2002 M5 with SMG2!! - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

beewang · 13th August 2001, 03:20

I hate to beat this subject to the ground, but this guy in bimmer.org sounded very certain about M5 is available w/ SMG 2 this November.

http://www.bimmer.org/m5/messages/messages/22555.html

Does anyone know anything for certain??

My sales guy told me that as of 6 weeks ago, e39 M5 is NOT going to happen. God knows if they changed their mind.

Does anyone have the phone # to Tom Salkowsky?? I really need to know ASAP.

T.I.A.

beewang

Chris Foote · 13th August 2001, 04:00

Well, that guy is contradicting Tom Salkowsky, the M brand manager, who stated that the E39 M5 will NEVER have SMG....Draw your own conclusions.

-Chris

enots · 13th August 2001, 07:50

im only sure that only the new upcomming M5 gets the SMG3

dont think its going to b in the 2002 model though....i havnt heard nething about it...and checked the BMW press site and nothing on the SMG2 in the M5.

even so....id say it would b just like on the E46 M3.....and have it as a NCO....i guess......they wouldnt put in SMG2 ONLY.....that would b way 2 stupid.

Greg

EBMCS03 · 13th August 2001, 08:51

Ya dont think they'll have it for the 2002 M5 but if they do, I think they will piss off a lot of current 2000 and 2001 owners who wernt given the option... hehehe but will make up-comming 2002 owners happy...

kgk · 13th August 2001, 09:17

My car is a September 2002 build, and my only choice was manual. I wonder if SMGII will really be an option in November!

I'm trying to decide if I'd prefer SMGII... right now I'm "up in the air." I guess that I'm so into gas-blipping these days that I'd opt for the manual, although the SMGII would be great to spank people while drag-racing.

The correct solution---too expensive for my blood, sadly---would be to have *two* M5's.

Well, when somebody finds the authoritative answer, I hope that they'll post it in this thread!

DrJimM5 · 13th August 2001, 12:38

When Tom Salkowsky spoke a few weeks ago at a gathering of owners, he again stated the current M5 WILL NOT be built with SMG. Hopefully this is true, because if it isn't I will loose all respect for BMW. It's bad enough we couldn't get accurate info on the E39 M5 early in its production run, but I'm certain they definately know the plan for it from here until the end of the run. I've found dealers to be an unreliable source of information. So anyone who says my dealer/salesman told me so, better be ready for that info to be wrong.

Jim

mgmn · 13th August 2001, 16:20

I specifically asked this question of Tom Salkowski before ordering my 2002, and his response was unequivocal -- SMG will NOT be offered on the E39.

IMHO, it makes sense, as the E39 is at the end of its run, and their resources are better deployed in perfecting SMG III for the E60.

beewang · 13th August 2001, 18:37

My dealer is contacting BMW 5 series manager, as well as the M brand manger. Basiclly, I told him that I need somebody put their neck on the line and tell me that SMG will NOT be available for 2002 Model year M5.

I really dig the SMG idea, and will definitely get that for the M3. But for the time being, my better half cannot drive a stick, and I would really love it if she could share some (not all, but just some :P) of my joy w/ this M5.

I will certainly keep you guys posted, and appreciate any input from guys "in the know"

beewang

Rahim · 13th August 2001, 21:25

I spoke to Thomas recently and he stated that the M5 will NOT have that option for the E39.

beewang · 13th August 2001, 22:30

Well, my salesRep just called me back, he had just talked to The Man (Tom Salkowsky), and Tom pretty much got a good laugh out of it.

As of 8/13/01, No SMG planned for E39 M5

Sooooooooo I feel much better now!! Not that I don't want to have SMG, but I can proceed w/ the order without feeling the "shaft" later.

Whew!!

beewang

kgk · 14th August 2001, 02:34

Quote:

Originally posted by beewang
Not that I don't want to have SMG, but I can proceed w/ the order without feeling the "shaft" later.

You should feel torn between SMGII and a manual. If not, it means that you have to learn how to gas-blip the manual (with the double-declutch) for a downshift. Learning how to row the gears properly (up and down) makes the car a much better plaything, and will narrow the performance gap between you and the SMGII. Of course, you'll never be as good as the SMGII---but it is a fun game to see how close you can go, and this should provide endless entertainment with each gear change.

Thanks for getting the authoratative answer about SMGII.