Rudy's full review of the 2008 550i Sport Automatic
08-06-2007, 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Rudy' post='455903' date='Aug 6 2007, 04:41 PM
Break-in accomplished...details to follow... 
08-06-2007, 02:10 PM
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Model Year: 2008
Please tell us the ETA?
08-06-2007, 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by iversonm' post='455917' date='Aug 6 2007, 05:49 PM
It must feel good to not have to spend those long nights driving around the block over and over just waiting for the odometer to hit 1200.
(I know my neighbors are probably saying "has it already been three years since Rudy broke in that last car? He's constantly driving around our cul-de-sac!"
)
08-06-2007, 06:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Rudy' post='455998' date='Aug 6 2007, 10:24 PM
Have you been spying on me?
(I know my neighbors are probably saying "has it already been three years since Rudy broke in that last car? He's constantly driving around our cul-de-sac!" )
(I know my neighbors are probably saying "has it already been three years since Rudy broke in that last car? He's constantly driving around our cul-de-sac!"
)
08-06-2007, 10:07 PM
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Okay, now that I've gotten the engine up to full revs, I can say that this car is clearly faster than the 545 (no surprises so far, eh?) 
Here are some quick observations after another week or so with the car:
Transmission
1) In manual sport mode (pretty much all I've used so far), unlike the SMG, the car will upshift but only at redline. At first I thought that was a bummer but the more I think about it, the more I realize that it makes perfect sense to program it this way. The only possibilities are to either hit the limiter (like the SMG did) or upshift and maintain your acceleration (like the SAT does). In other words, I really doubt that there's much need to hold the gear at redline just before the rev limiter kicks in. That said, I'm cool with it.
I have to say that in this mode, at the higher rpms, the shifting is so fast and smooth that there are times when your really wouldn't know the car shifted if it weren't for the change in engine/exhaust sound and/or the snapping of the tachometer needle!
2) The downshifting is still probably the thing that takes the most time to get used to (coming from an SMG). Yes, it blips the throttle but it's not as pronounced and it just feels different. One small bummer is that the car will not let you shift into first unless you're down around 2000-2400 rpms. I have to say that the SMG would let you downshift into first gear way higher than that. Basically, as long as the blip doesn't cause the car to redline, why can't we downshift into first at a higher rpm? The other bummer about this is that when you try to downshift into first at say 2600 rpm, the gear indicator does show M1 (from M2) for a brief second but then it changes back to M2 because it decided that the rpms were too high for the downshift to occur. This is not good because I'm used to glancing down at the gear indicator (please put it in the HUD someday...) right when I hit the paddle so basically the car looks to me as if the shift occured but it really didn't. On the SMG, if the car wasn't going to let you shift due to a high rpm, the gear indicator never changed. Hopefully these types of things can be addressed in future software updates, etc.
Keep in mind that this isn't a huge deal, just a small bummer for someone that is hoping that the SAT is as good or better than the SMG. In this small case, it's not as good as the SMG and it's certainly not better.
3) Speaking of software updates, I really hope that BMW can find a way to address the non-linear nature of the gas pedal. There is too much of a dead spot near the beginning of the travel (the "sponginess" that I've been referring to) that just isn't necessary. Yes, I'm adjusting to it and getting used to it but I just don't think it needs to be this way. Make it more like the SMG was in sport mode. (I suppose in "normal mode" they could dial-in some sponginess if it makes the automatic customers happy...)
Again, I'm not in any way disliking this car or this transmission, I'm just highlighting some of the main differences between what I drove for the past 32,000 miles and these last 1200 miles. I'm sure after 31,000 more miles on this car, it'll feel like an extension of my body (like the SMG did). Keep in mind that I've never owned an automatic car as my daily driver...
Miscellaneous Comments
1) As I mentioned earlier, the Bi-Xenon LCI headlights are much improved. The other ones were great but these just seem more refined. They're more natural looking as far as color and they have a more even pattern. When the active headlights move, it doesn't look as much like two spotlights moving left and right -- instead, it looks like the entire pattern moves. Also, I still think the cornering lights are a nice added feature.
2) Speaking of illumination, I already mentioned that the DRLs now include the rear lights too. Probably not a bad thing, both for the safety aspect and the coolness factor. Those rear lights just plain look great! The interior illumination is also improved as well. The door pockets are illuminated, the door handles are illuminated more, the CD and DVD slots are better illuminated, etc. Pretty much everything that was lit before seems to have a brighter and more evenly distributed illumination.
3) Did I mention how much I like the exhaust note of this car? Oh yeah, I thought so... 
4) I'm still playing around with night vision and I am having some fun with it. So far, it's not really showing me too much more than how hot the power transformers on the telephone poles are during the August heat wave we're having here...
5) I was loving the 80GB USB hard drive I was using until tonight when it decided to stop responding in the car. I don't yet know what's going on -- my 4GB flash drive still works fine and the 80GB drive works fine on my computer so it may be power related. The puzzling part is that it was working fine for a couple weeks.
6) Comfort access is worth it. I just need to remember to get my key off my dresser when I need to get something out of the car or go for an unexpected drive since I used to simply leave the key in the ignition while the car was in my garage.
7) I know there's been a bunch of discussion on the gear selector lever and how it's not very intuitive going into reverse, etc. I agree it's a little confusing at first but I'm pretty used to it now. I do think that it could be the source of problems for people who don't drive it often like valets and/or spouses. Without giving it too much thought, it may make sense for the system to be refined a little more (even though it seems as if M-B is doing things the exact same way) they might want to consider just swapping the "Park" and "Reverse" functions. In other words, make reverse be the button you press and make park be the mode you get when you push the lever towards the dash (while the car is stationary.) Right now, the car puts itself into park automatically anyway if you forget -- it'll move the lever to park all by itself if you turn the car off or open a door while it's in neutral or in a gear and your foot isn't on the brake pedal.
That's pretty much all I can think of right now. I'm sure I'll be updating this thread as I come up with more stuff, etc.
Bottom line -- the car is incredible, sweet, awesome, a blast, etc., etc.
Here are some quick observations after another week or so with the car:
Transmission
1) In manual sport mode (pretty much all I've used so far), unlike the SMG, the car will upshift but only at redline. At first I thought that was a bummer but the more I think about it, the more I realize that it makes perfect sense to program it this way. The only possibilities are to either hit the limiter (like the SMG did) or upshift and maintain your acceleration (like the SAT does). In other words, I really doubt that there's much need to hold the gear at redline just before the rev limiter kicks in. That said, I'm cool with it.
I have to say that in this mode, at the higher rpms, the shifting is so fast and smooth that there are times when your really wouldn't know the car shifted if it weren't for the change in engine/exhaust sound and/or the snapping of the tachometer needle!
2) The downshifting is still probably the thing that takes the most time to get used to (coming from an SMG). Yes, it blips the throttle but it's not as pronounced and it just feels different. One small bummer is that the car will not let you shift into first unless you're down around 2000-2400 rpms. I have to say that the SMG would let you downshift into first gear way higher than that. Basically, as long as the blip doesn't cause the car to redline, why can't we downshift into first at a higher rpm? The other bummer about this is that when you try to downshift into first at say 2600 rpm, the gear indicator does show M1 (from M2) for a brief second but then it changes back to M2 because it decided that the rpms were too high for the downshift to occur. This is not good because I'm used to glancing down at the gear indicator (please put it in the HUD someday...) right when I hit the paddle so basically the car looks to me as if the shift occured but it really didn't. On the SMG, if the car wasn't going to let you shift due to a high rpm, the gear indicator never changed. Hopefully these types of things can be addressed in future software updates, etc.
Keep in mind that this isn't a huge deal, just a small bummer for someone that is hoping that the SAT is as good or better than the SMG. In this small case, it's not as good as the SMG and it's certainly not better.
3) Speaking of software updates, I really hope that BMW can find a way to address the non-linear nature of the gas pedal. There is too much of a dead spot near the beginning of the travel (the "sponginess" that I've been referring to) that just isn't necessary. Yes, I'm adjusting to it and getting used to it but I just don't think it needs to be this way. Make it more like the SMG was in sport mode. (I suppose in "normal mode" they could dial-in some sponginess if it makes the automatic customers happy...)
Again, I'm not in any way disliking this car or this transmission, I'm just highlighting some of the main differences between what I drove for the past 32,000 miles and these last 1200 miles. I'm sure after 31,000 more miles on this car, it'll feel like an extension of my body (like the SMG did). Keep in mind that I've never owned an automatic car as my daily driver...
Miscellaneous Comments
1) As I mentioned earlier, the Bi-Xenon LCI headlights are much improved. The other ones were great but these just seem more refined. They're more natural looking as far as color and they have a more even pattern. When the active headlights move, it doesn't look as much like two spotlights moving left and right -- instead, it looks like the entire pattern moves. Also, I still think the cornering lights are a nice added feature.
2) Speaking of illumination, I already mentioned that the DRLs now include the rear lights too. Probably not a bad thing, both for the safety aspect and the coolness factor. Those rear lights just plain look great!
The interior illumination is also improved as well. The door pockets are illuminated, the door handles are illuminated more, the CD and DVD slots are better illuminated, etc. Pretty much everything that was lit before seems to have a brighter and more evenly distributed illumination.3) Did I mention how much I like the exhaust note of this car?
Oh yeah, I thought so... 4) I'm still playing around with night vision and I am having some fun with it. So far, it's not really showing me too much more than how hot the power transformers on the telephone poles are during the August heat wave we're having here...
5) I was loving the 80GB USB hard drive I was using until tonight when it decided to stop responding in the car. I don't yet know what's going on -- my 4GB flash drive still works fine and the 80GB drive works fine on my computer so it may be power related. The puzzling part is that it was working fine for a couple weeks.
6) Comfort access is worth it. I just need to remember to get my key off my dresser when I need to get something out of the car or go for an unexpected drive since I used to simply leave the key in the ignition while the car was in my garage.
7) I know there's been a bunch of discussion on the gear selector lever and how it's not very intuitive going into reverse, etc. I agree it's a little confusing at first but I'm pretty used to it now. I do think that it could be the source of problems for people who don't drive it often like valets and/or spouses. Without giving it too much thought, it may make sense for the system to be refined a little more (even though it seems as if M-B is doing things the exact same way) they might want to consider just swapping the "Park" and "Reverse" functions. In other words, make reverse be the button you press and make park be the mode you get when you push the lever towards the dash (while the car is stationary.) Right now, the car puts itself into park automatically anyway if you forget -- it'll move the lever to park all by itself if you turn the car off or open a door while it's in neutral or in a gear and your foot isn't on the brake pedal.
That's pretty much all I can think of right now. I'm sure I'll be updating this thread as I come up with more stuff, etc.
Bottom line -- the car is incredible, sweet, awesome, a blast, etc., etc.
08-06-2007, 11:33 PM
#98
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[quote name='Rudy' date='Aug 6 2007, 11:07 PM' post='456046']
Okay, now that I've gotten the engine up to full revs, I can say that this car is clearly faster than the 545 (no surprises so far, eh?)
Here are some quick observations after another week or so with the car:
Transmission
1) In manual sport mode (pretty much all I've used so far), unlike the SMG, the car will upshift but only at redline. At first I thought that was a bummer but the more I think about it, the more I realize that it makes perfect sense to program it this way. The only possibilities are to either hit the limiter (like the SMG did) or upshift and maintain your acceleration (like the SAT does). In other words, I really doubt that there's much need to hold the gear at redline just before the rev limiter kicks in. That said, I'm cool with it.
I have to say that in this mode, at the higher rpms, the shifting is so fast and smooth that there are times when your really wouldn't know the car shifted if it weren't for the change in engine/exhaust sound and/or the snapping of the tachometer needle!
Hi Rudy! I've been reading all of your posts with great anticipation about these statements. It seems to me that your comments give creedence to what I've believed all along about the difference between the Step in Manual Mode vs the Sport Automatic in M-Mode. There is none! ;-) What you just described is the exact same as the Step in my O8 Sport in M-Mode. I can't imagine the shift points or tranny is any faster at Redline in M-Mode in either car? I think in reality when comparing both cars in M-Mode there is no difference in performance. Thoughts? I guess I would have to test drive Sport Automatic to prove it.
2) The downshifting is still probably the thing that takes the most time to get used to (coming from an SMG). Yes, it blips the throttle but it's not as pronounced and it just feels different. One small bummer is that the car will not let you shift into first unless you're down around 2000-2400 rpms. I have to say that the SMG would let you downshift into first gear way higher than that. Basically, as long as the blip doesn't cause the car to redline, why can't we downshift into first at a higher rpm? The other bummer about this is that when you try to downshift into first at say 2600 rpm, the gear indicator does show M1 (from M2) for a brief second but then it changes back to M2 because it decided that the rpms were too high for the downshift to occur. This is not good because I'm used to glancing down at the gear indicator (please put it in the HUD someday...) right when I hit the paddle so basically the car looks to me as if the shift occured but it really didn't. On the SMG, if the car wasn't going to let you shift due to a high rpm, the gear indicator never changed. Hopefully these types of things can be addressed in future software updates, etc.
[b]I agree 100%. I would hope this could be fixed with a software upgrade. Problem for me is I have re-mapped it already. I have found with my remapping that "sometimes" in 3rd gear I can take the car to Red-line without it shifting by itself. In any other gear it does it automatically.
SoCal
Okay, now that I've gotten the engine up to full revs, I can say that this car is clearly faster than the 545 (no surprises so far, eh?)
Here are some quick observations after another week or so with the car:
Transmission
1) In manual sport mode (pretty much all I've used so far), unlike the SMG, the car will upshift but only at redline. At first I thought that was a bummer but the more I think about it, the more I realize that it makes perfect sense to program it this way. The only possibilities are to either hit the limiter (like the SMG did) or upshift and maintain your acceleration (like the SAT does). In other words, I really doubt that there's much need to hold the gear at redline just before the rev limiter kicks in. That said, I'm cool with it.
I have to say that in this mode, at the higher rpms, the shifting is so fast and smooth that there are times when your really wouldn't know the car shifted if it weren't for the change in engine/exhaust sound and/or the snapping of the tachometer needle!
Hi Rudy! I've been reading all of your posts with great anticipation about these statements. It seems to me that your comments give creedence to what I've believed all along about the difference between the Step in Manual Mode vs the Sport Automatic in M-Mode. There is none! ;-) What you just described is the exact same as the Step in my O8 Sport in M-Mode. I can't imagine the shift points or tranny is any faster at Redline in M-Mode in either car? I think in reality when comparing both cars in M-Mode there is no difference in performance. Thoughts? I guess I would have to test drive Sport Automatic to prove it.
2) The downshifting is still probably the thing that takes the most time to get used to (coming from an SMG). Yes, it blips the throttle but it's not as pronounced and it just feels different. One small bummer is that the car will not let you shift into first unless you're down around 2000-2400 rpms. I have to say that the SMG would let you downshift into first gear way higher than that. Basically, as long as the blip doesn't cause the car to redline, why can't we downshift into first at a higher rpm? The other bummer about this is that when you try to downshift into first at say 2600 rpm, the gear indicator does show M1 (from M2) for a brief second but then it changes back to M2 because it decided that the rpms were too high for the downshift to occur. This is not good because I'm used to glancing down at the gear indicator (please put it in the HUD someday...) right when I hit the paddle so basically the car looks to me as if the shift occured but it really didn't. On the SMG, if the car wasn't going to let you shift due to a high rpm, the gear indicator never changed. Hopefully these types of things can be addressed in future software updates, etc.
[b]I agree 100%. I would hope this could be fixed with a software upgrade. Problem for me is I have re-mapped it already. I have found with my remapping that "sometimes" in 3rd gear I can take the car to Red-line without it shifting by itself. In any other gear it does it automatically.
SoCal
08-07-2007, 01:09 AM
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Gee..Sounds like a totaly diffrent car...!!! I'm already thinking for "upgrading"...!!! Only thing is I don't really like the new gear selector lever...
08-07-2007, 04:14 AM
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Originally Posted by SoCalM5Mang' post='456077' date='Aug 7 2007, 03:33 AM
Hi Rudy! I've been reading all of your posts with great anticipation about these statements. It seems to me that your comments give creedence to what I've believed all along about the difference between the Step in Manual Mode vs the Sport Automatic in M-Mode. There is none! ;-) What you just described is the exact same as the Step in my O8 Sport in M-Mode. I can't imagine the shift points or tranny is any faster at Redline in M-Mode in either car? I think in reality when comparing both cars in M-Mode there is no difference in performance. Thoughts? I guess I would have to test drive Sport Automatic to prove it.
I agree 100%. I would hope this could be fixed with a software upgrade. Problem for me is I have re-mapped it already. I have found with my remapping that "sometimes" in 3rd gear I can take the car to Red-line without it shifting by itself. In any other gear it does it automatically.
SoCal
I agree 100%. I would hope this could be fixed with a software upgrade. Problem for me is I have re-mapped it already. I have found with my remapping that "sometimes" in 3rd gear I can take the car to Red-line without it shifting by itself. In any other gear it does it automatically.
SoCal