gents

who owns a 550i SMG or had to chance to drive one ?
I wonder how the SMG works and how much fun the car is ?

I don't wanna buy a M5 (in fact it's to expensive for me) so a 550 might be a good compromise ?

What do you think?

cheers Marc

 

There are a number of threads on the topic of SMG and owners' likes (and dislikes) about it. Search on "SMG" and you'll find tons of information. I ordered my 550 with SMG and am expecting it in about a month... best advice is to test drive it before you buy it (several times if possible). Many people think it will work just like an automatic, but are disappointed to learn it requires a certain "touch" similar to a manual (albeit without the clutch). Most who have it say it takes a few weeks or more to get the hang of, but once you do you love it. Personally, I found the SMG to be much more satisfying on the 550 than on the 530, and have heard that it was really no fun on the Z4 and 3 series, neither of which has it available any more...

 

But theres only a number of 550 SMG owners here... hes looking for 550 opinions

Yes theres a learning curve on SMG but its an awesome transmission. I MUCH MUCH prefer it over an automatic. And yes it is different than the E46 3 series and Z4. I test drove a Z4 before and it wasnt good at all. Its completly a different feel on the E60

 

Lotsa 545 SMG owners on this forum. If you're near NYC you can come drive mine.

 

I've had mine for 2 months now and love it. If you were in the passanger seat of both an SMG and Manual shift car and closed your eyes, I don't think you could tell them apart. I ordered mine on the blind (without test driving) cause they just aren't on the lot in So Cal.

Only draw back is if you are forced to use valet parking, I'm always warry of if the attendant knows how to drive it.

 

I LOVE MINE. With SMG you get the best of both worlds. Its very, very similar in feel to a manual. I had a manual for about 10 years, got sick of it in traffic. With SMG if your feeling lazy, you can put in auto-mode, and still feel like its a stick without shifting. Or keep it in SMG-sport mode and shift with no-clutch. IMO in the 550 its a no-brainer since it doesnt cost any extra. I have 3,500 miles and not one problem whatsoever.

 

If, after searching the forums, you are still unsure of my feelings about SMG, then I'll fill you in...

 

545 SMG owner here.


I love it. I will get SMG in every car I own from now on.

 

hey this sounds really great ! thank you for your offer but I'm from a country called liechtenstein and this
is far far away from nyc you know ?

 

gents

thanx for your answers. I checked the other SMG articles but almost all of them cover 545 SMG but not 550.
I hope my dealer gets an 550 SMG so I can test drive and form my own opinion. In fact I think SMG might be the best choice for me.

Does anyone of you have a special suspension (not original M suspension but kind of a winding) ?

cheers
thesaint