The F10-Generation 5 Series is a bit of an outcast among BMW enthusiasts. Although it’s always been a stunner and a nice luxury vehicle, it’s never generated much fanbase excitement. Its ho-hum handling and luxurious leanings moved it further away from its more driver-oriented successors. Now that time has passed, though, and the F10 5 Series prices have plummeted, the second-hand market could get more eye-catching. Nothing more than the F10 BMW 550i, which is now a surprising V8-powered.
Engine
Under the hood of the F10 BMW 550i is a semi-smooth V8 adapted from BMW’s previous models. For the M550i, the blown-eight makes 400 horsepower and 553 lb-ft. While the new 5 liter twin-turbo V8 in an M550i makes 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft. Even so, four hundred horses are nothing to sneeze at. The F10 550i should hit 60 mph in around 4.8 seconds. That’s very fast today.
Even though its steering is still vague and numb, its chassis is nice and comfortable. It is more of a luxury barge than a sports car—a fast luxury cruiser, and a luxury cruiser nonetheless.
When you consider that you can purchase an F10 BMW 550i for under $20,000, it becomes a highly desirable car. The idea of having to buy a nice, twin-turbo V8-powered BMW that’s also spacious, smooth, comfortable, and luxurious at a fair price is very appealing to enthusiasts. For those who have the confidence to do a little tuning, the 550i will make more than just 400 horsepower.
The F10 BMW 5 Series may not be the hottest choice of vehicles, but it’s still a decent luxury sedan. And it’s available with a stonking V8 for a meager price. If you’re in the market for a spacious and fast luxury car, the F10 BMW 550i is hard to pass up.