znod

You are very welcome for my part. DS, manual, the performance maps, and gear holding made my life complete too.

cobradav

Uh oh, the 545 Step does not have that? Sorry, I would have sworn I saw discussions in various threads about 5 series owners using that Sport button on a Step tranny. My button is just rear of the shift lever. My apologies for letting the cat out of the bag for the 6er Step tranny/Dynamic Driving Control combo.
[/quote]You are forgiven! You are a 5er at heart. What's really the diff in the cars anyway? Mainly styling.
[/quote]
Other than it being a coupe and with that the styling of exterior and interior the other differences are very subtle and minor but tend to be performance oriented. We've mentioned the additional Dynamic Drive Mode in the Step (ala SMG) but also the final drive ratio is higher numerically giving a slightly quicker acceleration given identical trannies. All antennas hidden under trunk lid (composite material - non metallic). Different cupholder style all together. Actually a plug in cup holder. Most call it an after thought, but I kinda like it. Probably can see it being used to hold tape player in my gallery pics. Wheels (Sport) are unique to 6er although several have used them successfully on 5 series (usually obtained from a 6er that changed wheels. Problem list very similar to 5 series except I do not believe I have ever seen any 6er owner complain about squeeks. The doors we have are obviously larger, but really tight sounding.

I did not need the sedan having retired from real work and not hosting business associates or out of towners. I fell in love at first sighte of a 6er in R&T or C&D article and really had a hard time bringing myself to test other cars (MB, Jag and Audi - wife has Cabrio that has been a very good car). Drive and style is where its at for me so none of the recent crop of Asian marquees does it for me although I had a turbo Supra until #2 son totalled years ago.

znod

Uh oh, the 545 Step does not have that? Sorry, I would have sworn I saw discussions in various threads about 5 series owners using that Sport button on a Step tranny. My button is just rear of the shift lever. My apologies for letting the cat out of the bag for the 6er Step tranny/Dynamic Driving Control combo.
[/quote]You are forgiven! You are a 5er at heart. What's really the diff in the cars anyway? Mainly styling.
[/quote]
Other than it being a coupe and with that the styling of exterior and interior the other differences are very subtle and minor but tend to be performance oriented. We've mentioned the additional Dynamic Drive Mode in the Step (ala SMG) but also the final drive ratio is higher numerically giving a slightly quicker acceleration given identical trannies. All antennas hidden under trunk lid (composite material - non metallic). Different cupholder style all together. Actually a plug in cup holder. Most call it an after thought, but I kinda like it. Probably can see it being used to hold tape player in my gallery pics. Wheels (Sport) are unique to 6er although several have used them successfully on 5 series (usually obtained from a 6er that changed wheels. Problem list very similar to 5 series except I do not believe I have ever seen any 6er owner complain about squeeks. The doors we have are obviously larger, but really tight sounding.

I did not need the sedan having retired from real work and not hosting business associates or out of towners. I fell in love at first sighte of a 6er in R&T or C&D article and really had a hard time bringing myself to test other cars (MB, Jag and Audi - wife has Cabrio that has been a very good car). Drive and style is where its at for me so none of the recent crop of Asian marquees does it for me although I had a turbo Supra until #2 son totalled years ago.
[/quote]
That's a good summary of the differences. I have never had a sedan. So, I fell in love with the 5; it's such a sexy sedan. But, I love the 6 too, so maybe next time. I thought the rear-end ratios were the same. The 550i's Step rear-end/gears are: 3.38/4.17, 2.34. 1.52, 1.14, .87, .69. The 545i rear-end/gears are the same. What are yours? They are not given in the BMWNA online 6er brochure.

BigGrey

Nice one. How is it installed? Can this be available for my e61? I am going to look for the part number...

About the Sport button, i drove a MB E for a couple of days that had it too. It changed the suspension to sport mode. Very nice and quite noticeable!

evh5150

a bit off topic but any advice on which mode I should drive in once my car arrives for breakin? They advise 1200 miles...I don't think I can keep my foot off the pedal that long!! haha

cobradav

Uh oh, the 545 Step does not have that? Sorry, I would have sworn I saw discussions in various threads about 5 series owners using that Sport button on a Step tranny. My button is just rear of the shift lever. My apologies for letting the cat out of the bag for the 6er Step tranny/Dynamic Driving Control combo.
[/quote]You are forgiven! You are a 5er at heart. What's really the diff in the cars anyway? Mainly styling.
[/quote]
Other than it being a coupe and with that the styling of exterior and interior the other differences are very subtle and minor but tend to be performance oriented. We've mentioned the additional Dynamic Drive Mode in the Step (ala SMG) but also the final drive ratio is higher numerically giving a slightly quicker acceleration given identical trannies. All antennas hidden under trunk lid (composite material - non metallic). Different cupholder style all together. Actually a plug in cup holder. Most call it an after thought, but I kinda like it. Probably can see it being used to hold tape player in my gallery pics. Wheels (Sport) are unique to 6er although several have used them successfully on 5 series (usually obtained from a 6er that changed wheels. Problem list very similar to 5 series except I do not believe I have ever seen any 6er owner complain about squeeks. The doors we have are obviously larger, but really tight sounding.

I did not need the sedan having retired from real work and not hosting business associates or out of towners. I fell in love at first sighte of a 6er in R&T or C&D article and really had a hard time bringing myself to test other cars (MB, Jag and Audi - wife has Cabrio that has been a very good car). Drive and style is where its at for me so none of the recent crop of Asian marquees does it for me although I had a turbo Supra until #2 son totalled years ago.
[/quote]
That's a good summary of the differences. I have never had a sedan. So, I fell in love with the 5; it's such a sexy sedan. But, I love the 6 too, so maybe next time. I thought the rear-end ratios were the same. The 550i's Step rear-end/gears are: 3.38/4.17, 2.34. 1.52, 1.14, .87, .69. The 545i rear-end/gears are the same. What are yours? They are not given in the BMWNA online 6er brochure.
[/quote]
3.46 rear with all tranny ratios identical (Same tranny). For the manual/SMG tranny they are again the same between the 5 & 6 (4.05, 2.40, 1.58, 1.19, 1, 0.87) but again rear ratios differ; 3.23 for 6er and 2.93 for 545. I have not tried to obtain the 550 data so these could differ. I put together a chart on RPM versus speed for the two models:

znod

Uh oh, the 545 Step does not have that? Sorry, I would have sworn I saw discussions in various threads about 5 series owners using that Sport button on a Step tranny. My button is just rear of the shift lever. My apologies for letting the cat out of the bag for the 6er Step tranny/Dynamic Driving Control combo.
[/quote]You are forgiven! You are a 5er at heart. What's really the diff in the cars anyway? Mainly styling.
[/quote]
Other than it being a coupe and with that the styling of exterior and interior the other differences are very subtle and minor but tend to be performance oriented. We've mentioned the additional Dynamic Drive Mode in the Step (ala SMG) but also the final drive ratio is higher numerically giving a slightly quicker acceleration given identical trannies. All antennas hidden under trunk lid (composite material - non metallic). Different cupholder style all together. Actually a plug in cup holder. Most call it an after thought, but I kinda like it. Probably can see it being used to hold tape player in my gallery pics. Wheels (Sport) are unique to 6er although several have used them successfully on 5 series (usually obtained from a 6er that changed wheels. Problem list very similar to 5 series except I do not believe I have ever seen any 6er owner complain about squeeks. The doors we have are obviously larger, but really tight sounding.

I did not need the sedan having retired from real work and not hosting business associates or out of towners. I fell in love at first sighte of a 6er in R&T or C&D article and really had a hard time bringing myself to test other cars (MB, Jag and Audi - wife has Cabrio that has been a very good car). Drive and style is where its at for me so none of the recent crop of Asian marquees does it for me although I had a turbo Supra until #2 son totalled years ago.
[/quote]
That's a good summary of the differences. I have never had a sedan. So, I fell in love with the 5; it's such a sexy sedan. But, I love the 6 too, so maybe next time. I thought the rear-end ratios were the same. The 550i's Step rear-end/gears are: 3.38/4.17, 2.34. 1.52, 1.14, .87, .69. The 545i rear-end/gears are the same. What are yours? They are not given in the BMWNA online 6er brochure.
[/quote]
3.46 rear with all tranny ratios identical (Same tranny). For the manual/SMG tranny they are again the same between the 5 & 6 (4.05, 2.40, 1.58, 1.19, 1, 0.87) but again rear ratios differ; 3.23 for 6er and 2.93 for 545. I have not tried to obtain the 550 data so these could differ. I put together a chart on RPM versus speed for the two models:


Attachment 13463
[/quote]
Great chart cd. Thank you. Still, something is niggling at me. Could the 3.46 for the step be for the convertible 6er. I think the convertible rear is higher numerically than the coupe. And, despite your infinite wisdom and info , I still get the feeling that the rears are the same on the 545i, 550i, and 645i (coupe).

cobradav

Great chart cd. Thank you. Still, something is niggling at me. Could the 3.46 for the step be for the convertible 6er. I think the convertible rear is higher numerically than the coupe. And, despite your infinite wisdom and info , I still get the feeling that the rears are the same on the 545i, 550i, and 645i (coupe).
[/quote]

I had at one time about five different sources (three web sites, one magazine and one old BMW missive) that were all consistant with those figures. All but one source spoke to the coupe. The only source that included the Cabrio indicated differences where appropriate and specified SAME when listing final drive ratio for Coupe and Cabrio. No other source article, or spec list ever contradicted the figures so I have to assume, lacking anything to the contrary, that the ones I am using are correct.

znod

I had at one time about five different sources (three web sites, one magazine and one old BMW missive) that were all consistant with those figures. All but one source spoke to the coupe. The only source that included the Cabrio indicated differences where appropriate and specified SAME when listing final drive ratio for Coupe and Cabrio. No other source article, or spec list ever contradicted the figures so I have to assume, lacking anything to the contrary, that the ones I am using are correct.
[/quote]


Check this page out. Look at "Modelle und technische Daten (PDF, 155k)." I think maybe it indicates that the Step rear-end for the 650i coupe and cabrio, respectively, are 3.23 and 3.46 at least in Germany. On the other hand, the gear ratios given correspond to what is given for the SMG in the US. But, I don't think the SMG rear-end would be higher than 3.0 in Germany. Anyway, I ended up confused trying to figure out what the German says.

cobradav

I had at one time about five different sources (three web sites, one magazine and one old BMW missive) that were all consistant with those figures. All but one source spoke to the coupe. The only source that included the Cabrio indicated differences where appropriate and specified SAME when listing final drive ratio for Coupe and Cabrio. No other source article, or spec list ever contradicted the figures so I have to assume, lacking anything to the contrary, that the ones I am using are correct.
[/quote]


Check this page out. Look at "Modelle und technische Daten (PDF, 155k)." I think maybe it indicates that the Step rear-end for the 650i coupe and cabrio, respectively, are 3.23 and 3.46 at least in Germany. On the other hand, the gear ratios given correspond to what is given for the SMG in the US. But, I don't think the SMG rear-end would be higher than 3.0 in Germany. Anyway, I ended up confused trying to figure out what the German says.
[/quote]

What u say could NOW be true for 650 as I have not done any research on it. My info is for 645 '04 and '05. And one very minor point I forgot. I validated the calculated RPMs versus speed on my 6er all the way through 100 MPH using at least two different tranny gears for each one 1000 rpm data point. My own tach/mph comparisons match the 3.46 far closer than the 3.23, albiet, not too far off the 3.38 of the 545. Futhermore, by clocking / measuring on I95 my speedo 60 mph times and by constantly going up against DoD radars I have calibrated my Speedo/odo error to +/- 1 mph to further take out as much of the error budget as I can within reason. I am confident I have a 3.46 butt, but cannot say for sure about anything else I published as I cannot personally validate my claims.