M5 SMG

[Ocarru]

Hello all,

Just after a bit of advice. Will be getting an M5 very soon and have been reading the posts concerning the gearbox. Just want to be sure on a few minor points (I know you shouldn't use the automatic function if you want the clutch to last).

1. Is there any particular approach to hill starts or is it just handbrake and then throttle in first?

2. In heavy traffic, with lots of short stop/start, is there a good way to minimise wear on the clutch?

3. Is there a need to be careful until the gearbox oil is warm or can you just use it straight from the off with no need to worry (showing my age there)

Any other advice much appreciated especially regarding settings etc.

Lastly, is the M button intended to be a temporary setting? I know it's a probably a bit OTT for everyday use, but I wondered whether anyone tends to use it most of the time.

Thank you.

[skeeterm5]

Ocarru said:

Hello all,

Just after a bit of advice. Will be getting an M5 very soon and have been reading the posts concerning the gearbox. Just want to be sure on a few minor points (I know you shouldn't use the automatic function if you want the clutch to last).

1. Is there any particular approach to hill starts or is it just handbrake and then throttle in first?

2. In heavy traffic, with lots of short stop/start, is there a good way to minimise wear on the clutch?

3. Is there a need to be careful until the gearbox oil is warm or can you just use it straight from the off with no need to worry (showing my age there)

Any other advice much appreciated especially regarding settings etc.

Lastly, is the M button intended to be a temporary setting? I know it's a probably a bit OTT for everyday use, but I wondered whether anyone tends to use it most of the time.

Thank you.

1) No need for that, it has hill start assist. Take your foot off the brake and the car will hold itself for a couple of seconds allowing you to pull away.

2) Not sure I understand this question, surely you use as much clutch as in a manual.

3) Never had a problem - the car limits itself until warm and restricts the amount of revs you can use.

For normal driving I have the box set to "3" which seems to give a good balance of speed and smoothness, a slight lift on the throttle works wonders. For pressing on I have it set to S6 or S5 if the roads look greasy, you can only have S6 with the DSC off.

I use the M button for probably about 40% of the time.

Hope this helps and one last thing, dont buy one without a BMW warranty

S

[Ocarru]

Thank you for the reply.

Hmm...didn't explain no. 2 very well. What I meant was that the gearbox automatically goes into N when u slow to a stop. Or is it better to manually put it into N straight away? You've probably gathered, by now, that I've only ever had a manual gearbox!

Please let me know if I'm well wide of the mark with regard to my understanding.

Really good to hear you use your M button so much. One car dealer told me it can cause problems if you have a mishap and the insurance company find out you were using it!!

[ecain63]

skeeterm5 said:

Ocarru said:

Hello all,

Just after a bit of advice. Will be getting an M5 very soon and have been reading the posts concerning the gearbox. Just want to be sure on a few minor points (I know you shouldn't use the automatic function if you want the clutch to last).

1. Is there any particular approach to hill starts or is it just handbrake and then throttle in first?

2. In heavy traffic, with lots of short stop/start, is there a good way to minimise wear on the clutch?

3. Is there a need to be careful until the gearbox oil is warm or can you just use it straight from the off with no need to worry (showing my age there)

Any other advice much appreciated especially regarding settings etc.

Lastly, is the M button intended to be a temporary setting? I know it's a probably a bit OTT for everyday use, but I wondered whether anyone tends to use it most of the time.

Thank you.

1) No need for that, it has hill start assist. Take your foot off the brake and the car will hold itself for a couple of seconds allowing you to pull away.

2) Not sure I understand this question, surely you use as much clutch as in a manual.

3) Never had a problem - the car limits itself until warm and restricts the amount of revs you can use.

For normal driving I have the box set to "3" which seems to give a good balance of speed and smoothness, a slight lift on the throttle works wonders. For pressing on I have it set to S6 or S5 if the roads look greasy, you can only have S6 with the DSC off.

I use the M button for probably about 40% of the time.

Hope this helps and one last thing, dont buy one without a BMW warranty

S

As per above really.

I drive in S5 all the time as its the most wear friendly setting for the clutch (quick clutch application means reduced slippage and in turn less wear). It's fine for town driving as at low revs the shift speed is still quite gentle. As you move above 4krpm the shift speed quickens until at 8k it'd really quite snappy. S6 is a bit OTT for regular driving and you do need your DSC at times.

I always put it in Neutral at traffic lights and if I am going to be at a stop for more than 10 seconds at a time. When you stop the clutch does automatically disengage but unless you put it in Neutral the release bearing will still be under load, and we all know where our clutch problems stem from.

[sdc77]

Hi

Same here.. S5. I use M mode wherever possible. Its a bit addictive and what its all about. The PH meets are a good opportunity too.

I really cant see how any insurance company could ever use your use of the M mode against you.. a bit urban legendish that.

Hope you get your car soon. Try and have a test drive of one before you buy though and dont forget to check out the excellent M5 guide on here by ecaine63 ..

[Nedzilla]

Ocarru said:

Really good to hear you use your M button so much. One car dealer told me it can cause problems if you have a mishap and the insurance company find out you were using it!!

I really have heard it all now

[ecain63]

Nedzilla said:

Ocarru said:

Really good to hear you use your M button so much. One car dealer told me it can cause problems if you have a mishap and the insurance company find out you were using it!!

I really have heard it all now

Its only launch control that can upset your ownership experience. Use it more than a couple of times in quick succession or more than half a dozen or so times on one clutch and BMW will void your warranty. The 'black box' records all data and will show the number of launches, time and date of launches, and all the engine temps /revs, clutch temps, oil temps associated with it. No escaping on that one and BMW will check your cars memory if you make a transmission related warranty claim.

On the upside you can have it checked before you buy a car at a cost of about £150 which will show if your car is a safe investment or if its been abused.

[Nedzilla]

ecain63 said:

Nedzilla said:

Ocarru said:

Really good to hear you use your M button so much. One car dealer told me it can cause problems if you have a mishap and the insurance company find out you were using it!!

I really have heard it all now

Its only launch control that can upset your ownership experience. Use it more than a couple of times in quick succession or more than half a dozen or so times on one clutch and BMW will void your warranty. The 'black box' records all data and will show the number of launches, time and date of launches, and all the engine temps /revs, clutch temps, oil temps associated with it. No escaping on that one and BMW will check your cars memory if you make a transmission related warranty claim.

On the upside you can have it checked before you buy a car at a cost of about £150 which will show if your car is a safe investment or if its been abused.

I can understand something like this from a WARRANTY point of view.I believe there is a similar situation with the early nissan GTR's if launch control is recorded it can/will void the warranty.

The point was insurance companys voiding any insurance claim had the car been driven in M mode/full power.
ie.We will insure your M5 as long as you dont use it for what it was made for. Pathetic!

[ecain63]

Yeah, I think thats a bit BS.

[Zod]

Nedzilla said:

I can understand something like this from a WARRANTY point of view.I believe there is a similar situation with the early nissan GTR's if launch control is recorded it can/will void the warranty.

The point was insurance companys voiding any insurance claim had the car been driven in M mode/full power.
ie.We will insure your M5 as long as you dont use it for what it was made for. Pathetic!

No truth whatsoever in that. If you use launch control often, you might struggle with a powertrain warranty claim. Using normal M mode is fine.

[smokey145]

Hold on, ecain, you drive in S5 all the time? I though you drove in manual? Or can you drive in manual and still set the shift speed? Im still getting used to all the settings lol

[Zod]

Six manual settings and five automatic settings. I only ever used S5 and occasionally S6. The auto modes are utterly useless and the slower manual modes are pointless.

[andygtt]

I drive in m sport all the time, also use s5 setting for gear change as findit smoother with manual shifts... Never use the auto mode anymore as it's harder work than paddles due to having to concentrate to judge when it changes in low gears.

Always warm the car before using hard, but never find the smg any different when cold.

As a fan of manual car I'm actually quite impressed with the smg, lots of settings and with a little trial and error normally something to suit everyone :-)

Edited by andygtt on Sunday 11th December 23:23

[ecain63]

smokey145 said:

Hold on, ecain, you drive in S5 all the time? I though you drove in manual? Or can you drive in manual and still set the shift speed? Im still getting used to all the settings lol

I told you its a learning game this M5 lark. D is auto, S is manual. I change gear normally around 3krpm which is quite smooth. As had been said, allow the car to warm fully before using any aggression. You should be able to see the rev limiter colours move round the dial as it warms up.

[smokey145]

ecain63 said:

smokey145 said:

Hold on, ecain, you drive in S5 all the time? I though you drove in manual? Or can you drive in manual and still set the shift speed? Im still getting used to all the settings lol

I told you its a learning game this M5 lark. D is auto, S is manual. I change gear normally around 3krpm which is quite smooth. As had been said, allow the car to warm fully before using any aggression. You should be able to see the rev limiter colours move round the dial as it warms up.

ahhh. i see, and tested this morning on the looooong commute in this morning. i seem to drive in M power S6 mode as a default and all the time. i love it

[andygtt]

how do you drive in S6 as a default... am i not correct S6 is only available with the DSG deactivated?

must read my manual lol

as a default i drive in S5 and always in M mode, even managed 290 miles from my last tank

[smokey145]

i really need to read the manual again, whenever i push the M button it seems to be in S6 mode. i guess what im trying to say is i drive in "M" mode 90% of the time, the other 10% is either when the car is warming up or if im crawling to a petrol station

[ecain63]

The M button can be set up an way you like. It'd settings are changeable VIA the idrive.

Eddie

[Cheburator mk2]

andygtt said:

as a default i drive in S5 and always in M mode, even managed 290 miles from my last tank

New record for me this week - 300 miles out of a tank with mixed driving... God! Must be getting old, next we will be comparing pipes, slippers and tartain rugs.

[Evz]

The M5's box is a manual transmission which is electronically automated. Prolonged use in towns and hill starts will dramatically reduce clutch life! Have changed many!