Why The BMW M550i Is Better Than the M5

ByDinda Margareta

Nov 3, 2022 #01 S2000, #02 S2000, #03 S2000, #04 S2000, #05 S2000, #06 S2000, #09 S2000, #1000hp S2000, #1990 S2000, #1995 S2000, #1998 S2000, #1999 S2000, #2000 S2000, #2001 S2000, #2002 S2000, #2003 S2000, #2004 S2000, #2005 S2000, #2006 S2000, #2007 S2000, #2008 S2000, #2009 S2000, #2010 S2000, #2015 S2000, #2017 S2000, #2019 S2000, #2020 S2000, #2021 S2000, #2022 S2000, #2023 S2000, #2024 S2000, #2jz S2000, #99 S2000, #Ap1 S200, #Ap1 S2000, #Ap2 S2000, #Ap3 S2000, #Apr S2000, #Autoscout S2000, #Autotrader S2000, #Bat S2000, #Bbs S2000, #Best S2000, #Billman S2000, #Black S2000, #Blue S2000, #Bmw S2000, #Boosted S2000, #Built F20c, #Built S2000, #Buy S2000, #Cargurus S2000, #Carmax S2000, #Carsales S2000, #Ce28 S2000, #Chargespeed S2000, #Cheap S2000, #Comptech S2000, #Copart S2000, #F20 Honda, #F20 S2000, #F20c S2000, #F20c Vtec, #F22 S2000, #Fastest S2000, #Fluidampr S2000, #Green S2000, #Grey S2000, #Gta S2000, #Gumtree S2000, #H S2000, #H9nda S2000, #Hardtopguy S2000, #Hmr S2000, #Honda 2000, #Honda Ap1, #Honda Ap2, #Honda B2000, #Honda F20c, #Honda F22c, #Honda F22c1, #Honda S2, #Honda S200, #Honda S2000, #Honda S20000, #Honda S2000k, #Honda S200o, #Honda S2k, #Honda S2ki, #Honda S2ooo, #Honda S3000, #Hondata S2000, #Hoonigan S2000, #Hotwheels S2000, #Jdm F20c, #Jdm S2000, #Jdp S2000, #Johnny S2000, #K20c1 S2000, #Kraftwerks S2000, #Lego S2000, #Ls S2000, #Ls1 S2000, #M&M S2000, #Mazda S2000, #Modern S2000, #Mugen S2000, #New S2000, #Next S2000, #Nfr S2000, #Nsx S2000, #Old S2000, #Orange S2000, #P1415 S2000, #Pink S2000, #Pistonheads S2000, #Puddymod S2000, #Puddymod Website, #Purple S2000, #Red S2000, #Rhd S2000, #Rpf1 S2000, #S200 Ap1, #S2000 1990, #S2000 1999, #S2000 2.2, #S2000 2000, #S2000 2001, #S2000 2002, #S2000 2003, #S2000 2004, #S2000 2005, #S2000 2006, #S2000 2007, #S2000 2008, #S2000 2009, #S2000 2010, #S2000 2019, #S2000 2020, #S2000 2021, #S2000 2022, #S2000 2023, #S2000 2024, #S2000 2jz, #S2000 Advan, #S2000 Ap1, #S2000 Ap2, #S2000 Ap3, #S2000 Auto, #S2000 Autodata, #S2000 Autoscout, #S2000 Back, #S2000 Bat, #S2000 Cabriolet, #S2000 Car, #S2000 Cargurus, #S2000 Carmax, #S2000 Carsales, #S2000 Convertible, #S2000 Cost, #S2000 Cr, #S2000 Craigslist, #S2000 Cv, #S2000 Dealership, #S2000 Ebay, #S2000 Emblem, #S2000 Enkei, #S2000 F20, #S2000 F20c, #S2000 F22, #S2000 F22c, #S2000 Flashpro, #S2000 Green, #S2000 Gt, #S2000 Gta, #S2000 Gta5, #S2000 Horsepower, #S2000 Hotwheel, #S2000 Hotwheels, #S2000 Invidia, #S2000 Jdm, #S2000 K24, #S2000 Kbb, #S2000 Kpro, #S2000 Lego, #S2000 Logo, #S2000 Modified, #S2000 Mugen, #S2000 Nsx, #S2000 Old, #S2000 Power, #S2000 Price, #S2000 Procharger, #S2000 R, #S2000 Racing, #S2000 Rpf1, #S2000 S, #S2000 Sgcarmart, #S2000 Shop, #S2000 Speed, #S2000 Ssr, #S2000 Trans, #S2000 V6, #S2000 V8, #S2000 Veilside, #S2000 Vtec, #S2000 Years, #S2000for Sale, #S2k S2000, #Sgcarmart S2000, #Silver S2000, #Slammed S2000, #Sorcery S2000, #Spoon F20c, #Spoon S2000, #Supercharged S2000, #Tct S2000, #Tran S2000, #Trans S2000, #Used S2000, #V10 S2000, #V6 S2000, #V8 S2000, #Vaikhari S2000, #Veilside S2000, #Viper S2000, #Vsa S2000, #White S2000, #Yellow S2000
Why The BMW M550i Is Better Than the M5

If you want to buy a fast, new BMW 5 Series, the obvious choice would be the BMW M5. However, BMW released the M550i in 2017 to bridge the gap from the 540i to the M5. With 456 horsepower and a 0-60 time under four seconds, the M550i was faster to 60 than the previous M5, featured more luxuries, and even came with all-wheel drive. When the all-new M5 was revealed in 2018, the M550i’s reign of being the fastest 5 Series was cut short since the former boasted 600 horsepower and 0-60 in the low three-second range, it blew the M550i out of the water. In 2020, the M550i’s engine (N63) was now the N63TU. The TU at the end of it stands for “technical update”, this changed the game for the buyer who wanted an M5.

TOPSPEED VIDEO OF THE DAY

What Is TU In The M550i Engine?

BMW has used the term TU many times with many different engines, during each TU BMW always addressed issues that plagued the previous version of an engine, in turn bettering its reliability and performance. In this circumstance, BMW added 67 horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque to a now class-leading 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. This dropped 0-60 times to the low-mid three-second range, which decimated its rivals, the Audi S6 and the AMG E53. With Audi dropping its V-8 S6, the M550i is the only midsize luxury sedan that is offered in a V-8 that is not a full-out performance sedan (AMGs, Ms, and Blackwings not included). Not many people know about this change from the 2019-2020 M550s as it was not advertised much; bad play on BMW’s part as it completely separated the M550i from everything else in its class.

The M550i Also Comes With All-Wheel-Drive!

The M550i comes solely with BMW’s XDrive all-wheel drive system that will help you claw your way through the winter months along with giving you strong traction out of corners. The car can be fitted with an array of different options ranging from different cruise control capabilities to rear seat entertainment options. Yes, you can watch movies while cruising at 150 miles per hour, all for under $80,000, which leads us to our next point.

The M550i Offers the Absolute Best Bang For The Buck

In a world where car prices are inflated beyond anything we could have imagined, it’s nice to know that there are still bargains. Starting at $79,900 USD, the 523-horsepower, twin-turbo V-8 BMW M550i xDrive is a whopping $28,000 cheaper than the M5, and that is where the real magic is. With the way things are going, I am not sure how much longer you can get a gurgling V-8 from BMW, especially for under $80,000. Luckily, the M550 does not need many options to be great, just choose your color and add BMW’s “Driving Assistance Professional Package” for $1,700, and you have a perfect daily driver in all weather conditions thanks to standard all-wheel drive. Of course, you can’t forget about the much more forgiving ride quality when compared to the M5.

On the topic of the M5, not only does it cost $28,000 more than the M550i, it requires a few options to truly live up to its name, such as the “M Drivers package” ($2,500), “Competition Package” ($7,600), and the “Driving Assistance Professional Package” ($1,700). When all is said and done, the number of options you can add to an M550i will still not get you to the base price of a new M5. This is absolutely ridiculous given the fact that the performance difference is minimal and the liveability of the M550i is far greater than the M5, all for an extraordinary amount less.

Conclusion

If you are in the market for a midsize sports sedan, I’d say BMW as a brand is on top right now, although it’s not the car you think. The M550i checks all the boxes as an amazing all-around daily driver and sports sedan, all for under $80,000. Sure, it may lack the sharper edge of the M5 but at the end of the day, who is going to be pushing these 4,000-pound cars to the limit on a track every day? These are cars that people daily drive to work and bring their kids to school. Do yourself a favor and save yourself the money over an M5, buy an M550i and then get yourself a nice track car with the $28,000 you saved.