E60 M5 some bad reviews (long rant) - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

mokushiroku · 23rd January 2006, 04:41

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.

03E39M5 · 23rd January 2006, 04:51

The E60 M5 does not have active steering (thank goodness).

Lexus is coming out with an 8-speed tranny later this year.

The E60 is supposed to be coming with an optional "normal" manual tranny soon.

The E60 does not suck, but I agree that other than the extra HP (interesting to note that torque and displacement are roughly equal to the E39), the car is a step down from the E39.

Wang · 23rd January 2006, 05:00

Any of yo driven one yet?

TiSiBeast · 23rd January 2006, 05:05

Hate to say this Mokushi - but you are bitter. Maybe you should go back to Porsche's. Obviously you aren't happy with BMW NA right now but this is getting ridiculous.

Ben Carufel · 23rd January 2006, 05:21

Hey Mokushi;

Don't I recall you saying yesterday that you were making your last post ever on this board and then you were going to move along...?

Maybe it's time to...move along?

mokushiroku · 23rd January 2006, 05:23

Hey Wang! Of cource I have what does this look like? Happy time with the camera's? A chance to meet my favorite celebrity? I have driven both and prefer the E39 way more in driveability. I had my dirty hands around the new one, but wasn't adjusted to its looks and driving. Now tell me, why should someone have to adjust to the looks of a $100+ sportscar. When I bought My Porsche I fell in Love. When I bought my E39 M5 I fell in Love(until the life sucking Cancerous Vanos took her life). I played with the idea and had no love or even passion for the Nissan looking Hybrid with a Viper engine. I think most enthusiasts that bought this car don't even understand the Vanos system or the intricate design of the car. Its mostly an Escalade replacement for unoriginal pinheads.

mokushiroku · 23rd January 2006, 05:25

That was my last post until Gustov changed the title of my post to "Vanos Rant. So I thought I would stick around and make more valid points.

Huggs and Kisses

drewzMMM · 23rd January 2006, 05:27

The fact that the M5 doesn't have active steering and they are shooting it down in the article pretty much destroys any credibility they may have had. They were probably given some heavy advertising $$$ by Porsche or Mercedes.

And why should this article matter anyway? After all, it is AutoWeek -- an auto tabloid rag lol!

mokushiroku · 23rd January 2006, 05:41

Yeah.... Tabloid whatever you want call it. Auto weak is read and seen by as many people as Motor Trend, and Car and Driver. The top 3. HMMMM...... Do they have a show on TV? Of course they do and it has higher ratings according to MSNBC then most auto shows to date. Look it up if you don't believe me.

As in reference to the Active steering he was referring to the E60 base 5. For some reason the M5 did that right.

....

Anzir · 23rd January 2006, 05:44

This is actually the E39 section of the messageboard. And the quotes you provided definitely aren't from AutoWeek because

1) Wrong information - E60 doesn't have active steering (thank you ///M engineers)

2) I don't think they would judiciously use the word "suck"

Seems like a post off another messageboard. Enjoy your ride.

And I think it's spelled "surprise"

mokushiroku · 23rd January 2006, 05:46

BOTTOM LINE FIND A BAD REVIEW OF THE E39 M5. WHATS THAT??? YEAH THEY DON'T EXIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ben Carufel · 23rd January 2006, 06:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by mokushiroku

My grammer is just fine. I am not writing a disortation. Post a picture of yourself if your such a tough guy. I am sure I would kick the crap out of you.

Grammar.

Dissertation.

You're.

Seriously...please just stop the bitter threads.