I have asked myself this question several times.
I don't know...
I found this pic on the net. It was taken at the IAA, the German Auto Show in Frankfurt. I have been there (offcourse), but haven't seen the Individual section I don't know why I missed that, but I haven't seen it in person, so I can't say what it is...

 

Looking further at the M5 pictures, I'm noticing that the brown/sepia colors on the iDrive main menu look out of place with the rest of the interior.

In the E39 with Nav, you could choose two or three color schemes (or themes) that ranged from brown tones to blues tones. You could also enable a setting that caused the screen to look differently at night (when the lights were on.)

Could be something for BMW to add in the future...

 

I have the sports package, but also have a standard steering wheel.

Shouldn't the sports package come equipped with a m-sport steering wheel/smg style steering wheel too.

At first I much preferred the standard, but am enjoying the sports wheel, especially after seeing it in the M5.

 

Can't say why you didn't get the sport wheel.

One thing I will say about it that really doesn't show in the pictures -- the thing is FAT. I've held fat sport wheels before but this one is the fattest of all of them!

 

It's not just FAT, it is the best grip I've ever experienced on a steering wheel.

 

It's not just FAT, it is the best grip I've ever experienced on a steering wheel. [/quote]
I agree with Rudy and the Iceman, It is Fat and PHAT. Just kidding I do like the sport steering wheel better. You have a much better grip.

 

There are different wheels, I have a sport 545 and the wheel is too big and thin, the heated steering wheel option is a thicker wheel and the smg has also a thicker wheel. But the standard 525, 530 and 545 sport and non sport have the same wheel, and it is too big and thin. My 2001 E39 sport wheel was a lot better, smaller diameter and thicher.

 

I actually preferred the E39 Sport wheel to the E60 SMG wheel. I preferred the softer feel of the E39 wheel, and I could position it so it didn't hide any of my instrumentation. But the paddles make up for it.

 

JDN, what year was your E39?

My 1998 E39 6spd had a "normal" wheel (that was heated) while my 2001 E39 6spd had a smaller diameter sport wheel (heat was unavailable with that wheel.)

I found the smaller diameter sport wheel on the 2001 car to get a bit in the way of the instruments. You could get it "just right" if you played around but it wasn't easy.

 

My E39 was an original '97, mfg'd in Aug '96. The gear shift had acrylic-coated, inlaid wood inserts, the audible wolf whistle unlock, two piece satin-finished, 7-pocket wheels, and a steering wheel that I really liked better. However, that does not in anyway imply that I would rather step back in time. I also liked the finish on the leather better in the old one. This is still a good wheel, IMO, and complements AS very well.

I think maybe BMW had to cut some corners in trim to make up for the technology improvements, USD devaluation, and stay competitive with Mercedes.