Manual fanatics - how do you get on with the E60 M5?
Discussion
I am looking for an M5, my problem is I hate automatics including the flappy paddle nonsense. Unfortunately I may just have to grit my teeth and put up with it, so I am curious to hear peoples opinions - preferably from manual buffs like myself. I just can't help but think they dilute the driving experience; my question is, does the whole M5 package compensate for the gearbox?
Hi there,
I'm also a manual gearbox person, and up until the Era of the E46 M3 and the E60 M5, I'd have been 'nope, HAS to be manual'
However, what you've got to remember is that the cars are now quicker than the slow bag of flesh driving them!
to get these performance figures and the rate of engineering advancement, we humans cannot change the gears manually quick enough. You'd actually be slower in a manual M5 than in the SMG.
Of course this is all at the peak of performance, which the engineers will develop for - in everyday driving, of course if you did have a manual E60 M5 and of course the later cars, you'd quite easily be able to get away with a manual gearbox. However, that and forthcoming cars are now pretty much all going to be the fast changing auto gearboxes and all the super fast sports saloons and estates will be the latest 'sports' versions of those.
Cheers, Dennis!
I'm also a manual gearbox person, and up until the Era of the E46 M3 and the E60 M5, I'd have been 'nope, HAS to be manual'
However, what you've got to remember is that the cars are now quicker than the slow bag of flesh driving them!
to get these performance figures and the rate of engineering advancement, we humans cannot change the gears manually quick enough. You'd actually be slower in a manual M5 than in the SMG.
Of course this is all at the peak of performance, which the engineers will develop for - in everyday driving, of course if you did have a manual E60 M5 and of course the later cars, you'd quite easily be able to get away with a manual gearbox. However, that and forthcoming cars are now pretty much all going to be the fast changing auto gearboxes and all the super fast sports saloons and estates will be the latest 'sports' versions of those.
Cheers, Dennis!
The SMG on the M5 still requires a fair amount of input to get it right. Its not at all like the current PDK/DCT gearboxes. You still have to feather the throttle and time your changes right to make fully smooth progress.
The SMG box has seven speeds to make up for the relative paucity of low down torque. it is a lot easier to keep in the power band of the V10 with SMG than an auto. There would be a LOT of arm movement in a manual M5 and it just wouldn't suit the engine characteristics.
Our US bretheren did get a manual tho.
The SMG box has seven speeds to make up for the relative paucity of low down torque. it is a lot easier to keep in the power band of the V10 with SMG than an auto. There would be a LOT of arm movement in a manual M5 and it just wouldn't suit the engine characteristics.
Our US bretheren did get a manual tho.
jontysafe said:
The SMG on the M5 still requires a fair amount of input to get it right. Its not at all like the current PDK/DCT gearboxes. You still have to feather the throttle and time your changes right to make fully smooth progress.
The SMG box has seven speeds to make up for the relative paucity of low down torque. it is a lot easier to keep in the power band of the V10 with SMG than an auto. There would be a LOT of arm movement in a manual M5 and it just wouldn't suit the engine characteristics.
Our US bretheren did get a manual tho.
I find it laughable that the land of the slushbox got a manual M5 !The SMG box has seven speeds to make up for the relative paucity of low down torque. it is a lot easier to keep in the power band of the V10 with SMG than an auto. There would be a LOT of arm movement in a manual M5 and it just wouldn't suit the engine characteristics.
Our US bretheren did get a manual tho.
robsti said:
jontysafe said:
The SMG on the M5 still requires a fair amount of input to get it right. Its not at all like the current PDK/DCT gearboxes. You still have to feather the throttle and time your changes right to make fully smooth progress.
The SMG box has seven speeds to make up for the relative paucity of low down torque. it is a lot easier to keep in the power band of the V10 with SMG than an auto. There would be a LOT of arm movement in a manual M5 and it just wouldn't suit the engine characteristics.
Our US bretheren did get a manual tho.
I find it laughable that the land of the slushbox got a manual M5 !The SMG box has seven speeds to make up for the relative paucity of low down torque. it is a lot easier to keep in the power band of the V10 with SMG than an auto. There would be a LOT of arm movement in a manual M5 and it just wouldn't suit the engine characteristics.
Our US bretheren did get a manual tho.
If having the interaction that a manual car gives you is really important to you, I don't think the M5 is for you. Despite being a great car, it does not have the interactivity or control of a manual car. There is definitely something more satisfying about driving a manual than any "SMG" car.
I drive both manual and SMG cars. Yes there is a certain amount of fun to be had on country lanes etc in a manual, but on track I much prefer SMG. The SMG on the CSL is fantastic, although the M5 is not as good, still great fun.
I too had doubt about SMG before I had the CSL and M5, but now I love it.
I too had doubt about SMG before I had the CSL and M5, but now I love it.
manand38 said:
I drive both manual and SMG cars. Yes there is a certain amount of fun to be had on country lanes etc in a manual, but on track I much prefer SMG. The SMG on the CSL is fantastic, although the M5 is not as good, still great fun.
I too had doubt about SMG before I had the CSL and M5, but now I love it.
Me too. SMG occasionally irritates, but then so does the manual box on my other car when it is cold.I too had doubt about SMG before I had the CSL and M5, but now I love it.
SMG should not put you off an M5.
I sold my E60 M5 3 weeks ago after just over a year of ownership. The main gripe I had was the SMG 'box.
Try one and see how you get on, do try and consider how it copes with day to day driving. It's easier in nose to nose traffic without a clutch pedal, of course, but I found it a pain in the arse when parking and other such maneuvers.
I never gelled with SMG at all, and couldn't wait to be rid of the car as soon as the honeymoon period was over.
Otherwise, the car was fantastic, and makes an incredible sound, but if we had a manual option I think there'd still be one parked in my garage.
Good luck!
Try one and see how you get on, do try and consider how it copes with day to day driving. It's easier in nose to nose traffic without a clutch pedal, of course, but I found it a pain in the arse when parking and other such maneuvers.
I never gelled with SMG at all, and couldn't wait to be rid of the car as soon as the honeymoon period was over.
Otherwise, the car was fantastic, and makes an incredible sound, but if we had a manual option I think there'd still be one parked in my garage.
Good luck!
I drove an E60 M5 with the SMG gearbox for 6 months and I hated it that much I sold it, without a doubt the worst gear changes both in manual and auto mode I have ever known.
In full on race mode it was neck snappingly fast through the changes, in around town mode it was terrible, pauses between changes that sometimes felt like the next gear was 2-3 seconds away.
Get a new M3 with the DCT box ;-)
In full on race mode it was neck snappingly fast through the changes, in around town mode it was terrible, pauses between changes that sometimes felt like the next gear was 2-3 seconds away.
Get a new M3 with the DCT box ;-)
Frankly all this talk of rough changes with SMG, having to feather the throttle, lify off bla bla bla, b
ks, keep your foot planted firmly on the floor, S6 flip a paddle, simple as. If you want smooth but a new 5 series diesel with 8 speed auto box, if you want slow gear changes with clutch pedal don't buy an E60 M5.
It's great as it is, for me the perfect car, but why consider something that doesn't have what you want from a car? Doesn't make sense to me. Test drive one, if you like the paddles then buy one, if not don;t.
ks, keep your foot planted firmly on the floor, S6 flip a paddle, simple as. If you want smooth but a new 5 series diesel with 8 speed auto box, if you want slow gear changes with clutch pedal don't buy an E60 M5.It's great as it is, for me the perfect car, but why consider something that doesn't have what you want from a car? Doesn't make sense to me. Test drive one, if you like the paddles then buy one, if not don;t.
I must say that I don't really understand all the comments about SMG around down. Seems absolutely fine to me, even in D mode. There is the odd time when it goes to select 1st at an awkward time, like when you are about to pull away. Leaving it in D1 seems to mostly avoid this. I like to knock mine in to Neutral when I am stopped for any length of time at lights etc - don't want it sat there with the clutch "pulled in" for ages.
When you are out on the open road and giving it some, the SMG is just sublime and adds to the drama of the whole experience.
One gripe though, reversing on to a sloping driveway is not the easiest. Also, sub 50k mile clutch life doesn't seem brilliant either!!!
When you are out on the open road and giving it some, the SMG is just sublime and adds to the drama of the whole experience.
One gripe though, reversing on to a sloping driveway is not the easiest. Also, sub 50k mile clutch life doesn't seem brilliant either!!!
KTMboy said:
I must say that I don't really understand all the comments about SMG around down. Seems absolutely fine to me, even in D mode. There is the odd time when it goes to select 1st at an awkward time, like when you are about to pull away. Leaving it in D1 seems to mostly avoid this. I like to knock mine in to Neutral when I am stopped for any length of time at lights etc - don't want it sat there with the clutch "pulled in" for ages.
When you are out on the open road and giving it some, the SMG is just sublime and adds to the drama of the whole experience.
One gripe though, reversing on to a sloping driveway is not the easiest. Also, sub 50k mile clutch life doesn't seem brilliant either!!!
93k out of mine When you are out on the open road and giving it some, the SMG is just sublime and adds to the drama of the whole experience.
One gripe though, reversing on to a sloping driveway is not the easiest. Also, sub 50k mile clutch life doesn't seem brilliant either!!!
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