E60 M5: 6 Speed Manual or 7 Speed SMG

[Bruce]

I'm interested to see what the majority of people of GCF want

So, which do you prefer? Which would you want on your M5?

 

[Deutsch]

SMG ain't that great, but with time could be mastered, much prefer a DCT though. A 6spd would ruin it for me for two reasons a) don't like shuffling my legs around(they're long and get tired quick) b) well I just said too much shufflng???... o yeh, I live in L.A. where traffic is your best friend. Even w/ out it I'd still take SMG. Like I said before though, all about the E90/2 M3 for me.

 

[bum-man]

6-speed for me nothing like a good Ol' fashioned reliable H-gate. The SMG just still isn't there being too complex for it's own good.

 

[Zafiro]

- SMG for the track, launchcontrol, middle-gas sounds when shifting down, able to turn of DSC 100%

- Manual for reliability, no software that can be messed up. DSC can't be turn off 100% (and that sucks, now its so Mercedesish )

 

[PanterroR]

DSC can't be turn off 100%

Just because of that, the SMG!

Although i don't know if i'd be able to resist the manual... I can only imagine how that V10 Power screams when it's totally under your gearing controll...

 

[Zafiro]

Just because of that, the SMG!

Although i don't know if i'd be able to resist the manual... I can only imagine how that V10 Power screams when it's totally under your gearing controll...

you have full controll with SMG as well. you can change gear whenever you want to

 

[PanterroR]

you have full controll with SMG as well. you can change gear whenever you want to

It's not about that, Andreas... There's no gearbox in this world that can give you the same satiscaftion like manual...You know what i'm talking about.

 

[Zafiro]

You know what i'm talking about.

No not really, for active driving SMG is awesome as well. I undertand its about personal preferences but you can do same thing with SMG as you can with a manual. A manual gearbox is no longer an obvious choice for me.

 

[PanterroR]

SMG is a damn computer if compared to manual, that's what i'm talking about! Yes, i know you can do almost everything with SMG like you can with manual, but not 100%!

I still choose the SMG, 'cause V10 and SMG are born for each other.

 

[Zafiro]

SMG is a damn computer if compared to manual, that's what i'm talking about! Yes, i know you can do almost everything with SMG like you can with manual, but not 100%!

Computer or not, it still works. To be honest how often do you perform heel-and-toe downshifting with a manual gearbox? And then we have the DSC issue, why the hell cant you turn if off 100% SMG is the way to go if you want to play and being Schumi for a day.

 

[PanterroR]

SMG is the way to go if you want to play and being Schumi for a day.

I don't want to be like him...

 

[Zafiro]

I don't want to be like him...

I know, thats why I wrote Schumi

 

[Alwing]

I'd choose for a 6 speed manual.

My reasons are:
- Manual is more reliable than the SMG, also longterm.
- No jerky shifts when driving slow in town, better to live with as daily driver.
- No more looking for faster shift modes in I-drive etc.
- BMW has always been known as manufacturers of one of the best manual transmissions.

 

[ree]

I'd choose for a 6 speed manual.

My reasons are:
- Manual is more reliable than the SMG, also longterm.
- No jerky shifts when driving slow in town, better to live with as daily driver.
- No more looking for faster shift modes in I-drive etc.
- BMW has always been known as manufacturers of one of the best manual transmissions.

You're absolutely right! And I'm a fan of manual tranmsmission, especially in sporty cars like the M5!

 

[Zafiro]

I just wished everybody tried SMG III before judging it. Im certain some of you would change your mind and not being so negative.

 

[Alwing]

I just wished everybody tried SMG III before judging it. Im certain some of you would change your mind and not being so negative.

Seriously I wish I could! I wasn't as lucky as you are unfortunatly.
Anyway you don't have to agree with my reasons for not choosing the SMG over the manual transmission of course, the car and engine is great, no doubt.
But I think the statement I've made are pretty true and based on reviews and opinions of people who driven it.

But seriously, I know you drove the M6 for a little testdrive.
Back then you were probably very excited and floored the car where possible for the most of its time during the testdrive, I know I would.
But in such a short time you probably find the SMG III great, fast and with brutal shifts. You were left impressed and longing for nothing else than that.

But in such a short period of driving the M6 you can't possibly tell that the SMG III is super reliable or you probably didn't had the chance to drive it normal/slowly in town like you would with a daily driver and probably didn't notice the jerkiness of the shifts in comparison to normal automatics.
The SMG is great for fast driving but most probably not so convienent when driving slow/normal.

But then again, you haven't driven the manual version either.
So you shouldn't write off the manual transmission just like that.
Sportscars like the Porsche Carrera GT and Pagani Zonda still has manuals, does that mean that it's a lesser drive? More involving, sure is.

 

[donau]

Manual for more control, involvement and reliability. Also, thinking of resale values, when the next new big thing comes out, like the dual clutch transmission gearbox, any of the older versions of SMG would be less than desirable, whereas with the manual you'll always find a market.

 

[Centurion]

An E60 M5 without SMG is not a proper E60 M5. The heart of the M5 is the V10 engine and the SMG-tranny. Still my pick you be manual. From what I have read and heard SMG is pretty jerky and rough on a daily basis. More over I'm a bit old fashion and prefer to do the work myself, with the clutch and gear lever.

 

[Zafiro]

Seriously I wish I could! I wasn't as lucky as you are unfortunatly.
Anyway you don't have to agree with my reasons for not choosing the SMG over the manual transmission of course, the car and engine is great, no doubt.
But I think the statement I've made are pretty true and based on reviews and opinions of people who driven it.

But seriously, I know you drove the M6 for a little testdrive.
Back then you were probably very excited and floored the car where possible for the most of its time during the testdrive, I know I would.
But in such a short time you probably find the SMG III great, fast and with brutal shifts. You were left impressed and longing for nothing else than that.
But in such a short period of driving the M6 you can't possibly tell that the SMG III is super reliable or you probably didn't had the chance to drive it normal/slowly in town like you would with a daily driver and probably didn't notice the jerkiness of the shifts in comparison to normal automatics.
The SMG is great for fast driving but most probably not so convienent when driving slow/normal.

But then again, you haven't driven the manual version either.
So you shouldn't write off the manual transmission just like that.
Sportscars like the Porsche Carrera GT and Pagani Zonda still has manuals, does that mean that it's a lesser drive? More involving, sure is.

I driven the M5 as well and as a Moderator on m5board.com you are fortune to know people who own these cars. Im not basing it only on my testdrive with the M6. Im "surrounded" with people owning M5/M6's and I basically hear everyday their opinions regarding SMG. I also tried the SMG in a small town with traffic lights and so on but I used the manual mode so I didnt have any jerky gearchanges. Also I tried SMGIII with another gearsetting than the S6. So if you think Im basing it after the M6 testdrive you are wrong.

Me dissing manual, dont forget I've driving manual for 15 years so I basically driven more cars with manual than seqventiell cars. Im impressed with the SMG, If I wasnt, I wouldnt defend it either, I obviosly spend more times with SMG than you (no offence) so I think I have "some meat on my legs" regarding SMG. Also Im not dissing out manual version, I simply like SMG, just like you like manual. Also I havent said SMG is reliable, on the contrary, its not, too much software and a bigger chance something gets wrong.

Again, Im certain there are people changing their mind about SMG after testing the SMG and then I dont mean deciding if its good or not just after a 15 minuters testride which you seem to believe Im doing.

 

[Alwing]

I driven the M5 as well and as a Moderator on m5board.com you are fortune to know people who own these cars. Im not basing it only on my testdrive with the M6. Im "surrounded" with people owning M5/M6's and I basically hear everyday their opinions regarding SMG. I also tried the SMG in a small town with traffic lights and so on but I used the manual mode so I didnt have any jerky gearchanges. Also I tried SMGIII with another gearsetting than the S6. So if you think Im basing it after the M6 testdrive you are wrong.

Me dissing manual, dont forget I've driving manual for 15 years so I basically driven more cars with manual than seqventiell cars. Im impressed with the SMG, If I wasnt, I wouldnt defend it either, I obviosly spend more times with SMG than you (no offence) so I think I have "some meat on my legs" regarding SMG. Also Im not dissing out manual version, I simply like SMG, just like you like manual. Also I havent said SMG is reliable, on the contrary, its not, too much software and a bigger chance something gets wrong.

Again, Im certain there are people changing their mind about SMG after testing the SMG and then I dont mean deciding if its good or not just after a 15 minuters testride which you seem to believe Im doing.

You seem offended and I'm sorry for that if I did, it wasn't my intention at all.
And I didn't mean to say the SMG is no good, it's just I don't choose it over the manual because of a few things that isn't really 100% yet with the SMG.
Cheers!