MY08 550i Owners
09-07-2008, 06:13 PM
#11
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My Ride: 2011, X6 Hybrid . Alpine White , every option. 20" Conti' NON runflats,OEM trunk spoiler , LUX V3 AE's , HP Thunder Fogs , custom front bumper reflector delete........
Originally Posted by Rudy' post='664210' date='Sep 7 2008, 09:05 PM
I owned manauls exclusively until my SMG 545i in 2004. My 2008 is a SAT because I loved the SMG so much that it was the closest thing I could get to it with that MY.
My SAT never shifts for me (except at redline) since I always, and I mean always, drive it in manual sport mode. It shifts like lightning and feels very direct (no slush.) My only complaint is the "sponginess" in the pedal when first starting out. This is something you end up getting used to (and adjusting to) but I also think you can cure it with a sprintbooster.
The MT is fine if you end up going that way but I have to mention one additional thing that may help you decide -- if you drive in traffic often, obviously with the SAT your left foot will get a break but more importantly, you'll be able to get the stop-and-go feature of the cruise control if you choose the SAT. In traffic, active cruise with stop-and-go is a fantastic feature!
Good luck with your decision and when you drive the SAT, make sure you test it in manual sport mode!
My SAT never shifts for me (except at redline) since I always, and I mean always, drive it in manual sport mode. It shifts like lightning and feels very direct (no slush.) My only complaint is the "sponginess" in the pedal when first starting out. This is something you end up getting used to (and adjusting to) but I also think you can cure it with a sprintbooster.
The MT is fine if you end up going that way but I have to mention one additional thing that may help you decide -- if you drive in traffic often, obviously with the SAT your left foot will get a break but more importantly, you'll be able to get the stop-and-go feature of the cruise control if you choose the SAT. In traffic, active cruise with stop-and-go is a fantastic feature!
Good luck with your decision and when you drive the SAT, make sure you test it in manual sport mode!
I agree with Rudy ! You'll love the way the SAT shifts in manual sport ...............give a good test ride first !
Good luck
09-08-2008, 11:02 AM
#12
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My Ride: 2008 BMW 550i Sport
Carbon Black Metallic/Cream Beige
Manny tranny and other stuff
Recently gone, but never forgotten:
2005 Ford Mustang GT (hence the name)
Torch Red/Crimson
Manny tranny and every option available for that year
2002 Chrysler 300M Special
Brilliant Black/Light Taupe/Dark Slate
Autostick and goo-gobs of neat features that I will sorely miss
Originally Posted by 1BRACE' post='664196' date='Sep 7 2008, 09:40 PM
easy choice for me. this is my daily driver. I commute in DC traffic. = Automatic 
I'm a lazy SOB with calves the size of walnuts and the resiliancy of boiled peanuts.
j/k
09-08-2008, 06:48 PM
#13
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Originally Posted by GT Premi' post='664728' date='Sep 8 2008, 03:02 PM
translation:
I'm a lazy SOB with calves the size of walnuts and the resiliancy of boiled peanuts.
j/k
I'm a lazy SOB with calves the size of walnuts and the resiliancy of boiled peanuts.
j/k
hahaha, not quite. 3 of 5 previous vehicles have been manual. have you seen the traffic around here?
It would even make the governator's calves shake.
09-08-2008, 06:58 PM
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I went through the same debate a couple months ago shopping for my 535i. Every single car I have owned over the last 15+ years has been MT but I had read soo many great things about the current BMW automatics that I wanted to give it a shot. I am SUPER happy with my decision to go automatic. Gone are the days where 0-60mph specs for example were always better with stick vs auto...the current autos shift VERY quickly and run consistently just as fast without having to worry when to shift...it's been a breakthrough for me...I LOVE it 
09-08-2008, 07:47 PM
#15
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My Ride: 2008 Alpine White 550i Sport, Cream Beige Interior, 6-Sp Manual - retired 9/2011
I decided to give the MT a shot with my latest purchase. I don't do rush hour, stop-and-go traffic. If I did, it would have been SAT for sure. I was used to manually shifting with the M5 for the past 4 months (never drove in D-mode), so transitioning back to a manual wasn't that hard for me, but I may change my mind if my left calf and ankle start to ache in the upcoming days. 
Overall, it is fun to throw it in any gear at any time, and I have a better "feel" for what gear I am in now, vs. having to sometimes check the dash. I preferred to listen to the V-10 vs. my radio in the M, so maybe now I can start listening to music again, although the V-8 still sounds nice.
I will report back after a few weeks to see if I'll need to list this thing on leasetrader or not!
Overall, it is fun to throw it in any gear at any time, and I have a better "feel" for what gear I am in now, vs. having to sometimes check the dash. I preferred to listen to the V-10 vs. my radio in the M, so maybe now I can start listening to music again, although the V-8 still sounds nice.
I will report back after a few weeks to see if I'll need to list this thing on leasetrader or not!
09-08-2008, 07:52 PM
#16
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My Ride: 2011, X6 Hybrid . Alpine White , every option. 20" Conti' NON runflats,OEM trunk spoiler , LUX V3 AE's , HP Thunder Fogs , custom front bumper reflector delete........
Originally Posted by DrLev99' post='665041' date='Sep 8 2008, 11:47 PM
I decided to give the MT a shot with my latest purchase. I don't do rush hour, stop-and-go traffic. If I did, it would have been SAT for sure. I was used to manually shifting with the M5 for the past 4 months (never drove in D-mode), so transitioning back to a manual wasn't that hard for me, but I may change my mind if my left calf and ankle start to ache in the upcoming days.
Overall, it is fun to throw it in any gear at any time, and I have a better "feel" for what gear I am in now, vs. having to sometimes check the dash. I preferred to listen to the V-10 vs. my radio in the M, so maybe now I can start listening to music again, although the V-8 still sounds nice.
I will report back after a few weeks to see if I'll need to list this thing on leasetrader or not!
Overall, it is fun to throw it in any gear at any time, and I have a better "feel" for what gear I am in now, vs. having to sometimes check the dash. I preferred to listen to the V-10 vs. my radio in the M, so maybe now I can start listening to music again, although the V-8 still sounds nice.
I will report back after a few weeks to see if I'll need to list this thing on leasetrader or not!
Cheers K
What wheels are you getting ? did you get the Axxis pads ??
09-08-2008, 08:36 PM
#17
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My Ride: 2008 Alpine White 550i Sport, Cream Beige Interior, 6-Sp Manual - retired 9/2011
Originally Posted by westcoast550' post='665047' date='Sep 8 2008, 11:52 PM
Doc, I missed the fact that you already had the new car . , and it's not T/S but A/W , welcome to "Team Maxi Pad " Ba HAAAAA WAA . let's see some pics !
Cheers K
What wheels are you getting ? did you get the Axxis pads ??
Cheers K
What wheels are you getting ? did you get the Axxis pads ??
But seriously, I will be ordering them soon. I want to try and figure out how to do them myself, without bleeding too much. The dealership also owes me 2 new rims on the right side....long story short: 2 test drivers curbed both rims on 2 different occasions. I asked if they had replaced both and not just repaired them. The salesman assured me they were replaced. Well, when I washed the car Sunday, I saw that both were NOT replaced. 
They tried to pass the refurb'ed rims as new (I know, Rudy! 
). So, I tore them a new one when I saw this. Also one tire was torn a bit where the rash still was that they didn't completely fix. Plus my one tire still had silver overspray on it. They agreed to order 2 new wheels and a tire without any fight. Now, I am getting a excessive battery discharge warning. Nice first day!
........Sorry for the hijack...my bad.......
09-08-2008, 08:39 PM
#18
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Originally Posted by DrLev99' post='665091' date='Sep 9 2008, 12:36 AM
They tried to pass the refurb'ed rims as new (I know, Rudy!).
09-08-2008, 09:27 PM
#19
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My Ride: 2008 Alpine White 550i Sport, Cream Beige Interior, 6-Sp Manual - retired 9/2011
Originally Posted by Rudy' post='665093' date='Sep 9 2008, 12:39 AM
One of these days, you'll figure out which dealer in Pittsburgh is the one you should be dealing with...
09-09-2008, 12:23 AM
#20
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My Ride: 2006 530i 6MT
I cannot argue that from a rational point of view SAT sounds like the perfect solution. However, I know that after a while I would get bored with an auto box. Also, we get a better feeling of the great engines we have on our cars with the MT. Of course, if you have two hours of stop and go traffic per day, it's a different story.