Agree about the manual in the SS for sure. The orange car is a different experience compared to my perfect blue car. My best friend has a 30K mile E39 M5 that has a Dinan stage one and is otherwise stock. He liked driving my blue automatic car and said it reminded him somewhat of his car, but when he drove the new orange one, he looked at me almost with horror in his eyes and said "So maybe it's time to let the E39 go and get one of these. THIS is a proper car." I hope he keeps the M5 because I love it as much as he does. It's similar, but more connected. No drive by wire anything. You "wear" that M5, you don't drive it.
I'm just coming off driving 2 E39 M5's for the last 8 years. I went with the OBM 6M, The M5 is going up for sale soon. The M5 definitely feels more connected and more comfortable. My latest M5 is a 2003, and it just remimds me of an old pair of sneakers, its so well broken in and smooth. I am sure the SS will feel as broken in as time goes on. The Mag ride suspension is just amazing, I drove the tail of the dragon on my break in ride hom and I was amazed how well the car handled. It never pushed, and was always flat
I have the extended leather in my M5, (sumptuous leather dash) but I really don't think the SS falls short interior wise. It has great materials where it counts
The M5's motor just feels looser and revs faster, and seemed to bring on a little more power on the top but I have not got on my SS full on yet
I had deleted the mufflers on the M5 and it seriously is one of the sweetest sounding exhausts i ever heard. It goes from nascar Stocker to screaming Ferrari up through the rev range. The SS is not as loud (yet) and driving through tunnels is so far a disappointment. And although I may want it loouder, I also realy love the oppurtnity to turn it down in Touring, as I do keep odd hours
The SS feels a lot bigger, Seems to have a bigger turning radius. Maneuvering around parking lots is were I really feel it, but the Rear camera and sensors really help.
I have the whole center console, from the cup holder locations, to the useless front bin and the charger location. and I really miss a real parking brake
The infotaiment system is awesome and I can't wait till I know it like the back of my hand. The technology The heads up display is a great plus. I love having a Bluetooth that really works. And i paid the extra few bucks a month for commercial free Pandora and listened for hours straight on my 1,900 mile ride home. Endless skipping songs was great too
The E39 has the SS in looks, It is such a great looking car but I do like a lot about the SS. It has a lot of good looking features, and the OBM color is unreal in the sunlight. I really do not like the hood vents, I wish they were detailed up a little more in the way the side vents are. Too much of an afterthought and not quite finished
I had refinished my squared E39 Wheels and they are some of the most beautiful wheels ever produced, I don't hate the SS wheels but there are better out there; One day
I'll be cleaning up the M5 this weekend and it will go soon. Although its in great shape, I had a list of wants and needs to do to it, and I am very happy to have a brand new car that shouldn't need anything for a long while. This is my first new car (Outside of several family trucks) I loved ordering it the way I wanted it, going through the waiting process like a kid counting down Christmas, planning an epic road trip with my dad, and lastly, getting 20% off due to good timing.
Myron made the deal simple and pleasant, despite having my cell phone ran over minutes before I made the deal
Oh, and Myron sends you a tin of cookies!
Sorry to takeover your thread....