New E60 M5 owner - a few questions

[FredBasset]

I picked up an E60 M5 last week, so far its going well. It's an 05 picked car with AUC warranty, only 33k on the clock and clearly cherished by its previous owner its a nice foil to my GT3.

I have a few questions, search doesn't seem to work and I've looked through pages of posts but not found the answers so hopefully someone can help me out.

I live in the fens so the car won't do much town work and doesn't see many hills which I believe should help the clutch on the SMG. I've adapted to the manual mode quite well so var and having read the posts from Eddie and others I can see what I need to do to minimise wear on the clutch. I always make sure I get it to change down to first before pulling off and if I'm sitting for any length of time, say at traffic lights I put it across to neutral.

As you're coasting to a stop though is it best to manually change down or is it ok to let it change down itself?

Is the auto mode a complete no no or for the wife's light cruising duties is it ok to use?

Is the voice activation worth bothering with, I have written a lot of voice code in the past and know it can work well, how well does the BMW system work?

Related to the last question, the voice activation button on the wheel does not bring up the symbol in the display to show voice rec is working, I can't find a "master" on/off switch in the menus but is there any way to turn it on?

I have the professional nav and logic 7 radio with cd changer what is the best way to add an ipod/iphone into this?

Finally has anyone used the xcarlink to add other sources to the indash display, if so does it work well?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Regards
Fred

[wattsm666]

For the iPod you could try a Dension 500. I don't have one know someone that does and he reckons it is great.

[ecain63]

For ipod etc do you have the handy USB port in your armrest? Its inside the cubby hole under the phone cradle. Otherwise, im not sure on the options other than the popular denison interface.

Auto mode 'apparently' can be mastered with practice but i still preech that its best to stay in paddle mode throughout so you know exactly where you are with the car and its gears. Each to thier own though. And remember to put it in Neutral whenever you come to a stop so you dont fry the release bearing.

As for voice activation, mine seems to work really well, despite having a broad jock twang to my voice. My father inlaw howerver cannot get his to work with his greek / pidgeon english slant. Try it and see, maybe yours will favour your regional tongue.

Eddie

[skeeterm5]

Just because you have the button on the steering wheel for voice activation it doesnt mean you have voice activation. IIRC the button is standard on the multi function wheel.

As Eddy said, my voice control works really well.

S

[FredBasset]

Thanks guys, that might be the issue with the voice activation then as I can't get it to work at all.

Eddie, the putting it in neutral thing, do you do this when you come to a stop even if you can tell you're going to be moving again in 10-15 seconds.

I've had very little time with the car since I've got it but have time over Christmas so will check it out.

Thanks again
Fred

[ecain63]

Its up to you really. I normally do it if im stopping for more than 10 seconds, but for sure you need to be sticking it in Neutral if youre at the lights, in traffic or stopping for more than say 15s at a time. Its defo worth doing as its taking a huge amount of strain off the most overworked and smallest part of the clutch mechanism, the release bearing.

In my opinion i'd rather be working the SMG pump a little harder by frequently putting it in N than wearing the clutch realease bearing out, especially if its an earlier clutch with a dry bearing. The pump is easily covered by your warranty whereas the bearing may involve more of a fight.

Eddie

[Jazzer]

I find my voice control works best when I speak in a German accent!

[joscal]

I have never used voice control in over 4 years of ownership! Is it really any use?

[jontysafe]

I've never used voice activation either. Is there a list of commands you can give anywhere? Being a bloke I've never read manual!

[andygtt]

I actually ended up doing exactly what Eddie suggests... never use the auto mode, put car in N at lights and ALWAYS let the car warm up before using any kind of revs or throttle. done 4k with no issues thus far with a lot of that london driving.

Voice activation is something I never use and havnt yet tried to join my iphone as it bluetooths to the car nicely and not needed the music on it yet.

[Jazzer]

Dial name

What name or number would you like to call?

Milf

Would you like to dial "Milf"?

Yes

Dialling...

VOICE CONTROL RULES!!

[FredBasset]

Jazzer, I can't see that voice command in the list at the bank of the manual - I bet that was an expensive option!

Thanks for the replies guys, just a final question about the letting the box change down approaching junctions etc - is this ok or a no no?

Cheers
Fred

[ecain63]

Yeah its fine to do that.

[Zod]

FredBasset said:

Thanks guys, that might be the issue with the voice activation then as I can't get it to work at all.

Eddie, the putting it in neutral thing, do you do this when you come to a stop even if you can tell you're going to be moving again in 10-15 seconds.

I've had very little time with the car since I've got it but have time over Christmas so will check it out.

Thanks again
Fred

Is the button behind the idrive controller one large one or split into a larger and a smaller one? If the former, then you don't have voice control.

[ecain63]

Zod said:

FredBasset said:

Thanks guys, that might be the issue with the voice activation then as I can't get it to work at all.

Eddie, the putting it in neutral thing, do you do this when you come to a stop even if you can tell you're going to be moving again in 10-15 seconds.

I've had very little time with the car since I've got it but have time over Christmas so will check it out.

Thanks again
Fred

Is the button behind the idrive controller one large one or split into a larger and a smaller one? If the former, then you don't have voice control.

You mean the menu button?

[FredBasset]

Cheers Zod, yes had a read through of the manual again and figured out it didn't have voice. Slightly annoying the button is on the wheel for no good reason but ho hum I'm really pleased with it in all other respects.

Cheers
Fred

[sdc77]

Voice commands

http://www.5series.net/information/E60_Voice_Comma...

I use it mainly for phone calls and radio / cd ... works fine ..

[El Jack]

Thanks for the voice commands list SDC, time for a talk with my iDrive mistress.

[jontysafe]

sdc77 said:

Voice commands

http://www.5series.net/information/E60_Voice_Comma...

I use it mainly for phone calls and radio / cd ... works fine ..

Blimey! Thanks for that, had no idea it was so comprehensive.

[omniflow]

Zod said:

Is the button behind the idrive controller one large one or split into a larger and a smaller one? If the former, then you don't have voice control.

I'm not sure this is correct. I only have one large button (marked "Menu") and I quite definitely have voice control