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I just hit 50K miles. Still running strong.
Both Michelins are close enough in price to get what you want. The Goodyears are about $15-$20 cheaper if I remember correctly. Tirerack had all three. Also a recent issue of Car and Driver rated the Eagle F1s the best high performance tire, PS2s were fourth. If my PS2s make 30k miles, I'll get another set.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I am only getting the outside "rim" done on these 2 piece wheels. But they do take them apart and claim the clearcoat they apply is better than the OEM process, and warranty it. We will see.
http://www.bmwwheels.com/bmwwheels_detail.asp?ws=71&Series=E39
On an unrelated topic: it's conventional wisdom on the Edmunds BMW boards that "beamer" refers to the motorcycle & "bimmer" to the cars.
But, you'll be amazed at the increased lateral grip...
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I found some information on the e60 forums. Apparently, the retrofit can be done. There is retrofit part: CCC Retrofit/Conversion Kit US: 65 90 0 390 844. In addition, I found a BMW bulletin describing the retrofit: e6o nav retrofit. The forums also mentioned the part cost $1800. Some even mentioned this price included labor, which I think is highly unlikely.
520-459-0066 Southern AZ
It has been in the paper for a couple of weeks.
But it's a very personal decision --- you've got to test drive and the decision should be an easy one.
Sticker said 17 city/25 hiway. My old 530 seemed fairly close to 25 on the hiway, so this seems optimistic for a V8.
2021 Toyota Venza Limited Hybrid, 2022 Ram 2500 Laramie 6.4 Hemi, 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT
I have a 2005 545 with steptronic.
The mileage estimates are 18 city/26 highway and that's what I have been getting.
The BMW 8 gets better mileage than the M35 V-6!
Really? Geez, my 2002 530i SP 5-Speed would routinely exceed 30 on the highway.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Now, I have driven the DSG in an AWD Audi TT and when left to its own devices it seemed like "the best, the most ideal" automatic ever invented -- and unlike steptronic and tiptronic is was 100% lag-free.
OK, background info over: what was "wrong" with the SMG to the point that it would "drive you nuts" and why would it have been a problem for your wife?
The article I read seemed somewhat vague on the left brain stuff about the SMG/DSG and more touchy feely as if "why not make all transmissions DSG?" kind of :confuse: thing.
It is indeed the high way!
Not sure its worth it
FWIW, that Long Island trip was about 520 miles round trip, and I was normally able to do it on a single tank of gas.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I have no memory of my great grandmother.
Therefore, from my perspective, my grandmother was an "expert" manual transmission shifter and I would consider the words you wrote to be flattering.
But, I know you didn't mean it that way.
What, then, does your memory or analogy of what a grandmother or great grandmother suggest? Slow, deliberate, upshifts about 50 RPM below the next highest gear's "lug speed?"
Speaking only for DSG, it was smooth yet precise, rapid in its shifts up or down, yet virtually jerk free (moreso than any step or tip tronic these days.)
When driven as a manual, the DSG was almost uncanny in that it actually seemed to be a "clutchless" manual.
What has the SMG got or lack that has you advising folks to cancel? :confuse:
"One thing the SMG will NOT do is crank off tire-chirping speed shifts while you keep the accelerator floored. In fact, I obtained the fastest and smoothest upshifts by lifting off the throttle after executing the shift. Go figure."
In short, it's not a very good automatic and it's not a very good manual. You can adapt your driving style in order to drive it smoothly, but what's the point? In contrast, the GM 5L40-E autobox in my E83 executes seamless upshifts on demand in either auto or manual mode. Please remember that all my comments are directed at the NON-M SMG; the Sequential M Gearbox is excellent-particularly in the M5 and M6. In fact, if I wasn't planning on adding a vintage M1 to my stable I'd probably be ordering at an M6...
I only had a total of 3 hours between 4 dealerships to base my opinion on so I am very interested in what others have experienced. Isn't the SMG on the 550i derived from the M-SMG?
The Sequential M Gearbox features multiple shift calibrations for manual and automatic modes which allow much faster shifts.
But the manual is awesome!
Awesome? Maybe if you're comparing it to a 1968 Nova with a Powerglide...
A "Slip and Slide Powerglide", I used to have one of those, before I figured out how to drive a stick. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
thanks, tradesmart
The comfort seats are awesome! (In MY 2007, I believe they are called "Multicontour Seats") They articulate in 20 different directions and are fantastic. I especially like the upper back adjustment.... Pair these seats with the heat and ventilation and you've got a reeeeally nice seat.
The car I tested with them was, despite the many motorized articulations, impossible to set to a comfortable position.
I agree with the BMW sales rep -- he also is the sole buyer for the dealership and says these seats dissuade customers from buying.
The standard seats and/or sport seats would be my choice.
To each his/her own.
A guy I know here at work has a 545i. He uses the radio on the left box and the Nav in the smaller screen. If you don't want that setup, make the map the bigger window and when you use directions/trip details, that can be displayed in the smaller window.
-Paul
BTW - Wheel refinishing came out like new.
Now if only it didn't drink so much oil...
Regarding your oil consumption, how much is "so much"?
Best Regards,
Shipo
It was once clocked at 27 mpg averaging 90 with a tailwind on the Penn Tpk, but that was when the car was fairly new. Correct me if I'm wrong but the mileage seems to drop after 80.
That said, the local stuff drags it down to where it averages about 19.5.
And the conventional mileage check supports the OBC within tenths.
BTW, on the subect of "clocking". My wife didn't realize how fast I was going in Penn, testament to the bimmer's capability. When she finally looked at the speedo, she almost clocked me with a right hook.
;-)
Thanks!
Back in 1984 my wife and I drove our 1973 Bavaria 3.0 through PA on our way home from our first CCA O'fest. It was a drizzly Sunday morning and my wife was reading a mystery novel. My CB and first generation Escort indicated a threat-free enviroment so I slowly eased the old sled up to a 100 mph cruise, which I maintained for almost two hours. My wife's only comment was "Wow, it took us almost no time to cross Pennsylvania."
Four years later I was evaluating an early E32 750i outside Rochester New York. I took it up to 125 mph and asked my wife how fast she thought we were going. She guessed 80 mph... :surprise:
It's like a different beastie was inhabiting The Beast *way back when.* :P
Regarding your oil consumption, how much is "so much"?
I've had to add a quart at anywhere from 2500 to 5000 miles; it's been inconsistent. And while it bothered me that I had to add any at all, I really had no cause to complain because it's been within specs. But I added a quart right before my trip on Thursday, and believe it or not, I had to add another yesterday, after only ~700 miles.
Which is why my indie gets to play with it today. :sick:
I agree. Someone once told me that some of the cylinders shut down when you drive for an extended time at hwy speeds, which explains the phenomenal mileage; is this true? Because if it is, it also would explain the striking difference between the hwy and city numbers.
I clocked my 03 530 at 33 mpg into an ~5 mph headwind averaging about 75 mph. It was from exit 70 on the LIE to the toll at the Throgs Neck Bridge. And if you are familiar with this piece of road, you know that it's rarely without some sort of cholesterol.
I don't believe there are any roads on LI that aren't extended parking lots. That's pretty amazing mileage for the LIE (the original World's Longest Parking Lot).
Correct me if I'm wrong but the mileage seems to drop after 80.
This has been my experience, too. Maybe that's why 80 is at the top center of the speedometer.
Nope. The BMW I6 is simply a very well engineered engine that doesn't need a gizmo approach to fuel efficiency. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
GM has something like that called "Displacement on Demand", but as someone else pointed out, BMW doesn't do that. They get pretty darn good gas mileage without it...