My Test Drive Impressions

Pau Hana · 3rd January 2006, 05:38

I went for a test drive of the demo M5 at Eastbay BMW in Pleasanton, CA. It's the only place I know of with a demo M5. Apparently, it's actually a customer's car, he's letting them demo it for 3000 miles. Sounds crazy to me, he must have gotten a great deal. So far, they've had it about 2 months, and it has around 1100 miles. They also had a sold black M5 in the showroom, which looked great.

The weather, it's been raining for most of the past week and they were a little hesitant to let a customer take the car out. So, it was a very sedate drive.

Overall impressions, I thought the car was very refined, but it was hard to tell much about the true performance. Brakes seemed great. I'm hoping to get a drive in dry conditions.

The biggest thing that really stood out was the SMG. Unfortunately, not in a very good way. I believe the car was set on S5 (all but one bar lit). When I went for an upshift, it felt like somebody momentarily threw out an anchor. The front of the car would dive and honestly the shift felt like it took forever. The gear would engage, then it was on our way again. The overall effect, somewhat nauseating. I did try the "just slightly lift your foot" technique and that definitely helped, but it would take some practice to really get right. I've some experience with the SMG on the M3, and that seemed somewhat better.

I think overall, too little information to make a good conclusion.

Pau Hana · 3rd January 2006, 05:52

Oh, the other thing I noticed was that the HUD was set very low. Essentially, you it was more of a HDD in that you had to look down from your view of the road to see it. I understand that this is adjustable to some degree.

Filthy Monkey · 3rd January 2006, 14:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pau Hana

The biggest thing that really stood out was the SMG. Unfortunately, not in a very good way. I believe the car was set on S5 (all but one bar lit). When I went for an upshift, it felt like somebody momentarily threw out an anchor. The front of the car would dive and honestly the shift felt like it took forever. The gear would engage, then it was on our way again. The overall effect, somewhat nauseating. I did try the "just slightly lift your foot" technique and that definitely helped, but it would take some practice to really get right. I've some experience with the SMG on the M3, and that seemed somewhat better.

I think overall, too little information to make a good conclusion.

If all but one bar was lit then you would most likely have been in S4. Unless you were in P500S mode with DSC off the 6th bar would no be visible. It is unlikely that the car would have been set up like this prior to the 1200 mile service. From what I remember of US run-in procedures you are not allowed to use S5 until after the service anyway. There is a huge difference between S4 and S5 and an even greater difference between S5 and S6. There is also a huge difference in change speed depending on where in the rev range you change...

Pau Hana · 3rd January 2006, 20:52

Ah, thanks for that bit of news. I'm not sure if the car has had it's first service. I was also shifting at very low RPM's, like I mentioned, it was raining and I didn't really want to push it.

I'll definitely have to try again when it's dry.

Oh, the last thing, I was surprised by how gravelly the car sounded when started cold. Not really what I expected, but definitely not a deal breaker.

MaxTimeOff · 3rd January 2006, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pau Hana

Apparently, it's actually a customer's car, he's letting them demo it for 3000 miles. Sounds crazy to me, he must have gotten a great deal.

Does anyone else think this is unbelievable or at least super odd?

The amount of discount would have to be $20K plus in order for me to do that and then I still may not do it.

Wolverine · 3rd January 2006, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaxTimeOff

Does anyone else think this is unbelievable or at least super odd?

The amount of discount would have to be $20K plus in order for me to do that and then I still may not do it.

Pretty weird - hard to believe in fact.

catdog · 3rd January 2006, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pau Hana

The weather, it's been raining for most of the past week and they were a little hesitant to let a customer take the car out. So, it was a very sedate drive.

There may be a simple explanation if the road surface is wet then your shift may have felt like it took forever because of DSC traction control kicking in and slowing the engine from applying full throttle after the shift. Used to happen to me all the time in the M3 as well and no the DSC light does not always light up

rayt · 3rd January 2006, 23:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Filthy Monkey

If all but one bar was lit then you would most likely have been in S4. Unless you were in P500S mode with DSC off the 6th bar would no be visible. It is unlikely that the car would have been set up like this prior to the 1200 mile service. From what I remember of US run-in procedures you are not allowed to use S5 until after the service anyway. There is a huge difference between S4 and S5 and an even greater difference between S5 and S6. There is also a huge difference in change speed depending on where in the rev range you change...

Technically your not supposed to. But nothing stopping you from enter s5 or even s6 with dsc on or off (for s6). I can and not have had my 1200 mile service yet.

rodman31 · 3rd January 2006, 23:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pau Hana

Ah, thanks for that bit of news. I'm not sure if the car has had it's first service. I was also shifting at very low RPM's, like I mentioned, it was raining and I didn't really want to push it.

I'll definitely have to try again when it's dry.

Oh, the last thing, I was surprised by how gravelly the car sounded when started cold. Not really what I expected, but definitely not a deal breaker.

Have you ever driven an M5 before?? They all sound pretty rough when they start. The E60 sounds a little worse than my E39 did, however these are high performance engines. On the E39 it would also be much stiffer to shift gears in 1st and 2nd until she had warmed up. You are supposed to drive these to warm them up, no standing idoling, they run a little rough for the first mile, this is normal. Try driving in D3(automatic) and S3 or S4. I have found S3 to be just fine for daily driving, plus I am also still under 1200 miles. The car is wonderful. I hated "I" drive before I purchased the car out of ignorance, now I love it!!

I use the voice commands for just about everything, don't even need to touch the dial!!

Good Luck and go by one!!

Pau Hana · 3rd January 2006, 23:41

I know it sounds unbelievable, but I've had 2 salesmen tell me that the car was bought by a private party and they are allowed to demo it for 3000 miles. I'm not sure who would sponsor such foolishness, but whatever the reason, I was grateful.

No, I haven't driven an M5 before.

Like I said, it was really a short drive under non-ideal conditions, hard to assess the car like that.

I'm working on buying one, but I think I should probably get a house first.