Speaking further on BMW’s new M550i xDrive Pure sedan – a high performance M sport sedan sitting below the top-line boots and all M5 Competition, $100,000 more affordable at $134,900. A 4.4-litre V8 with two twin-scroll turbochargers and all-wheel-drive via an 8-speed steptronic sport automatic with manual paddle shifters. In short, very livable sports performance and not full on as the track skewed M5 Competition.  You can dawdle around the suburbs with consummate ease but on a winding road you can unleash some very polished high performance in absolute safety – BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive so assured with the Bavarian car makers renowned steering accuracy.

Everything about the M550i xDrive is subtle – the M stands for performance and the M Sports brakes, adaptive electronic suspension, generally rear-biased all wheel drive and 40-series tyres on 20-inch alloys offer enormous grip. You’ve heard me talk about 40-series tyres, with just 50mm of side wall just so susceptible to damage. In heavy rain I clipped a hidden pothole puncturing a front run-flat tyre. Able to drive home on the run flat I called BMW Assist at 6pm on a wet Sunday night, greeted by a very helpful receptionist who arranged towing the next morning and the offer of another car. We sometimes think that Roadside Assist is more a marketing tool than practical assistance – in this case BMW Assist really lived up to its name.

I’m David Berthon

Click PLAY to listen!

Download this podcast here