship (literally across the freeway) and will be back in 5 minutes. After I wait around for another 20 minutes, he shows up only to tell me there was something wrong with that car's passeneger seat so it's at the BMW dealer's for repair.

Meanwhile, I enjoyed the 25 mile ride to the dealer's enough to think "why the heck am I doing this", so chances are I'm over the 550i already. Won't be the first time I've thought of letting go only to say nooooooooooooooo!!!!!!

[MercedesFTW]

If it's the E60, stick with the C55!

[X55 MGR]

Probably will . . . thanks for all the feedback!

[loudandheard]

Just noticed you're in Houston, you should come out to the eurocharged meet on the 28th. Should be a lot of amg's.

[X55 MGR]

Sounds like fun! I might even talk myself into Kleeman headers etc., then I'll have to keep her forever.

Originally Posted by loudandheard

Just noticed you're in Houston, you should come out to the eurocharged meet on the 28th. Should be a lot of amg's.

[Chedeng88]

Originally Posted by X55 MGR

Meanwhile, I enjoyed the 25 mile ride to the dealer's enough to think "why the heck am I doing this", so chances are I'm over the 550i already. Won't be the first time I've thought of letting go only to say nooooooooooooooo!!!!!!

You made the right choice. I have a neighbor with a 2007 550i and it's a money pit.

[Viper98912]

There's one thing that the C55 excels at; and that's in the fact that in today's luxury super complicated electronics and quirks and can't-work-on-them-outside-the-dealer market, the C55 is fairly fast, luxurious, reliable, and easy to own.

[loudandheard]

Originally Posted by X55 MGR

Sounds like fun! I might even talk myself into Kleeman headers etc., then I'll have to keep her forever.

I'd like to get some long tubes for the C55, but the wife won't let me considering it's her car.

[Saaboteur]

AMG FTW! I kind of have mixed feelings about the 550i. I mean, I get that there is a huge price differential between it and the M5, but if one is going to go that far to get a fast BMW sedan, one might as well spring for an M5? Kind of like how I wonder sometimes why Mercedes makes the 600 series of cars - might as well make all the V12 twin turbo cars AMGs at that point.

For me, the only car I could see realistically replacing my C55 with is a C63.

[ferrariyellow44]

I recently drove a new 535i and absolute hated it! The only two things I thought were better about the beemer over my E class was the power and the brakes. I felt my E class was more balanced, quicker to turn in and the ride was wayyyy better. Plus the ergonomics of the 5 series were awful and the dash board is just hideous. Oh yea, and the car overall felt very enclosed, i got a feeling of claustrophobia.

Chances are if i had the W212 with the direct injection engine, the only thing better about the 5 would be the brakes. Terrible effort by BMW, i dont see any "ultimate driving machine" in that car

[Kotcho]

the 550i is better because it is newer, more reliable, and generally a sweeter ride.....but you have a rear wheel drive german 4 door powerhouse that contains a hand built engine.....not worth trading in, unless you are truly trading up...

[MercedesFTW]

more reliable

Not necessarily...