E92 M3 'SMG' Gearbox.

[Pugsey]

Finally driven one. Very impressed. MUCH better than the one in E46. In fact, so much better it's not worth making the comparison to be frank. In 'auto' mode it changes gears (seven of them) as well as the best full blown automatic - exactly what you want around town or you're just feeling lazy - and in manual mode (gearlever or paddles), depending on the setting you choose - it's got five from 'lazy' to race' (my technical terms not BMW's btw!) - it's quicker and better than you'd manage with a conventional box. Still don't know if I'd choose it over a conventional box but now that's just down to preference whereas I'd have rather had root canal work than drive the E46 version. Bodes v.well for CSL. Tried it in the new convertible btw which was horrid. Took it down my favourite test route and whereas my Coupe would eat the bumps and dips at speed it sort of 'boinged' around in a very uncomfortable manner - almost as if it had no secondary damping. Quite beastly IMHO.

[Boulder]

The new double clutch system is superb as you say.
I also agree on the convertible comments,they are a waste of time and cannot harness a 400+bhp engine at all-only poseurs need apply.

The M3 coupe is wicked though even in manual,i tested one recently and was pretty suprised at the top end of that engine.It seemed a fair bit quicker than my e39 M5 tbh....

[waremark]

Pugsey said:

Finally driven one. Very impressed.

Great news - committing to it before driving one was a bit of a gamble (and I also hated the previous SMG). How was it moving off from rest, or manoeuvering? In Autocar's test of the Evo X last week, they quoted the reluctance of the twin clutch gear box to get going from rest as a reason for the slow 5.7 secs 0 - 60. Amazing to think that the standard Evo VI (which I had) did 4.4 secs.

[Pugsey]

waremark said:

Pugsey said:

Finally driven one. Very impressed.

Great news - committing to it before driving one was a bit of a gamble (and I also hated the previous SMG). How was it moving off from rest, or manoeuvering? In Autocar's test of the Evo X last week, they quoted the reluctance of the twin clutch gear box to get going from rest as a reason for the slow 5.7 secs 0 - 60. Amazing to think that the standard Evo VI (which I had) did 4.4 secs.

Yes that was, initially, my only grumble. IN 'AUTO MODE pulling away definately has a (slight) moments 'lag' or hesitation - much like any auto. BUT, you can get round it in two ways. 1) You can build up a little pressure against the brakes - something I do in my X5 - which means the car then moves forward immediately when you release the brakes/accelerate - probably faster than the guy next to you trying to balance his clutch/throttle inputs tbo, or 2) probably more correctly with this box, just select the gear you want while stationary - rather than leaving it to the auto system - and again pull away is instant. In reality, once you get to know the car and use it correctly it isn't a problem and I think for a major magazine to sight it as such and then quote that ridiculous 0-60 figure is digusting and makes me wonder if they really know what they're doing frankly. BMW actually claim the thing is QUICKER to 60 than the manual and I believe them.

Edited by Pugsey on Tuesday 29th April 11:14

[Pugsey]

Pugsey said:

waremark said:

Pugsey said:

Finally driven one. Very impressed.

Great news - committing to it before driving one was a bit of a gamble (and I also hated the previous SMG). How was it moving off from rest, or manoeuvering? In Autocar's test of the Evo X last week, they quoted the reluctance of the twin clutch gear box to get going from rest as a reason for the slow 5.7 secs 0 - 60. Amazing to think that the standard Evo VI (which I had) did 4.4 secs.

Yes that was, initially, my only grumble. IN 'AUTO MODE pulling away definately has a (slight) moments 'lag' or hesitation - much like any auto. BUT, you can get round it in two ways. 1) You can build up a little pressure against the brakes - something I do in my X5 - which means the car then moves forward immediately when you release the brakes/accelerate - probably faster than the guy next to you trying to balance his clutch/throttle inputs tbo, or 2) probably more correctly with this box, just select the gear you want while stationary - rather than leaving it to the auto system - and again pull away is instant. In reality, once you get to know the car and use it correctly it isn't a problem and I think for a major magazine to sight it as such and then quote that ridiculous 0-60 figure is digusting and makes me wonder if they really know what they're doing frankly. BMW actually claim the thing is QUICKER to 60 than the manual and I believe them.

Edited by Pugsey on Tuesday 29th April 11:14

[edb49]

It will be around 2 tenths quicker to 60; although that obviously hides real world difference. Without meaning to state to the obvious, the 0-60 test is simply a test of how quickly you can reach a speed. With a double clutch box there is no let up in acceleration during shifts, so you can subtract the shift time from equivalent manual to get the difference. This is normally about 0.2 seconds.

On the other hand, if you had a double clutch car get to 60mph in 4.5 secs and a manual car also get there in 4.5 secs, the manual car would have covered mroe distance by the time it had reached 60mph. (The average speed over the 4.5s is higher in the manual car.)

With a dirty diesel that hits 60mph in 3rd, a DCT box would give you a 0.4 - 0.5 second gain on the 0-60.