M5 SMG Gearbox

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   I test drove an M5 (E60) low mileage the other day as I might be in the market for one. All was well with the car, comfortable, great power delivery, etc, but I was REALLY surprised by two things both related to the SMG gearbox;
1. Very very jerky. Played with settings which seems to range from slow (granny double clutching speed) to agressive.
2. It's an auto without torque converter. Meaning you have to press the go pedal to move. I'm used to autos, sitting in frequent traffic and parking in tight spots where the easing off the brake is the only way to drive. 
I'm really in two minds so I wondered if there were any M5 owners out there that had an opinion on the every day use of the gearbox.

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bluemcoupe Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 26-May-2009 Location: Hampshire Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote bluemcoupe Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: M5 SMG Gearbox Posted: 26-May-2009 at 12:26
	I test drove an M5 (E60) low mileage the other day as I might be in the market for one. All was well with the car, comfortable, great power delivery, etc, but I was REALLY surprised by two things both related to the SMG gearbox; 1. Very very jerky. Played with settings which seems to range from slow (granny double clutching speed) to agressive. 2. It's an auto without torque converter. Meaning you have to press the go pedal to move. I'm used to autos, sitting in frequent traffic and parking in tight spots where the easing off the brake is the only way to drive. I'm really in two minds so I wondered if there were any M5 owners out there that had an opinion on the every day use of the gearbox.

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kevin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Bavarian-Board Contributor Joined: 29-November-2002 Location: Camberley, Surrey Status: Offline Points: 3189	Post Options Post Reply Quote kevin Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26-May-2009 at 13:16
	I test drive one before buying the 535d If you approach it with the mind set of "it's an automatic" then you will find it very odd as it is mechanically a manual gearbox but with an automatic clutch. Don't know how far and for how long you drove it but over the period of an extended test drive I got used to it
	Kevin '04 E46 330Ci Convertible '08 E61 535d Touring (TorqueMeister Towbarge) �95 E34 M5 �89 E30 M3 (Cecotto)

bluemcoupe Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 26-May-2009 Location: Hampshire Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote bluemcoupe Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26-May-2009 at 17:33
	Thanks Kevin. I actually drove it for a couple of hours over various types of roads but basically drove it like an auto letting the box do the work.