[TanzaniteBlue]

Hi all.

I turned in my F80 a couple months ago. Several things annoyed me both about the car and how BMW is treating long time customers. Once they removed the buyout credit my decision was made, and I was pretty sure I would move on from the brand.

Fast forward to today I decide to give the M5 a shot. Holy mother of God is this thing fast and it’s not even a competition package! I was ready right then and there to order an M5C with everything, even the M Performance Exhaust.

BUT! There is a major Achilles heel, and that’s the paddle shift delay. You have to be in M mode Track and S3 to get half acceptable response, and even then it feels like a half second or more from you clicking a paddle to the car responding. If you’re not in M mode it’s hopeless. Immediately went on YouTube to watch a few competition package POV drives and the delay is exactly the same.

I got back into our M340i driving home and the paddle response is IMMEDIATE regardless of drive mode. Immediate like my F80.

Is there some sort of work around? It kills the car for me.

[KASM3]

Strange, I haven't noticed a delay. Slight when engine is in Eco. Was the car you tested pre breakin ? Maybe there is some difference before break in is done? I, however, didn't notice what you are describing. I will pay more attention next drive.

[TanzaniteBlue]

Originally Posted by KASM3

Strange, I haven't noticed a delay. Slight when engine is in Eco. Was the car you tested pre breakin ? Maybe there is some difference before break in is done? I, however, didn't notice what you are describing. I will pay more attention next drive.

The car had 154 miles on it. It was a demo. Even in S3 there is easily a half second response time. Upshift and downshifts were incredibly lethargic. S3 and M Mode Track and it’s perhaps slightly quicker but not nearly acceptable compared to the immediacy of an M340i....

[Aronis]

Go drive one that has been broken in. I have not noticed much delay....and it is certainly faster than you could row the gears yourself with a stick.

Mike

[hova00]

No delay here. The trans on my 21 M5C is lightning quick on up and down shifts.

[GiantRobot]

19 M5C here, no delays of the type you mention with mine. Test drive another one.

[Greer]

My 2019 M5 does not have this delay in the paddle shifts. Go drive one that has some miles on it.

[pcai]

Gearbox response is quite immediate. In S+ engine and S3 it really fires off those shifts with a bang, quite literally. It might not be a dual clutch but it is mighty impressive, and at least shifts faster than an M-lite like the m340i.

[cruzzinlow]

2019 M5C here and no delay like you speak of, I also had a DCT F80 and it’s not as lightening fast as that but nowhere near like your describing, I would suggest driving another one preferably someone’s broken in one

[Fantastic 5]

My Jag SVR used the same gearbox, but was tuned much better. SVR just as fast on shifts but the gear spacing was so much better. I always drove it in manual because it was that good. With the M5, my biggest problem is that it lurches too much, especially on downshifts. It never feels comfortable being shifted manually. The gear spacing is so off that it again makes it hard to drive it manually.

Overall, the M5 is an amazing car. It can do things that most cars cannot, and for a sedan it's just crazy. But, it's not an easy car to drive well. Lots of configurations, with a lot of power makes it hard to really know the car or predict what it's going to do. I'm sure it's learnable, but it's not organic.

[pcai]

Originally Posted by Fantastic 5

My Jag SVR used the same gearbox, but was tuned much better. SVR just as fast on shifts but the gear spacing was so much better. I always drove it in manual because it was that good. With the M5, my biggest problem is that it lurches too much, especially on downshifts. It never feels comfortable being shifted manually. The gear spacing is so off that it again makes it hard to drive it manually.

Overall, the M5 is an amazing car. It can do things that most cars cannot, and for a sedan it's just crazy. But, it's not an easy car to drive well. Lots of configurations, with a lot of power makes it hard to really know the car or predict what it's going to do. I'm sure it's learnable, but it's not organic.

I don't find the car to lurch excessively on downshifts, and while it is present, it's far from disconcerting. I actually find that the only time the car lurches quite a bit and becomes a handful to drive is when you apply partial throttle in 1st gear S+ engine because 1st gear is so short and direct, along with the massive power and torque it can be quite bumpy and uneven. But it's partly due to the short first few gears that make this car rocket off.

[TanzaniteBlue]

Originally Posted by pcai

Gearbox response is quite immediate. In S+ engine and S3 it really fires off those shifts with a bang, quite literally. It might not be a dual clutch but it is mighty impressive, and at least shifts faster than an M-lite like the m340i.

Yes once the car responds the shifts are immediate, but the time from clicking a paddle to the car actually doing something is much longer than our M340i. Unless you were in M Mode and S3 it felt like a full second. And even in M mode and S3 it just wasn’t as fast to respond as other ZF8s..

[M3PGH]

have not noticed delay in my car
don't have an M340 to compare
but in some cars I have owned I noticed quicker response when using actual shifter as compared to paddles . I thought it was in my head

[leeadam]

Zero delay on my m5 comp, awesome responsive gearbox, prefer it over my M4 competition i had, in fact all the motoring reviews online praise the M5 having a lovely gearbox too, not sure if you just tried a bad one?

[POBA]

I have not noticed any delay, I use the paddles often...

[TanzaniteBlue]

Originally Posted by leeadam

Zero delay on my m5 comp, awesome responsive gearbox, prefer it over my M4 competition i had, in fact all the motoring reviews online praise the M5 having a lovely gearbox too, not sure if you just tried a bad one?

I really hope so because I’m so ready to order one.

[TanzaniteBlue]

Can anyone shoot a POV video of you working the paddles in various modes with various throttle inputs? No M Mode S2/S3 and M Mode with S2/S3? Just to see how it is after the 1200 miles.

I have a spec in mind with everything even CCB and MPE.

[leeadam]

Originally Posted by TanzaniteBlue

I really hope so because I’m so ready to order one.

try out a couple of other M5 comp and see if issue.

[TanzaniteBlue]

Originally Posted by leeadam

try out a couple of other M5 comp and see if issue.

Every single POV drive I’ve watched you can see there is a noticeable delay from clicking a paddle to the car up shifting. And they are always in M Mode and S3. Downshifting not as much. Our M340i simply doesn’t do this.

[lsal]

Originally Posted by TanzaniteBlue

Every single POV drive I’ve watched you can see there is a noticeable delay from clicking a paddle to the car up shifting. And they are always in M Mode and S3. Downshifting not as much. Our M340i simply doesn’t do this.

I have not experienced this at all. Zero delay...

[CosmicCharlie]

Interesting- I haven't noticed anything but great on-demand shift performance from my '21 M5 comp, but I'm comparing to my most recent previous car, an '18 m550 (which, when in full sport plus settings, I also liked).

While I don't think you'll find many that agree, maybe the m340 is the superior car for your specific taste and expectations- why not just get another one of those?

[TanzaniteBlue]

Originally Posted by CosmicCharlie

Interesting- I haven't noticed anything but great on-demand shift performance from my '21 M5 comp, but I'm comparing to my most recent previous car, an '18 m550 (which, when in full sport plus settings, I also liked).

While I don't think you'll find many that agree, maybe the m340 is the superior car for your specific taste and expectations- why not just get another one of those?

I thought the same until I put my foot down in the M5.

HOLY BABY JESUS IT THROWS YOU IN YOUR SEAT! On COLD TIRES! Warm oil and coolant obviously.

And the interior is so much cooler, and the seats are more comfortable. The giant screen is awesome. And the V8 sound when you turn off Active Sound.....can only imagine how good Active Sound off is with the MPE.