Our BMW 550i xDrive arrived in Detroit just in time to ferry us through one of the snowiest winters southern Michigan has recorded in a century. And while the car arrived with the stock Goodyear Eagle LS2 run-flats that are listed as "all-season tires," we installed winter tires before the staff was turned loose with the car. After making it through the heart of the bitter winter safe and sound, we were all thankful for that decision.
The first-quarter log book is filled with praise, not only for the Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3s but for the entire 550i itself.
"This is the best 5-series I've been in yet," one editor wrote.
"This is a terrific car, not that I was expecting anything less," another said.
The twin-turbo V8 underhood is creamy smooth, and the eight-speed automatic transmission allows the driver to maximize all 400 hp available. But with the winter we experienced, the 550i was more snowmobile than sports sedan.
Driver after driver noted the car's stability in the snow and ice and the confidence it instills at the wheel. "With snow tires and all-wheel drive, this car's a real sled dog," one editor wrote. Another was more succinct: "This thing rocks in the snow."
Our only hiccup in the first three months was, incidentally, tire-related. The stock run-flats were swapped for standard radial snow tires, and we were left without a spare. Pothole season has been cruel. One editor couldn't avoid slamming into a particularly large pothole and blew out the right front tire. The wheel wasn't damaged but the tire was toast.
A call to Tire Rack found the Dunlops out of stock. The closest it could come to matching the tread pattern was with a Pirelli Winter 240 Sotto-zero. So, $289.20 and a day later, we were back on the road.
While the snow tires provided great footing for the winter, in the next update, you'll find out exactly how well we managed April showers.
FIRST-QUARTER UPDATE
2011 BMW 550i xDrive Sedan
AS-TESTED PRICE: $74,700
MILES DRIVEN: 5,630
FUEL ECONOMY: 18.4 mpg
FUEL COST: $1,000.05
DAYS OUT OF SERVICE: One
MAINTENANCE: Purchase and install winter tires ($1,092.34); replace right front winter tire ($289.20)
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