Replacing a BMW 540 wagon...considering 5.0 Genny

[benjaminearle]

Well, the repair costs are starting to grate at me - especially in the last year ($500 radiator, $5000 water pump / thermostat / valley pan / coolant tubes / valve cover and timing gaskets / timing chain and guides, $500 alternator, and just yesterday another blown digital stereo amp)

I like the look of the 5.0 Genesis sedan and admittedly haven't driven one (there's a dearth of them on the CPO lots), but am concerned that is just isn't going to run, feel, stop or turn anything like my autobahn burner. What do some former E39 owners feel? How are the interior treatments and all the little gimmick-y do-dads? I read reviews that talk about uninspired cornering at speed when the car can't decide whether to be a sports sedan or a big Lexus.

Also, has anyone hacked the computers to do things like kill the nanny-state nav or adjust fuel maps, etc?

How does Hyundai respond to warranty claims on these cars when they have been driven hard or had, say a big exhaust on it?

Help is appreciated

 

[benjaminearle]

I finally took the leap and went to drive a R-spec last Friday after having another little piece of German technology go bad...again.

Anyway - I drove the Genesis sedan and thought it had good power and no one disagrees that it looks nice but there were a few flat spots that either the dealer couldn't/wouldn't answer or that dawned on me only after getting back in my 5er.

1) Is the transmission adaptive? I've read complaints about slow shifting and although it didn't bang gears like a BMW SMG it was smooth and only seemd to lag a little on kickdown (understandable with 3 overdrives)

2) Can you seriously not in any way turn off the traction/stability control? Not a deal breaker here, but c'mon - you're selling a car to American men and tires aren't under warranty.

3) Steering, oh the steering - it is completely emotionless, has NO feel, gives NO feedback. Has anyone developed a pressure control device to greatly reduce the steering pump output? Is the pump belt driven or electric? I got back in my 5er and was immediately reminded how a sports sedan should feel.

4) the "leather" seats. This felt like it came out of a Ford Fusion. Based on the texture is it safe to assume this is "bonded leather" or some other barely-recognizable-as-animal-hide material? They just felt cheap. I've got a quote from one dealer to replace the leather with a color of my choice for about $1,000. Has anyone else experienced this and is it the same rubbery stuff or real split hide? I'd pay that to keep it black but have better materials.

5) Exhaust note - what exhaust note? Folks buying a 5-liter sedan don't want it to sound like a Camry - even at idle. Does the Borla system screw anything else up? What other options are there to have a voice to match the muscle?

6) Warranty stuff - what negates your warranty? Cat-back exhaust? Driving schools? Coilovers?

That's all I can think of. Right now I'm leaning toward keeping money going into the 5er.

Thanks.

 

[Ruissimo]

This is MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION on the matter:

1) Nope. You get used to the lag, and I don't notice it now because I'm more aware not to gun it all at once - I do it more gradually now, and after two years, I've never been in a situation where it became dangerous.

2) You can disable the ESC, but you'll have to pull the fuse - the only way I know how is to use a hack. If you don't do it properly, it WILL show up on the ECU. The hack has been posted on this site somewhere - you'll have to search though, I lost the thread. Sorry. [EDIT] This might be it: http://genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/showthread.php?t=5828&highlight=disabling+nanny

3) Never really noticed anything wrong.

4) My driver's seat has been VERY disappointing. After six months, it looked all stretched out and ugly. I'm not the only one with the problem, though I've decided to live with it.

5) You're gonna have to go back a year or two on the search... but someone had a mod that looked (and sounded) really good. Here's the link, I THINK: http://genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/showthread.php?t=9410&highlight=exhaust+system.

6) Not sure on this one. Others know waaaay more than me.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR DECISION!

 

[marinakorp]

Well, the repair costs are starting to grate at me - especially in the last year ($500 radiator, $5000 water pump / thermostat / valley pan / coolant tubes / valve cover and timing gaskets / timing chain and guides, $500 alternator, and just yesterday another blown digital stereo amp)

I like the look of the 5.0 Genesis sedan and admittedly haven't driven one (there's a dearth of them on the CPO lots), but am concerned that is just isn't going to run, feel, stop or turn anything like my autobahn burner. What do some former E39 owners feel? How are the interior treatments and all the little gimmick-y do-dads? I read reviews that talk about uninspired cornering at speed when the car can't decide whether to be a sports sedan or a big Lexus.

Also, has anyone hacked the computers to do things like kill the nanny-state nav or adjust fuel maps, etc?

How does Hyundai respond to warranty claims on these cars when they have been driven hard or had, say a big exhaust on it?

Help is appreciated

I too had an e39 (M62) 540iT - sport. Loved that car... when it worked.
Handling is not as crisp as the 540iT sport, nor are the seats as well side bolstered.

That being said, I just bought a 2011 Genesis 4.6. Accelerated VERY similar to the 540 (4.4L v8). There is a flat spot when down shifting (pressing the accelerator in a linear fashion) , but I hear there is a module that can correct the Throttle Position sensor to be more responsive... as opposed to waiting to get to full travel before dropping a gear (or two) in auto... you can also use the steptronic and leave in a gear at a higher RPM for controlling the vihicle when pitching in to a turn - very similar to the E39

The 540 Definately handled better. Feels more in line with the Lexus than the BMW in terms of handling.

Not bad. Wallows a bit (I also transferred the M5 sway to my 540iT... made a difference in body roll).

Not sure about the 5.0 of the newer models. I believe that they have stiffer sway's. I might look in to swapping that to my 4.6..


All in all.. great car. Just not quite the BMW... but I'm also not paying for a BMW either...

 

[homeofstone]

One big thing is the Genesis is way more reliable than the German cars. Almost 120k miles on my 2011 4.6; what a great car.