BMW M550d xDrive – 5 Series with tri-turbo diesel?

As we just hit published on our BMW M3 tri-turbo engine story, another related report comes forward from our sister magazine BimmerToday and Motor-Talk. According to them, a label for brake pads received by a parts supplier indicates that the new 5 Series family may get a new member, M550d model with the xDrive system.

The “550? badge seems to point to the use of the new Tri-Turbo diesel engine that will power the 2012 X6 xDrive50d and 750d limousine. The new power unit retains its inline-six architecture with 3.0 liter displacement and three turbochargers. The power of this engine will peak around the 400 horsepower mark.

The diesel powerplant can be positioned in a way as an alternative to the top 550i model and its 407 horsepower. The M Sport package featured in models possibly sports slightly different design cues to further distinguish the M550d from the “regular” 5er M Sport.

We expect the new tri-turbo diesel engine to debut next month at the Frankfurt Auto Show in all variants we reported on before: X6, 6 and 7 Series. It remains unknown at the moment whether the new engine can be homologated for the US, but European customers will get to enjoy them starting in Spring 2012.


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veyron1001 - 8/11/2011 11:58:22 AM

+1 Boost

Cadillac and Lincoln win that one. You can understand the BMW model names.

JRobUSC - 8/11/2011 1:58:59 PM

+3 Boost

@agentmoneypenny, I know it's against the "rules of internet chatter" but let's play a game where if you're going to complain about something you don't agree with you also have to offer an alternative. Since BMW uses at least four 3.0L diesel engines with different outputs, how would you suggest they name them? Are they supposed to all be "30d's" because the engines are all 3.0L? Or does it not make some semblance of common sense to differentiate them in power output order, a la 530d, 535d, 540d, and 550d? The numbers might not all match the displacement, but I'm pretty sure people can figure out a 530d is less than a 535d which is less than a 540d which is less than a 550d. What's your solution?

enthusiastx11 - 8/12/2011 7:39:00 PM

0 Boost

why? they actually MEAN something. is it that difficult for you to figure it out?

what in the world does the G stand for at infiniti? or the ES, LS, RX, etc badges at lexus? (answer: nothing. they just did alphanumeric models to sound german)

bmwcs - 8/11/2011 11:07:41 AM

+2 Boost

Wow, a 400hp awd diesel would be the perfect daily driver. Please bring it to the states!

car750i - 8/11/2011 1:16:14 PM

+3 Boost

Great news this will be a class leading motor, I can only imagine what the torque numbers will be.