BMW 550i
Take it from me, 367bhp is a lot of wallop when bolted beneath the bonnet of a BMW 5 Series. If the 235bhp 530d feels pleasantly muscular, imagine what the benefit of an additional 132bhp will do for your overtaking ability. The 4.8-litre V8 engine used by the 550i is the same as used in the 6 Series range and its an exceptional powerplant.
The rest of the package isnt too shabby either.
| Build |  |
| Comfort |  |
| Depreciation | |
| Economy |  |
| Equipment | |
| Handling |  |
| Insurance |  |
| Performance | |
| Styling | |
| Value | |
Despite the excellence of the self-shifter, it cant help but make the car feel like something of an outside lane mauler, whereas the manual car just feels that little bit lighter on its feet. Illogical, I know, but such impressions soon coalesce behind the wheel of a 550i and are tricky to shift. You expect a car of this ilk to be swift but the 550i is, if anything, even quicker than you at first bargain for. Grip is superb - aided by a very good traction control system that allows the slightest chirrup of wheelspin upon getaway and the car will rocket to 60mph in just 5.
2 seconds. This sort of performance was once the preserve of Italian supercars but now you and a whole host of safety and entertainment features can be subjected to this sort of accelerative force and the 550i isnt even marketed as a sports car. Astounding. The top speed is electronically limited to 155mph and its possible to run into this digital barrier in both fifth and sixth gears.
Of course, do so in fifth and youll probably be drinking a prodigious amount of fuel, but drive in a more restrained fashion and youll be able to average 25.9mpg on the combined cycle. Thats better than a 3.2-litre Audi A6 quattro.
The 550i is offered in the well-appointed SE trim level or in M Sport form. Its doubtful if youll find the SE wanting in terms of standard equipment provision but if you want those M5 looks, it has to be the M Sport. The sports suspension fitted here is very similar to that found on the M5 and then its the usual drill. Wider air intakes, deeper bumpers, bigger wheels, flared side sills and an optional boot spoiler give the Five much more aggressive stance.
Inside the 550i M Sport there are fully electric sports seats, aluminium inserts and an M Sports steering wheel. Overall, its impossible to refute that the Five has matured into an incredibly self-assured proposition. Youll need to set aside time to get used to the cars personality and the complexity of many of its systems but its worth persevering with.
"You expect a car of this ilk to be swift but the 550i is, if anything, even quicker than you at first bargain for"
The dashboard is a triumph of minimal design, the Munich company having built up a reputation for ergonomic excellence. The only possible gripe would be the inconveniently situated electric window switches but these are illuminated at night along with the mirror adjusters making them easy to locate. The improved iDrive system is a little easier to use than that first trialed on the 7 Series, but its nevertheless an interface that rewards a little learning. Customers on a typical hour-long test drive should remember this.
The once radical shape of the 5 Series has now matured nicely into a discreet but smart piece of design. In a bid to keep things fresh, BMW has made a few small changes to the latest car. At the front, the headlights and indicators are now clear glass while the kidney grille sits flush with the bumper. The air duct in the rear valance has been revised while the side sill gets an additional contour line and horizontal LEDs are used in the rear light cluster.
Inside, the door panels and window switches have been redesigned and theres now eight freely programmable favourites buttons on the dashboard so that drivers dont have to use the infernal iDrive control system quite so much. Theres also an optional Lane Departure warning system offered. The 5 Series remains a big but not bulky car. The saloon gets decent space up front with slightly below average rear leg room and a 520-litre boot.
Measuring 4.48m in length, the Touring estate features a 535-litre load capacity with the 60/40 split folding rear seats in place and a hefty 1,650 litres with the seats folded down. Theres also a split bootlid with the rear window opening separately for the easy loading of small items. Customers can also opt for a fully-automatic tailgate operation with a press on the key fob opening the hatch and simultaneously retracting the boot load cover.
Dynamic Drive, BMWs active suspension system is available as an option, and Active Cruise Control, a system that automatically controls distances to the car in front, is also available to order. BMW hasnt left too many safety features out of the 5 Series. Brake Force Display is an interesting concept, enlarging the brake light area when the driver really anchors on. Another first for BMW is Adaptive Headlights a feature many will associate more with Citroen.
This system, sadly still an option, swivels the headlights by up to 15 degrees left and right to illuminate more of the road through a bend. Unlike Citroens rudimentary old mechanical system, this calculates speed, yaw rate and steering angle before steering the beams. Another technology borrowed from another manufacturer in this case Chevrolet is a Head-Up Display that projects information onto the windscreen. BMW has yet to offer this technology, but it will be along shortly.
If youve got the funds, BMW have the car. The 550i takes a little acclimatising to, but once youre attuned to the car it satisfies on so many levels. Power, in this instance at least, has had no corrupting effect.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: BMW 550i
PRICES: £45,205 - £49,805 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 18
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 5.2s / Max Speed 155mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 25.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and window airbags / ABS / DSC
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4841/2035/1468mm
