550i vs GT

[OppoLock]

Massively different power curves.

2014 550i (stock and tune)

The most legible S550 GT (91 octane) dyno sheet that I could find.

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[68fbjjz109]

My Coworker has a 550i, we have talked about giving it a go.

He has driving my GTPP, and feels it is likely faster stock for stock. This being said, he won't miss shifts and my car doesn't close my door fully for me if it close it to lightly.

 

[Simon]

It really depends as to how long you are planning to keep the car for. If more than 4 years than the BMW might get very expensive with all the maintnance and repairs. As long as its under warranty and the maintnance program from BMW it shouldn't be as bad, but after that it's all on you, and anything from parts to labor isn't cheap on that car. Just the heads up.

 

[ConspicuousConsumption]

I went to the BMW website and priced out a 550i as high as I could get it. The configurator doesn't like the iPad, but I still managed over $86k. Just saying, these cars are apples to oranges. Just saying.

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/BYO/SharedBuild.aspx?CMId=cvd1uzyq

 

[68fbjjz109]

Yes, but used you can get them well withing the price of a GT Premium.

 

[15wile]

Funny thing: I played three of these 550s on 301 near my house over the last month (or it may have been the same car three times -- not 100% sure).

Anyway, the record so far is this:

1. 550 won by a car length. Roads were still a bit slick from rains a few hours before. It didn't seem to bother his car any, but I had pull back to keep traction. Do these BMWs handle slick roads better, somehow?

2. 550 won by half a car length, but I was pulling on him at the end. He got the jump on me on the green light. Dry conditions.

3. My GT won by half a car length. This time, I got the jump. Also dry conditions.

All in all, it seemed like a pretty fair fight, except if the roads are not completely dry, then the BMW seems to just trounce this car.

 

[redline727]

Could have been an 550XI which is all wheel drive. Or depending on if it had an M Sport package with could have have just done better due to a better tire than you. Also BMW's DSC system works pretty well and the suspension geometry is fantastic. Any one or all of these things plays a big part in how that 4K+ pound car performs very well. And just think all of that is done through an OPEN dif!!! Currently only M cars come standard with a limited slip dif.

 

[OppoLock]

Funny thing: I played three of these 550s on 301 near my house over the last month (or it may have been the same car three times -- not 100% sure).

Anyway, the record so far is this:

1. 550 won by a car length. Roads were still a bit slick from rains a few hours before. It didn't seem to bother his car any, but I had pull back to keep traction. Do these BMWs handle slick roads better, somehow?

2. 550 won by half a car length, but I was pulling on him at the end. He got the jump on me on the green light. Dry conditions.

3. My GT won by half a car length. This time, I got the jump. Also dry conditions.

All in all, it seemed like a pretty fair fight, except if the roads are not completely dry, then the BMW seems to just trounce this car.

All of those scenarios make sense to me. They're going to have crushing low-end torque with a quick shifting, short-geared ZF8 that aids low speed acceleration, and redline727 nailed all of the points. The added weight and advanced traction doo-dads help it put that power down efficiently. Even the open diffs aren't as much of an issue as you'd think they'd be unless you're doing some serious sustained oversteer (and who's going to be drifting their 5er). Our top end is a hell of a lot better, so rolling starts from moderate speeds and upward are our advantage as long as the Coyote stays on boil.

 

[Plimmer]

Massively different power curves.

2014 550i (stock and tune)

The most legible S550 GT (91 octane) dyno sheet that I could find.

Thanks for this. I don't think we should compare peak power of 2 engines.

The best engine is usually the one with the highest average power between shift points, and a FI car nearly always has a fatter power curve compared to an NA car, even if the NA car makes a few more ponies on top.

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