BMW M550d Tuned by MM Performance
Up to 381 horsepower and 740 Newton-meters, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 250 km/h. With such figures and values listed in the spec sheet, BMW’s new M550d xDrive is one of the most impressive cars on the planet. But there’s also a unique detail that sets the Bavarian model apart from other high-performance cars: the diesel engine hidden under the bonnet.
The new M550d xDrive gets the world’s most powerful 6-cylinder diesel powertrain, which previously debuted on the new generation 7 Series in the 750d/750Ld xDrive version. The 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder diesel unit features four turbochargers – two low-pressure and two high-pressure. At low and medium revs, only two low-pressure and one high-pressure turbocharger work, and at full throttle, around after 2,500 RPM, the two low-pressure turbochargers are bypassed so that the other two high-pressure turbochargers come into action to deliver maximum power.
As a result, the diesel powertrain delivers 400 hp at 4,400 rpm and 760 Nm between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm, making it 19 hp and 20 Nm more powerful than its predecessor M550d equipped with the ‘tri-turbo’ unit. Already at 1,000 RPM. The new turbodiesel is capable of 450 Nm! Linked to an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission, the quad-turbo diesel accelerates the sedan from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds (M550d xDrive Touring – 4.6 seconds), the speed is limited to 250 km/h and fuel consumption is reduced by 11% to 5.9 l/100 km (M550d xDrive Touring – 6.2 l/100 km). Both models accelerate 0.3 seconds faster than their predecessors.
Featuring a six-cylinder in-line configuration and no less than three turbochargers, the three-liter powerplant found within the engine bay of the new BMW M550d xDrive offers huge tuning potential, with a simple rework of the control unit operated by Hartge specialists raising the maximum values to 438 horsepower and 840 Newton-meters. Unfortunately, in this case, we can’t talk about such an intervention, as the Poles from MM-Performance prefer to modify only the visual part of the high-performance diesel car from Munich.
Thus, the new BMW M550d xDrive from MM-Performance is still content with the 381 horsepower and 740 Newton-Meters offered by the Bavarian manufacturer but, unlike the standard version, it stands out with a considerable increase in aggressiveness that is due in particular to the extension, respectively the air diffuser – both made of carbon fiber, attached to the front spoiler, respectively the rear spoiler. The list of carbon fiber exterior elements continues with the front grille, plus side mirrors, and ends with the new spoiler attached to the boot lid.
The same carbon fiber is also found on the interior – where we also find a sporty, three-spoke design steering wheel wrapped in leather, but before we take a look at the cockpit of the new BMW M550d xDrive from MM-Performance, we have to admire the generously sized Vorsteiner VS-340 wheels, fitted with high-performance tires and offered with an H&R suspension that lowers the ground clearance by around 35 millimeters.
BMW M550d Tuned by MM Performance – Photo Gallery
