Rudy - have you drawn any additional opinions on the value of the Night Vision option? In hindsight it was a mistake for me to get it. I never use it and the money could have been better spent on something like ventilated seats.

I hope you're thoroughly enjoying your car!

 

Clearly I haven't had enough "stick time" with night vision to determine if I'd order it again. I think it's one of those things that you have to train yourself to use -- kind of like the rearview mirror. You have to teach your eye to glance at it quickly and be able to process what you see. I do think it's something I'm beginning to adapt to but again, I haven't had too much time using it on roads where it would be beneficial.

The other day, I did detect someone walking a dog along a dark road but I'm pretty sure I'd have seen them with the headlights around the same time...

 

Excellent evaluation Rudy.I would like to know if you have tried shifting at full throttle at less than red line(6000 rpm)?My 2004 step will ignore my shift request and still go to red line before if shifts to next gear.

 

I'll try to confirm it later but I'm 90% sure you can shift it whenever you want...

 

My Step seems to shift O.K. on request at full throttle. Are you depressing the throttle so far that you engage the downshift button? Maybe that makes it hold the current gear until red-line.

BTW, this is excellent info about the SA, but I'd really like to read a detailed comparison like this one between the "old" Step and the SA with similar engines.

 

I wish I could help you there but I don't have enough "old" step experience. I'm sure someone here will eventually be able to provide that information though -- I think a lot of people are starting to order the SAT now...

 

Okay, now I'm 100% sure. You can hold the pedal down (including holding the kickdown switch) and you can still shift whenever you want...

 

im kicking myself for not waiting for this option!
im so pissed...any way i can have the dealer install it?

 

I had an 04 545i with the Step and what i felt to be at highest level of performance (v25 sftware) of the shifting, as far as smoothness, in fact i started manually shifting my step a lot more towards turning it in for the 08 550i.

The differences in the 08 550 new transmission alone are noticeable to me (not sure if it was the same in MY 07). The gears feel much more engaged, mechanically, noticeably on auto downshifts coming to a stop. Sometimes it feels like even though im breaking as coming to a stop, the car is lurching frwd a bit as its auto downshifting to a 3 - 2 - 1 - stop (CA Roll). However, it is also very clear that im only using half the car's potential through the break-in so, i dont think i have the complete feel yet. Only at about 300 miles - so, cant really get the real feeling comparison. The 550 does feel noticeably quicker and more powerful than the 545 which, im pleasantly surprised.

The Sport Auto in terms of shifting is lightning quick as everyone describes the tach instantly changes and very smooth shifts especially down - this option is a must. There isnt a lag at all like the previous step like I had - again, i was feeling really good about the step before i turned it in and was using it a lot more as well as to specifically compare to when i got the new 08 Sport Auto. Its exactly what I was hoping for even though i dont have any experience with SMG or any paddle shifting car. I still havent driven enough to feel the difference in the new "Sport Mode" where everything tightens up and shifts are even faster etc again, cant really wind it up yet.

Im still getting used to the shifter itself and the manual shifting using the gear shift is a bit different a little bit harder to push frwrd to downshift and vice versa. Im hoping this is something that gets better over time and comfort level. The gear shift seems a bit more forward in position - have to reach a tiny bit too much it seems but, maybe i just need to reconfigure seating etc.

In general, overall, this car is a total upgrade from my 545i...I cant believe it can get better!

 

Extremely unlikely. If it could be done, it would probably be cost prohibitive.

Lou