550i SMG
01-25-2006, 03:55 AM
#11
Super Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
I really can't imagine why the 550 SMG wouldn't be the same or better than the 545 SMG so you can pretty much take what you've read here on the forums to the bank... 
01-25-2006, 06:02 AM
#12
Contributors
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Chicago
Posts: 493
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: #1: 2004 545i; 6-speed manual; Sport Package; Mystic Blue with a gray leather interior and Anthracite wood; CWP; Logic 7.
#2: 2010 535xi Touring; Automatic.
Originally Posted by subterFUSE' post='229280' date='Jan 25 2006, 04:57 AM
545 SMG owner here.
I love it. I will get SMG in every car I own from now on.
I love it. I will get SMG in every car I own from now on.
01-25-2006, 07:57 AM
#13
Senior Members
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 550i SMG
Finding a new 550 SMG to test drive will be hard to find. Dealers usually only bring in steptronics for open lot inventory. I suggest you look through the used car section for a lease return, trade-in, or CPO. It may be a 545i SMG but I don't think you'll feel a difference and this will be your best chance to experience SMG with a V8. Don't drive a 3r SMG...not even close in comparison.
09-12-2007, 03:37 AM
#14
Senior Members
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NJ,USA
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Heloha' post='229390' date='Jan 25 2006, 12:57 PM
Finding a new 550 SMG to test drive will be hard to find. Dealers usually only bring in steptronics for open lot inventory. I suggest you look through the used car section for a lease return, trade-in, or CPO. It may be a 545i SMG but I don't think you'll feel a difference and this will be your best chance to experience SMG with a V8. Don't drive a 3r SMG...not even close in comparison.
09-12-2007, 04:46 AM
#15
Super Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
The SMG in the 550 was indeed a true manual, it just wasn't the same as the one in the M-cars. The SMG on the E60 didn't have as many modes (it only had two, normal and sport) and yes, the automatic mode wasn't very useful...
09-12-2007, 10:42 AM
#16
Contributors
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by thesaint76' post='229305' date='Jan 25 2006, 07:39 AM
I hope my dealer gets an 550 SMG so I can test drive and form my own opinion.
09-12-2007, 11:16 AM
#18
Members
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Miami, FL U S A
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: Close to ordering 2008 550i Sport Packg w/ sport auto tran.
Previous owner of 2000 328i and 2003 E39 M5
I cant imagine why anyone would get SMG on a 550 when you can have SAT (Sport Automatic Transmission). The SAT provides the civility and silky smoooth transmission you want/need in certain situations BUT when you tap the gear shifter to the left and push the SPORT button..the car is a completely different animal. The paddle shifters work lighting quick and this car does not have a clutch. I prefer the SAT to SMG any day of the week. You need to drive a 550 with SAT. Its a Must!
09-12-2007, 12:53 PM
#19
Super Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
Originally Posted by SSBaronM5' post='468826' date='Sep 12 2007, 03:16 PM
I cant imagine why anyone would get SMG on a 550 when you can have SAT (Sport Automatic Transmission). The SAT provides the civility and silky smoooth transmission you want/need in certain situations BUT when you tap the gear shifter to the left and push the SPORT button..the car is a completely different animal. The paddle shifters work lighting quick and this car does not have a clutch. I prefer the SAT to SMG any day of the week. You need to drive a 550 with SAT. Its a Must!
I'm not knocking the SAT (I love it), I'm just saying that there is still nothing like a true manual transmission (no fluid coupling) from a standstill...
09-12-2007, 01:38 PM
#20
Members
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: nyc,usa
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 04 545 jet black/beige, smg sport,premium,sunshades,logic7,cwp,nav,pdc,bluetooth,16.0,light tint all around,Pirelli PZeroNero
Originally Posted by Rudy' post='468856' date='Sep 12 2007, 04:53 PM
I agree 99% or so. The SAT is fantastic but so was the SMG. There are some minor differences between them and I think you'll find that people that move from the SMG to the SAT will agree that it's nice but not the same. The downshifts are a bit different, the throttle response at low speeds and from a stop is different, etc.
I'm not knocking the SAT (I love it), I'm just saying that there is still nothing like a true manual transmission (no fluid coupling) from a standstill...
I'm not knocking the SAT (I love it), I'm just saying that there is still nothing like a true manual transmission (no fluid coupling) from a standstill...
i am already drooling here...getting my SAT 550i soon(hopefully 1st week of Oct), i enjoyed my 3 yrs of SMG but there were not exactly smoothest years of my driving life...you know what i mean,i was getting tired of occasional mismatch of gearing,esp on 1-2 and 2-1(i drive a lot in the city). I think SAT will be my type of trans for life...that is until DSG comes out!