Description
This is my second 550i M Sport Manual having owned the E60 (saloon) version previously. There has been a 550i in our family for the last 9 years and I am very sad to see it go but with a work car and an Audi S1 at home I don't have the space (or time) to drive and maintain a 3rd vehicle.
I have owned the E61 for nearly 4 years in which time it has given us a lot of pleasure as our main family car, especially on memorable European road trips to Corsica, Biarritz and Normandy where the car was an absolute dream to drive.
I am the 4th owner of the car. The car is ULEZ compliant, it has 12 months' MOT and has had all the major work done during my ownership (see the service history below).
Having also owned an Audi S6 Avant, and Audi RS2, a BMW E36 M3 (and others) I came to the conclusion that the 550i M Sport Touring was the ultimate in family transport. The car is just as happy cruising at 70 on the motorway in 6th as it is being driven properly on twisty A & B roads.
I'm led to believe that this is one of 3 RHD 550i M Sport Tourings in existence in Europe (if not the World). Almost all E61 550i Tourings are automatics which, having driven one myself, is a totally different experience. If you just want a cruiser then the auto is great but the manual gearbox brings out a whole different personality in this car. Peak power in this 4. 8l V8 is higher up in the rev range which is definitely best explored with the manual box.
The car has BMW Individual Moonstone paintwork which is in exceptional condition. The car looks silver in regular light, but can also have tinges of blue and even white with the sun bouncing off it. As can be seen in the photos, the bodywork is in exceptional condition with no parking dents or any sign of rust.
The car has been dry stored for the last 12 months in a garage but has just been recommissioned and it passed its MOT with no problems.
In my ownership the car has had a complete overhaul to bring it up to the kind of condition I wanted it to be in. I have receipts for £8, 500 for the parts and labor during this time. The bulk of the mechanical work was carried out by Stuart at Forza GB in Caldicot who is an ex BMW Master Technician.
The key parts replaced/ mechanical work completed in the last 4 years includes:
1. Valve stem seals replaced (115k miles) - this is the must have
2. New Rocker Covers and Rocker Gaskets (124k miles)
3. Full Aircon Overhaul including condenser (112k miles)
4. OEM Front Discs & Pads (110k miles)
5. New Vacuum Pump & Auxiliary Belt (110k miles)
6. Rear Air Suspension fully overhauled including condenser (110k miles)
7. New Front Control Arms & Wishbone Arms (111k miles)
8. New Water Pump (112k)
9. Track Rod Assemblies replaced, both sides (115k miles)
10. Brake Pad Protector Plates rebuilt (117k miles)
11. New Yuasa High Performance Battery (124k miles)
12. New Radiator & Radiator Hose (124k miles)
13. New eccentric shaft sensors fitted (124k miles)
As you can see the car has been spoilt with no expense spared. I always buy OEM parts (if available), or the highest quality non-OEM components (i. e. Bilstein, Mahle, Brembo etc.).
Oil & filter changes have been carried out at least once every 5, 000 miles.
I can also provide full history for the car before my ownership. Almost everything described above is available in hard copy in an extensive history file.
This is one of only 3 RHD 550i Sport Manuals in existence which must make it one of the rarest cars on the road in the UK.
When I bought the car I had my eye on an E61 M5 but got scared by the running costs and I didn't really fancy the flappy padel gearbox. The 550i is the nearest thing to the M5 but with the benefit of the manual box.
I have only seen 1 other manual, RHD example for sale in the last decade and I look all the time. I still owned the e60 550i Sport when I purchased this car but I knew that I had to buy it.
The car has been to Everything M for a bit of work and the guys there loved it. Chris Harris dropped by one day to check in on his E61 M5 project whilst the 550 was there and I'm told he really liked it but then again he does have good taste :)
