[texasjohn]

I'm very happy with the 550i, it is like a brand new car and has only 10,000 miles. When the F10 first came out I specced a car on the configurator and chose Imperial Blue in SE trim with the 19" V Spokes and Pro Loudspeaker so in fact I got my ideal combination which was very lucky. Havanna is my second favourite on the F10.

I got 2 years AUC warranty as part of the deal. My only complaint is that it is missing the driver's floor mat (but I will speak to the dealer about that on Monday).

It's very very quiet; much quieter than the E60 550i and W211 E500 (the latter was the quietest car I'd ever had). I wasn't expecting it to be quieter than the Mercedes. I've been in louder Nissan Leafs. I will have to put an F10 M5 exhaust system on it, without a doubt.

It's a big car. It feels bigger than the W211 but I had been running about in an E92 for a few weeks so it is a big step up. It reminds me of an E38 that I drove once or twice in terms of refinement and size.

It is rather quick though, handles well for the size of car and feels very planted. The brakes do a very good job!

My car doesn't have Adaptive Ride, but it does have Comfort Seats which help absorb some of the bumps. The ride is fine on 19s most of the time. It's funny, it is fine over cobbles but sudden changes such as potholes jar a little. I don't think moving to 18s will make much difference (and I would lose my favourite F10 wheels, the OEM V Spoke 19s) but will go with non-RFTs when the tyres are worn.

Will get some decent pics up soon, but in the meantime:

[texasjohn]

Went for a reasonably long run today, 120 mile round trip with 20 miles of town in the middle and 10 miles at the end. Driving 70-85 on dual carriageways so not really trying for MPG, booted it a few times but still getting used to the car.

Like a lot of cars, MPG on cruise control isn't the best so I turned that off after the first 40 miles and read the road a little. Returned 29MPG so it's better than the E500 and E60 550i although unsurprisingly not quite as good as the 335i, which would have returned about 32.

Can't complain.

[E60MKF]

how come you went for a 550i over an M5?

[texasjohn]

About 20,000 reasons really!

Although I do find M's a little shouty and I'm self employed so it is better to turn up to clients in what passes for a five year old 2.0D

[morellomax]

Looks great: smart, but not flash. I also agree with you about the wheels, definitely my favourite looking design, though I will keep to 18s or smaller just for the ride quality and better kerb protection.

[texasjohn]

A couple more pics:







An M5 exhaust which is almost direct fit. Will be retaining the 550i tips for OEM looks.

[texasjohn]

So, a full post on the little project...

I had the F10 M5 exhaust installed on a 550i (RWD) in the UK. The car is completely whisper silent on the stock exhaust, unlike the E60 which had a nice backtrack of V8 noise (although the E60 was still pretty quiet, you had to listen hard for it).

550i is 2010, and the M5 exhaust system came off of a 2015 car.

All in all it was about 8 hours labour. It is not really a direct bolt on, but probably overall cheaper than an aftermarket full exhaust.

The PNs you need are:

18207845461/3 x 1 of each
18207585358 x 4
18207578229/30 x 1 of each
18207832991 x 2
51618048827 x 1

Where the front of the exhaust system meets the downpipes it is not a true bolt-on. The flanges are a little different:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3y...ew?usp=sharing

The workshop I used ran the 550i system back from the downpipes about 24" to the 'bulge' in the pipes (not sure if these contain secondary cats or an absorption muffler) and thereafter it is the M5 system.

Some hangers needed to be relocated and the cross member bracket needs to be replaced to accommodate the x pipe (which replaces the centre resonator you have on the 550i).

I had the 550i tips refitted as I wanted to retain the 550i SE looks. Thus I had custom fabrication of the tailpipes between the backbox (muffler in US) and tips, using some 57mm bosal exhaust tube. First of all I went without the exhaust flaps but it was too loud and droned, particularly under load like uphill on the motorway at 70mph.

See link for the audio of the system without flaps:

Start:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3...REk&authuser=0



I have now had the M5 flaps fitted in the outboard tailpipes and it is loud on a cold start and also when it really 'gets on it' over 2500rpm, you can literally tell when the flaps are opening. The power comes on a little harder as the flaps open (as you might expect).

It isn't whisper quiet below 2500rpm and is probably just about as loud as most 40 year olds would want, certainly near the limit for me. But it has a nice burble and doesn't scare small animals and children. It is louder than a stock E60 550i.

See links for video of low revs with flaps closed:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3...aUk&authuser=0

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3...bFE&authuser=0


I am not sure why (probably due to something upstream of the exhaust system, ie manifolds) but the 550i is louder and more 'bassy' with the M5 exhaust than the M5 is. AFAIK, the cc and firing order is the same.

[AP]

I think this is probably the first picture I've seen of a 550i in the UK. Nice engine, I bet there are not many in this country at all, I've not knowingly seen any to date.

The torque of a diesel with the refinement of petrol!

just a tad jealous!

[texasjohn]

I haven't seen any others on the road and there are a couple for sale at any one time although GTs sometimes.

Makes the M5 look rather common!

It's not really that bad on fuel. I use a tank a week. If I had a 520d I might use a tank a fortnight. So, £35 extra a week. It's insignificant really.

[UA_civ_eng]

Do you have anymore pics showing the M5 and 550 exhaust system comparison?