Ever wonder what an odometer looks like if it reaches its threshold? We don’t often get to see that because it rarely happens when we're looking at it but take a look at this video of a BMW M550xd xDrive get pushed to its performance limit. We don’t see anything other than the instrument cluster, but that’s exactly the point. Our focus is squarely on the numbers, and it shows the exact performance ability of the M55d xDrive. It’s no wonder that this car’s engine is billed as the “world’s most powerful six-cylinder engine in the automotive area.” The display even shows the odometer’s needle bouncing off the limit, a clear sign that the car can go faster if the speed limiter is removed.

Before anything else, let’s look at the optics first. The BMW M550d xDrive is powered by a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that has no less than four turbochargers in it. Yes, four. All of that translates to a car that can produce a staggering 400 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque. Mind you; this is a diesel engine; the power figures speak for themselves. Even the car’s 0-to-62-mph acceleration time of just 4.4 seconds is impressive.

Now move beyond BMW’s reported numbers and pay attention to the video presented by YouTube page AutoTopNL. You’ll see the car actually hit 0 to 62 mph in around 4.7 seconds. It’s not exactly accurate relative to Bimmer’s own claims, but it’s close enough to still be quick in its own right. You’ll also notice the speedometer’s needle reach its full threshold when the car achieved its top speed limit. Take a close look, and you’ll see the needle steadily move towards the edge as the car goes faster, ultimately hitting the 260 kmh (155 mph) limit with relative ease. The needle then bounces a few times, a clear sign that even if the M550d xDrive’s top speed is limited, there are still enough horses under that hood to help elevate the car's performance beyond its own self-imposed limits.

Put all these elements together, and you have a car that can live up to its billing as the hottest trim of the M5 that runs on diesel power.

References

BMW 5 Series

Read our full review on the 2018 BMW M550i xDrive.