BMW 550i to be replaced with 400-hp 555i

Valid point - however, the buyer of a brand spankin new 555i isnt going to consider this.

But your reasoning is why I didn't buy a used S4 like I wanted too...

— M35MT (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 5:21:31 PM | | Votes: 4   

Good Question, here are a couple of reasons why BMW is moving to turbos;

-Able to up the horsepower with smaller engine (weight)
-Better real world fuel economy (if you stay off the turbos)
-Increase low end torque.
There are more but I think you get the idea.

BMW biggest problem with turbos was driveability(see turbo lag), with direct injection and technology advancements BMW has all but vanished turbo lag.

I've heard the BMW spent considerable time working on turbo cooling systems to help improve longevity and reliability

— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 5:47:10 PM | | Votes: 8   

I agree, I dont like turbo's, they are too touchy and have had maintenance problems with them in the past..

— simmonsdp (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 5:49:32 PM | | Votes: -1   

Hey, if I see Series III Jaguar XJ6's still on the road, it shouldn't be too bad taking care of a 2008 BMW in 20 years. I don't think anything could be more unreliable than say, a 1979 Jaguar (except maybe a 1979 Audi, but that's another story...)

— altdude (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 5:49:58 PM | | Votes: 3   

the E60 is fugly, however, the E39 was a sexy looking car.

— 528i (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 7:25:18 PM | | Votes: -1   

e39 5-series is the only one that made me want a comparable lexus gs instead. it was Novocaine for the eyes. not BAD looking, just ford taurus bland.

everyone i know that was a fan of the e39 sleeps in a hyperbaric chamber while listening to Ace of Base.

— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 9:00:20 PM | | Votes: 0   

the 550 is going to 400 hp . Which most likely means the next generation M5 will be a twin-turbo variant of the V10.

— BMW4me4ever (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 4:35:00 PM | | Votes: 8   

personally i hope that bmw doesnt turn to FI engines for their M powered cars

— Wazz (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 5:44:15 PM | | Votes: 3   

Wazz- As do I. But they must hold their own in this ridiculous horsepower battle.

— henbmw (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 8:46:44 PM | | Votes: 1   

I don't think they have to. If they lower weight on the next M5 and keep it between 500-550hp, that should be more than enough. Enough to distance it from the 555i but not so much as to make it scary fast like the RS6. It should be drivable.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 8:55:04 PM | | Votes: 2   

I guess I wasn't clear. Some days ago there was a "news" item that said the next generation M5 was going to use the TT V8 engine. That would be going backwards in HP, which didn't make sense. It was obvious this engine was going to replace the V8s across the BMW line, including the 555i and the 755i.

— Ironman273 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/23/2008 9:17:04 AM | | Votes: 1   

This motor sounds like great fun though. There have only been a few 5 series that I have really wanted over the years and this one is shaping up to be one of them.

— Threepoint1415926 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 5:00:17 PM | | Votes: 2   

The next generation A6 will likely have a V8 at 420 bhp as the top since the base A8L will start at 420 bhp.

— VISO (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 5:44:31 PM | | Votes: 1   

The 6.3 from MB is a very loud answer.....and they start at 451hp....

— simmonsdp (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 5:52:06 PM | | Votes: 2   

^ you are correct. That 6.2L V8 is only available in AMG models, however, which compete with BMW's M models, not with "normal" BMW models like this.

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 7:33:51 PM | | Votes: 4   

The 5.5L engine in the S550/E550 is amazing, 382hp 391 lb/ft. I say it tweaks the current engine a bit to stay in the game.

— kablaam (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 8:49:22 PM | | Votes: 4   

I can imagine MB will take the 5.5 and "tweak" if it were but still, 450 lb-ft is a serious number to contend with. What I dont see is letting something so special, say 6.3 AMG, find its way into a car as ordinary as a non-AMG E-class. I think a supercharged 4.5 would be cool. Surprised we dont see the 4.5 much over here.

— Threepoint1415926 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/23/2008 8:26:05 PM | | Votes: 1   

how can you hate the engines in the 5-Series? That's pretty much the most unassailable part of a BMW, and those engines usually lead the class in performance -- MB doesn't have a 528i competitor, the 535 beats everything in its class, the 550 is dead even with the slightly more powerful, newer, and larger engined E550, and same with the M5 versus the E63.

Smaller, more fuel efficient engines, same or better performance. Sounds pretty ok to me. How big of an engine do you want them to shoehorn in there anyway? 7.0L? 8.0L? At what point does that cross into ridiculousness?

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2008 7:41:07 PM | | Votes: 6   

The AMG motor is hand built for AMG cars. I doubt seriously it will find its way into the common lineup.

— Threepoint1415926 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/23/2008 8:27:50 PM | | Votes: 1   

yes, and we will discuss it tomorrow. happy groundhog day.

— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/23/2008 10:41:55 AM | | Votes: 2