sapkan

IMHO a car as big and luxurious as the E60 needs to have the step tranny. You cant compare its smoothness with the jerky SMG. M5 is another matter, you dont buy it to drive smoothly.

ipse dixit

Get the Step.

The E60 SMG is a poorly executed attempt at an automated-hydraulic activated clutch system. (SMG II and SMG III, however, are different stories.)

Plus, long term, the SMG will hurt your resale value.

subterFUSE

Forgive me for being blunt, but this is an ignorant statement.

The SMG is not jerky. An inexperienced driver on an SMG is jerky.

Can you drive a standard manual transmission? If so, then you know that when you were first learning.... it might have been jerky. Hell, you might have even stalled out a few times. But, as you get experience.... you learn how to finesse it.

The SMG is NOT an automatic transmission. It is a true manual, with an automatic clutch. So you can't expect to just drive it like an automatic.


The trick to smooth SMG shifting is learning how to apply the throttle before and after shifts.... similar to a manual tranny. You don't just hold the gas pedal down and shift, although you can do this if you want. But if you want a smooth shift, you must release some of the throttle before you shift. The trick is to accelerate in a particular gear, and then when you are ready to shift.... let off the throttle just a tad, and then shift. Wait for the next gear to engage, and then re-apply throttle to accelerate in the next gear. Once you master the timing, your SMG will shift smooth as silk.



I disagree. According to Kelly Blue Book and Edmunds.com, the SMG adds value to a used E60.... to the tune of $1200 at the dealer sales level... $1000 for trade-in.

So.... that is a good deal considering my SMG was a no-cost option. It's like I put $1000 back into my pocket the day I got my car.

Rudy

subterFUSE gets it...

530i_msport

i agree with subterfuse
i know some time is needed to learn how to operate smg properly and since all my previous cars have been manual ones i think i will not find it that difficult
now, if the smg is jerky or not we have to leave it up to the members that have smg to decide that

pennetta

I ordered mine prior to them building them back in Feb 2004. They started building them in March 2004 and the first cars were delivered in April. I drove a M3 to understand the concept and to get a feel for it. Before all of the nay sayers jump in- the M3 and the E60 share the same basic system, however the M3 has many more settings as it relates to how fast the gears shift and the steering paddles are dedicated to one side up shift and one side down shift on the M3 and both paddles on the E60 perform the same function as they can both can shift up or down.

pennetta

When you shift a true manual, the driver and most passengers subconsciously compensate for the so called "head bob." With the SMG, people do not key into the shifting cues right away and thus do not automatically compensate for the shift and accompanying delay in forward thrust.

alexnyc

in my opinion smg is jerkier than step,however,you can drive the car as smooth as step but it requires more of your attention and skills,in addition smg sometimes poorly executes downshifts from 2nd to 1st regardless of the driver(at least on my car),which i think is some sort of design flaw(either software or mechanical) rather that norm.Having said that,every driver and passengers will experience some jerks at some point no matter how good you are and it will need more of your concentration on driving.I've learned to live with this and hopefully it will be improved on next generation of E60.

oyster

Just to answer Your question, it?s YES, a SMG will drive You around in some sort of D mode, shifting gears without Yours doing anything. BUT it?s not the same thing as a steptronic. I have test-driven a 550i SMG before ordering my car, and I?d say get the steptronic! The SMG shifts gears late, reaching high rpm?s, and it shifts with noticeable grip of the clutch., just like somebody else is driving Your car. If You?re not feeling like being Schumacher, it?s definitely not an option for a smooth ride.

Rudy

Spoken like a man who's only taken a test-drive...