BMW Garage | BMW Meets | Register | Today's Posts | Search |
02-09-2009, 01:29 AM | #1 |
Second Lieutenant
38
Rep 215
Posts |
How is the 2006 M5 SMG to live with on a daily basis?
Hello
I am considering purchasing a 2006 M5. Give me the nitty gritty. Is the SMG really as bad as I am hearing from some? How is it in stop and go traffic? Does it really jerk a lot? Or is it something that is pretty easy to live with once you know how its going to act? Thanks!
__________________
Melbourne Red E90 M3 - E39 540i
The original user of the animated Bert and Ernie avatar. Except no substitutes. |
02-09-2009, 10:13 PM | #2 |
Second Lieutenant
38
Rep 215
Posts |
Well I just got back from a test drive, and I answered my own question.
Although sometimes awkward, I can easily live with it!
__________________
Melbourne Red E90 M3 - E39 540i
The original user of the animated Bert and Ernie avatar. Except no substitutes. |
Appreciate
0
|
02-13-2009, 10:49 AM | #4 |
New Member
0
Rep 6
Posts |
I can't remember the last time a thread made me join a forum...
The SMG is fine to live with day-to-day if you remember what it is. If you expect the smoothness of an auto when you're commuting, you'll be disappointed. It certainly works better than the F1 box in a Ferrari or Maserati but it is behind the DSG in either the GT-R or M3 in terms of mundane driving. And...um, the M3 will not, "run circles" around an M5. That's a bit like your little brother thinking he'll beat you in one-on-one. |
Appreciate
0
|
02-15-2009, 02:40 PM | #6 | |
New Member
0
Rep 6
Posts |
Quote:
I have been driving my SMG M5 daily for the last 9 months and have put about 20k miles on it since then. I am so used to the way that SMG operates that when I leave it in auto mode, for instance if I have passengers along who are not looking for a thrill ride, my throttle control is such that it is no less smooth than a regular automatic. It's all a matter of getting used to it. There is no reason for the car to EVER feel herky-jerky unless the driver doesn't know how to drive it properly. An M3 will run circles around an M5? What a riot. Right. You obviously have never driven an M5. I've had an M3 and three different M5s, and driven countless others of each model. While I would never contest that the two cars are built for different purposes, and as such one is more capable at certain types of maneuvers or in certain settings, there is no situation where either car of the same model year will "run circles around" the other. That is, unless we're talking straight line acceleration, because you had better get a good look at me when you're next to me, because you're never going to see anything but my taillights after I hit it. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-15-2009, 08:41 PM | #7 | |
Second Lieutenant
18
Rep 267
Posts |
Quote:
The problem in both cases is that, when there's no clutch, most people expect to not have to modulate the throttle during shifts. And don't. And then blame the transmission. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-16-2009, 09:17 AM | #9 |
New Member
0
Rep 6
Posts |
Exactly. You just can't drive it like an automatic, but somewhere in between the two. That's because, hmm, it's not an automatic or a manual, but somewhere between the two!
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-17-2009, 07:09 PM | #10 |
Commander in Chief
37
Rep 1,034
Posts |
The M5 SMG is fairly easy to live with on a daily basis.
I should start out saying that I have only used the auto setting once in the 6 months I've owned this car. But for commuting, I usually leave it in the P400, S4 setting. You still have 400hp, so its still faster that most of the other cars on the road, but the throttle response is very gentle and allows for a comfortable drive. In stop and go traffic, the P500 Sport has such an aggressive throttle response, it feels as if you will run over the car in front of you. But when the road clears, the P500 Sport setting with either S5 or S6 makes it feel like you are in a race car. It's really like having 2 cars in one.
__________________
2008 BMW 535i Space Gray, Black Leather, Dark Bamboo Trim| Sport Automatic with Paddles | Sport Package
2008 BMW M5 (gone, but not forgotten) Space Gray, Silverstone Merino Leather, Madeira Walnut Wood Trim | 7speed SMG | All options Mods: Corsa Exhaust | RPI Ram Air Intake | H&R Sport Springs | Rogue Engineering 12mm spacers |
Appreciate
0
|
02-19-2009, 04:04 PM | #12 |
Second Lieutenant
38
Rep 215
Posts |
I am in Toledo. I would love an M6, but I really need a 4 door. I have a 335 coupe, and it is just getting to be too small for me. I carry people and music equipment around on a daily basis. The full back seat and 2 extra doors are a must have.
__________________
Melbourne Red E90 M3 - E39 540i
The original user of the animated Bert and Ernie avatar. Except no substitutes. |
Appreciate
0
|
02-19-2009, 06:37 PM | #13 | |
Skittles, OT OG
2337
Rep 649
Posts |
Quote:
Im in Cleveland! In April me and a few buddies are going to Nelsons Ledges, you are welcome to come! |
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-19-2009, 09:21 PM | #14 |
Second Lieutenant
18
Rep 267
Posts |
In Europe they offer (or at least used to offer) the M5 in Touring form...
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|