Sounds like SMG would be the perfect transmission for all three of you. or manual... but maybe you guys dont want to deal with a clutch...

 

Dude, you're preaching to the choir here!

I'm now thinking that little smiley means you were being a bit sarcastic. I will say, as I've said many times before, as much as I loved my SMG, I'm not disappointed at all with the new car. I've adjusted to the differences between the SMG and the SAT quite well and to be honest, I kind of forget that I'm driving an automatic now...

 

Yes.. of course!

 

I'm generally happy with the auto although like most auto's at times it seems to have a mind of its own.

I have mentioned this before, the main problem I'm having is that whilst using the SAT (with paddles in sport) and pushing on, changing from 4th to 5th gives you anything from a nice quick smooth change to a judder or a clutch slipping sound/feel. Any of these (obviously only 1 at a time though) can happen and at different revs. I cannot replicate t order so it's a bit hit and miss

The car has now covered 17,000 miles since last June and it's due a service and booked in for the 21st. The dealer has never worked on a sports auto and as the fault is clearly intermittent I doubt they'll find the problem or even fix it. The car has had this problem since day one but recently it seems to be getting worse. I would suggest that I'm going to have to wait until the gearbox fails completely in order to get a fix.

I also have a computer that resets the date and other associated functions at will and a rumbling from the back on low rev acceleration which I think may be the diff on the way out (I'm sure I've seen this problem on E60's before?). It's feels like the rear silencer box or something is loose, again reported but I'll wait and see what they say.

Other than that, the car is still great to drive and I think I made the right choice. I am terrible at buying cars to keep and then changing them and losing loads of money after 12 months, but I think I'll keep this for a few years and run it into the ground.

 

I will say, this thread and one other I was reading has caused me to wonder if I've made the right choice in transmissions. Pretty much everything I've owned to date has been a stick, and now I'm inclined to change my order on the 550i based on this discussion. Rudy, I see your reply above, you obviously have at least some mixed feelings it seems ... so, if you had it to do over again, would you order the SAT or the MT?
Cal

 

I'm not dissatisfied with w/the SAT. I think it fits the 550 better imho than a MT. If I could've chosen an SMG i would have; but i didn't bc i bought a CPO car. Just my.02

 

Stupid question but aside from the paddles on the wheel what are the differences in the sport auto vs. the regular auto?

 

I think there are a dozen threads on this question but I found no absolute answers (as to any difference in the transmission model itself).
I do know that the Sport Auto has a different lever. It still has the same functions but is shaped better for use as a manual shift lever.

Also, I believe that Sport Auto equiped models are the only ones that get a sport button. It changes throttle response and steering feel in addition to shift points.


EDIT: Added above attachment for closeup.

 

I only drive in sport manual mode.

 

Me too!