Joined the SMG Club
07-28-2005, 09:33 AM
#1
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Connecticut, USA
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
[First post here] When I initially thought about replacing my 2001 740iL Sport (E38) for a new 545i, this forum was very helpful during my research. My big decision was whether to get SMG or Steptronic, couldn't get the 6-speed because my wife (and occasionally others) will drive the car once in a while.
My cars have always been manual transmissions (most recently, an E36 M3/4 and an Acura NSX), the 740iL was my first automatic. With the 545i, I knew I'd found the perfect blend of my previous sports cars and a luxury sedan. There are virtually no 5-series SMG cars around, so getting a test drive in one wasn't possible. I drove a friend's 2004 M3 SMG (yeah, I know it's not the same as the E60), and really liked it, even with just a brief time in it. I like the fact that I'll have a manual transmission again, and it'll be such a blast with that wonderful V8
The dealer located two SMG's in the East, one in Michigan and one on the boat on its way to NY - I opted for the latter, Orient Blue/Black with Premium Sound/Nav/Cold Weather/Electric sunshade. They've swapped it out with the original dealer, and I should have it in about two weeks (hard to wait!). Got the great lease deal (about $1600 over invoice) and an excellent value on my trade-in.
So, while I anxiously try to kill the time, I'm reading up on here and have downloaded the various PDF manuals, deciding on the Aux audio input for my iPod, the Valentine One hardwire, etc.
Glad to be on board!
No pictures of the new car, of course, but here's one of the outgoing one ...
My cars have always been manual transmissions (most recently, an E36 M3/4 and an Acura NSX), the 740iL was my first automatic. With the 545i, I knew I'd found the perfect blend of my previous sports cars and a luxury sedan. There are virtually no 5-series SMG cars around, so getting a test drive in one wasn't possible. I drove a friend's 2004 M3 SMG (yeah, I know it's not the same as the E60), and really liked it, even with just a brief time in it. I like the fact that I'll have a manual transmission again, and it'll be such a blast with that wonderful V8
The dealer located two SMG's in the East, one in Michigan and one on the boat on its way to NY - I opted for the latter, Orient Blue/Black with Premium Sound/Nav/Cold Weather/Electric sunshade. They've swapped it out with the original dealer, and I should have it in about two weeks (hard to wait!). Got the great lease deal (about $1600 over invoice) and an excellent value on my trade-in.
So, while I anxiously try to kill the time, I'm reading up on here and have downloaded the various PDF manuals, deciding on the Aux audio input for my iPod, the Valentine One hardwire, etc.
Glad to be on board!
No pictures of the new car, of course, but here's one of the outgoing one ...
07-28-2005, 09:58 AM
#5
Contributors
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2005 545i Titanium Silver/Black/Poplar: Steptronic, Sport, Cold Weather, Premium Sound, Comfort Seats, Sat Radio, NAV & Shades
Congrats, you will love that car. I am trying to get a meet & greet together for those of us from New Enaglnd, mainly Mass, RI and Conn. If we get it organized you should come.
07-28-2005, 10:29 AM
#6
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Connecticut, USA
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Appreciate the welcomes, thanks all!
kigerka, the car is leased for 3 years, the warranty will cover any little niggles with the SMG (if any). I'm not too worried about the reliability, though it would be a pain if I keep having to take it to the dealer.
jackbutler, I plan to take some neat pictures of the new one (I'm a serious amateur/sorta-professional photographer, and have already got a location or two in mind, along with another photographer who has an E46 ///M3)
bmwin14rsm, SMG has me really excited - it's going to be such a blast! I was really lucky to find this one, there really are NO SMG 545i cars to be found.
SolarFactory, I did see the posts in the Meet & Greet forum - I'm near the Hartford area, and will try to get to a meet in the near future.
kigerka, the car is leased for 3 years, the warranty will cover any little niggles with the SMG (if any). I'm not too worried about the reliability, though it would be a pain if I keep having to take it to the dealer.
jackbutler, I plan to take some neat pictures of the new one (I'm a serious amateur/sorta-professional photographer, and have already got a location or two in mind, along with another photographer who has an E46 ///M3)
bmwin14rsm, SMG has me really excited - it's going to be such a blast! I was really lucky to find this one, there really are NO SMG 545i cars to be found.
SolarFactory, I did see the posts in the Meet & Greet forum - I'm near the Hartford area, and will try to get to a meet in the near future.
07-28-2005, 02:56 PM
#9
Members
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Toronto CA
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 550745540
Congrats on finding an SMG. Like you, I was unable to test drive an SMG. In the end I settled on everything I wanted but with the manual. After a week, I'm lovin it (haven't I heard that somewhere??? 
)
)
07-28-2005, 05:20 PM
#10
Contributors
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Welcome aboard from another soon-to-be ex-E38 owner. Your 740 looks fantastic, no wonder you got a decent trade-in deal.
I've loved driving the 740, and it was not an easy decision to move on. It took me a while to find something as much fun to drive. Guess we really didn't have to look too far. It's interesting that the E60 is almost as large as our old E38s, and to me the E60 seems to be the closest thing in spirit to the E38. Although, I have to say that once I drove an E60, I was amazed at how far BMW had advanced the driving dynamics.
I can't wait. Too bad we have to wait it out in our stodgy old rides.
I've loved driving the 740, and it was not an easy decision to move on. It took me a while to find something as much fun to drive. Guess we really didn't have to look too far. It's interesting that the E60 is almost as large as our old E38s, and to me the E60 seems to be the closest thing in spirit to the E38. Although, I have to say that once I drove an E60, I was amazed at how far BMW had advanced the driving dynamics.
I can't wait. Too bad we have to wait it out in our stodgy old rides.