I think I am a BMW man for life
09-20-2005, 11:31 AM
#21
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Originally Posted by jtsutton1' date='Sep 20 2005, 02:56 AM
I am one month into my 545 lease, and I'm already trying to decide what my next car will be:? 550, M5, or 750.? One question:? does the SMG have a fully automatic mode?? In other words, can you drive it without shifting?
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Last week I test drove the M5 & l tried out the "auto" mode with various shift speed settings & found it jerky & uncomfortable. Definitely not a substitute for a fully automatic transmission.
Of course the M5 has a few hundred other attributes or should that be horsepower, that could help me overlook the gear shift issue
09-20-2005, 11:58 AM
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My Ride: 2004 525i, Jet Black, Black Dakota Leather, Poplar Wood, Steptronic Transmission, Premium Package, Xenon Lights.
My first BMW and now I cannot see myself driving anything else. Well, except my wife's car ...whenever she is driving my 5er 
...whenever she is driving my 5er
09-20-2005, 12:00 PM
#23
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My Ride: 2006 545i, titanium gray, gray interior with poplar trim, sport package, cold weather package, premium sound
Originally Posted by hpowders' date='Sep 20 2005, 10:57 AM
This is my third consecutive BMW in 12 happy years. Graduated from a 1993 325i to a 2005
545i which I now have since August 1st.
Test drove the Lexus LS430 and GS430 and the M35 and M45.
Believe me: Nothing even comes close!
You drive a BMW and you become hooked for life.
I hope I never have to suffer the pains of BMW withdrawal.
545i which I now have since August 1st.
Test drove the Lexus LS430 and GS430 and the M35 and M45.
Believe me: Nothing even comes close!
You drive a BMW and you become hooked for life.
I hope I never have to suffer the pains of BMW withdrawal.
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09-20-2005, 12:04 PM
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My Ride: 2006 545i, titanium gray, gray interior with poplar trim, sport package, cold weather package, premium sound
Originally Posted by BMW#5' date='Sep 20 2005, 03:31 PM
[quote name='jtsutton1' date='Sep 20 2005, 02:56 AM']I am one month into my 545 lease, and I'm already trying to decide what my next car will be:? 550, M5, or 750.? One question:? does the SMG have a fully automatic mode?? In other words, can you drive it without shifting?
[snapback]172509[/snapback]
Last week I test drove the M5 & l tried out the "auto" mode with various shift speed settings & found it jerky & uncomfortable. Definitely not a substitute for a fully automatic transmission.
Of course the M5 has a few hundred other attributes or should that be horsepower, that could help me overlook the gear shift issue
[snapback]172758[/snapback]
[/quote]Yeah, the SMG is the reason that I might not get an M5 when my current lease ends. I really like an automatic transmission. I drove a 5-speed Honda Prelude for 9 years (when I was a bit younger), and that was all the shifting I ever want to do. Now, if I wasn't going to drive the car every day, I might enjoy an SMG. But I don't think I can afford a $90,000 car just to drive on special occasions!
09-20-2005, 12:18 PM
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Originally Posted by jtsutton1' date='Sep 20 2005, 03:04 PM
[quote name='BMW#5' date='Sep 20 2005, 03:31 PM'][quote name='jtsutton1' date='Sep 20 2005, 02:56 AM']I am one month into my 545 lease, and I'm already trying to decide what my next car will be:? 550, M5, or 750.? One question:? does the SMG have a fully automatic mode?? In other words, can you drive it without shifting?
[snapback]172509[/snapback]
Last week I test drove the M5 & l tried out the "auto" mode with various shift speed settings & found it jerky & uncomfortable. Definitely not a substitute for a fully automatic transmission.
Of course the M5 has a few hundred other attributes or should that be horsepower, that could help me overlook the gear shift issue
[snapback]172758[/snapback]
[/quote]Yeah, the SMG is the reason that I might not get an M5 when my current lease ends. I really like an automatic transmission. I drove a 5-speed Honda Prelude for 9 years (when I was a bit younger), and that was all the shifting I ever want to do. Now, if I wasn't going to drive the car every day, I might enjoy an SMG. But I don't think I can afford a $90,000 car just to drive on special occasions!
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[/quote]Too bad! Neither do i!
.
09-20-2005, 02:28 PM
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My Ride: 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S Convertible. Midnight Blue, 6 Speed.Retired - 2007 997 Carrera S, Midnight Blue, Grey leather, premium audioRetired - 2007 550i, Monaco Blue over Beige, Navigation, Logic 7, Cold Weather Pack, Comfort Access, Sport Package
Model Year: 2008
[/quote]
as for NA: i saw that americans tend to get bmw models with stripped down power....for eg: E46 M3 EU spec 343bhp and NA spec (if i'm not mistaken) 333bhp...the same thing for the E60 545i. And who would want diesels in america? where gas is cheaper than in EU?!? well...i heard now that petrol prices went up a bit because of some internal/external factors.
so in the end: Rammestein-Amerika (english version)
BetterMakeWay, interesting point you raised. I don't think the NA 545 engine is different to the EU spec, as I understand it the means of power measurement in the US is slightly different to the EU process hence the slight variances in output (I think it's about 5 HP or so). Anyone able to shed any more light on this?
as for NA: i saw that americans tend to get bmw models with stripped down power....for eg: E46 M3 EU spec 343bhp and NA spec (if i'm not mistaken) 333bhp...the same thing for the E60 545i. And who would want diesels in america? where gas is cheaper than in EU?!? well...i heard now that petrol prices went up a bit because of some internal/external factors.
so in the end: Rammestein-Amerika (english version)
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[/quote]BetterMakeWay, interesting point you raised. I don't think the NA 545 engine is different to the EU spec, as I understand it the means of power measurement in the US is slightly different to the EU process hence the slight variances in output (I think it's about 5 HP or so). Anyone able to shed any more light on this?
09-20-2005, 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by arthurk' date='Sep 20 2005, 10:23 AM
I don't understand.? If SMG has an automatic mode and does not require any shifting, what's the difference between an auto and SMG?? At least from the driver's perspective it's the same thing, right????
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http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=15791
09-20-2005, 06:03 PM
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Originally Posted by das' date='Sep 20 2005, 10:34 AM
[quote name='arthurk' date='Sep 20 2005, 08:23 AM']I don't understand.? If SMG has an automatic mode and does not require any shifting, what's the difference between an auto and SMG?? At least from the driver's perspective it's the same thing, right????
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First, there are multiple implementations of SMG, even across BMW models, so this is a very generic explanation.
Yes, it can "behave" like an automatic, in that it will automatically shift and the driver doesn't have to "do" anything.
But an SMG transmission, as the name sequential manual gearbox implies, is a true manual transmission, but without a clutch pedal, and with the mechanics of the shifting process handled by computer. This means that it is necessarily not as "smooth" as an automatic transmission, which uses a layer of fluid and other tricks to make the transition between gears smooth, and appropriate to the amount of acceleration, speed, and so on. Drive Mode on a BMW SMG transmission tries to mimic this, but it will never be as smooth as an automatic; it's not "pleasant" to drive as an automatic.
Now, if you don't care if some of the shift points end up being a little odd, or not very smooth, yes, it will act like an automatic. But I think the point is you shouldn't get it FOR that reason. You should get it because you want a manual transmission, and specifically SMG.
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[/quote]Good job helping the time pass while you wait for your car das! I'll bet in a few weeks, your post count will be up to 1000 or so...
09-20-2005, 06:15 PM
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My Ride: 2005 530i JETBLACK/BLACK DAKOTA, COLD WEATHER PKG, PREMIUM PKG, ADAPTIVE XENON HEADLIGHTS, AUTO TRANSMISSION WITH 6 SPEED STEPTRONIC, BLUETOOTH SETUP,SAT SETUP AND WIFE AS CO-PILOT
first time owner of a bmw.... always thought i would someday end up in a merc.... but then ....one test drive over the other and i was sold....i especially was sold on the design.... im a bmw man for life....and will always stay faithful to toyota....... love my 1986.5 7mgt fully modded toyota supra... poor thing just sits on the driveway right now.... but im in the works ot firing it back u and ripping the roads from time to time...391,000 miles on this puppy and it took good care of me...
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