[yahtzee]

Having owned what is now my 5th BMW in 5 years I have come to realize that it's going to take something pretty good to pull me away from the brethren. I have owned:

• 08 535 M-Sport
• 08 M3
• 08 550 M-Sport
• 13 X5 M-Sport

I picked up my 2013 550i M-Sport on 6/27. Despite it taking me 3.5 hrs to get home due to traffic I couldn't have been in a better car for the ride. My build was AW with Cinnamon Brown. Executive Package, Cold Weather Package, M-Sport Package, Luxury Seating Package and SAT.

I have heard it mentioned a few times on here, "it's an awesome highway cruiser but push the button and you've got a monster." Monster may be a bit of a stretch but it's no slouch. It definitely becomes a different car with the Sport+ mode enabled....handles very well for a car of this size.

I honestly like everything about the car except the fact that the volume control is on the right side of the steering wheel. Seriously, I like everything about this car. The acceleration is outstanding, the traction is great, the cabin is quiet, iDrive is light years better that the past (even better than my 2013 X5), it's very comfortable (yes, the seats are a tad different than previous MC seats but they are still hard to beat), the connection between driver and road is truly there....it's hard to explain that concept to folks but it really does exist in a BMW.

The audio system is excellent for a car...sure I could have splurged for the B&O system but I just didn't see/hear THAT dramatic of a difference to justify it. Nav screen is gorgeous....still can't get weather to show up at any zoom level but that's far from the top of my mind when I am driving.

I would like to hear some more rumble from the exhaust but it's 100% livable. I did the zip tie mod to open up the valves on each side and it MAY help a tiny bit but that could be in my head....waving foot under trunk doesn't always open it (and I wear a size 13)....not sure why but it's not consistent.

I've added the M5 lip spoiler, M5 gloss black kidney grills and installed my BEL STi radar detector above the visor, wired to the sunroof console.

I was up at sunrise this morning for my first photo shoot with the car...I have noticed that it turns heads more than any car I have owned (except for my M3 - but close).....I have had a guy pull and yell "sweet car, man!"

Here are a couple of the pics from the album and here is the link for the album:

http://www.darylwatkins.com/550











http://www.darylwatkins.com/550


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[JasonX4MComp]

Originally Posted by yahtzee

I would like to hear some more rumble from the exhaust but it's 100% livable. I did the zip tie mod to open up the valves on each side and it MAY help a tiny bit but that could be in my head....waving foot under trunk doesn't always open it (and I wear a size 13)....not sure why but it's not consistent.



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Congrats and great looking car! When trying to open the trunk, don't wave your foot, it wont open that way. You have to make a kicking motion under the center of the bumper

[Lee]

Originally Posted by yahtzee

I would like to hear some more rumble from the exhaust but it's 100% livable. I did the zip tie mod to open up the valves on each side and it MAY help a tiny bit but that could be in my head.

Never heard of this. Can you expound?

[KoenG]

Epic car! Really, this is such a nice dream machine!

But... did you ever considered the money it has costed you the last 5 years to swap top line bimmers like I swap my underwear...(as a matter of speaking)?

Besides, aren't you tempted by the new released 550i with vastly improved boost and frugality now? Personally, I hope it doesn't bring bitter sweet emotions... just enjoy the 550i you have just collected, it's worth it!

What a car (I can only dream of)!

[yahtzee]

Originally Posted by Lee

Never heard of this. Can you expound?

http://www.6post.com/forums/showthre...3#post13052163

[yahtzee]

Originally Posted by KoenG

Epic car! Really, this is such a nice dream machine!

But... did you ever considered the money it has costed you the last 5 years to swap top line bimmers like I swap my underwear...(as a matter of speaking)?

Besides, aren't you tempted by the new released 550i with vastly improved boost and frugality now? Personally, I hope it doesn't bring bitter sweet emotions... just enjoy the 550i you have just collected, it's worth it!

What a car (I can only dream of)!

Yes, unfortunately I have considered it. Nothing pretty about it but I am not one to settle. Made a mistake in January with the X5 but this car is like coming home again - except better. I'll be here a while.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by yahtzee

http://www.6post.com/forums/showthre...3#post13052163

Thanks so much! In England right now and don't have the right equipment. Looking forward to getting home to try it out.

[remmib]

Very nice, I like the ceramic controls.

[Zaman]

Nice! Cool photos

[ipso_facto]

Really nice car and photos. If you are not already, you should look to use your photographic skills professionally.

[yahtzee]

Originally Posted by ipso_facto

Really nice car and photos. If you are not already, you should look to use your photographic skills professionally.

Thanks...I appreciate that....always been a hobby.

[dchartier]

Looks great!

[Lee]

Originally Posted by yahtzee

http://www.6post.com/forums/showthre...3#post13052163

Did it today. Sounds a bit better, but was expecting more. Guess that's the price of better fuel economy.

[superbuick]

Beautiful color combo!

[HighConcept]

Diggin' it -- Looks good.

[fulfree]

really great looking car!

[twelve535i]

My favorite color combo!

[VirtualMayhem]

Congrats - great looking car!!

[kave]

Great!