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

[Charles Gregory <goldstdrd@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Jim,

First of all.........you're right.  I do need to quit talking to salesmen.
Unfortunately that's what I do for BMW.  When I was writing the original
post, I was a bit norrow minded on my scope, and had completely forgotten
that people worldwide get the digest.  The US is sort of the bastard child
for BMW, we rarely get the real good stuff, so all of what I was speaking of
was for the N. American market.

I live in Tucson, AZ so you can understand we don't see to many european
versions.  When I wrote that , it was just to let the US people know that
maybe we would be receiving the hot set up.

Sorry if it made me sound uninformed, as compared to the average European, am
sure I am.

Charles Gregory

Jim Cash wrote:

> Charles Gregory writes:
>
> > 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.
>
> Charles
>
> You have got to start talking to people other than salesmen.
>
> Steptronic has been around for about 4 years (was on the E38's in Europe
> in 94).
>
> BMW sold the E34 5 series Touring in North America for a few years
> during early 1990's. They will be bringing the E39 T - 99 I think.
>
> PDC has been on the E39 since initial launch - I know it was not offered
> in the USA but it was in Canada.
>
> When you said you had never heard of a 5 speed automatic on a 5iver that
> only applies to the 528iA. The 540 has always had the 5 speed.  Yes I
> think the 99 528 now has a 5 speed auto. In fact I "think" that the 4
> speed was only for North America - I am not totally sure but I think
> Europe had a 5 speed auto on all E39 models (but it was a different one
> for the 6 cylinder models from the one for the 8's)
>
> The T-Wagon is often shown with the 540 standard wheels. I think it
> depends on which level of trim is specified.
>
> I think the current engines are all "aluminum" (unless you are referring
> to the cylinder liners).
>
> The steptronic has been available on the E46 since launch in Europe -
> this is just slow to be available in NA.
> I also do not know when it will be available here - but I suspect soon.
>
> Cheers
>
> Jim Cash
> London, Ontario, Canada
> BMW CCA 102929
> E39  97 540iA




- --------------799259409A3543F9E8D22045--

------------------------------