Rudy's full review of the 2008 550i Sport Automatic
08-08-2007, 11:27 AM
#111
Senior Members
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: southestern pa
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 550I,manufactured 2-27-08,delivered 4-2-08.Platinum bronze,natural brown interior,light poplar trim,cold weather package,heated rear seats,HD radio
Originally Posted by Rudy' post='456626' date='Aug 8 2007, 02:14 PM
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...
08-08-2007, 12:25 PM
#112
Contributors
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: San Diego
Posts: 952
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2015 535D M Sport
Cader, nice write-up. I like the Step well enough, but the lag between when I request a shift and when it occurs is too great for me, so now I will covet the SA. Maybe a rich uncle will soon leave me his fortune and I can trade my "outdated" '05 for an '08 with SA! 
08-08-2007, 01:23 PM
#113
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
Originally Posted by BMWSTL' post='456652' date='Aug 8 2007, 02:59 PM
Extremely unlikely. If it could be done, it would probably be cost prohibitive.
Lou
Lou
I don't think we've ever established if the actual transmission unit is the same or not. My bet is it's the same tranny with extra logic, etc. bolted on...
08-08-2007, 03:18 PM
#114
Members
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 550i non sport
monaco blue dk poplar
gray leather
multi contour seats
NAV
cold weather
fold down seats
comfort access
Logic 7
sat
ipod
Originally Posted by Rudy' post='456715' date='Aug 8 2007, 05:23 PM
You might be right but then again, if the only change between the normal steptronic and the SAT is a steering wheel, ashifter, an electronic module or two, and some software, it may not be such a big deal.
I don't think we've ever established if the actual transmission unit is the same or not. My bet is it's the same tranny with extra logic, etc. bolted on...
I don't think we've ever established if the actual transmission unit is the same or not. My bet is it's the same tranny with extra logic, etc. bolted on...
C
08-08-2007, 03:43 PM
#115
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
Originally Posted by curlytoons' post='456770' date='Aug 8 2007, 07:18 PM
The automatic steptronic is the same for both sp and non sp 550i's. The description of the SAT on bmwusa.com includes the "sport" mode. The option titled "Sport Automatic Transmission w/ paddle shifters" is $500 extra. The transmission istself is the same. The additional extras with the sp, imo, are complimentary to the tranny, but doesn't change it.
C
C
I'm sure that if the retrofit was possible and not too expensive, it might be something that people would want -- especially people who already have the sport package and steptronic but didn't opt for the SAT...
08-08-2007, 11:42 PM
#116
Senior Members
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Chicago, USA
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 11 550i Sophisto Gray/Oyster Black/Anthracite, Sprt Trns, DHP, IAS, SP, PP1, PP2, CWP, HUD, DAP, AVSP, SF RS, CA, ACC - Euro Del
Originally Posted by mogsyman' post='450082' date='Jul 20 2007, 01:22 AM
Rudy, I have also found that it doesn't matter where the shifter is, when you hit the engine 'stop' button the shifter automatically goes to 'P', which includes automatic movement back to the centre again.
So now I don't even bother touching the shifter at all when I stop, just hit the stop button and get out.
So now I don't even bother touching the shifter at all when I stop, just hit the stop button and get out.
09-02-2007, 01:26 PM
#117
Members
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: South East UK
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by BMWSTL' post='456652' date='Aug 8 2007, 07:59 PM
Extremely unlikely. If it could be done, it would probably be cost prohibitive.
Lou
Lou
Bummer is, my original car would have been ready for collection yesterday
Even bigger bummer is, I had to go to the dealers yesterday to sign some paperwork only to watch a bunch of new owners picking up their brand new 57 plate BMW's
09-02-2007, 01:43 PM
#118
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
Originally Posted by bardel' post='465121' date='Sep 2 2007, 05:26 PM
My dealer processed my order before I'd finalised my options choice and I wanted to add the SAT. I asked them if it could be added afterwards and they came back and said no (not sure if that's purely because of the cost being prohibitive?). They resolved the matter by ordering me another car!
Bummer is, my original car would have been ready for collection yesterday Even bigger bummer is, I had to go to the dealers yesterday to sign some paperwork only to watch a bunch of new owners picking up their brand new 57 plate BMW's
Bummer is, my original car would have been ready for collection yesterday
Even bigger bummer is, I had to go to the dealers yesterday to sign some paperwork only to watch a bunch of new owners picking up their brand new 57 plate BMW's 
09-06-2007, 07:02 AM
#119
Senior Members
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Chicago
Posts: 977
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 BMW 550i "Ben Hogan's 5 Iron"
SilverGrey/Black Sport, L7, NAV, CW, AS, Split FR
2003 Audi A4 3.0 CVT "Part of the Moniker"
Silver/Ebony, Prem, CW, Star 17s
Originally Posted by Rudy' post='465125' date='Sep 2 2007, 04:43 PM
It'll be worth the wait!
Hey Rudy, is that Ted Bundy in your sig??
09-06-2007, 07:10 AM
#120
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
Originally Posted by CVTBenhogan' post='466474' date='Sep 6 2007, 11:02 AM
Hey Rudy, is that Ted Bundy in your sig??
Not sure if the resemblance is there or not...
