E60 M5 On my drive ... first impression & questions!

[PaulFr]

Hi,

Just got myself a 52k miler 2007 Face Lift E60 M5 in Interlargos Blue - first impression on planting it was giggling like a teenager with the tractor beam style of delivery ...

Kids laughed out (all 3 of em) loud when the loud pedal was pressed - clear approval!
Sounds awesome ... getting very addictive now.
Handling is good ...
Now planning a few days in France ... soon.


However when I settled down to work out how to drive the thing properly I have some observations ...

I hate that SMG box in D mode but the missus loves it (almost dangerous!)
It is OK in flappy paddle mode but still takes too long to change gear on setting 5
DSC off and in setting 6 the gear change is acceptable ... but I don't plan on driving that way on the road (want the nannie).
Handling is good but I can feel the weight - I feel I want to brake harder and could certainly turn harder if the car was capable only thing that is bugging me but may look to address this down the line, not critical as other factors make up for that.
How can I default it to 507 bhp for me and to 400 for the Missus, I want to press buttons to dumb it down not spruce it up lol?
13 mpg seems reasonable ... for now, maybe, ask me later!
Oh, did I mention the v10 music ?


Also, I am looking at a used car warranty (and won't be having the BMW AUC). What I have on the table so far is for 3 years cover the following:

Warranty Direct Luxuray Care Policy (Exclusive rather than Incliusive) : 2k for 3 years without the 90 day initial exclusion clause.

Local Dealer Provided Car Care Plan Policy - 4k for 3 years

Both insist that the car is inspected prior to cover being granted and money aside (it is a factor of course!) these warranties seem fairly comprehensive but I do not know if one is worth twice the value of the other ... what is the opinion on these? I have heard stories on both and experience varies ..


Thanks
Paul

Edited by PaulFr on Tuesday 11th September 09:26

[PaulFr]

Hi,

Just got myself a 52k miler 2007 Face Lift E60 M5 in Interlargos Blue - first impression on planting it was giggling like a teenager with the tractor beam style of delivery ...

Kids laughed out (all 3 of em) loud when the loud pedal was pressed - clear approval!
Sounds awesome ... getting very addictive now.
Handling is good ...
Now planning a few days in France ... soon.


However when I settled down to work out how to drive the thing properly I have some observations ...

I hate that SMG box in D mode but the missus loves it (almost dangerous!)
It is OK in flappy paddle mode but still takes too long to change gear on setting 5
DSC off and in setting 6 the gear change is acceptable ... but I don't plan on driving that way on the road (want the nannie).
Handling is good but I can feel the weight - I feel I want to brake harder and could certainly turn harder if the car was capable only thing that is bugging me but may look to address this down the line, not critical as other factors make up for that.
How can I default it to 507 bhp for me and to 400 for the Missus, I want to press buttons to dumb it down not spruce it up lol?
13 mpg seems reasonable ... for now, maybe, ask me later!
Oh, did I mention the v10 music ?


Also, I am looking at a used car warranty (and won't be having the BMW AUC). What I have on the table so far is for 3 years cover the following:

Warranty Direct Luxuray Care Policy (Exclusive rather than Incliusive) : 2k for 3 years without the 90 day initial exclusion clause.

Local Dealer Provided Car Care Plan Policy - 4k for 3 years

Both insist that the car is inspected prior to cover being granted and money aside (it is a factor of course!) these warranties seem fairly comprehensive but I do not know if one is worth twice the value of the other ... what is the opinion on these? I have heard stories on both and experience varies ..


Thanks
Paul

Edited by PaulFr on Tuesday 11th September 10:53

[PaulFr]

Hi,

Just got myself a 52k miler 2007 Face Lift E60 M5 in Interlargos Blue - first impression on planting it was giggling like a teenager with the tractor beam style of delivery ...

Kids laughed out (all 3 of em) loud when the loud pedal was pressed - clear approval!
Sounds awesome ... getting very addictive now.
Handling is good ...
Now planning a few days in France ... soon.


However when I settled down to work out how to drive the thing properly I have some observations ...

I hate that SMG box in D mode but the missus loves it (almost dangerous!)
It is OK in flappy paddle mode but still takes too long to change gear on setting 5
DSC off and in setting 6 the gear change is acceptable ... but I don't plan on driving that way on the road (want the nannie).
Handling is good but I can feel the weight - I feel I want to brake harder and could certainly turn harder if the car was capable only thing that is bugging me but may look to address this down the line, not critical as other factors make up for that.
How can I default it to 507 bhp for me and to 400 for the Missus, I want to press buttons to dumb it down not spruce it up lol?
13 mpg seems reasonable ... for now, maybe, ask me later!
Oh, did I mention the v10 music ?


Also, I am looking at a used car warranty (and won't be having the BMW AUC). What I have on the table so far is for 3 years cover the following:

Warranty Direct Luxuray Care Policy (Exclusive rather than Incliusive) : 2k for 3 years without the 90 day initial exclusion clause.

Local Dealer Provided Car Care Plan Policy - 4k for 3 years

Both insist that the car is inspected prior to cover being granted and money aside (it is a factor of course!) these warranties seem fairly comprehensive but I do not know if one is worth twice the value of the other ... what is the opinion on these? I have heard stories on both and experience varies ..


Thanks
Paul

Edited by PaulFr on Tuesday 11th September 11:42

[contracttor]

PaulFr said:

Hi,

Just got myself a 52k miler 2007 Face Lift E60 M5 in Interlargos Blue - first impression on planting it was giggling like a teenager with the tractor beam style of delivery ...

Kids laughed out (all 3 of em) loud when the loud pedal was pressed - clear approval!
Sounds awesome ... getting very addictive now.

Yep, that feeling nevers gets old

PaulFr said:

However when I settled down to work out how to drive the thing properly I have some observations ...

I hate that SMG box in D mode but the missus loves it (almost dangerous!)
It is OK in flappy paddle mode but still takes too long to change gear on setting 5
DSC off and in setting 6 the gear change is acceptable ... but I don't plan on driving that way on the road (want the nannie).
Handling is good but I can feel the weight - I feel I want to brake harder and could certainly turn harder if the car was capable only thing that is bugging me but may look to address this down the line, not critical as other factors make up for that.
How can I default it to 507 bhp for me and to 400 for the Missus, I want to press buttons to dumb it down not spruce it up lol?
13 mpg seems reasonable ... for now, maybe, ask me later!
Oh, did I mention the v10 music ?

In order:
Try blipping the throttle when changing gear as it can really make a difference
Use the paddles/shifter as you'll be more connected to the car. When in D mode the car will do stupid things like change gear when slowing for a roundabout just when you don't want it to.

You cannot default it to 500 mode
13mpg is about right. 9 or 10 is attainable

PaulFr said:

Also, I am looking at a used car warranty (and won't be having the BMW AUC). What I have on the table so far is for 3 years cover the following:

Warranty Direct Luxuray Care Policy (Exclusive rather than Incliusive) : 2k for 3 years without the 90 day initial exclusion clause.

Local Dealer Provided Car Care Plan Policy - 4k for 3 years

Both insist that the car is inspected prior to cover being granted and money aside (it is a factor of course!) these warranties seem fairly comprehensive but I do not know if one is worth twice the value of the other ... what is the opinion on these? I have heard stories on both and experience varies ..

Seriously, get the AUC warranty. At your mileage go monthly from the start unless you'll still be under 60K miles when you renew next year.

Any other warranty is a false economy.

PaulFr said:

Thanks
Paul

Edited by PaulFr on Tuesday 11th September 09:26

HTH

///C

[Boogsie]

I really wish there was a way to store *all* the settings. So odd that just some are stored. Why store the EDC mode and not the power mode?
What I do now is just always drive it in M mode which is set to 500 sport (which makes a nice difference to the power button only) etc.

If there's anything else that I want to change I can just do it with the switches then, apart from S6 which I don't really use due to lack of traction control

[Schermerhorn]

You can store all the settings...in the M button.

The M button is totally customisable. You can programme it to S1, 400BHP and full DSC etc or the complete opposite. Many people just think that the M-button is maximum-attack mode.

[S1_RS]

Are none of the settings stored and activated by whichever key is used? My Focus RS500 stores the steering settings to both sets, took me a while to realise why the steering kept changing.

[contracttor]

Schermerhorn said:

You can store all the settings...in the M button.

The M button is totally customisable. You can programme it to S1, 400BHP and full DSC etc or the complete opposite. Many people just think that the M-button is maximum-attack mode.

Yes, you can store all sorts in the M button and each key also keeps personalised settings but there are certain things that you cannot change the startup default on; the power mode being one of them.

[Boogsie]

And annoyingly does not remember the D/S mode and the D setting.
So mine always comes on with D1, which takes off in 2nd.

Yet it remembers the S setting and the EDC setting, and they are linked to the keys. All very odd

[FredBasset]

One of the things that caught me out at first was that the gearshift speed is slower even in S4/5 when you are changing at low revs. I found that I needed a number of miles before I'd worked it all out.

The other thing is I don't mind the auto mode out of town if I'm saying driving at six tenths, round town its a nightmare.

The other thing to remember is the car does learn how you are driving it.

Regards
Fred

[Contigo]

I tried to put mine into S6 mode the other day whilst driving, hit the DSC off button but the 6 remained grey. Does it have to be in Neutral?

[contracttor]

Contigo said:

I tried to put mine into S6 mode the other day whilst driving, hit the DSC off button but the 6 remained grey. Does it have to be in Neutral?

Definitely not. When you hit DSC off, did the car confirm it by showing the yellow warning icon?

[ecain63]

S1_RS said:

Are none of the settings stored and activated by whichever key is used? My Focus RS500 stores the steering settings to both sets, took me a while to realise why the steering kept changing.

Yes, you can have different settings stored to different keys (might only apply to the block type keys though).

[ecain63]

OP, did you read the buyers guide before buying the car? Did you test drive any others M5's?

[manand38]

Can't say I can complain about the handling. Taken my M5 to the Ring a few times and it really flies, can't tell I'm driving a 4 door saloon!

Am I the only one who gets ~18mpg around town?

[PaulFr]

contracttor said:

Seriously, get the AUC warranty. At your mileage go monthly from the start unless you'll still be under 60K miles when you renew next year.

Any other warranty is a false economy.

BMW Assured Warranty in the bag (monthly with roadside assistance) .... wondering if I should even drive it for the next 30 days now. Car feels fine though so I'll take me chances ...

Also - have settled on S5/P500 Sport as my preferred option. There are no big fast roads here which is what this will excel at I think and just need to do the slow in fast out style of driving and I'll be fine.

[Contigo]

contracttor said:

Definitely not. When you hit DSC off, did the car confirm it by showing the yellow warning icon?

Yep pressed the DSC button on the console near the stickshifter and it said DSC OFF on the DIS. I went into Idrive, M button menu and pressed the top menu where it showed S-5. I pressed down on the wheel and selected S again and it moved into the 5 area so turned the wheel to 6 and the when I pressed down to select 6 it came defaulted back to 5 again, it simply would not allow me to select 6. I have since tried it in Neutral and I don't get it at all.

[ecain63]

^^^ You have to select DSC OFF on the Idrive to get the '6' function. By pressing the DSC button manually you can manually select the '6' function on the gear shift speed selector, but to engage it when using the M-button the DSC needs to be OFF in the Idrive settings. Simples!

[ecain63]

Phone me on 07780457543 if you are having bother.

[omniflow]

Yeah - you're either configuring the settings for M-Mode, or you're interactively changing the setup of the car. You don't mix and match.

Turn DSC off, then use the button near the gear lever to select S6

OR

Configure M-Mode to be DSC off and S6

My normal M-Mode setting is M Dynamic Mode - if I then turn DSC completely off, and then exit M-Mode, it leaves DSC disabled. But if I re-configure M-Mode to have DSC disabled, then exiting M-Mode re-enables DSC. Quite logical if you think about it.