Driving Impressions - 3 weeks so far - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

///PCH · 11th October 2006, 23:42

Aside from having my M5 in the shop about as 50% of the days since I got it...what a ride! I still have at least 1 more trip to the mechanic for the cps sensor if/when it pops up, tranny fluid flush, and a splashguard replacement...

Sport Button - wtf? With it off/default, car feels a bit dead off the line, when its on, the response is quicker than my M3. I understand what it does, but my question is, why would you really want it off? I could see it for highway driving maybe where you want that 0.25% better gas mileage. In city driving, I find it gets me into more trouble when shifting. As far as heel-toe shifting, I find it very hard to do so without sport mode off...the lag or need to overexaggerate the throttle makes matching the rpms more difficult that it already is.

Is there a way to reverse the setting? Ie when you start the car, its "on", and you have to push it to turn it "off".

I've found that 37Front-39Rear psi works well. Setup the tire monitoring system at the pressure...we will see if it works ;-) Only time I have issues is shifting from 1st to 2nd and gunnin it.. DSC goes nuts

BTW.. on the tire monitoring system. I followed the steps to set it, and I drove about 60miles, and during that time I never saw a confirmation message that it was done analyzing. I didnt see anything in the manual either...so I'm assuming its all setup.

Why did they stop making stealthones! I'm already sick of the "Accept" button, and reaching for the V1 could so easily be replaced! BAH!

How long do you wait to let your car warm up? I currently wait for the 4k-6.5k tach lights to go off, the coolant temperature to reach 30%, and the oil temperature to pass the 1st notch (25/30%).

I havent gotten the chance/nerve to turn off DSC and find a wide street to slide through. Car isnt as light and nimble as my M3. Can you control the car with throttle input easily around a turn, slide or otherwise?

00M5MD · 11th October 2006, 23:47

The car has 400HP, yes, but it's not like you're driving a 1000rwhp Viper. You'll be able to control it ... now, time to let it loose!

I drove a 850rwhp Lingenfelter Twin Turbo C5 the other day. Now THAT car needs a lot of work around turns (heck, even on the straights).

jclyman · 12th October 2006, 00:27

Other threads discuss the pros and cons of Sport mode being ON ... I prefer it on ... can't drive with it off ...

There doesn't seem to be any "direct" way to have it ON as the default ... there is a device (maybe Stealth 1, not sure) that allows it to be turned on at startup ... also, somewhere in these threads ... also, some rewiring approaches which I don't like as my car is stock.

I run slightly higher tire pressures, but then I drive mostly on longer trips (40 and 42). There doesn't seem to be any comfirmation that the monitor is set ... if is isn't set, after pressing the button, you will get a message in the information display.

Stealth Ones were discontinued about 3 months ago, or so I believe ... also, here in one of the threads.

Warm up. I don't use the tach lights ... just keep it below 4,000 RPMs until the Oil Temp AND Coolant Temp pass the quarter mark.

I have no problem with my DSC OFF ... car responds very well (actually better than with it ON), just be careful because if you are overly agressive, the car CAN get away from you ... hasn't happened to me, yet ...

Oh, yes, drive the car like it was stolen ... I do ... with no engine problems in 51,000 miles.

BimmerHead · 12th October 2006, 00:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///PCH

How long do you wait to let your car warm up? I currently wait for the 4k-6.5k tach lights to go off, the coolant temperature to reach 30%, and the oil temperature to pass the 1st notch (25/30%).

I've always heard that it's actually bad for the car when you sit and idle waiting for it to warm up. I've been told to drive immediately and just take it easy until it reaches normal temperature.

///PCH · 12th October 2006, 00:42

I did not mean idling. Driving normally, but under 4k rpm until all those areas i described hit their mark... then ripping the street up

BimmerHead · 12th October 2006, 00:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///PCH

I did not mean idling. Driving normally, but under 4k rpm until all those areas i described hit their mark... then ripping the street up

Oooopppsss...

greer · 17th October 2006, 02:46

I own a 2003 E39 and when I drive with sports button off the car does not lag. It's obviously faster with the sports buttton on, but if I am stuck in LA traffic (alot of the time) having the sport button on is a waste.

When you bought your M5 did you have a PPI? ( pre purchase inspection)

I have driven many E39's without sport button on, it should not lag.

///PCH · 17th October 2006, 02:49

yep i did ppi and all that good stuff. its not "lag" as much as its just soft. Like i said, if I'm at wot, car is going as fast as sport mode, no difference. But just puttin between lights, etc. the difference is clear in responsiveness.

Kevin993 · 17th October 2006, 02:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///PCH

Aside from having my M5 in the shop about as 50% of the days since I got it...what a ride! I still have at least 1 more trip to the mechanic for the cps sensor if/when it pops up, tranny fluid flush, and a splashguard replacement...

Why did they stop making stealthones! I'm already sick of the "Accept" button, and reaching for the V1 could so easily be replaced! BAH!

I also wish the StealthOne was still available. But meanwhile, if you update your NAV O/S, the newer software automatically turns the "accept" screen off after about 8 seconds. I updated mine to v28 the other day (I had a real old version) and it worked great. I got the software from an X5 board (search the achives here). Or you could do the upgrade/downgrade trick to get your NAV software into Euro mode...no accept screen.

///PCH · 17th October 2006, 03:13

i upgraded the nav os to v23 as the mark3 system doesnt change after that (3-1/63).... I'll wait 8 seconds and see what happens ;-)