Pick up 545, SMG thoughts. and vs M3 thoughts
11-30-2004, 07:58 PM
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I picked up my 2005 545 SMG. I have the sports, cold weatther, nav and osme other stuff I cant seem to recall right now.
SMG Review:
To put it simply, I dont understand why they even make alternate transmissions, the thing is great. The shifting is wonderful. I dont see how the reviewers complain about its "quirkiness". It took me 5 mins to get comfortable with it. Although, I supose im contradicting myself but I could imagine I would miss manual shifting every now and again which is why I have an M3 in the garage also.
545 vs. M3.
The 545 feels like a turtle compared to the M3, plain and simple. The M5 now.......................
IDRIVE
I get it and I think if your computer savvy you will get it also but my mom and dad would definitly get frustrated having to deal with that little quasi joystick thing. Its takes a little patience at first btu I would liken that to switching from Mac to PC circa 1992 when Bill Gates took over the free world with Windows 3.1.
Active Steering:
All of a sudden its hard to drive the M3. They need to make that an option on the M5, I would pay for it. I would describe it as, you feel as though you are driving an arcade game, its just that easy. NOTE: There was utterly NO learning curve on this. You get in and you drive and you forget you have active steering within seconds.
Audio:
I dont need to add anythign to this setup at alll
BMW Assist:
Excellent. I REALLY love the fact that it comes with its own built in LoJack, they just saved me $600.00 with that. I didnt know about the LoJack thing until today, you guys kept that a secret.,
That all I can think of now.
-e
SMG Review:
To put it simply, I dont understand why they even make alternate transmissions, the thing is great. The shifting is wonderful. I dont see how the reviewers complain about its "quirkiness". It took me 5 mins to get comfortable with it. Although, I supose im contradicting myself but I could imagine I would miss manual shifting every now and again which is why I have an M3 in the garage also.
545 vs. M3.
The 545 feels like a turtle compared to the M3, plain and simple. The M5 now.......................
IDRIVE
I get it and I think if your computer savvy you will get it also but my mom and dad would definitly get frustrated having to deal with that little quasi joystick thing. Its takes a little patience at first btu I would liken that to switching from Mac to PC circa 1992 when Bill Gates took over the free world with Windows 3.1.
Active Steering:
All of a sudden its hard to drive the M3. They need to make that an option on the M5, I would pay for it. I would describe it as, you feel as though you are driving an arcade game, its just that easy. NOTE: There was utterly NO learning curve on this. You get in and you drive and you forget you have active steering within seconds.
Audio:
I dont need to add anythign to this setup at alll
BMW Assist:
Excellent. I REALLY love the fact that it comes with its own built in LoJack, they just saved me $600.00 with that. I didnt know about the LoJack thing until today, you guys kept that a secret.,
That all I can think of now.
-e
11-30-2004, 08:06 PM
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Congrats, evperry to get your 545 SMG!! Sounds you really love it! 
How do you feel the difference in response between sports and normal mode? I am waiting for my 545 SMG as well, so just interested in how you feel...
Please post your pics.
How do you feel the difference in response between sports and normal mode? I am waiting for my 545 SMG as well, so just interested in how you feel...
Please post your pics.
11-30-2004, 10:09 PM
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Congrats!! evperry
I too have a 545iA, and I agree with the Active Steering... It's great- I can no-longer seem to drive my 04 LS430 correctly. After driving my 545iA, I was all over the my driveway just trying to get out.
Danny Z
I too have a 545iA, and I agree with the Active Steering... It's great- I can no-longer seem to drive my 04 LS430 correctly. After driving my 545iA, I was all over the my driveway just trying to get out.
Danny Z
12-01-2004, 02:36 AM
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My Ride: F02 LCI Individual
Model Year: 2013
Originally Posted by evperry' date='Dec 1 2004, 05:58 AM
The 545 feels like a turtle compared to the M3, plain and simple.
[snapback]62764[/snapback]
Originally Posted by evperry' date='Dec 1 2004, 05:58 AM
BMW Assist:
Excellent.? I REALLY love the fact that it comes with its own built in LoJack, they just saved me $600.00 with that. I didnt know about the LoJack thing until today, you guys kept that a secret.,
That trace function is new, and I don't like ANY factory tracking devices, since the thief knows it's there and therefore he knows how to disable it.
But as long as you get better insurance rates...?
Excellent.? I REALLY love the fact that it comes with its own built in LoJack, they just saved me $600.00 with that. I didnt know about the LoJack thing until today, you guys kept that a secret.,
That trace function is new, and I don't like ANY factory tracking devices, since the thief knows it's there and therefore he knows how to disable it.
But as long as you get better insurance rates...?
[snapback]62764[/snapback]
12-01-2004, 02:46 AM
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Originally Posted by evperry' date='Nov 30 2004, 10:58 PM
<snip>
545 vs. M3.
The 545 feels like a turtle compared to the M3, plain and simple.? The M5 now.......................
<snip>
Active Steering:
All of a sudden its hard to drive the M3.? They need to make that an option on the M5, I would pay for it.? I would describe it as, you feel as though you are driving an arcade game, its just that easy.? NOTE: There was utterly NO learning curve on this.? You get in and you drive and you forget you have active steering within seconds.
-e
545 vs. M3.
The 545 feels like a turtle compared to the M3, plain and simple.? The M5 now.......................
<snip>
Active Steering:
All of a sudden its hard to drive the M3.? They need to make that an option on the M5, I would pay for it.? I would describe it as, you feel as though you are driving an arcade game, its just that easy.? NOTE: There was utterly NO learning curve on this.? You get in and you drive and you forget you have active steering within seconds.
-e
[snapback]62764[/snapback]
12-01-2004, 08:05 AM
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Ok.
The turtle would be the 545 compared to the M3. I should qualify this by saying the 545 is VERY agile and runs like an olympic track star but it gets the silver medal next to the M3 (E46). You just cant compare the two.
For some reason I have yet to depress that sports button, I think I will try that today, its VERY wet today in NYC so I suppose I will wait until tomorrow.
The idrive is a bit annoying now that I have played with it some more, they should have let Apple design the software not Microsoft.
The turtle would be the 545 compared to the M3. I should qualify this by saying the 545 is VERY agile and runs like an olympic track star but it gets the silver medal next to the M3 (E46). You just cant compare the two.
For some reason I have yet to depress that sports button, I think I will try that today, its VERY wet today in NYC so I suppose I will wait until tomorrow.
The idrive is a bit annoying now that I have played with it some more, they should have let Apple design the software not Microsoft.
12-01-2004, 08:07 AM
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Oh yea and the "trace" function that comes with it, is supposedly located in different locations in each car. My guess is that a choice of a few different spots that the factory chooses from. In any event, there no way im getting lojack in addition to that system.
12-01-2004, 08:17 AM
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Originally Posted by evperry' date='Nov 30 2004, 11:58 PM
I picked up my 2005 545 SMG.? I have the sports, cold weatther, nav and osme other stuff I cant seem to recall right now.
BMW Assist:
Excellent.? I REALLY love the fact that it comes with its own built in LoJack, they just saved me $600.00 with that. I didnt know about the LoJack thing until today, you guys kept that a secret.,
-e
BMW Assist:
Excellent.? I REALLY love the fact that it comes with its own built in LoJack, they just saved me $600.00 with that. I didnt know about the LoJack thing until today, you guys kept that a secret.,
-e
[snapback]62764[/snapback]
??? find the car??? 
and I wouldnt want to be the one who has to go following the signal... 
let us know if you find out about this and good luck with the new ride...post some pix when you get a chance...