New Emissions Regs Force BMW To Halt Production Of The M550i xDrive

Right after it emerged that production of the F80 BMW M3 is on its way out, a new report states that BMW will temporarily halt production of the M550i xDrive.

According to BMW Blog, the twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 of the Euro-spec M550i fails to comply with the new Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) that will replace the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) from September 2018.

In order for the M550i xDrive to comply with these new legislation, the German automaker needs to install a special Otto particulate filter. However, this component is not yet ready, thus BMW will pause production for a number of months from the end of May.

Compared to the NEDC, the WLTP tests are more realistic and aim to gather vital emissions data from everyday driving speeds, as well as under hard acceleration and deceleration. Additionally, vehicles are being tested with and without optional equipment.

Despite the M550i xDrive currently failing to meet the standards, 97 per cent of all other BMW models will comply to the standards by the June 1 deadline. The M550i, as well as the M3, however, fail to make that list.

For now, European customers looking for a high-performance BMW 5-Series will have to opt for the all-conquering M5, as it was designed from the outset to meet the new requirements.