550xi vs M3

[PawnStar]

Originally Posted by UAM951

Each have different use

I keep reading that...mind sharing with us what that different use is?

[Maddict3]

Originally Posted by Real Deal

lol yes the new m3 is just a 335i with a little more power.

this is by far the stupidest comment i've seen on the boards yet lol .

125hp and 106lb is just a "little more power". The new M3/M4 is miles dif than a 335i

[Reid]

Originally Posted by PawnStar

I keep reading that...mind sharing with us what that different use is?

The M3 will be far more engaging to drive on the street and on the track.

If you're not into tracking your car (high performance driving), I would recommend the 550. I'm sure that it'll be far more comfortable for daily use and will be more than adequate (with respect to handling/acceleration) for commuting.

[Real Deal]

Originally Posted by Maddict3

this is by far the stupidest comment i've seen on the boards yet lol .

125hp and 106lb is just a "little more power". The new M3/M4 is miles dif than a 335i

It's the trolls that don't know what else to say so they call it a 335i engine lol.

[Alan l.]

I have a 2014 550i and i've had numerous 3 series in my lifetime to know how they drive.

550 pros and cons over the M3

Pros

Bigger - Enough room for a family with even a baby. Yes a 3 series can manage a baby too (my brother in law does) but it is tight. Very tight inside and very limited trunk space once you throw in a stroller

More luxurious with higher end materials - The current F10 platform has the best BMW interior ever made. BMW did not cheap out anywhere inside this car and it is very apparent once you jump in. Going from a loaded F30 interior into a loaded F10 feels like you just moved up several classes up.

More comfortable - More space, softer riding suspension, more gadgets to make your time spent inside the car more enjoyable

Power - Can't say if the LCI 550 will be faster in a straight line than the new upcoming M3/M4 but it sure is faster than the current V8 one. Verified by many members on the forum as well as myself.

Cons

Heavy heavy heavy - Car is just not nimble no matter what you do to it

Size - Its a big car and drives like one

MPG - The 550 guzzles gas if you drive like anything besides a grandma. I average 13mpg with mostly local driving.

Steering is vague compared to the 3 series.

They truly are two different cars for two completely different purposes. You wouldnt take a 550 around the autocross nor would it be ideal to haul a family of 4 with a baby/stroller/junk in a M3/M4 for long distances. If i was single M3/M4 no question but for my family we only have room for one vehicle so the 550 suits me better.

Alan

[MRV99]

Originally Posted by PawnStar

Anyone else thinking that 4.4L TT V8 with 445 hp / 489 torques and AWD in 2014 550xi trumps the 3.0L 6cyl 425 hp / 406 ft lbs in the M3? And makes the 550xi a much more comfortable all year rounder? And for the same or lesser price?

I can hear some of you guys already: "Hey, one is a sports car, the other is a family sedan! How can you compare the two 4 door sedans?!"

I owned E39 540 M sport and 2 E60's (545sport and 550 msport) and had a F10 550 sport as a loaner for about 1 month when the wife's X5 was in the shop for 63 days so I have had the pleasure of driving all recent styles of the 5 series and not just short test drives. The E39 fit like a glove but the E60 was more luxury/gadget but also had more power(550 was the best) so both of these cars were great for different reasons. My impression of the 550 was it was HUGE and reminded me of the 7 series I have been in. I was contemplating the M5, did a test drive(six speed) and yes the car was really fast but I could not get the Big Boat feeling out of my head. Hell my 550 felt small compared to the F10. I really wanted to drive a DCT car to see what is was like compared to the Sport trans (paddle shifter) in the 550 and I was leaning toward the DCT in the M5. The dealership had a M3 w/ DCT and they gave me the car for the day to drive. It was absolutely amazing just how different the M3 was in size and feel compared to the M5/550. It was almost like a go-cart compared to the 550/M5. I ended up putting the car seats in the back, taking the family to lunch and really did some real world testing. The M3 is much smaller and will never have the luxury and size to carry/haul stuff but it was a trade off. Long and short, 550/M5 are luxury haulers which can go fast to very fast. The M3 is car which made you feel like it was a part of you and just felt awesome. I guess you can figure out which direction I went.

I did a BMW track day in my M3 and did a ride along in a M5 and believe me. The ride along was great but believe me you could feel every pound of that car as it was driving around.

Originally Posted by PawnStar

My point exactly.
So if M3 is not for the track, by BMWs own admission, what's the point of paying $85k+ for an 'enhanced' performance 3 series?? At least the old car had a screaming V8 that differentiated it from the 'lesser' 3 series line. This new car, as great as the marketing machine paints it, is the same ol' 3.0L 6 cyl, albeit with some more power. I don't see any leap forward in engineering solutions, just some good marketing. Remains to be seen what the reviewers have to say about it end of June.

I have driven all different types of 3 series as loaners when our cars are at the dealership. ///M cars have a completely different feeling. Believe me there is no mistaking you are in an ///M car when you are driving everything just feels that much better and connected. I would never confuse a 335 jbl4 with the feel of a M3. I cannot say what the new M3/4 will be like but I can only assume the same will be true as the E90, much different animal.

Originally Posted by PawnStar

Per bmwusa.com 550xi weighs 4400 lbs. while marketing materials may suggest a low 3300 lbs, I'm prepared to wager a token amount that M3 will not weigh 3300 lbs in the real world when it debuts.

I would not fret about 100lbs or so lbs in real world weight. It is still going to be around 1000lbs lighter than the 5 series and that is a lot of weight to haul around. The options that add weight to the M3 will be the same weight that the 550 gets because I am sure the option level will be close. The F80 is lighter than the e90 and the F10 is heaver than the E60 so the separation will be felt even more.


I can say that the F30/f80 is nicer on the interior than the e90 and is a bit larger which I can tell. I do think the F30/80 is more inline with the F10 series compared to the E90. My e60 interior was pretty much the same as the 550 except the I prefer the much nicer leather in the e90 M3 so I am not really seeing a huge difference in the F30/80 to the F10.

[elitex]

Originally Posted by iPhone vs Android

5 series is a living room on wheels. I'd hardly call it a sedan if I could, it's more like a lowered lincoln navigator. I drove a 550 and an M5, and I wouldn't buy either if they cost less than an M3, just my personal opinion.

Seriously?

OP, it's definitely not this bad.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by elitex

Seriously?

OP, it's definitely not this bad.

He's a verified vitriol spewing troll. Try your best to ignore him.

[PawnStar]

Originally Posted by elitex

Seriously?

OP, it's definitely not this bad.

LCI 2014 550xi is a fantastic car. Monster engine, great suspension, comfy big Multi comfort seats standard. And you can bring 3 large friends and their gear with you to a ski outing...what more could anyone want??

[yemenmocha]

Lowed Lincoln Navigator... I love it!

[BlackSaphire]

So, F80 M3 has been out for awhile now, any comparos between the 550xi and the new F80 M3?

[Deviant]

Originally Posted by BlackSaphire

So, F80 M3 has been out for awhile now, any comparos between the 550xi and the new F80 M3?

I didn't have the x but I had the M-Sport 550i before my F80 M3 and they really couldn't be more different cars. The 550i was my stealth rocket. It accelerated quickly and was just DEAD quiet! Great comfort and definitely a big car. So if those two things are high on your list of wants then maybe it's the car for you. However, that's where the pros ended for me. The M3 is just light years more responsive, quicker, handles much better. It's just overall SO much more fun to drive. It makes me happy every time I get in it and I've had mine since launch day.

[Roadkiller]

Not that this thread is still relevant but I owned an E92 and moved into a 550i -- and immediately installed a dinan S2 (501 hp / 585 tq). The car is a rocket and a blast to drive during freeway trips. Been on three trips 400 miles away and each time I'm amazed at the power I get from this car. And it has shocked the $&/# out of a few drivers looking to make me an example. It certainly would smoke my E92.

Having said that, they are two completely different cars and it depends on what you want and need. I needed a bigger sedan at the time and chose the more refine luxurious 550i. If this is you, go for it and add the tune. You will not be disappointed. The software upgrade satisfied my craving for more power to weight ratio. For me it was the perfect combination of luxury and power.

However, I was really never able to get over the fact that I got rid of my E92. There's something special about the car -- and if you owned one you know what I'm talking about. I no longer need the big sedan so when my lease is up in 8 months I'm moving back into an AW M3 ASAP. Love the luxury of the 550 and the power tune but the M3 is a special creature.

[TheRealOrosie]

Originally Posted by PawnStar

Anyone else thinking that 4.4L TT V8 with 445 hp / 489 torques and AWD in 2014 550xi trumps the 3.0L 6cyl 425 hp / 406 ft lbs in the M3? And makes the 550xi a much more comfortable all year rounder? And for the same or lesser price?

I can hear some of you guys already: "Hey, one is a sports car, the other is a family sedan! How can you compare the two 4 door sedans?!"

I just came from a 500+ hp 550i M-Sport 6mt (Dinan Stage 3)...and my F80 would blow its doors off. The 550i was 800lbs heavier, with massive turbo lag and boat like handling.

I have to say though that it was one comfy, quiet and FAST highway cruiser...but that is about all it is good for.

[Andrew115]

550 doesn't feel nearly as fast. I was bored in it by comparison.

[JeffM-Houston]

This new car, as great as the marketing machine paints it, is the same ol' 3.0L 6 cyl, albeit with some more power.

Except for the different bore (larger), and the different stroke (shorter), and the closed deck case design, and the arc sprayed cylinder liners, and the forged crank...

Yep, just like the S54, only different.

But back to the OP, I would say there is no comparison. I did actually think very briefly about a 5, but just to big and heavy to be any use to me for what I wanted it for.

[evanescent03]

Originally Posted by JeffM-Houston

Except for the different bore (larger), and the different stroke (shorter), and the closed deck case design, and the arc sprayed cylinder liners, and the forged crank...

Yep, just like the S54, only different.

owned…haha.

i had a 550xi as a loaner when my 335i was in the shop … i thought it was quick but wobbly and scary when driving the same roads (at like 6/10s) compared to the 335i sport pkg and e46 m3 i had at the time.

if i never planned on tracking the M3, i probably would've gone to the larger, more comfortable 535i or 550 while still getting a fair amount of straight line grunt (especially after tunes).

the 3 series is the 5 series of yesteryear .. it still offers plenty utility for me! but as usual, it boils down to what you are looking for in a car and i wouldn't say that one is overall "better" than the other .. but they certainly have their obvious strengths and weaknesses. wonder what the OP is up to these days and what he's driving...

[JeffM-Houston]

I just wanted to add that the new F80/82 is a huge car to me. I really feel like the M3 is about just right for a medium to large family sedan.

My first 3er was a 1978 E21 320/6 when I lived in the UK for a few years. That was a tiny car compared to the latest. And that 2 liter 6 cylinder with an old timey carburetor (and 120 hp) seemed sweet at the time.

[PawnStar]

Originally Posted by evanescent03

owned…haha.

i had a 550xi as a loaner when my 335i was in the shop … i thought it was quick but wobbly and scary when driving the same roads (at like 6/10s) compared to the 335i sport pkg...wonder what the OP is up to these days and what he's driving...

Ironically, two weeks ago I picked up a 2015 550xi. I test drove a full gamut of fun cars, including, but not limited to C7, R8 4.2, RS7, S6, 550xi, M5, Quattroporte, Ghibli, M3/4, GTR, 991 S, Cayman S, Cayenne TurboS and concluded that, for me, 550xi is the right balance of performance, cache, luxury and dollars. It compares favorably to my 14 Cayenne GTS, yet at almost half the price and 460 miles later, I'm convinced that I've made the right call.

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by JeffM-Houston

Except for the different bore (larger), and the different stroke (shorter), and the closed deck case design, and the arc sprayed cylinder liners, and the forged crank...

Yep, just like the S54, only different.

But back to the OP, I would say there is no comparison. I did actually think very briefly about a 5, but just to big and heavy to be any use to me for what I wanted it for.

S55 has exact same bore and stroke as the N55

[PawnStar]

Originally Posted by JeffM-Houston

Except for the different bore (larger), and the different stroke (shorter), and the closed deck case design, and the arc sprayed cylinder liners, and the forged crank...

Yep, just like the S54, only different.

S55B30 and N55 are identical in bore and stroke, and according to Bimmerfile, there are no liners: 'instead of liners, the cylinder bores feature a twin-wire arc-sprayed coating'.

[ghost34]

Originally Posted by P-TownM3

I just came from a 500+ hp 550i M-Sport 6mt (Dinan Stage 3)...and my F80 would blow its doors off. The 550i was 800lbs heavier, with massive turbo lag and boat like handling.

I have to say though that it was one comfy, quiet and FAST highway cruiser...but that is about all it is good for.

I concur. I have a 2011 550 stage 2 tune and can't wait to dump it. Good off the line pop and a solid passing gear but even in sport mode, I'll catch it off gaurd for a quick acceleration and it really does hesitate with turbo lag. I hate the steering, there is no feel/feedback but it's really bad compared to the newer eps setups. Comfy ride, but too comfy. you can get on it but the longer you have it, the less you want to. It's become my 3am booty call, always there when I want it but I'll spend the entire night trying to get something different. plus, resale on 550's are horrid