Advice required. Is the BMW SMGII any good?
Discussion
I've driven one, but as i'm not a fan of semi autos predictably i didn't like it. The guy who owns the car i drove does a lot of business miles in the car and swears by it. You takes your money... 
Thats in a 2002 M3 cab by the way.
Drive the sequential and the manual and see which one you like, simple as that.
Thats in a 2002 M3 cab by the way.
Drive the sequential and the manual and see which one you like, simple as that.
I've driven a couple of the new smg fitted M3's and I dont like it. Basicaly low speed manouvering in tight spaces is a pain, you have to blip the throttle to get the thing moving. This can make for some white knuckle moments as the car lurches backwards and you have to get on the brakes, its not smooth and predictable like reversing in an auto or a manual car.
In paddle shift mode its interesting but not as involving as the manual and it does take a while to learn. In auto mode its rough and jerky.
Save you'r self the cash get the manual its great.
In paddle shift mode its interesting but not as involving as the manual and it does take a while to learn. In auto mode its rough and jerky.
Save you'r self the cash get the manual its great.
No, it isn't. Don't waste your money. The problem is that the computer cannot anticipate whether you need to get off the line quickly or simply shuffle the car in a parking manoevre so the result is an unpredictable and jerky vehicle at slow speeds, slow off the line when you want it to be quick.
By a good automatic instead if you want the car to do the shifting for you. Suggest you test a Jaguar XJR V8 as the benchmark.
By a good automatic instead if you want the car to do the shifting for you. Suggest you test a Jaguar XJR V8 as the benchmark.
never heard so much crap as posted above.... I challenge you to move a manual more slowly and in a tighter space than I can my SMG
changes are only not smooth if you don't lift on upchanges.
as for the remarks above you will find people who have only driven them for a few miles often just don't have a chance to get used to how to make the most of the gearbox.
I have one smg car and two manuals and given the choice I would have smg in all my future cars.
changes are only not smooth if you don't lift on upchanges.
as for the remarks above you will find people who have only driven them for a few miles often just don't have a chance to get used to how to make the most of the gearbox.
I have one smg car and two manuals and given the choice I would have smg in all my future cars.
JJR1. I conceed you may be right rgarding driving an smg M3 on the open road, I openly admit I've only driven one for about 15-20 miles. But in tght spaces it is a nightmare, I'm a driver for my local BMW dealership, which has an incredibly tight car park. I'd rather drive almost any other BM around this car park over the smg M3 with the exception of the X5 (the damned things almost to big for the car park and the overhangs are hard to judge).
The only way to smoothly reverse the M3 is by either heel and toeing or hanging on to the handbrake. Neither of these is ideal.
One question, the blip of the throttle on down changing gears never seems quite right, is thier a way of changing this ? As it stands I can heel and toe down changes better than the SMG system!
>> Edited by interloper on Wednesday 28th May 19:44
The only way to smoothly reverse the M3 is by either heel and toeing or hanging on to the handbrake. Neither of these is ideal.
One question, the blip of the throttle on down changing gears never seems quite right, is thier a way of changing this ? As it stands I can heel and toe down changes better than the SMG system!
>> Edited by interloper on Wednesday 28th May 19:44
I've got an E46 M3 SMG and I'm completely in love with SMG.I'm not going back to normal manual on prestige cars again.
I'd say that 90% of non-luddite criticism comes from people who have limited experience of this type of gearbox,as has been stated many times before,you have to "learn" it.Perhaps,in a tight carpark a normal manual is better...but,how much time do you spend farting around in parking lots and how much time do you spend actually driving?
I'd say that 90% of non-luddite criticism comes from people who have limited experience of this type of gearbox,as has been stated many times before,you have to "learn" it.Perhaps,in a tight carpark a normal manual is better...but,how much time do you spend farting around in parking lots and how much time do you spend actually driving?
I agree with Alex. I have had mine for a over a month and think it is excellent, I have come from an M coupe and I find that the M3 wins in every respect. Once you have learned the new style it is great fun and easy to drive in any situation. The only downside is not being able to balance on the clutch but you can use the handbrake of the hill thingy for this.
Without doubt you have to go for the SMGII, don't take it for a short test drive it will put you off, see if your local dealer will let you have an extended test drive cos once you get used to it it's fantastic!!
p.s. SMGII is much more desirable for resale.
p.p.s. Don't forget to use the Launch Control!
p.s. SMGII is much more desirable for resale.
p.p.s. Don't forget to use the Launch Control!
Lack of knowledge is dangerous! SMG is great when you get used to it, even the slated SMG 1. You just build it into your driving. Most drivers have never even tried the system and have already formed opinions, I say drive one first. A 20 mile test drive is nowhere near enough mileage to perfect the system. Jeremy 'Chestwig/medallion' Clarkson had very bad words about the F1 system in the Ferrari, probably due to his faded jeans wearing, Status Quo moshing, motoring opinion. God that man reminds me of my father! Bloody technophobe.
PS This system is not semi-auto it is a full Getrag 6-speed manual system with hydraulic clutch operation.
PS This system is not semi-auto it is a full Getrag 6-speed manual system with hydraulic clutch operation.
Hold gear lever forward, rev to 4500, let gear lever go and plant foot into the bulkhead. Presto! Speak to your local dealer before you try this and they will enlighten you into why you shouldnt really use this facility!
In basic terms it destroys approx 15000km of clutch life. BMW can see how many times you have used the function via diagnostics, be warned.
However, it is extremely good fun.
In basic terms it destroys approx 15000km of clutch life. BMW can see how many times you have used the function via diagnostics, be warned.
However, it is extremely good fun.
I thought that you had to put the car into sports mode (6 or 7 is it?) and then by holding the gear lever forward, you can plant your put to the bulkhead and the car holds itself to 4500rpm until you let you of the gear lever, at which point, all hell breaks loose and you disappear off in a cloud of tyre smoke??!!
I believe that using it more than 7 or 8 times can invalidate the warranty (can't remember where I read that so don't quote me!!)
I believe that using it more than 7 or 8 times can invalidate the warranty (can't remember where I read that so don't quote me!!)
I was at Silverstone on Saturday with my SMG II M3. I asked my instructor, whether he preferred manual or SMG and he said SMG, though he preferred to use the stick rather than the paddles because he had small hands.
To decide whether SMG is for you, you need a couple of hours in the car at least. I used to have a manual E46 M3 and now have an SMG. I am delighted with it, but I also loved the manual. Two different ways to enjoy a fantastic car.
Don't believe Clarkson's imbecilic ranting about the system: when you want smooth shifts you can have them. It takes a short time on your first drive to work out that a smooth upshift is achieved, even in S5 mode, by lifitng the right foot very slightly as you pull the paddle. At other times, such as on the track, you couldn't care less about a smooth shift, but you will appreciate the speed at whcih you can shift in both directions.
To decide whether SMG is for you, you need a couple of hours in the car at least. I used to have a manual E46 M3 and now have an SMG. I am delighted with it, but I also loved the manual. Two different ways to enjoy a fantastic car.
Don't believe Clarkson's imbecilic ranting about the system: when you want smooth shifts you can have them. It takes a short time on your first drive to work out that a smooth upshift is achieved, even in S5 mode, by lifitng the right foot very slightly as you pull the paddle. At other times, such as on the track, you couldn't care less about a smooth shift, but you will appreciate the speed at whcih you can shift in both directions.
Well....
I brought an M3 SMG (E46) in-spite of not liking the F1 shift on the 355 spider (which I returned). I have spent years learning how to heel and toe and double declutch in several Ferrari's,Lambo's and TVR's...
I think it's great!
I believe it takes some time to adjust your driving style (as it does to jump between a Lambo and a BMW) - but once you (not the car) has made the adjustment - then it's fun - much better than the F1 system I've tried in the 575M and 360M.
Regarding gearchanges - yes - you need to lift (very slightly) for super smooth changes. But you don't have to. But (very simply) this is no different to manually changing gear.
I think that the SMG II also gives you the best of both worlds (6 manual programmes and 5 auto options) - I tend to use Manual 5 (where as my partner prefers Auto 3).
I actually think that Manual 6 is pretty mechanically unsympathetic - so is only really suited to a track.
And as for launch control - unless you want to impress someone at the traffic lights - why do you need it? - In the Lambo - it is faster to get a slight rolling start and when traction is there, nail it (i.e. granny starting).
I brought an M3 SMG (E46) in-spite of not liking the F1 shift on the 355 spider (which I returned). I have spent years learning how to heel and toe and double declutch in several Ferrari's,Lambo's and TVR's...
I think it's great!
I believe it takes some time to adjust your driving style (as it does to jump between a Lambo and a BMW) - but once you (not the car) has made the adjustment - then it's fun - much better than the F1 system I've tried in the 575M and 360M.
Regarding gearchanges - yes - you need to lift (very slightly) for super smooth changes. But you don't have to. But (very simply) this is no different to manually changing gear.
I think that the SMG II also gives you the best of both worlds (6 manual programmes and 5 auto options) - I tend to use Manual 5 (where as my partner prefers Auto 3).
I actually think that Manual 6 is pretty mechanically unsympathetic - so is only really suited to a track.
And as for launch control - unless you want to impress someone at the traffic lights - why do you need it? - In the Lambo - it is faster to get a slight rolling start and when traction is there, nail it (i.e. granny starting).
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