BMW 550i - high speed perfection, almost.

BMW 550i - high speed perfection, almost. 

BMW 550i - high speed perfection, almost.

You'll hear a lot of superlatives when reading write-ups of the BMW 5-Series. It seems like it's always been that way. This big, confident sports sedan is all-new for 2010, and like its predecessors, BMW has hit upon just the right combination of agility, power and responsiveness to push the buttons of driving enthusiasts worldwide.

That said, I am an enthusiast myself, and buttons are the biggest problem with the new 5-Series. Despite a sexier design, powerful, high-tech engines and better-than-ever driving dynamics, the 550i very nearly spoils the ride by getting too caught up in its own clever technology.

The all-new styling carries on the BMW tradition of being fresh yet familiar, with a long hood and massive 117-inch wheelbase providing a solid, athletic stance and confident look that's unmistakably BMW. A feeling of motion is imparted by the twin-kidney grille, which is canted aggressively forward. Quad-element headlights are a BMW hallmark, but swept-back clear covers blend the retro-styling
into a modern face. A large lower air intake feeds the engine, and distinctly flared shoulder lines serve as a link to the larger 7-Series. Thanks to details like the "angel-eye" corona rings around the headlights and distinctive C-pillar shape, the 550i is instantly recognizable as being a member of the 5-Series family, even to folks who aren't BMW-philes.

The three-tone cabin is immediately distinct from arch-rival Mercedes' approach, and features a gracefully curved instrument panel with a subtle angle toward the driver. It also features buttons--more specifically, a new automatic transmission shifter unit on the console. This mysterious electronic device is a glorified button, and BMW has stuck it on the console where a perfectly good mechanical shift linkage ought to go.

Once you've figured out how to work the paddle shifter and have gotten underway, the 550i does not fail to impress. Seating for up to five is comfortable but firm enough to hold everyone in place during hard cornering. The iDrive system is still in use, and in its fourth generation it's getting more user-friendly, as well as featuring a 10.2 inch high-resolution screen that's easy to read. A cool transreflective coating on the screen prevents sunlight from washing it out. A choice of Dakota or Nappa leather is offered, and several different grades of wood trim. The options list includes a fully automated parallel-parking assistant, multiple cameras that provide a "top view" image for low-speed maneuvering, active cruise control that can bring the vehicle to a stop and start it up again, and a pedestrian-detecting night-vision system.

Fortunately, my disagreement with the driver interface was not nearly enough to spoil the ride. The 5-Series has always been a lovely over-the-road companion, and the latest incarnation improves upon the breed with lighter-footed handling. The three-link double-pivot strut front suspension introduced last year in the 7-Series makes its debut in the 550i, providing a stable ride and improved steering response. This car encourages you to go and drive with an eagerness that's usually only found in subcompact sports cars. The 550i is still a very mature corner-carver; it's eager, but hardly giddy. The 550i feels super-confident, planted and phenomenally poised. It "drives small" in a good way; this big, heavy sedan responds with as much fleetness as the smaller 3-Series. Sudden moves do not faze the 550i. Further enhancing around-town agility, the active power steering now includes a four-wheel component that's able to add small amounts of rear-wheel counter-steering. BMW's Adaptive Drive is available, and includes active shock damping, roll stabilization and selectable engine and suspension response. Two-piece front brake rotors use race-bred technology to stop the 550i confidently. A lane departure warning system is also available.

Under the hood, it's clear that the horsepower race with Mercedes is still in full swing. The top engine in the 5-Series lineup is a 400-horsepower twin-turbocharged 4.4 liter V8. Direct fuel injection provides healthy torque across the rev range, while unusual inboard-turbo packaging improves efficiency and makes the engine more compact. This powerful V8 offers similar seat-squashing power to the Mercedes E550, but the BMW's engine note is much quieter. Part of that is thanks to the eight-speed automatic transmission, whose tall top gears tame the engine's 400 horses for quiet freeway cruising while still allowing shattering acceleration in lower gears. For drivers who can't get beyond BMW's automatic transmission interface, the 550i is also available with a six-speed manual gearbox. All-wheel drive is also available.

Incremental advances in efficiency are also part of the package, as the 550i uses a part-time alternator that only charges the battery during deceleration. With the alternator freewheeling, parasitic losses of engine power are reduced.
True to BMW's history, this is a serious sports sedan, and the execution is fantastic, in spite of my ergonomic quibbles. To compare apples to cantaloupes, the 550i is a nicer drive than the Aston Martin Rapide, which costs approximately three times as much. 550i pricing starts at $59,700, with an $875 destination fee bringing the total to $60,575. Optioned-up, my test car stickered
for $75,200.