2012 BMW 550i Gran Turismo
The 2012 BMW 550i Gran Turismo is a hatchback. It has a 4.4-litre turbocharged eight-cylinder engine producing 400 hp (298 kW), with an 8-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive. 0–60 mph takes 5.2 seconds and top speed is 155 mph (249 km/h).
ABOUT THE 2012 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO
The 2012 BMW 550i Gran Turismo is the V8 version of the 5 Series Gran Turismo (F07), a five-door hatchback with a raised roofline and a large tailgate. Its 4.4-litre N63 twin-turbo V8 produces 400 hp and 450 lb-ft. This entry covers the rear-wheel-drive version with an automatic gearbox; an xDrive all-wheel-drive version was also offered.
A different kind of 5 Series
The Gran Turismo arrived for 2010 as a blend of saloon, estate and crossover, sitting on a longer wheelbase than the 5 Series saloon and sharing much of its engineering with the 7 Series. By 2012 it was in its third model year, with the six-cylinder 535i GT as the alternative to this V8 model.
Practicality and comfort
Its two-section tailgate can open as a small boot lid or as a full hatch, and the doors have frameless windows. The rear seat is roomy, with a high seating position, and the luggage area can be extended by folding the rear seatbacks. The car is heavy, so it feels more like a comfortable grand tourer than a sports saloon, though the V8 gives it strong performance.
Buying one today
The N63 V8 is known for high oil consumption, valve stem seal wear, timing chain and injector problems, and heat-related failures of components in the “hot vee” between the cylinder banks. BMW issued an extended service programme for these engines. Air suspension and electronic systems can also be costly to repair.
Rivals
Alternatives included the Audi A7, Porsche Panamera and Mercedes-Benz CLS550.
Written by CarDetails.org. Last reviewed October 31, 2026.
SPECS
| Make | BMW | Model | 550i Gran Turismo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2012 | Version / Trim | BMW 2012 550i Gran Turismo |
| Body Style | Hatchback | Doors | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | Ext. Colour | Alpine White, Jet Black, Black Sapphire Metallic, Space Gray Metallic, Titanium Silver Metallic, Glacier Silver Metallic, Mineral White Metallic, Mineral Gray Metallic, Imperial Blue Metallic, Carbon Black Metallic, Melbourne Red Metallic |
| Steering | LHD / RHD | Manufactured In | Germany |
| Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) | Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
| Engine | 4.4L 8-cyl Turbo | Engine Size | 4,400 cc |
| Power | 400 hp / 298 kW | Torque | 610 Nm / 450 lb-ft |
| 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) | 5.2 sec | Top Speed | 155 mph (249 km/h) |
| Fuel Economy | 15 mpg city / 22 mpg hwy | ||
| Wheelbase | 3,070 mm | Kerb Weight | 1,870 kg (4,123 lb) |
HOW IT COMPARES WITH OTHER 2012 HATCHBACKS
Compared with other 2012 hatchbacks in our database, its 400 hp is 104% more than the average 2012 hatchback (196 hp), and it reaches 60 mph 3.2 seconds quicker than average, and it is 32% heavier than the typical hatchback.
| 2012 BMW 550i Gran Turismo | Average 2012 hatchbacks | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 400 hp | 196 hp (17 cars) | +104% |
| Torque | 610 Nm | 269 Nm (17 cars) | +127% |
| 0–60 mph | 5.2 s | 8.4 s (17 cars) | -38% |
| Top speed | 155 mph | 123 mph (17 cars) | +26% |
| Kerb weight | 1,870 kg | 1,417 kg (19 cars) | +32% |
| Engine size | 4,400 cc | 2,250 cc (18 cars) | +96% |
Averages are calculated from all cars of the same model year and body type in the CarDetails.org database that have the figure listed. For 0–60 mph, a negative difference means quicker.