BMW M550i

The 2022 BMW M550i comes in a single-trim offering with various upgrades to the base 5-Series to make it more sporty and performance-oriented. The 4.4L V8 gas engine gives it unmatched power among its class and the sport tuning to its suspension and steering gives it the ability to bypass other cars with ease. BMW has been successful with providing power to the M550i but has also not compromised on the luxury aspect as the Leather seating surfaces and a Harman Kardon audio system come standard with the sedan giving it a premium feel. It walks the tightrope between luxury and performance and juggles both aspects brilliantly giving it its excellent reputation as one of the most beloved BMW Sedans and an excellent mid-size offering in general.

As discussed previously, the BMW M550i comes with a healthy mix of characteristics picked and chosen to suit both luxury and performance aspects of the sedan. The addition of an electronically controlled rear differential helps the car achieve sportier handling and the aesthetics it rocks on the outside also make a similar case. Meanwhile, the interior is just what we would expect from BMW, seamless and luxurious. It also gets access to the Dynamic Handling Package for added control and a couple of standalone upgrades for the overall quality of the sedan. Some of the packages and features on offer for the 2022 BMW M550i include- 

Dynamic Handling Package

• High-performance adaptive suspension
• Active steering
• Active roll stabilization
• Heated steering wheel
• Front massaging seats
• Front and rear heated seats

We Recommend 

As the 2022 BMW M550i is a single-trim offering, we would like to recommend the Black Sapphire and the Phytonic Blue paint schemes as they are what caught out eyes the most. We would also recommend going all out and adding the Dynamic Handling Package, Front massaging seats, and the Front and rear heated seats to boost both the handling and the comfort of your M550i. The interior leather upholstery, 19-inch wheels, and the dual-zone front automatic climate control, all complement these additions and make the 5-Series M550i a much more attractive and versatile offering in our opinion. 

The BMW M550i comes with a much more powerful 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine which adds much-needed power and acceleration. This beast of an engine is paired with an 8-Speed shiftable automatic transmission and AWD drivetrain. This combination gives the M550i a powerful 423 hp of power and 553 lb-ft of torque which is much higher than the regular 5-series sedans and the best among its class. It also has breakneck acceleration, going from 0 to 60 in just 3.6 seconds and completing a quarter-mile run in just 11.8 seconds along with a top speed of 130 mph. Overall, the performance boost is both commendable and necessary as the base trims have had an underwhelming response when it comes to performance. 

The BMW M550i xDrive has the quickest acceleration and the best horsepower and torque output to go along with it. However, its top speed holds it back slightly in the performance aspect. The Audi S6 has the second-quickest acceleration and the highest top speed among the sedans and secures second place. The Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 has a similar acceleration as the S6 but it's held back by a lower top speed which puts it behind the Audi S6. The Genesis G80 3.5T, on the other hand, has the slowest acceleration and the lowest horsepower output putting it firmly in last place behind all the sedans when it comes to performance. 

2022 BMW M550i Ride and Handling

BMW have a reputation for making cars with comfortable ride and confident handling abilities. The quick acceleration is enhanced by the smooth-shifting 8-speed shiftable transmission with predictable and smooth acceleration. The AWD drivetrain gives the sedan better handling abilities which are enhanced by the longer wheelbase and performance tires. The sport steering wheel, adaptive sport suspension, and rear spoiler add to the BMW M550i’s nimble body and agile handling. The suspension is stiff and taking corners at higher speeds is easy due to the lower ground clearance. The ride is amplified by the bucket seats which are comfortable and the dual-zone climate control that helps keep the temperature in check. The cabin noise isn’t anything significant even though the M550i has an incredibly powerful engine. 

2022 BMW M550i Braking Performance

The braking performance of the 2022 BMW M550i is enhanced by the High-performance brakes that it comes equipped it which are a massive upgrade to the regular 5-Series trims as they were much harder to stop quickly. The BMW M550i achieves this by using 4-wheel disc brakes and a 4-wheel abs system with highly efficient rotors that can stop the sedan from 60 to 0 in a matter of 106 feet. That is quite the feat considering the BMW M550i has a fairly high curb weight of 4383 lbs which is a detriment but the High-performance brakes work efficiently to stop the sedan quickly and without a fuss. The brake pedal feels ultra smooth and the chassis is well-balanced leading to fairly admirable braking results. 

We don’t have data on the size of the BMW M550i xDrive’s brake rotor size but they are definitely well optimized as the sedan has the quickest braking action along with the second lightest curb weight. The Audi S6 has the biggest brake rotors up front but also has the highest curb weight which is a downside. The Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 has the second-quickest braking action along with the lowest curb weight which puts it in second place. The Genesis G80 3.5T has the smallest brake rotors and the second-highest curb weight which also gives it a significantly slower braking action leading to a much longer distance taken to brake from 60 to 0. 

The fuel efficiency on the 2022 BMW M550i is not one of its strong suits because of the powerful V8 engine which is usually known to be a gas guzzler. The sup-par fuel efficiency only increases the quicker you go and the M550i can quickly use up fuel if driven at a high speed for a considerable period of time. It has an EPA-estimated fuel efficiency of upwards of 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway for a combined fuel efficiency of 20 mpg. Paired with the smaller-than-average 18-gallon gas tank, the driving range of the sedan is one of the lowest in its class. It can drive up to 306 miles in the city and 450 miles on the highway along with 360 miles when being driven in the city and highway combined, in a single full tank. 

The Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 has the best fuel economy along with the biggest gas tank which gives it the best driving range be it in the city or the highway. The Audi S6 has the second-best fuel efficiency and the second-best gas tank which gives it a competitive range. The Genesis G80 3.5T has the third-highest fuel economy along with a similar gas tank as the S6 which puts it at number three. The BMW M550i xDrive comes last with the lowest fuel efficiency along with the smallest gas tank which gives it the lowest driving range among its competition. 

The interior of the 2022 BMW M550i is both luxurious and refined along with being incredibly comfortable with a spacious trunk as well. The leather seats feel premium along with Air filtration and Voice-activated dual-zone front automatic climate control makes things much more convenient and luxurious. The convenience aspect only continues with the Leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio, cruise, and shift paddles. The leather interior trims contrast well with the black interior and the hints of chrome make the cabin much more attractive and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The dashboard is especially pretty with a wooden trim going across it along with chrome accents bordering it. The additional ambient interior lighting also provides a crisp and visually pleasing look to the cabin. 

The Genesis G80 3.5T has the most spacious interior but to achieve that it sacrifices on the trunk space which is the lowest among the competition. The Audi S6 comes second with a slightly smaller interior but a much more spacious trunk. The BMW M550i xDrive may not have the highest interior space but has the biggest trunk which helps its case and puts it in third place. The Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 has both a small cabin and a small trunk space comparable to the G80 3.5T which puts it behind the competition in the interior aspect.

Some of the standout interior features of the 2022 BMW M550i xDrive include- 

• Sports bucket seats with heating system
• 6-Way power-adjustable front driver & passenger seats
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Multi-Contour seats
• Voice-activated dual-zone automatic climate control
• Air filtration

2022 BMW M550i Infotainment System 

The infotainment system on the BMW M550i is a 12.3-inch touchscreen display with the iDrive system which is fluid and intuitive along with crispy and bright graphics. To use the infotainment system and the Dual-Zone climate control we also have rotary dials and buttons along with a circular touchpad, gesture controls, and voice commands to give you ultimate control over the infotainment system. The iDrive rotary knobs in particular are beautifully designed and look stunning while feeling premium to the touch. Although the gesture control option is an optional one, we think it is well worth the price. The standard features include Built-In Navigation, a USB port, Bluetooth audio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Some of the standout features in the 2022 BMW M550i’s infotainment system include:- 

• 12.3-inch central touchscreen display
• 16-Speaker Harman/Kardon surround sound system
• Bluetooth and USB charging with 12-Volt DC power outlet
• Built-In Navigation System 
• SiriusXM radio w/ 1-year subscription
• Available Gesture controls and voice command
• Android Auto & Apple CarPlay integration

The exterior of the BMW M550i is just as elegant and luxurious looking as the interior of the sedan. It has been given a sportier feel which gives the sedan a more attractive and youthful vibe all around it. The front fascia is adorned with a blacked-out front grille seamlessly integrating itself between the LED headlights that pan across the front and a little to the side giving the M550i an aggressive appearance. The side has sleek and muscular accents that help it distinguish itself from the regular 5-Series trims. The back has a sleek and attention-grabbing rear spoiler along with LED tail lights that give way to the trunk along with chrome-tipped dual exhausts that accentuate the sporty nature of the BMW M550i. All of this sits on 19-inch Y-Spoke bicolor jet-black alloy wheels which are stunning and improve the overall design of the sedan by a lot. 

The Genesis G80 3.5T is the longest sedan in the competition along with the longest wheelbase and the highest ground clearance. The BMW M550i xDrive comes right next to the G80 3.5T in terms of length and wheelbase and has a similar ground clearance and a taller body. The Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 comes third with the lowest ground clearance along with a lower stature and smaller body than the two sedans. The Audi S6 comes out as the smallest of all the sedans here and has the shortest wheelbase and height but a wider body.

Some of the standout exterior features of the 2022 BMW M550i include:- 

• 19-inch Y-Spoke bicolor jet black alloy wheels
• Performance run-flat tires
• Signature blacked-out kidney style grille 
• Adaptive auto projector-beam with LED DRLs
• Perimeter/approach lights
• LED brake lights

The safety features present in the BMW M550i are top notch and the driver-assist features that accompany it are cutting-edge to boot. BMW has always been prioritizing the safety of its vehicles and the M550i is no exception. It uses the same 5-Series architecture that has the Top Safety Pick+ for 2022 by the IIHS. Other than that, it also has a bunch of driver-assist aids like front and rear collision mitigation, lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist, active blind-spot detection, brake pad wear indicators, a rearview camera, and dynamic brake control to keep the sedan safe and intuitive as possible.

Some of the standout safety features present in the 2022 BMW M550i include:- 

• Active blind-spot detection
• Front & rear collision mitigation
• Lane departure & lane-keeping assist
• Rearview camera
• Dynamic brake control
• Park distance control
• Central locking system

2022 BMW M550i VS 2022 Audi S6

Both of these German Luxury Automakers have consistently delivered the best sedans ever created but the BMW M550i takes the lead on the Audi S6 in this instance. It has quicker acceleration, more horsepower and torque, a quicker braking action, a lighter build, a greater cargo capacity, and a longer wheelbase. However, the Audi S6 has a few perks on its side as well like a higher top speed, better fuel efficiency, and a fuel tank which results in a better driving range, and a much more spacious interior. Overall, the S6 comes across as a more daily driving-friendly option whereas the M550i comes out as a power-packed alternative. 

2022 BMW M550i VS 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53

The competition between these two is just the same as both have legendary attributes and a strong fanbase around them. The BMW M550i and the Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53, however, are pretty evenly matched. The M550i has quicker acceleration, higher horsepower, and torque output, a quicker braking action, a more spacious interior, greater cargo capacity, and a longer wheelbase. Whereas, the AMG E 53 has a lighter build, better fuel efficiency, and driving range due to a bigger gas tank, and higher ground clearance. This time though, the Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 makes a much better case in our opinion. 

2022 BMW M550i VS 2022 Genesis G80 3.5T

The Genesis G80 3.5T has been a contender among midsize sedans for a while now and has created a niche for itself which is hard to beat. It has better fuel economy, fuel capacity, driving range, a more spacious interior, and a longer wheelbase than the M550i. The BMW M550i, on the other hand, has quicker acceleration, higher horsepower and torque, quicker braking cation, a lighter build, and a greater cargo capacity. Although both of these sedans are equally competent, we believe that the BMW M550i comes out as the better choice due to the unwieldy handling dynamics of the Genesis G80 3.5T. 

We would wholeheartedly recommend the 2022 BMW M550i as it fixes almost all of the issues present in the regular 5-Series sedan trims. It adds more power, a sportier aesthetic, more technology, easier handling, better braking, and an all-around premium feel to the 5-Series which was lacking. Although it has a few problems itself, like the below-average fuel efficiency with the AWD drivetrain, lower visibility, and low headroom in the rear seats for taller passengers, it more than makes up for it with the positive attributes it has. It's more than just a lazy cash grab by BMW with just aesthetic changes. It has been altered to the point where they feel when driving is astronomically different than the base 5-Series trims. It gets you performance, looks, style, and bragging rights. This performance-focused beast is especially close to our hearts and that is why we would recommend it without any catches.