2011 BMW 550i Sedan Edition Review :
"Ultimate," as an adjective, means "last or last possible, final" according to the Oxford American Dictionary. Of course, BMW's advertising wizards were thinking about "ultimate" as a noun ("best achievable or imaginable") when they wrote "The Ultimate Driving Machine" tagline.
The adjective applys to the E39, the BMW 5 Series now two generations old, sold here from 1996 to 2003. Like the smaller, less costly 3 Series that made the brand the envy of every other premium automaker, the E39 offered the right balance of suspension compliance, sharp handling, and crisp steering. For its feel, feedback, and precision, the E39's steering became a benchmark for BMW's competitors.
The 2004 E60 5 Series was a disappointment for its new, active steering and BMW's least successful application of Chris Bangle's flame-surfacing design language. The car just seemed bigger, heavier, and more complex.
So we approached the F10 5 Series with optimism and apprehension. The new sedan shares its component set (similar to platform sharing) with the hatchback 5 Series GT, and with the 7 Series that was new for model year '09. The F10 5 Series is essentially a shorter version of the 7 Series, though the 5 Series remains one of the few cars in its class still available with a manual transmission, negligible as its take rate may be.
Opt for two pedals and you get eight forward speeds, with tall seventh and eighth gears for improved highway speed fuel efficiency (sixth is "direct drive"). With four planetary gearsets and five clutch packs, the new transmission is designed so that no more than two of its clutch packs freewheel at a given time.
The six-speed gearbox is available with the 535i, which has the single twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter I-6 rated 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet, and the 550i with its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8, rated 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The 528i, powered by a 240-horsepower naturally aspirated 3.0-liter, comes with the eight-speed automatic, only. And xDrive all-wheel-drive is available on the 535i and 550i, but not the 528i. Servotronic, or active steering, is back on the F10 5 Series, though now it's an electronic power steering assist, a first for a car in this segment, according to BMW.
Via : http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1010_2011_bmw_550i/index.html
"Ultimate," as an adjective, means "last or last possible, final" according to the Oxford American Dictionary. Of course, BMW's advertising wizards were thinking about "ultimate" as a noun ("best achievable or imaginable") when they wrote "The Ultimate Driving Machine" tagline.
The adjective applys to the E39, the BMW 5 Series now two generations old, sold here from 1996 to 2003. Like the smaller, less costly 3 Series that made the brand the envy of every other premium automaker, the E39 offered the right balance of suspension compliance, sharp handling, and crisp steering. For its feel, feedback, and precision, the E39's steering became a benchmark for BMW's competitors.
The 2004 E60 5 Series was a disappointment for its new, active steering and BMW's least successful application of Chris Bangle's flame-surfacing design language. The car just seemed bigger, heavier, and more complex.
So we approached the F10 5 Series with optimism and apprehension. The new sedan shares its component set (similar to platform sharing) with the hatchback 5 Series GT, and with the 7 Series that was new for model year '09. The F10 5 Series is essentially a shorter version of the 7 Series, though the 5 Series remains one of the few cars in its class still available with a manual transmission, negligible as its take rate may be.
Opt for two pedals and you get eight forward speeds, with tall seventh and eighth gears for improved highway speed fuel efficiency (sixth is "direct drive"). With four planetary gearsets and five clutch packs, the new transmission is designed so that no more than two of its clutch packs freewheel at a given time.
The six-speed gearbox is available with the 535i, which has the single twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter I-6 rated 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet, and the 550i with its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8, rated 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The 528i, powered by a 240-horsepower naturally aspirated 3.0-liter, comes with the eight-speed automatic, only. And xDrive all-wheel-drive is available on the 535i and 550i, but not the 528i. Servotronic, or active steering, is back on the F10 5 Series, though now it's an electronic power steering assist, a first for a car in this segment, according to BMW.
Via : http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1010_2011_bmw_550i/index.html
2011 BMW 5-Series 550I Sedan Front
2011 BMW 5-Series 550I Sedan Left Front
2011 BMW 5-Series 550I Sedan Front Interioror
2011 BMW 5-Series 550I Sedan Rngine
2011 BMW 5-Series 550I Sedan Right Front2011 BMW 5-Series 550I Sedan Specification :
Performance :
* Turbocharged
* Engine: 4.4L V-8 DOHC with variable valve timing and four valves per cylinder
* Premium unleaded fuel
* Fuel economy: EPA (08):, 15 MPG city, 22 MPG highway, 17 MPG combined and 313 mi. range
* Gasoline direct fuel injection
* 18.4-gallon fuel tank
* Power(SAE): 400 hp @ 5,500 rpm; 450 ft lb of torque @ 1,750 rpm
Handling :
* ABS
* Brake assist system
* Cornering brake control
* Ventilated four-wheel disc brakes
* Electronic brake distribution
* Electronic traction control (via ABS & engine management)
* Immobilizer
* Stability control
* Independent front wishbone suspension with stabilizer bar and coil springs, independent rear multi-link suspension with stabilizer bar and coil springs
Exterior :
* Body-color front and rear bumpers
* Day time running lights
* Driver and passenger power, heated ,body-color door mirrors, passenger power, heated ,body-color door mirrors
* Exterior dimensions: 193.1 in. overall length, 73.2 in. overall width, 57.6 in. overall height, 116.9 in. wheelbase, 63.0 in. front track, 64.1 in. rear track and 39.2 ft. curb-to-curb turning circle
* Foldable mirrors
* Front fog lights
* Bi-Xenon headlights with projector beam lenses
* Luxury trim: alloy & leather on shifter, wood & leather on doors and wood/woodgrain on dashboard
* Metallic paint
* Rear window defroster
* Remote glass sunroof
* Curb weight: lbs
* Intermittent windshield wipers
Interior :
* Cargo area, front and rear 12V power outlet(s)
* Dual-zone fully-automatic climate control
* Diversity antenna
* Anti-theft protection includes: interior monitoring and anti-lift
* Front and rear ashtray
* Audio system with AM/FM radio, CD player (reads MP3 format) ; includes RDS , digital radio
* Cargo capacity: 14.0 cu. ft. all seats in place
* Cigar lighter in front seats
* Coming home device
* Compass
* Trip computer: includes average speed, average fuel economy, current fuel economy and range for remaining fuel
* Cornering lights/curb illumination
* Cruise control
* Front cup holders
* Outside air temperature indicator
* Floor mats
* Intelligent driver front airbag, intelligent passenger front airbag with occupant sensors and occupant switch off
* Six 12-way power bucket driver seat, six 12-way power bucket front passenger seat:
* Front seat belts with pre-tensioners for driver and passenger
* Front seat center armrest
* Garage door opener
* Two active height-adjustable, electrically-adjustable front head restraints, three height-adjustable rear seats head restraints
* Headlight control with dusk sensor and active headlights
* Heated washer
* Interior dimensions: 40.5 in. front headroom, 38.3 in. rear headroom, 41.4 in. front leg room, 36.1 in. rear leg room, 58.3 in. front shoulder room and 56.2 in. rear shoulder room
* Low tire pressure indicator
* Memorized adjustment: includes door mirror position and steering wheel position
* MP3 player
* Navigation system with 3D and voice
* Park Distance Control (PDC) front and rear radar parking distance sensors
* Remote power locks , includes power windows and speed sensing
* Vehicle speed-proportional power steering
* Power windows, express driver and passenger
* Front and rear reading lights
* Rear seat belts for driver, rear seat belts for passenger, 3-point rear seat belts for center
* Rear seat center armrest
* Auto-dimming rear view mirror
* Steering wheel-mounted audio controls
* Remote control trunk/hatch release
* Front and rear curtain airbag
* Leather upholstery
* Seating: five passengers
* Service interval indicator
* Front side airbag
* Smart card/smart key; manual includes central locking ; includes memory seat
* Twelve speakers
* Leather-trimmed, tilt/ telescoping steering wheel
* Tachometer
Performance :
* Turbocharged
* Engine: 4.4L V-8 DOHC with variable valve timing and four valves per cylinder
* Premium unleaded fuel
* Fuel economy: EPA (08):, 15 MPG city, 22 MPG highway, 17 MPG combined and 313 mi. range
* Gasoline direct fuel injection
* 18.4-gallon fuel tank
* Power(SAE): 400 hp @ 5,500 rpm; 450 ft lb of torque @ 1,750 rpm
Handling :
* ABS
* Brake assist system
* Cornering brake control
* Ventilated four-wheel disc brakes
* Electronic brake distribution
* Electronic traction control (via ABS & engine management)
* Immobilizer
* Stability control
* Independent front wishbone suspension with stabilizer bar and coil springs, independent rear multi-link suspension with stabilizer bar and coil springs
Exterior :
* Body-color front and rear bumpers
* Day time running lights
* Driver and passenger power, heated ,body-color door mirrors, passenger power, heated ,body-color door mirrors
* Exterior dimensions: 193.1 in. overall length, 73.2 in. overall width, 57.6 in. overall height, 116.9 in. wheelbase, 63.0 in. front track, 64.1 in. rear track and 39.2 ft. curb-to-curb turning circle
* Foldable mirrors
* Front fog lights
* Bi-Xenon headlights with projector beam lenses
* Luxury trim: alloy & leather on shifter, wood & leather on doors and wood/woodgrain on dashboard
* Metallic paint
* Rear window defroster
* Remote glass sunroof
* Curb weight: lbs
* Intermittent windshield wipers
Interior :
* Cargo area, front and rear 12V power outlet(s)
* Dual-zone fully-automatic climate control
* Diversity antenna
* Anti-theft protection includes: interior monitoring and anti-lift
* Front and rear ashtray
* Audio system with AM/FM radio, CD player (reads MP3 format) ; includes RDS , digital radio
* Cargo capacity: 14.0 cu. ft. all seats in place
* Cigar lighter in front seats
* Coming home device
* Compass
* Trip computer: includes average speed, average fuel economy, current fuel economy and range for remaining fuel
* Cornering lights/curb illumination
* Cruise control
* Front cup holders
* Outside air temperature indicator
* Floor mats
* Intelligent driver front airbag, intelligent passenger front airbag with occupant sensors and occupant switch off
* Six 12-way power bucket driver seat, six 12-way power bucket front passenger seat:
* Front seat belts with pre-tensioners for driver and passenger
* Front seat center armrest
* Garage door opener
* Two active height-adjustable, electrically-adjustable front head restraints, three height-adjustable rear seats head restraints
* Headlight control with dusk sensor and active headlights
* Heated washer
* Interior dimensions: 40.5 in. front headroom, 38.3 in. rear headroom, 41.4 in. front leg room, 36.1 in. rear leg room, 58.3 in. front shoulder room and 56.2 in. rear shoulder room
* Low tire pressure indicator
* Memorized adjustment: includes door mirror position and steering wheel position
* MP3 player
* Navigation system with 3D and voice
* Park Distance Control (PDC) front and rear radar parking distance sensors
* Remote power locks , includes power windows and speed sensing
* Vehicle speed-proportional power steering
* Power windows, express driver and passenger
* Front and rear reading lights
* Rear seat belts for driver, rear seat belts for passenger, 3-point rear seat belts for center
* Rear seat center armrest
* Auto-dimming rear view mirror
* Steering wheel-mounted audio controls
* Remote control trunk/hatch release
* Front and rear curtain airbag
* Leather upholstery
* Seating: five passengers
* Service interval indicator
* Front side airbag
* Smart card/smart key; manual includes central locking ; includes memory seat
* Twelve speakers
* Leather-trimmed, tilt/ telescoping steering wheel
* Tachometer
* BMW Assist telematics
* Illuminated driver and passenger vanity mirror
* Illuminated driver and passenger vanity mirror
* Ventilation system with micro filter, automatic recirculation and active carbon filter
* Voice activating system for radio, phone and navigation system
* Voice activating system for radio, phone and navigation system