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BMW 5-Series Sedans

12737 messages,  Last post on Feb 16, 2013 at 11:05 PM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 5 Series, Sedan

Messages Page 1239 of 1275

#12375 of 12737 Re: 400,000 americans died from smoking cigarettes [ny540i6] by roadburner

Feb 10, 2008 (7:07 pm)

Replying to: ny540i6 (Feb 10, 2008 5:00 pm)
Geeze, Anon.... what's with the hostility? So some of us find dipsticks useful.... so sue us. No one is questioning technology.... when appropriate, we simply don't agree that this particular "step forward" is so great.
 
Exactly.
 
You are ignoring the point of my post - at least with the tire pressure monitor one does have the option of using a gauge.... if the "electronic gauge" fails, you have no recourse but to pull over, shut down, and call a tow truck - I assume you would agree that an indication of extreme low oil level would mean shut down until you could verify that there was not a problem.
 
Then there's the documented problem of the oil level sensor indicating that the sump is a quart low when in fact it is full...
As someone who has actually owned BMWs since 1983, I have found that Munich's current penchant to be a "first adopter" may in fact impress the techno-geeks("Wow, I can check my oil at 70 mph!!!") but in the long run it brings unnecessary complications to the driving experience- something that was once anathema to BMW's philosophy of driving. The headlong rush to introduce iDrive is a perfect example. The initial implementation in the 2001 E65 7er was neither intuitive or convenient to use. BMW did improve and refine the interface to the point that the version fitted to the E90/E92 was an order of magnitude easier to operate, but in the meantime a lot of drivers were infuriated and many became disillusioned with the marque. It seems that only the M cars maintain a focus on the enjoyment of driving rather than on gee-whiz gadgets.

#12376 of 12737 Re: Ny540i6, that comment was not aimed at you [jeqq] by roadburner

Feb 10, 2008 (7:13 pm)

Replying to: jeqq (Feb 10, 2008 6:44 pm)
BTW, I also hate the signal/blinker mechanism. Another technological marvel on the 5 series.
 
That is another excellent example of Munich's current inclination to fix what isn't broken. I remember that when the E65 came out BMW wound up printing "Valet Cards" which provided step-by-step directions on how to start the car and put it in gear. Although that was a plus when I had my B7 press loaner; I knew that there was no way I'd be carjacked- by the time the punk got the boat under way the police would be on the scene...

#12377 of 12737 Re: Ny540i6, that comment was not aimed at you [jeqq] by carnaught

Feb 11, 2008 (7:24 am)

Replying to: jeqq (Feb 10, 2008 6:44 pm)
BTW, I also hate the signal/blinker mechanism. Another technological marvel on the 5 series.
 
Wow, I REALLY like both the auto gear selector and the auto blink mechanism. They become seamless after using briefly and when I drive my other cars, I miss 'em. I find the signal/blinker mechanism especially very ergonomic compared to clunky signal mechanisms on other cars.

#12379 of 12737 Re: Please stop using my heading - it's too depressing [jeqq] by anon3

Feb 12, 2008 (7:16 pm)

Replying to: jeqq (Feb 10, 2008 5:42 pm)
What gives with the "three consecutive posts - one after the other?" Obviously... responding to three different posts from the past few weeks in one sitting. But I have a long way to go before I reach the lofty numbers of jegg's 219 posts.
 
The electronic gear shifter takes a little time (just a little) to get used to. In the new X5 it actually provides a somewhat useful benefit... the switch to an electronic shift mechanism clears space on the center console for extra storage and two very large (by German standards) cup holders.
 
The mid-model revision of the 5 series gets the electronic shifter and the corporate 6 speed steptronic transmission, but no improvement in storage space. So it does seem like a no-value-added technology "improvement" in the 5.

#12380 of 12737 Re: (new title) BMW technology over kill [roadburner] by anon3

Feb 12, 2008 (8:08 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Feb 10, 2008 7:07 pm)
I don't understand the statement that only the M cars maintain a focus on the enjoyment of driving rather than gee-whiz gadgets. That was probably true until the current E60 M5 and E63 M6, but no longer. My M6 is loaded with performance controlling/interfering gadgets. Just look at the programmable M-Drive button and the six different systems that it toggles. This is my third M vehicle (1997 M3, 2000 M5, 2006 M6) and it is by far the most complicated. But I've spent more time in it at the track than any other BMW and it's also the only BMW that I have kept for more than a year. That's because I prefer more granularity of control rather than less and I know that underneath it all, that technology is what makes it possible to achieve this kind of performance.
 
The point of my comments is exactly this: the trend for years in every vehicle (not just BMW) has been towards more and more technology and that's not going to change. So we might as well get used to it and learn to adapt. We should be glad that BMW doesn’t take the cynical view that its customers are barely intelligent enough to tie their shoes and couldn’t possibly learn to use a different gear shifter or turn signal (that's Lexus' target market). These new features entail trade-offs and have some disadvantages, but the net effect is a better vehicle. We're just complaining about inconveniences at the margins and ignoring the major improvements that this technology makes possible. And all this complaining about "learning new gadgets" reminds me of my grandparents' first attempt to figure out the remote control for their satellite TV receiver.

#12381 of 12737 Re: (new title) BMW technology over kill [anon3] by jamesg

Feb 12, 2008 (9:43 pm)

Replying to: anon3 (Feb 12, 2008 8:08 pm)
i agree that the I drive technology is empowering, but i can definitely understand that there is a segment, probably pretty large, of the population who will not be willing to put in the effort to learn the potential of the system. moving from my e39 to my new e60, i probably spent 10 hours with the manual to learn all of the detailed options. prior to that, i had been a bit frustrated with rentals not knowing how to tune the raido without a messing around. given the learning upfront investment, it is now simple (except my bluetooth phone which still has occasional issues). i wish i had the m controls to play with more performance related options. my wife on the other hand has never opened the manual of any of her cars and may be in for a challenge when she buys her x5.

#12382 of 12737 Re: 550i gas mileage [og_oggilby] by jamesg

Feb 12, 2008 (9:53 pm)

Replying to: og_oggilby (Feb 09, 2008 9:22 am)
point taken on the 535. i love the sport package on the 550 though, would not have moved to an e60 without it.
 
my mileage reference point is my old 540i though and i would have expected the new v8 to be no less efficient than the old one. perhaps the auto transmission is killing the mileage..time will tell.

#12383 of 12737 Re: 550i gas mileage [jamesg] by topspin628

Feb 13, 2008 (7:07 am)

Replying to: jamesg (Feb 12, 2008 9:53 pm)
I have 3500 miles on my 550 with sport package and in urban highway and city combined, I average a bit over 20mpg. I notice that there is a big difference between city driving and highway. I can get as much as 28 mpg cruising for a lengthy time at about 65. When I get in some stop and go, it goes down fast.
Overall for this size car with this much performance, I think anything in the 20s is pretty good. I too opted for the 550 sport over the 535 because it feels like a different car. I don't think it's the engine as much as the M suspension and perhaps the fact that it has non run flats. Driving the 2 back to back was a different experience. Both great cars and I don't know that the price difference is really worth it, except it is to me.

#12384 of 12737 Re: 550i gas mileage [topspin628] by rayainsw

Feb 13, 2008 (7:22 am)

Replying to: topspin628 (Feb 13, 2008 7:07 am)
"Both great cars and I don't know that the price difference is really worth it, except it is to me."
 
... to you.
 
True that.
 
Enjoy the 550!
- Ray
Thinking 28 MPG at 65 is pretty good - but would mean 25 or less at the highway speeds I typically hit...

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