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So after the exhilarating previous test drive and my want to test out the SMG version of the 5 series, We had some time to kill before the Pampered Chef party so we headed back to BMW of Sterling to check it out.

The first thing that you notice when behind the wheel of the SMG version of the 5 series is that it’s not really all that different from the automatic. Well, except for the two gray paddles sitting behind the steering wheel. Since it’s a clutchless manual there is no extra peddle, the shifter looks just like the normal automatic shifter and the car starts the same way (insert key fob, press start button). Where it gets different is when your driving it. Imagine you’ve been driving manuals for a long time and then all of a sudden your dropped into a car with no clutch but it still wants to operate like a manual. By that I mean, you still have to time your shifting correctly, it still rolls backwards like a manual and if your like me, sometimes you get that lunge feeling in between shifting.

All that and it was still a blast to drive. I mean a total blast. You could rev it all the way up to 7k RPMS and then shift up just like in a regular manual car. You just don’t have to hit the clutch before you shift. Until you actually get used to the paradigm shift that is paddle shifting your passengers will have to get used to a very jerky ride. But honestly, do you really give a crap about your passengers when your shifting like an F1 driver? I didn’t. Well only a little bit.

After that ride I was sold. I loved this new 5 series. It was pretty much everything I was looking for. The major issue I had with it was that it only came with Sirius installed. While some people may think that’s not a very big deal, it is for someone like me who likes variety. You see the main channels I listened to on XM were XMU, Squizz, XM Chill are not duplicated well on Sirius. The saving grace so far has been Radio 1 which I have thoroughly enjoyed the times I’ve listened to it.

So what did I end up doing? Well after agonizing (and Jessi will atest to that) over the auto or SMG, we went with the automatic version of the 550i. We got black on black (Black Leather and Black exterior) with the Cold Weather Package and Sports Package. The 550i has a 4.8L 360bhp power plant (same as the 750LI) and and completely different under carriage then the other two 5 series (according to the sales person, I can’t find any record of this). Accelerates to 60 in between 5.2 and 5.5 seconds depending on who you listen too. Definitely the best V8 I’ve drivin. Ever.

So it’s a week later and it still an amazing ride. We headed to my ‘rents this weekend and hit a 100mph a few times. Jessi didn’t even realize it, since the ride was so smooth. Hell I’ve even had other bimmers come up from behind and flash me a thumbs up. I guess that’s our group wave.

So, I’m pretty stoked with the ride. I’m also thinking of rockin’ some personalized plates (first time) on this thing. The plates I really want are now either taken or outlawed so I’m going go the old Johnny Vulture route and get plates that tell people what kind of car I’m driving. This is what I’ve come up so far:

I’m taking votes and suggestions in the comments section.

I’ll also be uploading some glamour shots I took of the vehicle sometime soon to either flickr or here.

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