Working on Coming Back - Couple ?'s

Alright, got it narrowed down between a few cars. Currently between an '01-03 M5 and an '07 550i (I know, two completely different cars). The M5 is almost perfect for me, expect the lack of a warranty (rearch the $ of one), but the woman is intimidated by the manual trans. The happy medium we found was the 550i with SMG. Found a lot of great information of this board about it, and after testing driving it, I believe it will satisfy both my needs and her concern of the manual.

To my questions. Is there a wrong way, and I mean damage is done to the transmission,to drive the SMG? Should I be concerned of a lot of test drives while the car was on the dealer lot? Does the still protect itself from over-reving in case of a bad down shift or forgetting to shift? Also, I live in the snow belt of the great lakes, how bad is the 550i in the snow. My intention would be to take the truck in really bad weather, but in case I get stuck in it.

Thanks. Hope to be officially back soon!

SMG is pretty hard/almost impossible to screw up from driver error. Really the only way you could do anything negative to SMG would be if your sitting on a hill and lightly giving it gas and all that would do is put some unnecessary wear on the clutch plate. Down shifts are rev matched perfectly so you can't do anything to wreck it. My wife was similar to yours. She always drives are 545i SMG in manual mode.

I'm assuming the 550i your looking at has the sport package. This is going to have summer tires on it. So you can't drive it in the winter without really putting yourself/wife and others at risk. You need to have a dedicated set of winter tires. You can usually get a good deal through the tire rack for about $1100 to $1500 for a set of rims and tires (17" package). Otherwise over the summer on the various forums you can find people selling sets for $500 to $900 quite often (ebay also) that have only been used one or two winters so usually alot of life left. With winter tires the car goes just find through the winter with no problems.


Personally between the two cars I don't think you can make a wrong choice. But the 07 550i is going to be your better buy and offer a better ownership experience. Having a warranty is almost a must. Plus if you done your research on the M cars you know they aren't cheap to maintain from year to year. They even take special oil that runs about $7-$10 a quart that you can't even find in the stores 95% of the time. So a simple DIY oil change can run you $75+.

Good luck.

Thanks for the info. You are correct, sport package is on the car. Good to hear the car will handle acceptable in the winter with the right tires. Also, the takes care of my remaining fears with the SMG. By the way, has anyone ever had to replace a clutch in one (never saw that in my search last night)? Also, what's the most miles anyone has ever heard of being put on one (e.g. 100k miles)?

I started "the dance" with the dealer last night, gave him what I'm willing to pay for the car given the quoted trade-in price they gave me. We'll see where we go from here.

Originally Posted by DAI

Thanks for the info. You are correct, sport package is on the car. Good to hear the car will handle acceptable in the winter with the right tires. Also, the takes care of my remaining fears with the SMG. By the way, has anyone ever had to replace a clutch in one (never saw that in my search last night)? Also, what's the most miles anyone has ever heard of being put on one (e.g. 100k miles)?

I started "the dance" with the dealer last night, gave him what I'm willing to pay for the car given the quoted trade-in price they gave me. We'll see where we go from here.

Over at E60 some guys had over 100K. I've read a few people who had there clutch replaced in it. Basically not much more too the job then a std. manual. Someone I think quoted there dealer charged like $1200.

From doing my digging on it the clutch plate life seems longer then a std. manual on avg. as the system is design to engae and disengage perfectly each time. But its crap shoot an you should expect 75K+ out of it and 100K is easily within reason. Anything after that I'd say your lucky.

What kind of price you looking at on this car??

Is it an e39 M5? I couldn't tell what year for sure you meant. If an '03 e39, those were the last decent M5s in my opinion. I had an '02 and sold it .

And now I have the '07 550i SMG you are looking at.

I agree about warranty - any BMW without one could be treacherous, but my M5 was great - no problems ever. The 550 is fine too, just not nearly as satisfying a car to drive - and my wife who doesn't care to shift uses the SMG auto (which is not so great - she doesn't care), but I bet she would also go back in time with me and NOT sell that M5 in a heart beat.

If you want a "classic" great BMW and can sort out some way to get a warranty, that M5, if in good shape could be a treat.

Thanks again for the information.

I ended up getting the '07 550i. The woman was not thrilled with a manual as a daily driver and I did not want another AWD BMW. So the 550i with the SMG was the happy median

I'll be picking it up next Tuesday evening. Once I have it in hand, I'll provided the details and pictures (don't want to jinx it ; ) )

Skylolow, where are you in WI?

OK, it's official so here are the details:

07 550i
34,000 miles
CPO
Silver with black interior
SMG
Sport Package, Cold Weather Package, Logic7 sound, sat radio, comfort seats.

Got the car for $31,000.

It's nice to be back in a BMW. I'll post pictures once it stops raining.

Originally Posted by DAI

OK, it's official so here are the details:

07 550i
34,000 miles
CPO
Silver with black interior
SMG
Sport Package, Cold Weather Package, Logic7 sound, sat radio, comfort seats.

Got the car for $31,000.

It's nice to be back in a BMW. I'll post pictures once it stops raining.

That is great price on that car. Good job.

We find manual with sport on the best for daily driving.

The WOMAN, DAI?
Even to my politically incorrect self, that doesn't sound great.
But it seems like you got a good car with the 550.
Wondering if you found it to be the case that the 550s don't hold value as well because ithey are 8s and not 6s?

Also, what is the SMG exactly? I am not familiar with it.

SMG stands for Sequential Manual Gearbox. it is cross between an automaic and manual transmission. There is no clutch involved. you do have the paddles in the steering wheel. It is fun to drive...

Originally Posted by DAI

OK, it's official so here are the details:

07 550i
34,000 miles
CPO
Silver with black interior
SMG
Sport Package, Cold Weather Package, Logic7 sound, sat radio, comfort seats.

Got the car for $31,000.

It's nice to be back in a BMW. I'll post pictures once it stops raining.

Awesome car for a great price, low miles, CPO... you are good to go.

If you feel like modding I highly recommend the Dinan exhaust and software. The exhaust makes the car sound like an exotic. When you fire it up at the gas station people look over with that "what the f*** does thing have under the hood look" but it’s almost as quiet as stock on the highway.

Lighter wheels and non run flat tires don't hurt either but I'm getting ahead of myself... enjoy your new car, the V8 E60 is an amazing car.

Originally Posted by Kevin530

The WOMAN, DAI?
Even to my politically incorrect self, that doesn't sound great.
But it seems like you got a good car with the 550.
Wondering if you found it to be the case that the 550s don't hold value as well because ithey are 8s and not 6s?

3 weeks and 2 days the "woman" becomes my wife (no disrespect was intended), so i'm OK until then After that, I'm sure I'll get into trouble for half the stuff that comes out of my mouth.

Thanks everyone for the comments. I could not believe they took that price.

I'll post pictures as soon as it stops raining here in Wisconsin.

24 hours owning and love driving it Should have never bought that Nissan to bridge be between the '01 330 and the 550i; we refer to it now as the "rebound car".

Originally Posted by DAI

3 weeks and 2 days the "woman" becomes my wife (no disrespect was intended), so i'm OK until then After that, I'm sure I'll get into trouble for half the stuff that comes out of my mouth.

half?

Originally Posted by DAI

Thanks everyone for the comments. I could not believe they took that price.

I'll post pictures as soon as it stops raining here in Wisconsin.

24 hours owning and love driving it Should have never bought that Nissan to bridge be between the '01 330 and the 550i; we refer to it now as the "rebound car".

I had a Saab 9-3 for 2 weeks, definite rebound car...

Awesome deal. enjoy your ride

Congrats...I just picked up a 2007 550 myself a month or so ago. I love the car.

Great Price, too bad for the rest of us who paid way more less than a year ago. These cars have the worst resale. I plan on having mine, with extended warranty for 4+ years so I should be ok. Isn't the SMG the greatest thing ever!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't understand why so many people (and by people I mean women) don't like it. My wife got used to it and now loves it.