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mokushiroku · 23rd January 2006, 05:41

This review came from the guys of Auto week. Remember the days when BMW would receive nothing but praise.

I've just had a good long brood about the next M5 and I've arrived at the conclusion that, despite its super-duper 500hp V10 (oh yay--sarcasm very much intended) it will suck. Reasons for this conclusion follow:

1) iDrive. No explanation should be necessary.

2) Active steering. While iDrive's problems can be overcome actually quite easily, this system is almost single-handedly ruining BMWs. Even the most ardent BMW enthusiasts in the press have to give up thanks to this system. What it does for the car you all should know as well; what it does to a BMW is removes its steering feel, which is essentially what used to make a BMW a BMW and not just another fast, well-handling sedan.

3)An issue on the M5 only (so far), the final nail in its coffin is the 7-speed sequential gearbox. First of all, any sports sedan in this segment, and especially if it's a BMW, should have a traditional manual gearbox. Four-door sedans are not bloody Formula One cars and should not be driven as such. Second, no car on the road needs seven gears. This gearbox is so egregiously stupid in a road application. One of two things is going to happen as a result of this gearbox:
A) Due to gear spacing, the M5 will require two shifts before reaching 60mph, resulting in a poor 0-to-60mph run. Case in point: Look up numbers for a Mazda MX-5 Miata LS (6-speed) versus the base MX-5 (5-speed).
B) More likely, the M5 will accelerate to 60mph in second or very possibly first gear. Due to gear spacing, it will reach its top speed in fourth or maybe fifth gear (remember, governor stops the fun at 155). It will definitely top out in fifth gear, forcing a double-overdrive sixth and seventh gears (See C5 Corvette, acceleration in fifth/sixth gears). Since only one gear is needed for overdrive, especially in such a "race-inspired" (read: BS) car, the seventh gear is useless, not to mention it adds weight and complexity to the drivetrain and driving experience. Just what a modern-day BMW needs, of course.

The M5 will undoubtedly be fast, but as a friend of mine has said, "the fun will end there." Ironically, this used to describe the M5's arch-nemesis, the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, which is nowadays a fun car to drive, not to mention faster than the current M5.

You all remember the E39 M5. You will always remember it as I will as the perfect sports sedan. That car was great, one of the best cars BMW has ever made and one of the best cars to ever turn a wheel on public roads.

Now, with Active Steering, iDrive and this seven-speed gearbox, BMW has ruined it. BMW has ruined their pinnacle car. Ruined it outright just as they have all their other cars by overengineering it halfway to hell.
I feel like going to Munich, standing outside their corporate headquarters, and screaming my head off like Charlton Heston at the end of "Planet of the Apes."

This car is that bad. This M5 is gonna
ssssssssssssssssssuck.

You can't deny any of what is being said in this article. I remember when the E39 M5 came out. Remember all the praise it recieved. I see nothing that would lead me to believe once again BMW has fallen short of the prize. If the E60 is allready having Vanos issue's, I can't image where they will be in 5 years. The mechanics will look at the the SMG 7 speed tranny and simply cry. The E39 owners thought replacing a weak clutch was a tough issue to swallow.

Just a thought.

23rd January 2006, 05:41	#1 (permalink)
mokushiroku Member, Sport: Off DSC: On (>50 posts) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 67 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	E60 M5 some bad reviews (long rant) This review came from the guys of Auto week. Remember the days when BMW would receive nothing but praise. I've just had a good long brood about the next M5 and I've arrived at the conclusion that, despite its super-duper 500hp V10 (oh yay--sarcasm very much intended) it will suck. Reasons for this conclusion follow: 1) iDrive. No explanation should be necessary. 2) Active steering. While iDrive's problems can be overcome actually quite easily, this system is almost single-handedly ruining BMWs. Even the most ardent BMW enthusiasts in the press have to give up thanks to this system. What it does for the car you all should know as well; what it does to a BMW is removes its steering feel, which is essentially what used to make a BMW a BMW and not just another fast, well-handling sedan. 3)An issue on the M5 only (so far), the final nail in its coffin is the 7-speed sequential gearbox. First of all, any sports sedan in this segment, and especially if it's a BMW, should have a traditional manual gearbox. Four-door sedans are not bloody Formula One cars and should not be driven as such. Second, no car on the road needs seven gears. This gearbox is so egregiously stupid in a road application. One of two things is going to happen as a result of this gearbox: A) Due to gear spacing, the M5 will require two shifts before reaching 60mph, resulting in a poor 0-to-60mph run. Case in point: Look up numbers for a Mazda MX-5 Miata LS (6-speed) versus the base MX-5 (5-speed). B) More likely, the M5 will accelerate to 60mph in second or very possibly first gear. Due to gear spacing, it will reach its top speed in fourth or maybe fifth gear (remember, governor stops the fun at 155). It will definitely top out in fifth gear, forcing a double-overdrive sixth and seventh gears (See C5 Corvette, acceleration in fifth/sixth gears). Since only one gear is needed for overdrive, especially in such a "race-inspired" (read: BS) car, the seventh gear is useless, not to mention it adds weight and complexity to the drivetrain and driving experience. Just what a modern-day BMW needs, of course. The M5 will undoubtedly be fast, but as a friend of mine has said, "the fun will end there." Ironically, this used to describe the M5's arch-nemesis, the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, which is nowadays a fun car to drive, not to mention faster than the current M5. You all remember the E39 M5. You will always remember it as I will as the perfect sports sedan. That car was great, one of the best cars BMW has ever made and one of the best cars to ever turn a wheel on public roads. Now, with Active Steering, iDrive and this seven-speed gearbox, BMW has ruined it. BMW has ruined their pinnacle car. Ruined it outright just as they have all their other cars by overengineering it halfway to hell. I feel like going to Munich, standing outside their corporate headquarters, and screaming my head off like Charlton Heston at the end of "Planet of the Apes." This car is that bad. This M5 is gonna ssssssssssssssssssuck. You can't deny any of what is being said in this article. I remember when the E39 M5 came out. Remember all the praise it recieved. I see nothing that would lead me to believe once again BMW has fallen short of the prize. If the E60 is allready having Vanos issue's, I can't image where they will be in 5 years. The mechanics will look at the the SMG 7 speed tranny and simply cry. The E39 owners thought replacing a weak clutch was a tough issue to swallow. Just a thought.