[bmwauug]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

If mouthfuls are your concern, why not just call it an X5?

To me, m or not, its an X5. I had a trackhawk, and it was a Jeep. TBH, no one really cares - other than enthusiasts and those of us who banter on these forums.

[Luminor513]

This topic gets resurrected every few months. M50i is a phenomenal car, but at the end of the day, it's an Msport with a V8 engine. Besides the engine, the only difference vs a 40i is the availability of DHP. The X5M is a completely different car, engine, suspension, transmissison, brakes, etc. You can call the M50i an M-car, some people will agree, and some will not. It's up to you what side of the fence your on, but all of that doesn't change the fact the X5M is significantly different mechanically, and that yields a very different automotive experience vs the M50i.

[CGG]

Originally Posted by Melbourne_X5M

Sorry, but no. This is marketing, nothing more. The M50i is nothing more than an X5 50i with M-Sport Package. Beginning in 2020, you can’t order an X5 50i without M-Sport. Instant extra profit.

I would hardly call an additional 70 horsepower in the X5 M50 over the X5 50i as nothing more than marketing. There were other differences as well. The M50i is a different animal from the X5 50i.

The M50i is now being sold by BMW in a distinct category as an BMW M vehicle. If you want to buy a new X5 BMW M you have two choices - the X5 M50i or the X5M. Time marches on. It is what it is.

[-Vanguard-]

Originally Posted by CGG

I would hardly call an additional 70 horsepower in the X5 M50 over the X5 50i as nothing more than marketing. There were other differences as well. The M50i is a different animal from the X5 50i.

The M50i is now being sold by BMW in a distinct category as an BMW M vehicle. If you want to buy a new X5 BMW M you have two choices - the X5 M50i or the X5M. Time marches on. It is what it is.

You are wrong...thats when you just go to the X5 page. Its all marketing.

Go to the actual M page...there is no M50i there.

[jiggie]

Does it “really” matter?

[skyline408]

Originally Posted by CGG

I would hardly call an additional 70 horsepower in the X5 M50 over the X5 50i as nothing more than marketing. There were other differences as well. The M50i is a different animal from the X5 50i.

The M50i is now being sold by BMW in a distinct category as an BMW M vehicle. If you want to buy a new X5 BMW M you have two choices - the X5 M50i or the X5M. Time marches on. It is what it is.

No....

The M50i has the same m sport bumpers as the 40 and the 45e.

On the X5M you have stuff you can't get on any other variant; like bodywork, seats, brakes, and all the stuff you cannot see.

The M50i has the G05 chassis code, whereas the 'true' M cars gets their own unique F9x chassis code as do all the recent true M cars.

[-Vanguard-]

Originally Posted by skyline408

No....

The M50i has the same m sport bumpers as the 40 and the 45e.

On the X5M you have stuff you can't get on any other variant; like bodywork, seats, brakes, and all the stuff you cannot see.

The M50i has the G05 chassis code, whereas the 'true' M cars gets their own unique F9x chassis code as do all the recent true M cars.

They are the "just as good" crowd lol

[Delrazdan]

Originally Posted by -Vanguard-

They are the "just as good" crowd lol

Not to borrow from the politics of the country, there are facts and there are alternate facts that people want to believe.

I think trying to convince them of reality has reached its end of the rope on this thread.

Kapish.

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by -Vanguard-

You are wrong...thats when you just go to the X5 page. Its all marketing.

Go to the actual M page...there is no M50i there.

It's own separate ///M page could be seen as marketing as well but the verbiage simply states what it is actually is. "Enhanced performance and design, engineered by BMW M".

A friend of mine is a Tech for MB... he is an "AMG Certified" Tech and only works on AMG products. MB flies him out to Germany for training and certification. This is more than marketing. This is an internal thing that only insiders would know or see. I like this. Whether or not an M50i or X5M are on the same webpage means nothing to me except for the fact that they're all an X5 but in the end if they were on the same ///M page would that change your opinion in any way? Probably not. The way I see it is what Audi's /S is to /RS M50i is to M.

[kjx]

The fact that this question gets asked shows that BMW succeeded in catering to some people's delusions well. Btw this gets asked on the M3/M4 forums as well and gets shutdown too.

The X5M is the only true M version of the X5 The M50i is just a regular 50i with an appearance package that is standard on that model. There will always be people who think otherwise like there are still people who think the earth is flat. Cognitive dissonance is a thing.

[Russ103]

Originally Posted by jiggie

Does it "really" matter?

To 99.9% of the population, no. To us car nerds on an X5 forum? Most definitely yes.

If/when someone asks what I drive, the answer is an X5. Personally, I don't even like to preface it with BMW, as that is the only thing that most people (non car people) will hear.

I would bet that if you said "I drive a BMW 128i" vs "I drive a BMW M5cs" that most people would just hear "BMW" and not know the difference.

[mobilejo]

Originally Posted by IrishSpuds

That said, I tell my friends it's an X5M because none of them would know the difference and saying it's an X5 M50i is just too much of a mouthful!

If said friends don't know/care for the difference between various lines, why not just say its an X5?

[IrishSpuds]

Originally Posted by mobilejo

If said friends don't know/care for the difference between various lines, why not just say its an X5?

I have no interest in continuing this debate with people that are too butthurt with reality or have nothing to do with their time. Move on already.

[Cheesy Myneezy]

All good arguments guys. This is the beauty of this forum. Some people interject opinions, facts, actual data sheets. It's all good. If you're here, it means you most likely have a bmw, so you're already ahead of the curve. It's passionate people who know their shit, it's all good no matter what side you're with, not with, etc. as a newbie just posing a question, I didn't have any concrete thought or stance I wouldn't budge on. I appreciate everyone's input. Keep swerving from those pot holes if you're in cold climate. Hopefully the warm weather and summer tires are here before we know it. Good shit

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by kjx

The X5M is the only true M version of the X5 The M50i is just a regular 50i with an appearance package that is standard on that model.

The appearance package is the M-Sport kit. In any event however one perceives the vehicle is irrelevant. Buy what suits your needs and taste then enjoy what you purchased. I "Debadge" all my vehicles regardless of ///M or //AMG 63 or /RS and have no desire to advertise what they are. Those who care know and my automotive OCD is put at ease with the cleaner body.

[allinon72]

Blame BMW for constantly blurring the lines between the 2. An M car used to be an experience…engine performance, suspension tuning, steering feel, transmission engagement, looks. With every model year BMW chips away more of what makes an M car and M car and were down to a different engine and overly stiff suspension.

And then there's the point of looks. If I want a decent looking non-M BMW that's not old man spec with silver and chrome everywhere, I pretty much have to get the M-Sport package.

[rpm50i]

the lads at bmw marketing will attach this thread to their annual appraisals.

[iconoclast]

This is the very reason why the E39 and the E46 M products are some of favorite all time favorite cars. They were both extremely subtle and did not have to boast that they are a cut above with brash design and gaudy trim. Same with the W210 E55, D2 S8 and B5 S4/RS4. These vehicles were all bonkers for their time and still to this day highly coveted but without a badge majority of folks on the road would not the difference from them or their Plain Jane counterparts.

[gqgambler]

Nope, it isn't and M car; the name designation alone lets you know that in it doesn't follow current convention. I own an M50i. I knew what I was buying when I signed the dotted line, I wasn't under illusions of grandeur or trying to pretend I had a M car. I think it was purpose built by BMW to be a phenomenal vehicle on its own. I've owned X5Ms and M3s. I didn't want another X5M for my daily driver and the M50i it the sweet spot. If people ask what I drive, I say a BMW SUV. It they want to know model, I say X5. I gave them the same answer when I drove an X5M. If it's a gearhead, I'll get into a conversation about the difference between the two.

[mobilejo]

Originally Posted by IrishSpuds

I have no interest in continuing this debate with people that are too butthurt with reality or have nothing to do with their time. Move on already.

There was no debate, simple question out of interest.

But sorry if I hit a nerve; If anyone's butt is hurting, it isn't mine.

[skyline408]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

This is the very reason why the E39 and the E46 M products are some of favorite all time favorite cars. They were both extremely subtle and did not have to boast that they are a cut above with brash design and gaudy trim. Same with the W210 E55, D2 S8 and B5 S4/RS4. These vehicles were all bonkers for their time and still to this day highly coveted but without a badge majority of folks on the road would not the difference from them or their Plain Jane counterparts.

While the E39/46 didn't have M badges galore, subtle they weren't.

I had a new 330Ci back in 2001 and traded that in for an E46 M3 the moment they came out. Both cars were Titanium silver and when I took delivery of my E46, I put them next to each other and the M3 was about 100x more aggressive looking. The dome hood, fender flares, and quad exhausts told you this wasn't a normal 3-series. Let's also not forget the colors they released with the E46 M3; Phoenix Yellow and LSB. Neither were subtle colors in anyway. All were meant to be in your face and LOUD.

[iconoclast]

I agree there are differences on the E46 but they are not jumping out to the average eye. They're for enthusiasts and individuals who do not need flash. I have owned seven different E46 M3 in various configurations and probably my favorite BMW of all time with the E39 M5 second. That being said put an E39 M5 next to a 540i Sport. Very subtle difference and I love that about them. Anything pre-iDrive was sexy as hell and far more substance/character.