[ezmaass]

So, I picked up my new 2014 550i xDrive M Sport in Jet Black / Black today and officially said good-bye to my 2007 335i. As a quick summary, here are the options I got:

- M Sport
- Executive Package
- Dynamic Handling Package
- Driver Assistance Plus
- ACC Stop & Go
- Lighting Package
- Cold Weather Package
- Luxury Seating Package
- Power Rear Sunshade

I spent some time test-driving the 550 before purchase, but I got better acquainted with it this afternoon for about 2 hours after I picked it up. Here are my first impressions:

Power / Engine:

WOW. While I never went WOT on it (waiting until break-in is done), I did push it a bit a few times. It just feels like there's endless power in the engine no matter the gear or where you are in the power-band. The new engine is silky and smooth, as I'm used to now with BMW, and it can be well-behaved and sedate or aggressive if need-be. I do NOT, however, like the eco option that turns off the engine at stop lights - that will be turned off from now on.

Driving Dynamics:

I was expecting the car to be a bit more "floaty" than my 335i, but I have to say I'm SHOCKED at how well this car can handle with the Dynamic Handling Package. I took the opportunity to toss my new 550xi through some curvy back-roads that I drive each day. While the car feels bigger than the 335i, it never felt boaty or uncontrollable. In fact, the anti-roll appears to work INCREDIBLY well on this car - almost too well. I say "almost too well" since I was taking some really tight corners where I'm used to some body roll with the 335i and the 550xi remained literally flat... which gave me the sensation that something was really "odd" - it just felt like the car was carving the corner with no effort, and I was just along for the ride. I'll need to put this to the test in a slightly more challenging way once I've gotten fully acquainted with the car.

The steering also seems night-and-day to me over the pre-LCI. I was originally looking to get the 5 last year and was very underwhelmed by the steering feel coming from the 335i with sport package. I have to say that the steering in this car now feels every bit as good in terms of feedback and weight as my 335i when driving in sport mode. You don't get the "raw" connected-to-the-road feeling of the 3 (probably due to the electric steering of the 5), but it comes as close as necessary for a mid-sized sedan IMO, and it definitely inspires you to toss the car around in corners despite its size and 4400lb weight.

Ride Comfort:

The adaptive suspension works really well. The car starts in "Comfort" mode (there's Eco, Comfort+, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+), and the suspension is plenty comfortable over what were otherwise "rough" bumps in my 335i. Albeit, in this mode, the car also has a bit TOO much movement in the suspension for highway driving IMHO. I would use it "Comfort" under 55mph, I think. Once switched to Sport, the suspension felt great. The car was firm but not too uncomfortable in the least. I've yet to play with Sport+ - I understand it also turns off traction control.

While these tires are RFTs, they're also a big improvement from what I'm used-to in terms of the OEM RFTs of the 3. I'll see how they age before making any real judgment though - most brand new tires feel pretty good... it's at 10k, 15k, and 20k that the true test begins.

Technology:

This car is a big upgrade from the 335i in terms of technology - then again, my 335i was 6+ years old now. That said, there are many familiar systems on-board and many new. I've only played with a handful and will write more here as I do. I will say, however, that I'm initially finding the radio a bit more complicated to operate than it should be - it may just be newbie human error, though, at this point.

The HUD looks fantastic, and I've played with some of the driver assistance controls - collision warning, lane departure, etc. All seem to operate as expected. The ventilated seats are a bit strange, but I imagine this will be nice at the height of summer. Same for the Active Seats - I'll need to test it more on a longer ride.

Sound System:

I opted for the Harmon Kardon in the Executive Package versus upgrading to the B&O system. It sounds GOOD but certainly nothing that knocked my socks off. Does it sound better than the system in my 335i? Yes, and I guess that's all that matters. I think I would have enjoyed the B&O, but for $3700 extra, on an already $85,800 car, it just didn't make the cut.

Aesthetics:

The jet black on black looks fantastic, and the anthracite wood with dark headliner really make it feel like a real "man cave" in the car full of nice leather, metal, and wood. All of the materials feel like premium quality, and I'm not sure how much has changed there for 2014. I wasn't expecting the M doorsills - a nice little sporty touch.

All in all, I'm very happy with the purchase. The 550xi makes for a sporty ride that's still capable of hauling the family and managing the road-trips for business. While I'm not looking forward to its pretty terrible gas mileage (relatively good for the power it puts out, I suppose), I think the fun factor and ability to tap that power when you need it is a decent compromise. I'm attaching some quick photos I took in a parking lot after pick-up today - just off the phone, so they're nothing great - but there you have it!

Have a Happy New Year guys!

[BMWJester5oS]

Smokin! Congrats and Happy New Year!

[ARC550]

Congrats! I just picked mine up today same colors. I only got the M sport and the cold weather.

The car is a rocket ship!

[nal13]

Congrats. You're going to love the car.

[Russkey]

Congrats!
Sport+ turns off the DSC but leaves the DTC!

[DallasMedic]

Hot like fire!!!

[GOLFFRR]

very nice set up! congrats

[Nubs61]

Great looking rig......enjoy!

[pillpusher84]

Originally Posted by ezmaass

While I'm not looking forward to its pretty terrible gas mileage (relatively good for the power it puts out, I suppose), I think the fun factor and ability to tap that power when you need it is a decent compromise.

This is my only negative on the 550 ... I'm averaging about 14 MPG Premium (93 octane) ... mixed highway/city driving in 100% sport mode. Then again the 535xi isn't much better @ 17 MPG Premium (93 octane) ... mixed highway/city driving in 100% sport mode.

[PhilT3]

@pillpusher. Why do you drive in Sport all the time???

[ezmaass]

pillpusher84 - sport mode is your problem there. The car will hold gears longer rather than upshift when economical, and it'll also keep you from going into 8th (cruising) gear on the highway, etc - all of this results in much higher than necessary engine speeds, and hence eating up gas.

I'd reserve the use of sport mode to times when you really feel like getting spirited with the car. Otherwise, city driving and just cruising on the highway really only calls for Comfort, I'd think.

If it's a suspension thing, you can also tailor the sport mode to only effect the Chassis and not the Drivetrain, which would give you a stiffer suspension without requiring the engine to work harder.

Or... you may just like driving hard 100% of the time, in which case you just need to live with the MPGs.

[GekkoJR]

It's a very nice car!

But i found something interesting....look at the upper line from front headlight to kidney...all fl models except with M package I think, have this line which almost connect light to kidney. Am I maybe wrong?

[GekkoJR]

And something else....you have ventilated seats - perforated leather. Do you have perforated leather also on back seats?

[ezmaass]

I hadn't noticed the line or lack of it since I've been focusing on the M Sport. As for the ventilated seats, they're only in the front.

[GekkoJR]

Originally Posted by ezmaass

I hadn't noticed the line or lack of it since I've been focusing on the M Sport. As for the ventilated seats, they're only in the front.

I know they are ventilated only in the front, but do you have perforated leather in the back? I saw some pictures of e60 and f10 (with ventilated front seats) back seats and some had perforated leather on back seats and other don't.

Regards,
M

[ezmaass]

I don't believe the back is perforated but honestly didn't look too closely... Only spent 2 minutes back there to stick the car seat into the latch system. Will take a look!

[dreamspeed]

Grats! That is a really nice car

[pillpusher84]

Originally Posted by PhilT3

@pillpusher. Why do you drive in Sport all the time???

Throttle response is MUCH improved in Sport Mode ... much more fun driving dynamics (i have DHP)

[pillpusher84]

Originally Posted by GekkoJR

I know they are ventilated only in the front, but do you have perforated leather in the back? I saw some pictures of e60 and f10 (with ventilated front seats) back seats and some had perforated leather on back seats and other don't.

Regards,
M

This annoys me ... ventilated seats (front has perf. leather) (rear - no perf leather)

[pillpusher84]

Originally Posted by ezmaass

Or... you may just like driving hard 100% of the time, in which case you just need to live with the MPGs.

This is the case

Not complaining (too much) about 14MPG ... just surprised that only 3 MPG loss vs. my 535xi ... with 145 more hp and torque than the 535xi.


And you are correct ... you can configure Sport mode to include/exclude drivetrain settings, but i prefer the higher RPMs & throttle response in Sport mode w/ drivetrain enabled.

[mness]

Originally Posted by GekkoJR

But i found something interesting....look at the upper line from front headlight to kidney...all fl models except with M package I think, have this line which almost connect light to kidney. Am I maybe wrong?

You're right. With the 2014 LCI update, that part of the front was revised, except the M Sports stayed the same as before.

Originally Posted by pillpusher84

This is the case
And you are correct ... you can configure Sport mode to include/exclude drivetrain settings, but i prefer the higher RPMs & throttle response in Sport mode w/ drivetrain enabled.

I agree. I have a 535i and use Sport/Sport+ a LOT, mostly just to get the decent throttle response. It'd be even better if it could have a mode with just the good throttle response (or, duh, have that be the default), and not even the more aggressive gearing. I just hate that in Comfort you have to use half the gas pedal travel to get the car to move, hence Sport most of the time for me.

[pillpusher84]

Originally Posted by mness

I agree. I have a 535i and use Sport/Sport+ a LOT, mostly just to get the decent throttle response. It'd be even better if it could have a mode with just the good throttle response (or, duh, have that be the default), and not even the more aggressive gearing.

You are absolutely correct about having the vehicle remember the last DHP setting ... that would be nice.

The 535xi definitively needs to be driven in 100% sport mode ... the 550xi is no slouch ... it isn't "necessary" ... but for me ... I like that fun factor ... so I always do