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Interior Design
Lending the interior a familiar M ambience are features such as the gearshift
lever with M logo, M leather steering wheel with gearshift paddles, M driver's
footrest, BMW Individual roof liner in Anthracite and Aluminum Hexagon interior
trim strips. The sports seats in the exclusive M variant Alcantara/Cloth in Grey
Shadow are adorned with contrast stitching and an embossed M logo. Dakota
leather is available as an alternative, at no extra cost.
The standard equipment of the BMW M550d xDrive and BMW M550d xDrive Touring also
includes xenon headlights, Cruise Control with braking function, electrically
adjustable seats with memory function for the driver's seat, 4-zone climate
control, a rain sensor, the Radio Professional, a hands-free facility with USB
interface, ambient light and the iDrive control system. High-quality options
such as Comfort Access, automatic tailgate operation (standard in Germany on the
BMW M550d xDrive Touring), hands-free tailgate opening, electrically operated
glass/panoramic sunroof, doors with Soft Close Automatic function, trailer
coupling, heated steering wheel, active seats, navigation systems with hard disk
storage, and high-quality audio and rear-seat entertainment systems deliver a
further boost to comfort.
Almost all of the BMW ConnectedDrive driver assistance systems and mobility
services laid on for the BMW 5 Series can also be specified here. Features such
as the Park Distance Control system, rear-view camera, Adaptive Headlights,
Head-Up Display, High-Beam Assistant, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go
function, Speed Limit Info, Lane Change Warning System, Lane Departure Warning
System, Surround View and BMW Night Vision with pedestrian recognition are all
available. Other innovative technologies enabling the link-up of the car with
the outside world and the integration of mobile devices give drivers access to,
among other things, the BMW Assist service (including Advanced Emergency Call
with automatic position finding), BMW Online and internet, as well as the online
services Facebook and Twitter, and Real-Time Traffic Information.
Most Powerful Engine of its Kind
The new and globally unique M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology gives the
six-cylinder in-line diesel engine powering the BMW M550d xDrive and BMW M550d
xDrive Touring maximum output of 381 hp (280 kW) and peak torque of 546 lb-ft
(740 Newton meters). The engine's instantaneous and sustained wave of torque
allows it to lay down benchmark performance values for diesel-powered executive
cars. The BMW M550d xDrive Sedan goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, while the
BMW M550d xDrive Touring records 4.7 seconds for the same sprint. The duo also
display addictive elasticity at higher speeds thanks to their engine's vast
reserves of power. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph (250 km/h) in
both cases.
The diesel technology developed exclusively for the BMW M Performance
Automobiles also gives the new arrivals a convincing head start in terms of
efficiency. The Sedan offers fuel economy figures of 6.3 liters per 100
kilometers (44.8 mpg imp) in the EU test cycle, while the Touring achieves 6.4
l/100 km (44.1 mpg imp). CO2 emissions are 165 grams per kilometer for the BMW
M550d xDrive Sedan and 169 g/km in the case of the BMW M550d xDrive Touring.
Standard-fitted BMW BluePerformance technology also allows the two models to
meet the stipulations of the EU6 exhaust standard.
The new cars' outstanding balance between driving pleasure and fuel consumption
can be credited to the impressive efficiency of the new diesel powerplant and
the spread of BMW EfficientDynamics technology fitted as standard. The BMW M550d
xDrive and BMW M550d xDrive Touring benefit, among other things, from the
pace-setting efficiency of an eight-speed Sports automatic transmission with
long high gears, precisely graded responses and minimal converter slip. Another
standard feature, the Auto Start-Stop function, switches the engine off
automatically when the driver stops at junctions or in congestion. And the ECO
PRO mode activated using the standard Driving Experience Control switch helps
the driver maintain an economical and relaxed driving style through tweaks to
the engine management, accelerator responses and gearshift program. In addition,
ECO PRO mode regulates the output of electrically operated functions such as the
climate control, heated seats and exterior mirrors to provide extremely
efficient energy management. The BMW M550d xDrive and BMW M550d xDrive Touring
also come with Brake Energy Regeneration, need-based operation of ancillary
units, active air flap control and a disengageable air conditioning compressor.
BMW xDrive All-Wheel Drive with Special M Set-Up
The BMW M Performance Automobiles come as standard with BMW xDrive to channel
the engine's power variably and as the situation demands between the front and
rear wheels. The electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system works using a
bespoke control strategy, which allows the threat of understeer in extremely
dynamic driving situations to be counteracted by adjustments to the power split,
without the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system linked up to xDrive having to
intervene. The system's M-specific tuning accentuates the traditional rear-wheel
bias of BMW cars when it comes to power distribution.
The all-wheel-drive system of the BMW M550d xDrive and BMW M550d xDrive Touring
sends more drive to the rear axle on the entry into a corner, delivering
exceptionally precise cornering and impressive directional stability. In
addition, the likewise standard Performance Control divides power between the
rear wheels to maximise the cars' sports performance. Carefully judged braking
of the rear wheel nearest the inside of the bend coupled with a simultaneous
increase in drive power ensure the car responds to the driver's steering
commands instantaneously and with high precision. The driver can even use the
self-steering response typical of M cars to execute controlled drifts through
dynamically taken corners.
Hallmark M Chassis Tuning Delivers Precise, Agile Handling
The chassis technology of the BMW M550d xDrive and BMW M550d xDrive Touring is
based on a double-wishbone front axle and integral rear axle. In addition, the
Touring model has air suspension with automatic self-leveling at the rear axle.
The suspension, spring and damper system, and hydraulic steering with
Servotronic function also benefit from M-specific tuning. The associated
modifications imbue both models with a fresh take on the traditional M handling
characteristics, the cars' agility under lateral and longitudinal acceleration -
and the precision of its responses to steering commands - entering a new
dimension.
Special rubber bearings and anti-roll bars optimize the bodyshell mounting of
the BMW M550d xDrive and BMW M550d xDrive Touring. Plus, modified springs and
dampers give the two models tighter basic responses to dynamic forces. Optimized
anti-roll control promotes instantaneous turn-in at any speed. The build-up of
lateral forces under changes in direction is pleasingly linear and can therefore
be controlled at all times. All of which means the BMW M Performance Automobiles
also preserve the familiar comfort-enhancing properties of the BMW 5 Series when
it comes to ironing out bumps and ruts in the road surface. If the optional
Dynamic Damper Control or Adaptive Drive system is specified, COMFORT+ mode can
also be selected using the Driving Experience Control switch. The M-specific
overall set-up of the BMW M Performance Automobiles also includes modifications
to the tuning of the electronically controlled dampers and anti-roll control.
The result is a well-resolved, typically M overall set-up regardless of the
equipment options chosen.
The powerful braking system on the BMW M550d xDrive and BMW M550d xDrive Touring
features inner-vented discs; like the discs charged with stopping the V8 petrol-engined
BMW 550i, they have a diameter of 374 millimeters at the front axle and 345
millimeters at the rear. The standard 19-inch M light-alloy wheels in
double-spoke design are fitted with 245/40 R 19 format tires. 20-inch M
light-alloy wheels - developed exclusively for the BMW M Performance Automobiles
- with mixed tires can be ordered as an option.
BMW M550d xDrive: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications