since i have sport without a/s, i dont miss a/s.

I have never been in a car with a/s. I will like to test it thought. I hear too many good things about it.!

 

Discussing old american muscle cars on a premium BMW website is probably taboo, but so what. Actually, I think 74 or 75 was the last year for a smog 455. '73 had the last of the super duty. In 79, they where actually putting olds 403's with a whopping 185hp and auto transmissions. American car companies where really taking a dump back then. The 455 in mine is a custom install - still able to meet smog, but a hell of a torque engine.

In 79 they actually had a few pontiac 400's w/ 4-speeds laying around, so according to CA, you can change to that engine. And, unless you crawl underneath and look at the stamping you don't know what it is.

Anyways, My 545i is a much better, faster, enjoyable handling machine... the T/A is just a part of history that I can't let go of and my wife won't ride in.

Thanks for asking.
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The Super Duty is a beast! I had a friend in high school who had a '79 Firebird/TA that had been the lucky recipient of a transplanted '73 Super Duty. Sick sick sick. There's never been an engine like it since imo.



Regarding all of the new 2006 Sports, unless we ordered AS as an extra option, we all have non-AS steering. I personally love it and marvel at how little wheel turning is required to change course - the slightest twitch can be translated into just the right amount of steering input, and the feedback is sublime. I'm sure much of it has to do with ARS, but someday - perhaps at a meet, I'll be able to see what an AS/ARS Sport feels like.

 

Depends on your build date but if you have a 2006 (per BMW, not BMWNA) you would have had to have ordered AS as an additional option so unless you did you maybe don't have it. Personally AS will be one the first options on the list for my next E60
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You are right, I went home and check my options. It doesn't come with sport package on 530i. It's a $1250 option that I didn't have..

 

I hate to be the lone desenter, but I prefer to know how my car is going to respond to steering inputes at all times. I had a 530 loaner with the sport suspension and active stearing for an extending length of time. Although I could have lived with the AS, it adds a bit more guessing into spirited driving than I would like. Braking hard for a corner, you never know how much added stearing it's going to induce. Thus, you have to guessnhow much to dial back on your stearing wheel angle. Otherwise you end up jumping the curb.

I've only put 400 miles on my 550, but my impression is that the stearing is very responsive and you always know where the front tires are going. True, my driving thus far is much less than spirited, but I'v been very impressed so far. In addition, parking lot driving is not where most of my driving takes place anyway. I would much prefer a car that is made for fast driving. That's why it is not available on the M5.

 

QUOTE(tab545 @ Dec 2 2005, 06:09 AM)

jsal, I thought 1977 was the last year for the 455 in the Trans Am. My dad had an orange one (obviously with the firebird around the scoop on the hood).

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** That takes me back a long time. I owned a '74 Formula with a 400. No big bird on the hood (that was for the TA) but two nice hood scoops. It was a rocket.



FREEWILLY--

Do you have pics posted of your ride? Mine is similar and I'd like to see what it looks like.

 

Neither is ARS (avail on M5). I really hate the argument that something must not be good since it is not available on the M5. Not everyone wants to drive a track car in everyday driving. I drive my 545 quite fast on real roads. AS is great but I understand the desire to not have it. Just like I understand the desire to have a bone-jarring suspension. I am sure that ARS is not ideal on a track either. But real world sprited driving is not nearly the same as a track. AS does a lot for fast driving also - BTW

 

UuronL - do you have active steering on your 06' or not? Couldn't make it out based on your thread statement and the description of your car does not include AS...? Reason I ask is I am ordering a new MY07 530i w/SP on Tuesday...I have been in a MY05 w/o SP...thus, no AS...matter of fact I didn't order the SP back in late 2004 b/c of all the negative threads I was reading about AS. Also, I test drove the MY05 w/SP and the car drifted on me on the autobahn at speed. I have no problem w/standard servo-tronic, but now wander if I would be missing out if not ordering AS now that upgrades have been made. Value your opinion. Any thoughts on the matter?

thanks

Leo

 

I dont have AS and I never try it but I am very happy with my setup now.

 

I hope I can get every future car I will buy with AS. I never want to go back. I had a 530i loaner without it recently and it felt soooooo much less nible. It gives me the go-cart feeling for a 4000 pound car......

 

I have Active Steering, and for the first time I touch the steering wheel, I LOVE IT!! But it took me a day of driving to get used to it, and not smacking the steering wheel everytime I try to turn all the way. Now I just love it, without active steering, I don't wanna drive at all, on any car. LOL!

Anyways, can anyone explain whats included in the sports package?