Why am I so excited about this even though I'll never have one? :o



http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/sho...9&postcount=77

 

That's good to hear!

 

A lot of people are skeptical the message really came from BMW, but the board administrator checked the IP address and supposedly it really is from BMW, NA. If this news is true I guess we'll read more about it soon.

 

It's unfortunate that I find the new BMWs so ugly. They're putting out some seroius machines.

 

Yes they are, I can't wait for the new M3, I should be done school by that time! Can you imagine the M5's engine shoehorned into that thing. Could be good!!

I guess I should say the new M4, since the M3 (if there is one) will be 4 door. At least thats the rumours. :D
Here is a pic of the 4 series I stumbled upon a few days ago, not sure of the authenticity.

 

Sweet! I'll take the MT.

 

Question: Since the SMG has 7 gears and that cool launch feature, isn't it safe to assume it'll be faster than the manual?

 

what a cool car
so nice

 

I don't think SMG is a true manual. I think your reading marketing material. Not knocking the SMG, it's just it's not all that different than any other manualmatic in comparision with a manual transmission that uses a clutch.

What I read was that in the 7 speed trany, they moved first and second to the middle of the gears where there is more strength. This shoudl help with the logevity handling all that tourque (of course only when you select the button that adds it). But it made putting a manual transmission in it nearly impossible. As the H shifter positions would have been something like 3, 4, then 1, 2 then 5, 6 and finally 7, R. They figured no one woudl put up with that...

 

The next M3/4 won't share the same engine as the M5.

 

Well thanks for crushing my hopes and dreams :p
I had heard that also though I just don't want to believe it

 

um the manual is 6 speeds i believe... not 7... 7 is for the SMG only...

and i heard/read somewher that the new M3/M4 will have a V6 and not I6 anymore... but would be nice to have that V10 in there....

 

SMG transmissions have everything that a manual transmission has(clutch, flywheel, etc). The only similarity to a manumatic transmission is that it's computer controlled, has no clutch pedal, and is sequential in gear selection.

 

I have to disagree here. The new 5 series looks really nice in the flesh.

 

From what I've read, the even no. series will be used to badge the coupes, whilst the odd no. series will be used for the sedans.

As you correctly pointed out the next 2-door "M3" will be called M4.

 

Yep, but the marketing material tries to depict it as a manual. Really just splitting hairs.


Quote from Car and Drive article...

Aside from the new engine there is a new transmission—the third generation of BMW's sequential manual gearbox (SMG)—that takes lessons learned from Formula 1 and applies them to the M5. BMW does not offer a conventional manual transmission, and that seems counter to its Ultimate Driving Machine marketing mantra. Although this latest SMG is faster and smoother than ever, a skilled driver could achieve less jerky shifts. You may wonder why there's no conventional manual. It has to do with the way the gears are arranged in the tranny casing. First and second gears, which experience the most abuse and stress, find themselves nestled in the strongest parts of the casing to withstand the violently quick shifts that the SMG can make. The rest of the seven gears are arranged to follow the same logic. If the M5 had a normal shifter, its pattern would be a maze so intricate that even the smartest rats lured by the best cheese would have trouble figuring it out.

 

And this kind of goes along with all this ...

Press the button marked "power" next to the shifter, and you get 500 horsepower at 7750 rpm and 384 pound-feet of torque at 6100 rpm. That's 106 more horsepower than the previous M5's V-8 and 175 more than a 545i's. Don't press the button, and the intake restricts itself to 400 horses. On paper the rpm at which maximum torque is achieved seems a bit high, but variable valve timing and individual throttles for each cylinder allow the engine to enjoy low-end grunt and midrange power. There's almost always enough power on tap to induce midcorner oversteer at the briefest stab of the throttle. The V-10 sounds great, too. Tear away from a city stoplight and run the V-10 to its 8250-rpm redline, and you'll leave nascent car enthusiasts in your wake.

 

It sounds like you're missing the point of the thread; there will be a traditional manual offered, AS WELL AS the SMG.

 

wow...I'm really excited about that one

 

From what I have heard is the next M3 will have a V8 very similar to that of the V10. Same basic engine, but with two less cylinders.

Originally that was the plan but the latest rumor is BMW gave into preasue and kept the M3 moniker for both the two and four door 3er.

 

I think you're missing my point.

I beleive the marketing material is trying to bill the SMG as a true manual. I'm pretty sure this is the only transmission that will be availble in this vehicle. That's all that was on the order form I saw in Nov when I considered ordering one.

So I would say I am disagreeing with the contant of the thread and blaming it on the marketing material enclosed in the first post.

 

It is a manual. If you took out all the computer controls and attached a pedal, linkages, shifter and all the doodads that go with it, it would operate like the 7 speed manual transmission that it is(somewhat exagerated as it wasn't built to have a shifter and pedal). Well in this case, you may need a 3 dimensional shift pattern (from the sound of it).

 

i work at a BMW dealership and have not heard that the new M5 will be offered in a traditional manual transmission. only the SMG 7 spd. automatic. here is a link directly off BMWUSA.com (http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/futurevehicles/newM5). SMG technology is a manual transmission just w/o the aid of a clutch pedal and the lightness of it b/c of eliminating the torque converter. sometimes we get cars in the shop equipped w/ SMG and have to have the car adapt to the clutch engagement position. if you ever get a chance to drive an E46 M3 w/ SMG, you'll notice that it "blips" the throttle when downshifting. great for entering a turn, sort of an automatic heel-toe action.

all even numbered series BMWs are 2 doors (ex. 6). all odd numbered BMWs are 4 doors. (ex. 5 and 7 series). but i think the new 3 series is an exception...they will be offered in a 4 door and 2 door (coming out later). the new M3 is supposedly coming out with the E39 M5 engine (S62). there is no such thing as an M4 to my knowledge. although rumors are said that the M4 might be a V8 powered Z4. BMW has never had a V6 and i don't think they will ever. there are also info about a 1 series here in the US. EUR and other countries already have this BMW out, but it is under the 2 series name. i don't know when we will get to see this 1 series, but supposedly it either comes in a 4 cyl. turbo or an inline 6. the M1 (if any) will probably come w/ the E46 M3 engine (S54). again this is what i heard through the grape vine. BMW is really strict about leaked information and what not. up at BMW NA headquarters in NJ they don't allow cameras inside. some of the other technicians i've worked with, who have gone to school up there, say you get a glimpse of future prototypes but aren't allowed to take pictures, etc. The new M5 is going to be a beast of a machine...but i'd be more excited about the M6 that is coming out )http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/futurevehicles/newM6).

oh...i don't know which of you mentioned the styling of the new BMWs, but yes...they are different and not very appealing. i have gotten used to the styling, that's because i work on them everyday. an american is behind the new looks of these cars...not bashing on our country's fine taste of style, but BMW is a european company, let them design their own cars. and another thing...we have to many damn cup holders in our cars. since when do sports cars need cupholders?? the europeans look at our cupholders and laugh. cupholders in our glove box, center consoles, back of our seats, armrests, dashboard, tailgate. culture...what a funny thing.

oh i forgot...BMW is going to be offering diesel powered cars soon.

 

#%^$&*@ $%^*() $%#$!# %&*##^$@!!!


:D I really don't take myself too seriously, but SMG /= automatic transmission.

automatic transmission

Saying a SMG is an auto just because it can operate automatically, is like saying my car is a manual just because I can select gears manually (4AT).

Ima go bang my head against the wall now. :p

 

Are you sure about that??? As I've understood it, the "c" (or lack thereof), which, I am assuming, stands for 'coupe,' delineated the number of doors, not the number. The 325ci is a 2-door; the 325i is a 4-door. It has been that way for many years. Alternatively, the Z4 has only two doors.