BMW M3 (SMG)

[Alf Essex]

Guys,

About to come over from TVR Tuscan S ownership to take the plunge into BMW M3!!!

Question - The showroom car I'm looking at has SMG...now honestly how quick is the shift/power output compared to a manual gearbox?? Will be testing driving next weekend but thought I'd ask you guys first...

Thanks.

Alan.

by the way...I'm not leaving TVR just taking a break for a bit of luxury

>>> Edited by Alf Essex on Saturday 24th July 18:44

[ScoobyZoom]

Alf,

if the shift program is set to the highest position in manual mode it is faster than any human could shift. It is a fantastic gearbox. However, you wont get used to it on a quick round the block test drive... you need it for a couple of hours.

When driving it in manual moode set it to 2 or 3 but fun manual mode TURN IT UP...

The shift pattern thingy is the up down arrow button just behind the gearstick.

HTH

Adam

[Alf Essex]

Thanks for the feedback.

Alan.

[john_p]

Don't shift as you would a tiptonic autobox expecting it to be smooth - it will be very jerky if you do. Make sure you lift the throttle just as you would with a manual car.

For full-on changes however, just keep the foot planted and change at the redline. Pure bliss.

Try it in varying shift speeds (up down button below the gearstick) and don't bother with auto mode. It does shift down if the revs get low enough, but sometimes is reluctant to shift 2nd to 1st especially at junctions so make sure you force the downshift as you approach..

As ScoobyZoom says give it a nice long test drive, it may not do you justice otherwise!

[Zod]

Listen to john p!