Comments on: BF Review: 2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo

By: Carzzi

Carzzi — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:38:39 +0000

“Daddy, is that the new Prius?” “No, kid, that’s the Devil… the AntiPrius.”

By: motorhome finder

motorhome finder — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:44:13 +0000

BMW is famous for making quality & this car is looks rocking. This car looks different because high back portion & big back light it looks like a sports car. This is the best BMW.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:40:47 +0000

Nice review. Thanks

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:52:37 +0000

Mark: Since the latest X5 all new models have had the iDrive contoller to the right of the gear selector; so this is nothing all that new. It is actually a better placement for the majority of people and is in no way impacted by the gear lever. It is well within reach and your hand falls there naturally. I prefer it over the placement in my ///M3- which actually makes me pull my arm back a bit.

WIth the 7 series BMW ushered in a new layout for the dash/wheel as far as location of items goes.

All controls that are driver oriented (cruise control, night vision, lane departure warning, etc.) are on the left side of the wheel on the dash, the right is dedicated for passenger oriented (radio volume, creature comforts) functions. The one exception is the Dynamic Driving Control which makes its home to the left of the gear selector (one could argue that this button also impacts passengers so its placement is not all that wrong and since it causes changes to the shift pattern/suspension being near the gear selector makes more sense than on the left side of the dash).

-M

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:25:30 +0000

Michael: This question relates to both 5 & 7 series. Interior photos show the iDrive Controller to the right of the gear selection lever, with various buttons(sport mode etc) to the left. It looks like the gear selection lever gets in the way of the iDrive controller, which I can’t believe is true. How does this work in practice?

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:30:19 +0000

CraigE: No problem! That's what we are here for! And yes, you are correct that the 5 GT uses (or is offered) with the same options/technology as the 7. Theses new technologies are shared between the two and the new 5 as well.

Here is a more detailed description: New BMW 7 Series uses ceramic injection moulded controls and switches.

The BMW Group in Munich, Germany, has announced that among the many new features in the 2009 model of its luxury 7 Series saloon, will be ceramic injection moulded (CIM) controls and switches used in the interior of the car.

BMW claims to be the first car maker in the world to use high-tech ceramics as a particularly sophisticated material for selected interior control units. Replacing the galvanised metal otherwise used on such components, the special ceramics material produced by a German ceramic injection moulding company is available as an option on the iDrive Controller, the electronic gear selection lever, as well as the rotary knob on the automatic air conditioning and audio system. This type of high-tech CIM material has so far only been used on exclusive mobile phones or other high-value appliances.

It is said to be not only particularly strong and scratch resistant, but also conspicuously cool and, at the same time, pleasant to feel and touch.

By: CraigE

CraigE — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:35:04 +0000

Michael: Thanks for the information. The BMW website seems to be very short on detail for some of these options. Would it really kill them to provide a good picture of the option (as in your post) and a detailed description? Based on your description it sounds like an option that I would purchase. Based on what I see on BMWUSA.com I would not.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:50:15 +0000

CraigE: Ceramic controls gets you high end (like some swiss watches) scratch proof darker metallic like ceramic (actual material) shifter, iDrive controller, and knobs. It is a classy package and currently is the only variation for the iDrive controller. Personally I like it but the price of admission is not cheap.

By: CraigE

CraigE — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:38:40 +0000

I was checking out the “Build your own” for the 550i GT on BMWUSA.com and some of the options seem straight from the 7. For example the ceramic controls are also available on the GT. I am curious about what that $650 actually gets you though.

By: James R. Boulware, III

James R. Boulware, III — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:36:50 +0000

At a visit to my BMW dealer today, I saw a new GT550 dressed in black on the lot. Interesting car. The styling is quite unique and it does take a bit to get used to the new look. The interior is beautiful, the lines sleek, but at 4400 lbs, it isn’t what I’d want to drive as a BMW.

By: JonPD

JonPD — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:17:28 +0000

One of the best looking BMW interiors for sure, still badly sickened by the back half of this beast. I am also an huge opponent of 4k lbs "cars". That kind of mass is anything other than a car in my book, its a boat. Swaddling its passengers that larger and heavier is safer. Sadly I am sure I will get the opportunity to scrape a family out of a mid-sized car that one of these monsters. GM lived with this mentality and it pains me more than I can say to see BMW in love with more sheet metal and increased weight all hidden behind technology befitting the worse offenders of the Japanese market.

As a move forward on the interior I give it two thumbs up but just can't see much exterior design that excites me. I still do look forward to seeing one in person to see if its truly less objectionable in person.

By: Eliot R.

Eliot R. — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:49:52 +0000

Lack of all-wheel drive doesn’t make much sense to me. Otherwise, interesting car.

By: Arvie

Arvie — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:55:51 +0000

The 550i GT and the X6, while both very cool, seem somewhat redundant. Wouldn’t the first paragraph of this review also apply to the X6?