[Aatish]

Hypothetically speaking, say I were split between acquiring a 535d x-drive or a 550i x-drive. Most of my driving would be in the city, however every 2-3 weeks or so I would have to go on a 700-800 mile road trip. The diesel has the low end and efficiency, which is great for city driving as well as long distance...but the 550i has dat seemingly endless (and thirsty) V8 power. I've driven a 535d, liked it a lot more than my A6 3.0T...but I still felt like I needed more power after 85mph...

Not asking for a specific choice, just personally experiences from owners of each car. How are you liking the cars? Any unexpected surprises (both good and bad)?

-Aatish

[Chili Palmer]

I can only speak as a 550 owner, but this car is awesome - I can get 17-18 mpg in the city and if I keep my foot out of it, I can cruise at 80-85mph and still pull 27 mpg! That in my book is pretty good for a V8.

But on the other hand I've gotten tanks that have been around 12 mpg from hot-dogging and wanting to feel that push in the back that you get from 400 hp! Now that I've installed the M5 exhaust my mpg has dropped again, probably from me dipping my foot into the loud pedal to hear the rumble that should have been there originally with the M-Sport package.

So, if you choose the diesel it means that economy is very important for you, but if you choose the 550, performance trumps economy.

It's a win-win either way you slice it up.

[Aatish]

Originally Posted by Chili Palmer

I can only speak as a 550 owner, but this car is awesome - I can get 17-18 mpg in the city and if I take keep my foot out of it, I can cruise at 80-85mph and still pull 27 mpg! That in my book is pretty good for a V8.

But on the other hand I've gotten tanks that my have been around 12 mpg from hot-dogging and wanting to feel that push in the back that you get from 400 hp! Now that I've installed the M5 exhaust my mpg has dropped again, probably from me dipping my foot into the loud pedal to hear the rumble that should have been there originally with the M-Sport package.

So, if you choose the diesel it means that economy is very important for you, but if you choose the 550, performance trumps economy.

It's a win-win either way you slice it up.

Lol, thanks for the input Chili.

[spyroz]

Originally Posted by Chili Palmer

I can only speak as a 550 owner, but this car is awesome - I can get 17-18 mpg in the city and if I keep my foot out of it, I can cruise at 80-85mph and still pull 27 mpg! That in my book is pretty good for a V8.

But on the other hand I've gotten tanks that have been around 12 mpg from hot-dogging and wanting to feel that push in the back that you get from 400 hp! Now that I've installed the M5 exhaust my mpg has dropped again, probably from me dipping my foot into the loud pedal to hear the rumble that should have been there originally with the M-Sport package.

So, if you choose the diesel it means that economy is very important for you, but if you choose the 550, performance trumps economy.

It's a win-win either way you slice it up.

My 550i Msport don't get near on those mileages like you did, i guess i punch it a little much on the pedals. But I can't complain on the HP it put out against wimpy 535

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Aatish

Hypothetically speaking, say I were split between acquiring a 535d x-drive or a 550i x-drive.

.....

Not asking for a specific choice, just personally experiences from owners of each car. How are you liking the cars? Any unexpected surprises (both good and bad)?

-Aatish

It is a shame you guys don't have the 'real' 535d (European model), then the comparison would be better balanced, IMO, like here in the UK. The 550i is such a scare model over here, as the diesel just makes so much more sense on all counts.

I'd personally compare the 535d (530d UK) to the 535i, that is what I did and opted for the 535i.

There is still something about a V8 which the diesels can't give us, but we all know that.

HighlandPete

[AP]

Its really a personal choice , no right answer here.
as Highland Pete stated, in the UK the 550i is rare, I've never knowingly seen one and if I were a betting man, I'd say the number in the UK is probably in single figures!
It really depends upon your preference. I opted for a 530D (535D in the US) having come from a E39 530i. So I get the petrol argument and acknowledge the refinement you get with petrol and also the need (probably less so with a V8) to rev the car to get that performance but I found the 530D much more relaxed due to not requiring much revs to progress.
No one is going to pretend it's as refined as a petrol , but once on the move, it is refined . I like the lazy effortless power it has and the economy of it.
I'm happy with my switch to diesel but I do get the argument for petrol.
Its really a case of how much importance you place on economy versus driving pleasure - only you can answer that. I'd just suggest driving both and see which you prefer.
When I ordered my car, I was seriously considering a 530i and one reason I didn't go for that was thinking that the government was going to clobber us due to CO2 emissions. Got that wrong but it looks like they are now going after diesels due to their NO2 emissions!

Drive both, weigh up the costs and go for it. The F10 is such a good either way. Wish we had x-drive in the UK as well, that would have been another int4resting option to choose here if it were possible.

[The Beast]

I have a 530d (US 535d) with the BMW performance pack on it, which gives an extra 25 bhp over stock. Great engine, good for city driving as the torque is really useful, decent mpg even if you hammer it around everywhere. I get 27 mpg around town and that is driving it pretty hard, around 45+ mpg on the motorway again not driving like a granny...

I would say this engine is great within turbo range and up to 80-90 mph, after that you don't really get the kick of the twin turbo version of this engine that I had in my previous X5. For me this is fine as I rarely do motorway journeys where I would utilise the power regularly.

As others have stated 550's are rare in the UK due to fuel price, but hey if you can afford to run one then why not!

[Aatish]

Thanks for your input guys, I appreciate it. Even though gas is cheaper than what it used to be, I'm still in one of the highest priced states. Might test out the 550i soon, and then the 535d back to back. A dealer friend is taking care of me, so the initial difference is quite small.

[dadysev]

if you put your 550i in sport mode you will drink a bit more, but its sooooo much fun. if you go on a long drive and use cruise control in normal, she will rev about 1700 doing about 60mph in 8th gear, and you should get about 27mpg as someone else stated. i've done it and it works.
But if you choose to say f___ it, and what to have some fun get ready to see that fuel needle move! lol.

[ezmaass]

A nicely loaded 550xi is north of $80k - I think mine was ~$86k. So, I always get a good chuckle out of the whole "price of gas" discussion around a car in this price range. In my book if you're buying an $80k+ car, should the price of gas really matter that much? While I don't like higher gas prices, what's the real impact? And if a $1,000 difference, let's say, over the course of a year (just making up numbers here) really was going to make it or break it for you... should you be buying a BMW 5-series in the first place?

So, my take - buy the car that you love... not the one that will get you the best gas mileage. If they happen to be the same car, great. In all reality, you'd probably enjoy both cars. But if I was a betting man, I'd say that you're not 100% sold on the 535D and see it as a compromise, looking for a reason to justify the 550xi instead? If the 550xi will make you happy, by that one. I bet you'll enjoy the refinement and power of the engine many more times and ways than you'd enjoy the gas savings of the 535D. Not that it's a bad choice, but you're clearly not committed to it.

And as for torque, the 550xi has plenty way down low, too. Under 2k RPM you have 479lb-ft - no need to unwind the engine to feel it move you.

[493263]

Originally Posted by Chili Palmer

I can cruise at 80-85mph and still pull 27 mpg!

This is complete BS. The only way this would be possible is if you are going down a decline which then a Silverado would be able to achieve 27 mpg. On a flat surface, it is impossible for you to sustain anything above 25 once you passed 70mph.

The 26 mpg rating highway was achieved at speeds approximately 65mph. I don't even know how you can say 27 mpg at 85 mph unless you somehow eliminated air resistance.

[4MULA_1]

Recently purchased a new 550i, the car is amazing and drives very smoothly...but if you're talking gas mileage this is a V8 so get ready to be filling up every 275-300 miles max!
I'm driving mainly city, with some highway about 75/25 and I've been averaging about 16.7 mpg. This is with me driving like an old grandpa and using cruise control often. If you want to put it in sport for some spirited driving good luck getting anything above 14-15 mpg.

[twelve535i]

I think it's all about perspective. You currently have a A6 3.0T, so after driving a 535d for a while, you might not feel like you got the extra power you craved from your new car.
If you get a 550i, you'll be in a different league of power. You'll have a much lower chance of being disappointed after a few months.

In terms of fuel cost, here is a simple break down:
If you drive 12,000 miles per year, assuming all highway to make the math easier, you're only saving about $600 per year.

1. 535d
12,000 miles at 38mpg = 315 gallons of diesel x $3.42 per gallon= Total yearly cost of $1080

2. 550i
12,000 miles at 25mpg = 480 gallons of premium gas x $3.49/ gallon = Total yearly cost of $1675.2

Like ezmass said above, it's not much of a savings.

[Chili Palmer]

Originally Posted by 493263

This is complete BS. The only way this would be possible is if you are going down a decline which then a Silverado would be able to achieve 27 mpg. On a flat surface, it is impossible for you to sustain anything above 25 once you passed 70mph.

The 26 mpg rating highway was achieved at speeds approximately 65mph. I don't even know how you can say 27 mpg at 85 mph unless you somehow eliminated air resistance.

Hey I'm not BS'ing, according to the readout on my dash I was getting 27.2 mpg - yes it was downhill to Escondido, almost to San Diego from my home in San Dimas. I filled up before I left and reset the trip computer, on an 85 mile run one way, running mostly at 85mph that's the mpg I pulled. On the way back with my old tires and rims in the trunk and backseat with a little more traffic and at speeds between 75-80mph I pulled 26.1.

I don't know what to tell you, but that's what I got. I also get between 17-19 around town with a few freeway jaunts in between.

Maybe my car is one of those freaks that get awesome gas mileage, it probably makes up for the dismal mileage my truck gets.

[Aatish]

Thanks for your input (and calculations) guys, I really appreciate it. As of now, I'm leaning towards the 550xi...been driving my SL for the past few days and realized how much I like having a V8.

What's really holding me back is the miles I put on the cars. I drive around 25k-30k a year.

[NewM3driver]

Im recently into a brand new 535d. Car seems plenty fast enough but the car is experiencing a very disappointing amount of diesel knock or diesel clatter at all different engine rpms. Dealer and corporate are working to figure out the cause. My gut is go petro.

[Noggie]

I made the swap from a petrol M3 to diesel about 8 months ago.
Granted I got the most badass diesel BMW can offer so when it comes to power I really don't have anything to put my finger on.

But after owning my car for a while I would sum it up like this.

Pro's
Massive low end torque
Linear power output throughout the rev band
Instant surge of power when needed at cruise
Quiet, but this may be down to soundproofing and the low revs
Consumption vs power is very good, average 25mpg, but I have managed an average of 30mpg when driving nice

Con's
Lag from pressing the accelerator until the car starts moving when accelerating from standstill (0,3 sec?), gave me som scares in the beginning, much, much better I sport mode though.
The lack of sound, the fake v8 sound is ok, but not enough.
Miss the 4000-8000rpm rev band sometimes.

I think driving the diesel is quite ok, but it's not as exiting and head turning as a petrol car can be.

If you are deciding between two specific cars, it may be an idea to look beyond the engine, and look at other options, like the adaptive/dynamic drive. I would not buy a car without that option.

Me, I'm not sure if my next car will be another diesel, or an M, time will show.

[HDEddie1]

My 550i mpg very similar to Chili Palmers.
On my frequent trips from LA to LV (doing 70-80 on flat highway 15), I repeatedly get in the mid 20's. On weeks where I'm around town, high teens is more likely.
Drive both as I did. Nicely equipped versions of both not too far in price. Annual fuel cost vs fun (or practicality) is only a question you can answer.

Originally Posted by Chili Palmer

Hey I'm not BS'ing, according to the readout on my dash I was getting 27.2 mpg - yes it was downhill to Escondido, almost to San Diego from my home in San Dimas. I filled up before I left and reset the trip computer, on an 85 mile run one way, running mostly at 85mph that's the mpg I pulled. On the way back with my old tires and rims in the trunk and backseat with a little more traffic and at speeds between 75-80mph I pulled 26.1.

I don't know what to tell you, but that's what I got. I also get between 17-19 around town with a few freeway jaunts in between.

Maybe my car is one of those freaks that get awesome gas mileage, it probably makes up for the dismal mileage my truck gets.

[RSBro]

I took can set my 550 on cruise at 75-80 and get mid 20's on MPG all day long. Last time I went to Austin and back, counting my city driving and stop/start at the COTA track, I think it was around 23mpg. So, yeah. It really isn't that hard and I definitely don't drive 65... User error as usual if you can't hit at least mid 20's on the highway.

[Aatish]

Thanks for the input! Will be testing them out soon. I'll report back

[Fox530]

I drive what you guys in the US call the 535d.

Buy the 550i. Don't even bother to test drive the 535d. The only reason I have one is over here in Europe everyone is obsessed with diesels and they outnumber used gasoline cars 100 to 1.

Both the 535i and 550i are just better cars than the 535d.

[Aatish]

Appreciate you input guys, truly do.

I drove a 535xi when I had my A6. Felt a little lacking in comparison. The 535d with all of it's torque felt great off the line, but the A6 pulls like no other after 80mph. Aiming to try a 550xi soon. I'll report back with thoughts.