Re: Fwd: 5er automatic (tiptronic?)]

[John Edward Miller <jem@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Reguarding the "tiptronic"(Porsche) style shift system on a BMW
> automatic.  BMW does indeed have one, it's called a "steptronic".  I
> have not driven one, but yesterday sat in a 1999 European 528it
> (wagon-for those who don't know), it had the steptronic in it.  Unlike
> the tiptronic which now has "satellite" controls on the steering wheel,
> the BMW is limited to the shifter itself.  Although there where a few
> things this car had that I'd never seen on a 5.  Such as PDC (Park
> Distance Control) rear only.  It also had a set of 540 alloys, not the
> Sport wheel, but the standard "turbine" style, and a 5 Speed automatic.
> This car also had the full aluminum engine that the E46 has.  So this
> must mean that the '99 fiver will have the same gearbox and engine of
> the E46, unlike the '98 fiver.  I have no information that suggests the
> 1999 3's will get a steptronic.  Who knows, they may make it available
> mid year.

Considerations observed during our two-week German/Swiss/French trip (Euro
delivery of our new 540i) regarding European BMWs:

1) Most 5ers seen on the German and French roads are 520i, 523i, and 525tds
models.   Has something to do with that $4.50/gallon gasoline.   Most
fast-moving 5s on the highways are 525tds.

2) For those who may rag on M-logos showing up on non-M cars - in Germany
EVERYBODY does it.  Odds are better than 90% that a tricked-out E34 5 with
M logo and 17" wheels is a 520i or 523i. 

3) US-market models generally come with the wheels/tires that are standard
equipment on the equivalent German model one or two notches lower in the
range.  So the (ugly) billion-spoke pizza-pie wheels and touring-soft tires
that are standard on US-market 540is (non-sport-pkg) are mostly found on
523i models in Germany. 

4) 5-speed autoboxes have been the rule on the non-US-market six-cylinder
E39 5s since introduction.  Only the US gets the GM-made 4-speed.  But
autobox cars are comparatively rare Over There regardless.

5) Likewise iron engines, I think - the sulfur scare.

6) There's lots of stuff - park distance control, HID lights, etc - that
have been options on Euro-market E39s that had not made it to the US (some
of them are available in '99) but bear in mind a fully-optioned
German-market 540i is somewhere over $70K US (presumably including taxes.)
PDC is in fact a dealer-installed option.

7) And, '99 US model related, I'm bummed our '98 540i (sport package, but
autobox) doesn't get the benefit of the looser '99 torque converter and
Steptronic.  

John.

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