Sepia M5, atomic80's M5 and my first drive of the SMG M3 (writeup) - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

VanCooper · 27th January 2003, 08:15

Hello everyone, I stumbled accross the Richmond automall the other day and I stopped to look at what they had in stock and was happy to find they had a great inventory when all of the sudden, I spot this E39 M5...but wait, this is not a usual M5 color so I walk (more like run) towards it to find out it was an individual M5 that had a Sepia Metallic exterior color and Ecru interior, trully amazing to my eyes...here are the pics

This is the cherry on the top, Jason (atomic80) was in town today to take care of his house in Richmond so he was able to witness the "individual" presence here in Canada as Auto West BMW had no less than 3 Individual cars on their lot. He's the one responsible for taking the pictures with my camera...so obviously, he parked his car beside the Sepia M5 and did the perfect brother's shot...

Over the course of the last week, my mother came back from Montreal after being there for a good 3 weeks. She came back and mentioned to me that she had seen a TV show that had a testdrive of the new SMG M3. Since she doesn't drive manual, she paid particular attention to this the test drive of the SMG since I had told her about it before. She also mentionned that they said the SMG M3 went from 0-100km/h in less than 5 seconds...wow, my mother saying something like that

So I started seeking for available SMG M3's here in the lower mainland that had that particular transmission and I was lucky to find that the BMW dealership in Richmond had three of them in stock. Needless to say, my parent's current car leaves you with a less than boring driving experience!

Anyway, as for my driving impressions of the M3...well first off, you need to know how to operate the different settings of the SMG/with drivelogic system. This car will require a proper introduction on delivery day!!!

So we drove off and both the salesperson and my father took the wheel before I did but when it was my turn, I strapped myself into the seat with adjustable seat width sidebolsters and I slowly drove away in automatic mode to familiarize myself with the car

Right away, I could feel/hear that the SMG is a manual transmission but with a computer that operates the clutch instead of you. In the delay of the shift, I could definitly hear/feel the clutch in, shift, clutch out sequence...but of course it was all happening much faster than I ever could shift on any given day. So merging on the highway, I shifted to Sequential mode and right away, my grin got 3 miles wide! Up on the right, down on the left, accompanied by the M3's classic inline 6 exhaust note (albeit raspier)

Cruising in 6th on the highway I decide to test the blipping and downshift 2 gears into 4th and blip, blip, I floored it and I built speed at an incredible rate, just like the M5. After that, I slowed down and cruised back to the dealership and I asked to try the mode S6 ( I had been on S5 til then) but the salesperson told me why I shouldn't....first you have to de-activate DSC to access S6, secondly it was a bit wet and then lastly, S6 is a very brutal mode and I should only use it on track...

Finally, the SMG M3 really makes you feel more connected to the road than the M5. But the M5 definitly has alot more torque downlow in the rev range and that's where it'll have the advantage on the M3. In the higher rpm range, the M3 will be able to keep up with the M5 up to a certain speed. But don't get me wrong, the M3 pulls like a stupidly fast freight train as well, I definitly felt the same pushed-back-into-the-seat feeling than I did in the M5. The M5 really is a more comfortable sedan that will travel to great speeds with ease, whereas the M3 is the smaller more nimble brother that will do very well when doing spiritied driving

My heart still sings M5

But both my parents said the M3 would be our next car so I'm not going to complain...it was a very exciting experience and I'm looking forward to join the ranks of the M cars again!

P.S. A bonus picture for you guys, notice the Individual M3 on the right....the color is called Brass metallic, very very nice!

atomic80 · 27th January 2003, 08:24

I had a great time today with you Guillaume! My only regret is that I didn't have time to stay and go on the M3 SMG test drive with you. I still have not had the opportunity to test drive one yet but if its every bit as brutal as you say it is then I know I'm in for a treat!

Driving home I was reminded once again of just how much I love the M5. At one point I was cruising in the middle lane at about 80 mph when I notice this huge pickup truck fast approaching me from the rear. I already had sports mode on and was in 6th gear. I simply floored the gas gently and the M5 surged forward without a moment's hestitation. In what was literally a blink of an eye I was at 120 mph with the pickup truck now a distant speck in the rearview horizon. The M5 definitely does not have a problem getting rid of pesty tailgaters. And on a side note, at that moment my V1 decided to start blaring like crazy. Pressing the brake ever so gently I was greeted by Washington's finest hidden in the median. I love my V1! Saved me three times on the way home.

VanCooper · 27th January 2003, 08:47

Thanks for the kind remarks Jason...it was sad to see you leave as we we're about to drive the SMG M3

FYI everyone, the Sepia M5 had the full leather interior AND the rear electric sunshade but not the side manual shade!

Gustav · 27th January 2003, 11:01

Wow wonderful pics! I like the bicoloured steering wheel

Very nice post

Also, when will you finaslly teach USA to use metric system so we all can talk the same langauge here

Ashok Arora · 27th January 2003, 11:15

Thanks for the pics - Sepia is a beautiful colour that sadly never looks as good in photos as in real life. It's surprising that more M5 owners don't have this colour. I was almost going to get this but opted for Carbonblack instead.. perhaps when the E60's out?!

MIB · 27th January 2003, 13:02

I too almost bought Sepia, but all they could show me was an X5 in it, in a dark show room, and it didn't look the best.

However, if you have seen the Bi-Sepia Leather, it looks awesome. Its dark & Light Sepia. The dark is like a deep purple Plum colour, almost black and the light is a maroon-burgandy colour. Looks very good together.

In the end I chickened out, cause they couldn't show me one in the flesh.

So I was a little dareing with Ink-Blue and Petrol instead of black.

AVOXO · 27th January 2003, 13:50

nice! thanks fer the pixs

Terk · 27th January 2003, 15:37

Nice pics and great M3 story Guillaume. Drove an M3 SMG last fall and loved every minute with it. I can't compare to the 6 speed in the M5 but that will happen soon. I was curious as to the breakdown of the 12 grand (or so) in options and how they were priced?

Thanks
T.

schnelleM5 · 27th January 2003, 17:43

Thanks for the excellent write-up and pics. The color combination on the M5 is striking. I especially like the Ecru interior leather color, although it does give it an Alpina flavor. The Sepia Metallic exterior also looks like a very dynamic and complex color which looks different under various lighting conditions...

PhilSeastrand · 27th January 2003, 18:05

Is the dealer pre-ordering these indivdual colors or are these canceled orders? I would be surprised if its the dealer based upon my experience here.

rprellwitz · 27th January 2003, 18:07

Very nice writeup and what a beautiful car! Why can't we get the individual program in the US?

Atomic80 - that splitter is very cool - is it set in the factory bumper?