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BMW 5-Series Sedans
12737 messages, Last post on Feb 16, 2013 at 11:05 PM
You are in the BMW 5-Series Forum.What is this discussion about? BMW 5 Series, Sedan
#6564 of 12737 BMW Buys ATs, Designs Own Electronic Controls by riez
May 26, 2003 (10:38 am)
diver110... Someone here probably knows. I don't. I'm thinking it was sometime in late 1990s. Say around '97-'99. I'm not a fan of automatic transmissions so I don't pay too much attention to them.Do keep in mind that BMW buys automatic transmissions from others. Believe many are now GM's built in France. Thinking others are ZFs. Heart of BMW's Steptronic is the internal electronic "brains" that control the shifting. Others use the same transmission (e.g., Cadillac CTS) with different "brains".
BMW also outsources its manuals. Historically to ZF and Getrag.
#6565 of 12737 Sport Package ride... by shipo
May 26, 2003 (11:02 am)
For those who are considering a new (at least new for you) 5-Series, and are concerned about the "Rough Ride" if you opt for the Sport Package, maybe I can help you off/over the fence.For the last week my soon to be 70 year old Mother-In-Law (we call her Muzzy; don't ask) has been with us so she can do "Kid Duty" while I am across the pond in London and Paris for the next week or so. Needless to say, given that she lives in Dallas, I have had to show her around to the various points that she will have to navigate to by herself during my absence. As a result, she has spent a fair amount of time behind the wheel in my 530i 5-Speed, PP, SP (yes, like her daughter Mrs. Shipo, Muzzy Loves driving cars with three pedals, go figure). What I find entertaining is her constant praise for how wonderful my 5er is to drive, and how good it looks, inside and out (she is an interior designer by trade), however, her most frequent comment is how smooth and supple the ride is. She has commented several times on how the ride feels smoother than her (former) employers' S-Class MB, which didn't handle as well either for that matter. To top it off, Muzzy (at a whopping 5'4" and 95 pounds) has absolutely no meat on her bones to absorb any undue/abrupt motions to her backside, so I guess she should know.
In the final analysis, a 5-Series with the SP does in fact firm up the ride a little when compared to the non SP equipped cars (in exchange for a considerable bump in the cars' handling abilities), however, that does not mean that you are going to lose the fillings from you teeth every time you drive over a rough road.
Best Regards,
Shipo
#6566 of 12737 That is the Beauty of the Sport Pkg by riez
May 26, 2003 (11:10 am)
BMW's Sport Pkg is an outstanding balance of enhanced handling at minimum ride degredation. No other manufacturer pulls it off so well. Too many have Sport Pkgs that lead to punishing ride. Don't know how BMW does it, but only they do it so well. Wonderful synergy of selected tire and chosen suspension settings.Sport Pkg is only way to go!
#6567 of 12737 sport pkg by diver110
May 26, 2003 (11:37 am)
I have heard that if you live in a city with bad roads (e.g. my city, Baltimore), that the sports package is a bad idea. One can easily bend a rim (at god know what cost to replace) etc. Do people agree?#6568 of 12737 Diver110 by shipo
May 26, 2003 (11:56 am)
I suffered 5 bent rim events on my 1995 VW Passat GLX (factory rims were a single piece BBS design) while living in the NYC metro area between 1995 and 1999. As a result, I ordered my 1999 328i without the SP, and while it was a fine car for my needs, the day I spent driving Brave1Heart's (of 3-Series discussion fame) 2001 325i with SP in December of 2001 convinced to take the risk of a bent rim or two on my next car. So far, after a year and 14,000 plus miles initially in the NYC metro area, and now in the Boston metro area, I haven't bent a rim, yet.An interesting item of note, my 530i with the Sport Package includes the Type 42 "Cross Spoke Composite Wheel II" two piece (if you don't count the bolts) wheels (which can be had from PacificBMW.com for $416.40). I find myself wondering if just the rim component can be replaced in the event of an unscheduled encounter with a pot-hole. If so, is that less expensive than simply buying a new wheel? Either way, I am glad I opted for the Sport Package and of course the requisite separate set of winter wheels and tires from tirerack.com (about $1,000) for the winter months.
Best Regards,
Shipo
#6569 of 12737 Wheels by bmwguru
May 26, 2003 (12:07 pm)
You can't replace sections of the wheel. It is only sold as a unit. I wouldn't let the roads scare me from buying the Sports package. You can bend any wheel.#6570 of 12737 sport pke cont'd by diver110
May 26, 2003 (12:24 pm)
Shipo. Now that you mention it, I think it is the winter about which I heard the most complaints. Of course, changing out the wheels would fix that. Is it possible to convert a nonsport package (like mine) into a sport one, and if yes, can you do it in stages and thereby test out the ride? I have heard that tires and wheels are the most important part. True, not? (Obviously, I am a new BMW owner (2000 540i wagon).#6571 of 12737 Diver110 by shipo
May 26, 2003 (12:38 pm)
"Is it possible to convert a nonsport package (like mine) into a sport one, and if yes, can you do it in stages and thereby test out the ride?"For the most part, yes (the "M Sport Package" for the wagon offers lots of goodies that have nothing to do with the suspension). That said; you will probably be best served by opting for non-BMW suspension components (as in Dinan and other aftermarket suppliers). If you want the factory look, you can buy BMW wheels from several sources on the internet such as ebay.com (new and used), roadfly.com (new and used) and of course the previously mentioned pacificbmw.com. If you don't need to have BMW wheels, then tirerack.com is a good place to start for wheels and tires.
Once you have the tires (which like you said, are probably the most important component), you can start the shopping for the other goodies. Were I you I would start on the Dinan site http://www.dinanbmw.com and go from there. Good luck, let us know how you fare.
Best Regards,
Shipo
#6572 of 12737 across the pond? by pat
May 26, 2003 (1:11 pm)
Does that mean you will be out of touch? I hope not -- you should try very hard to check in mid-week or so...
#6573 of 12737 Pat by shipo
May 26, 2003 (1:18 pm)
Fortunately (or otherwise) this is a business trip (at least the London part), and (for me at least) by definition, that means that I will have access to the internet. So, other than being a few hours earlier than most folks, I will still be around.
Best Regards,
Shipo
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