[silvercreek]

Hi all,

Not sure why it's hard for me to find this, but I'm trying to find the curb weight of a 2014 535i vs 550i. Does anyone know what the weights are? Trying to see if the extra 145hp is worth the added weight (but can't seem to find what that is).

Speaking of that, anyone have a list of weights for each of the options?

[kube]

Originally Posted by bomax

Hi all,

Not sure why it's hard for me to find this, but I'm trying to find the curb weight of a 2014 535i vs 550i. Does anyone know what the weights are? Trying to see if the extra 145hp is worth the added weight (but can't seem to find what that is).

Speaking of that, anyone have a list of weights for each of the options?

Listed under the "Specifications" tab for the 550 on the bmwusa.com website. Amazing what's out there is you just look

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...fications.aspx

.

[Grover432]

You might want to check the "standard equipment" list for the 550i as compared to the 535i. The 145 hp might be hauling around some extra equipment that is standard on the 550.

[numbersguy]

Originally Posted by kube

Listed under the "Specifications" tab for the 550 on the bmwusa.com website. Amazing what's out there is you just look

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...fications.aspx

.

You might want to take a look yourself. Curb weights were listed for last year's cars but many of the newer models list only gross vehicle weight.

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by numbersguy

You might want to take a look yourself. Curb weights were listed for last year's cars but many of the newer models list only gross vehicle weight.

So compare those. The owner's manual (available on line from BMWUSA.COM) has gross weight and allowable load figures for all models, together with fluid capacities, so it should be relatively easy to calculate curb weight and make the comparisons you want. The weight difference looks to me to be roughly 200 lb.

[Richard Cranium]

Originally Posted by bomax

Hi all,

Not sure why it's hard for me to find this, but I'm trying to find the curb weight of a 2014 535i vs 550i. Does anyone know what the weights are? Trying to see if the extra 145hp is worth the added weight (but can't seem to find what that is).

Speaking of that, anyone have a list of weights for each of the options?

Rest Assured the weight isn't 50% more than the 535 making the roughly 50% more power definitely worth it.

[Grover432]

I think you are safe to use last years curb weights.

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by Grover432

I think you are safe to use last years curb weights.

I would have thought so as well, but there is a significant reduction in load capacity from 2013 to 2014 -- I have no idea why, or whether curb weight is affected at all.

Incidentally, I think one reason curb weight is no longer specified is that it doesn't seem to have a precise standard. It isn't clear, for example, whether a full tank of fuel is included: something that in these cars accounts for as much as 150 lb.

[Grover432]

Originally Posted by raleedy

I would have thought so as well, but there is a significant reduction in load capacity from 2013 to 2014 -- I have no idea why, or whether curb weight is affected at all.

Incidentally, I think one reason curb weight is no longer specified is that it doesn't seem to have a precise standard. It isn't clear, for example, whether a full tank of fuel is included: something that in these cars accounts for as much as 150 lb.

If it was a pickup truck, I'd be concerned about capacity. If you want to go faster, get the 550.

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by Grover432

If it was a pickup truck, I'd be concerned about capacity. If you want to go faster, get the 550.

At least in the U.S. (not sure about Canada), I think no one gives a hoot about rated load capacity. They carry what they carry. But can one infer from reduced load capacity an increase in net (unladen) weight? Or maybe just a change in tires?

As for speed, it's my impression that all the F10 models are similarly limited.

[alpinef10]

Could be the use of the new 3rd generation rfts which can go for 30 miles instead of 50 like the 2nd gen which means a softer sidewall therefore lower load capacity perhaps

[Grover432]

Originally Posted by raleedy

As for speed, it's my impression that all the F10 models are similarly limited.

Its never been about top speed in North America, but how quickly you can get there.

[newtoav]

Listed under the "Specifications" tab for the 550 on the bmwusa.com website. Amazing what's out there is you just look

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...fications.aspx

Has anyone noticed that the weights for all 5 Series on the BMW USA website are wrong? It seems to me they are showing X5 weights, but regardless, I sure am glad the lardy F10 doesn't quite weigh 5,100 lbs +

The weight for the 550i is, per the German BMW website, 1905 kg or 4199 lbs.

Look at that, I just made your car 1,200 lbs ligther!

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by newtoav

Has anyone noticed that the weights for all 5 Series on the BMW USA website are wrong? It seems to me they are showing X5 weights, but regardless, I sure am glad the lardy F10 doesn't quite weigh 5,100 lbs +

The weight for the 550i is, per the German BMW website, 1905 kg or 4199 lbs.

Look at that, I just made your car 1,200 lbs ligther!

These are gross weights now -- maximum permissible load including passengers, cargo and fluids. Not of much use to Americans, who as a rule pay no attention to load limits. BMW used to give curb weight, but has abandoned that for some reason -- maybe because it isn't very well defined.

[xs2man]

To the Op.

Small difference in weight vs large difference is power???

Didn't think this question needed asked to be honest. But I'll answer it.

Yes. It's worth it.

[newtoav]

@raleedy - I really think it's an editorial error. I mean, the website is far from perfect. Just to make my point, if they started listing gross weights - they would do it across all models, no?

Here are the weights of other models - they are all much lower. Also the max allowed weight as per the German website is 5357 lbs, again, it doesn't add up. Again, I just feel much better knowing my 335 is 3800 odd lbs, and not 5200...

[Grover432]

When you look at the 2013 owners manual, the Gross Approved Weight is 5,401 and the max load is 1,036 so I calculate the curb weight to be 5,401 - 1,036 = 4,365 lbs (give or take) for a 2013 model. I doubt the 2014 is materially different. If the owners manual us wrong, the label in located in the door frame will have the correct gross and max load information.

[raleedy]

Grover432 has this right. The US website is in the process of switching from unladen weights to gross weights in the specifications. These are clearly different measures. There is no particular reason to expect the European and Canadian and US specs to be exactly the same. It's also necessary to account for the sudden drop of nearly 200 lbs in maximum load from 2013 to 2014 in the U.S. spec.

[newtoav]

You guys are absolutely right. I was mistaken. I checked the 5er manuals, and they do reflect gross weights. Same for other models (although the website doesn't yet).

The only reason I can think of is to show a GVWR of > 6000 for the X5 so it qualifies for section 179 accelerated depreciation. Although there must be better reasons too.

Thanks for educating me on this matter. Your wisdom - and the wisdom of the group - is much appreciated.

[raleedy]

I think we all learned something here. I suspect BMW is moving to gross vehicle weight because it is a stronger standard. Curb weight means different things to different people.

I'm intrigued by the substantial drop in gross weight, which appears to come from a reduction in the maximum load. I'd like to know more about that.

[silvercreek]

Thanks all. Glad I wasn't the only one confused by this situation. I think the 550 weighs in at 4199lbs (per newtoav and the German site). Hefty for sure, but not totally outrageous.

[1HOT BMR]

550i = 4,365 lbs
535i = 4,090 lbs