Drove the New E60 530i sport - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

M5manny · 28th August 2003, 17:47

Let me give you nice folks a little back ground. I work for BMW, JMK BMW to be more precise. I pride myself in product knowledge, and I am a car nut. I own a heavily modded E39 M5 and a 2003 Z4 3.0 sport, I love to drive

Now the goods.Everytime BMW comes out with a new product, they send us to learn at a ride and drive,a form of 2 day class for us to pick apart the competition and learn about our new cars and technology.

All I can say is the 530i sport is AWSOME

I say sport because you can only get the active steering and anti roll stabilization with the sport.It's not to say that the non sport isn't awsome because it's still better than the Jag S-Type, the Lexus GS 300, the M.B. E320 with sport and anything else you wanna throw at it.

I consider myself a good, above average, driver but when Mark, the head professional driver took me for a hot lap in a sport pkg car, I was scared

The things this car does dify the laws of physics. I found myself bracing for impact a couple of times because I saw no way this car traveling at 80 MPH would turn into this one turn done maybe at 45 MPH. But the car turned! And turned in with little fuss. The active roll stabilization is an awsome feature. It dials out 80% of the body roll in the car. And for that matter, the dive and pitch of the car as well.The way BMW explained it to me was that they didn't dial out 80% of the roll, they left 20% in. They could have dialed out 100% but then you would have people sailing off into the wild blue yonder off of turns because they wouldn't be able to see where the limits of the car were. In other words they left some body roll so that the driver has some ques as to where the horizon of the hood is in relation to the road, that way they can see the car leaning and they would back off the speed. I was told to look for 90-95% of body roll gone in the new M5

Let me give you a little on active steering and we'll call it a day. The active steering will vary the gearing of the rack between 10:1, 14:1, and 18:1.

At 1-45 MPH the gearing is quicker at 10:1 so that the car steers quicker. At 45-75 MPH it's at the standard BMW ratio of 14:1. At speeds over 75MPH it's a bus like 18:1.
Now, the active portion of this was demonstrated as follows.Say you're in the left lane doing 80MPH and you're about to pass a truck in the center lane. The wind pulse generated is enough to blow you off line. The active steering will keep the car straight with minute adjustments to the steering.It's imperceptable. Also, all roads are crowned for water run-off purposes. Well, when you have a car with very wide tires, or not so wide, a car has the tendancy to pull when riding on the right side.The active steering will keep the car going strait. Now, all this is fun but there's one rule. The steering wheel has to be at 0 degrees,i.e pointed strait.1 degree off center and it doesn't work. So for the skeptics, it's not going to steer for you.

Anyway, look for the Speed Channel's review of the car Sept. 12th.Speed Channel's test drive does a good evaluation of the cars they drive.

I highly recommend all of you drive one when they hit the retail centers.And enjoy

racerke · 28th August 2003, 18:09

great!! i hope the m5 gets even better

M5manny · 28th August 2003, 18:20

Racerke, I was talking with one of the engineers, and he said that the new M5 is way beyond the capabilties of 90% of the drivers on the streets.

cidair · 28th August 2003, 18:50

m5manny:

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like great news for a guy almost in there for a 545i sport ( SMG ? ). Yes, I´m starting to like the design!!

Do you have any info on the SMG. Is it like the one in the E46 or is it better. Maybe comparable with SMGII like in the M3?

I´m told that in the standard E46 the SMG is not working very well. I´d like it to be like the SMGII.

racerke · 28th August 2003, 18:52

Quote:

Originally posted by m5manny
Racerke, I was talking with one of the engineers, and he said that the new M5 is way beyond the capabilties of 90% of the drivers on the streets.

greaaaaaaaattttttt.

i'm sry for my strange reaction i'm just to excited

M5manny · 28th August 2003, 19:02

Cidair, the SMG is not like the one in the M3 it's like the one in the E46 and moreso like the on in the Z4.I drove an SMG Z4 before I bought my Automatic. I didn't like it because it was slow in gear changes. Not as fast as the M3. And for the 1 tenth of a second I'd rather have the smoother automatic. I use the car as a daily driver . If I wanna get crazy I take my M5 out and go scare myself.

Racerke, I was just as excited when I went to Virginia to drive the car, so no apology needed.

cidair · 28th August 2003, 19:07

m5manny:

Ok, thanks for the thought. I suppose it will be the automatic then and of course active steering and dynamic drive!!!

If I order it tomorrow it will be in my hands 1st of November

Holtor · 28th August 2003, 19:28

manny,

When are you guys expecting Demo models? I was reading on roadly that pricing and all details are available to dealers aswell which are keeping it secret until Sept 1.

Any confirmation on that?

Pierce · 28th August 2003, 19:30

So when does the new 5 officially hit all the dealers in the US? Id really like to go check one out in the flesh.

Have fun,

Pierce

M5manny · 28th August 2003, 19:36

It's not true about the pricing. We don't have it yet. Only the base pricing without options. The demo cars will be relaesed to us on the last week of September and we're having an open house for the car here on Oct 6th. I invite all who want to come down and see the car to do so.
The base pricing for the car is as follows.
525i $39300,530i $44300, and 545i $54300.Options pricing is due anyday.

Cidair, get the automatic.The shifts are seemless and the 0-60 times are only a tenth of a second apart.Remember, it's a 6 speed auto.

Holtor · 28th August 2003, 20:11

We should get pricing soon though hopefully right? Along with pricing for all the other BMW models probably next week in early September?

Does JMK have a wait list for the E60? Many people on it? 545's being marked up or no?