I am afraid of this car sometimes (Impressions and questions)

[alexey21]

Since taking re-delivery of my M5 I decided to experiment with different settings in this car. So far I feel comfortable in Sport mode. The shifts are fast, the response is there, and the steering wheel is nice and heavy and personally just right for me.

Problem is that sometimes I get carried away and find myself just pressing on the gas pedal a bit in 2nd or 3rd gear. At that moment I realize that this car is just crazy fast. This thing revs to 7200 so fast that I sometimes dont have enough time to pay attention to the lights on the HUD telling me to shift. By that time I'm already going between 90 and 110.

Before the M5 I had an e60 550i, when accelerating from a traffic light I could wait for the torque to quick in, and wait to shift at the proper time, and look at the speedometer and see that I am approaching 55 or so.

The M5 goes something like this... Vroom boom lights flash gone... 100+ mph... next traffic light up ahead. Finally getting used to the acceleration and having more time to actually play around with it. Finally feeling confident with the brakes, knowing I can stop from 100 fast. Really feel the bite when you apply the breaks.

I do have a question though, is the boost on first gear limited? I feel that of the line, even if I launch the car properly, 1st gear is not all that powerful. As soon as you shift (Which btw the DCT is also crazy fast) you get hit with a wall of torque and feel the power. I dont have traction problems because before I shift from 1st to 2nd I am already hooked to the road, but its in second that the power is unreal.

Also when driving in manual and going in 7th gear just cruising, how do you downshift to like 3rd or 4th right away? I tried to do kickdown but it just starts pulling in 7th. Holding down the gear lever also didnt work... am I missing something.

Also going from 5th to 2nd or 3rd, there is a delay before it even responds to the throttle.

[M54ccibo]

Auto downshift...mash the gas and then pull the downshift paddle. Don't forget to hold on!

[AlphaAlpineM6]

I believe on the M3 DCT you can hold the leaver (or paddle) down for a second or two and it will downshift to the lowest possible gear. Unfortunately we don't have that option here.

[alexey21]

Originally Posted by M54ccibo

Auto downshift...mash the gas and then pull the downshift paddle. Don't forget to hold on!

I will have to try that tomorrow

Originally Posted by AlphaAlpineM6

I believe on the M3 DCT you can hold the leaver (or paddle) down for a second or two and it will downshift to the lowest possible gear. Unfortunately we don't have that option here.

Thats what I thought. Sat like an idiot holding the paddle.

[wrsbmw]

First gear only gets about half a second or so. I have been practicing with 1st gear in different shift modes. I drive in Sport, Comfort, Comfort, S3. I have learned how to taper the gas and listen to the engine to know when to shift and keep things smooth. I can easily hit 100 getting on to freeways in a decent length on ramp. I am usually in 3rd gear by that time. Then I just shift twice to get it to 5th and use my momentum. I don't like the paddles, I use the shift lever, it's extremely responsive and easy to use, like a joystick, it responds to bumps, fast or slow.

[Rob///M5]

When holding the downshift paddle, press the gas pedal ALL the way to the floor...past the faux stopping point.

Depending on speed, this will drop you directly from 7th into 3rd or 4th. Works every time...and yes, hang on

[stealth.pilot]

Have you unintentionally spun the car by going full throttle too quickly? If not watch out.

[hsiaochinsan]

i didn't know about the auto down shift feature, either. Thanks for sharing guys. Will try it soon.

[URBAN LEGEND]

Or put it in D3 and watch it go from 7th to 3rd into the next zip code.

[boots]

Yep what he said.

[RPiM5]

My M5 is scary to drive too. I'm always on the look out for cops. My neck hurts everytime I'm done driving my M5 from being on a constant swivel looking out for police trying to catch me. If I even plant my throttle past half-way I start an earthquake and shatter windows. Just yesterday, I hopped in my M5 because I hadn't driven it in 6 straight days and took it out for a quick spin. I came upon a small open stretch of road with no other cars on it at the time and went WOT. Up to that point I had been driving in D1 mode waiting for the engine to reach full operating temperature. There was a couple walking on the sidewalk in the same direction I was driving. They both turn around as soon as they heard me go WOT way behind them, and then as I passed them, the gentlemen gave me the finger and looked to proceed to get on his cell phone. I only accelerated up to 40mph too. But at 40mph people think my car is going 120mph. Of course I got a good laugh out of it though.

But yeah 600ft/lbs of torque at the crank is scary sometimes too. I try to drive more and more with DSC OFF to get used to controlling all the power and torque. It's a steep learning curve though.

[bobafettt]

Originally Posted by alexey21

I will have to try that tomorrow




Thats what I thought. Sat like an idiot holding the paddle.

M5/M6 does have a similar/same feature "kickdown" (when in s mode):
from the owners manual...
Kickdown: for maximum acceleration, e. g. when
passing. To do this, depress the accelerator
pedal past the resistance point, and pull the left
shift paddle once or push the shift lever forward
once.