Sport Auto - BMW M550d x-Drive TEST

[DeDe]

Test - BMW M550d x-Drive

• Tyres: Michelin Primacy HP
• Weight: 2036 kg
• 0-40 km/h: 1,6 s
• 0-100 km/h: 5,1 s
• 0-160 km/h: 11,8 s
• 0-200 km/h: 19,1 s
• Flexibility (80-120 km/h) in 5th/6th/7th/8th gear: 4,0 s/5,1 s/6,5 s/10,0 s
• 18 m slalom: 63,7 km/h
• Braking (100-0 km/h), warm: 37,0 m (-1,06 g)
• Hockenheimring short course: 1.19,1 min (Panamera Diesel with 250 hp: 1.18,3 min)
• Average fuel consumption: 12,8 l/100 km
• Conditions: 2 persons onboard, full tank of fuel, 20 Degrees Celsius air temperature

Final score: 36/60 points (60%)

 

[speed_kills]

Poor BMW. The Panamera is a rock in their shoe.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Oh dear. 60%?

 

[DeDe]

Oh dear. 60%?

Well, the magazine's called Sport Auto, and the M550d is no sportscar, so no surprises.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Well, the magazine's called Sport Auto, and the M550d is no sportscar, so no surprises.

OK. Well, maybe one day I'll understand why this just isn't a cynical badge exploitation exercise then.

 

[fortuner]

Does M not stand for the Sport division off BMW.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Does M not stand for the Sport division off BMW.

Motorsport.

Anyway, I can see this thread deteriorating rapidly once the fanboys from each side join, so I'm getting out while I can.

 

[Deckhook]

The car is suffering normal reaction to AWD from roadtesters, it doesn't throw the tail easily so it's boring. Which can mean only one thing, a C+ with the comment from the teacher saying could do better.

 

[K-A]

Yikes. Didn't seem like they liked it.

 

[Deckhook]

The biggest shocker was how much slower it was around the track compared to the grossly underpowered Panny D. Up to that point it's performance figures were very good but here is where it becomes a laugh.

 

[speed_kills]

The Panamera will wipe the floor with any 4 door. More than a sec slower with 130hp more and AWD is bad, very bad. A shame BMW whore out the M badge, why not just 550ds?

 

[Tumbo]

Wow, what a huge disapointment.

And "Average fuel consumption: 12,8 l/100 km"... haha, what were the company numbers??

 

[klier]

Anyway, I can see this thread deteriorating rapidly once the fanboys from each side join, so I'm getting out while I can.

Right in time, it looks like the fanboys are in full swing already...
Jokes aside, people can say whatever they want about the car

On topic, give me a 550i instead, even with the 'old' 407 hp unit..

And "Average fuel consumption: 12,8 l/100 km"... haha, what were the company numbers??

Something like half that...

 

[Beemer B773ER]

What on earth do they feed the Panamera ????

The damn thing's as heavy as a 5er, ridiculously underpowered, yet manages to out-pace the equivalent 5er model. Do they come with tires that have more grip/performance-orientated? ...

 

[DeDe]

What on earth do they feed the Panamera ????

The damn thing's as heavy as a 5er, ridiculously underpowered, yet manages to out-pace the equivalent 5er model. Do they come with tires that have more grip/performance-orientated? ...

The Panamera Diesel is more than 120 kgs lighter (1903 kg) than the M550d and it ran its 1.18,3 min on regular Michelin Pilot Sport tyres.

 

[chonkoa]

Does M not stand for the Sport division off BMW.

It used to exclusively stand for Motorsport but that has changed. Now is has morphed into something that also includes marketing and money.

 

[chonkoa]

On topic, give me a 550i instead, even with the 'old' 407 hp unit..

Something like half that...

Exactly what my thoughts are..

 

[Deckhook]

The Panamera Diesel is more than 120 kgs lighter (1903 kg) than the M550d and it ran its 1.18,3 min on regular Michelin Pilot Sport tyres.

It might be lighter but by comparison it is still hugely underpowered compared to the M550d which I bet is running grippier rubber and in theory at least be able to get its power to the ground out of the corners much sooner than the Panny.

A real head-scratcher for BMW.

 

[speed_kills]

You bet? The Michelin Pilot Sport is far superior to Michelin Primacy HP.
BMW should also make a RWD version without the extra weight.

 

[K-A]

What on earth do they feed the Panamera ????

The damn thing's as heavy as a 5er, ridiculously underpowered, yet manages to out-pace the equivalent 5er model. Do they come with tires that have more grip/performance-orientated? ...

Porsche have always had some "black magic" power to maximize their HP to weight ratio, and put the power down to the ground better than most, whilst not focusing on gigantic HP ratings. That's my guess on it.