How long does it take to master the drive on M3 SMG '52'

[M3ornot]

Following my former post of how much I loved my new M3 I bought today. I was just wondering how long it took you guys with an SMG to get used to the car.

I think where I only ever drove autos is where the problem is, I'm finding the change from 1st to 2nd harder. My husband says i'll be fine which I guess I will get used to it just how long.

I'm really just hoping that i'm not the only one who has found it a bit of a task, saying that I do find the drive much better with the paddles than the auto mode. My general problem is going form 1st to second and I notice a lurch - on roundabouts and traffic lights.

Any advice would be great.

Cheers Debs

[///M3]

You need to ease off the throttle whilst shifting up

Doesn't take long to master SMG smoothly, have you tried the downshifts on S5 mode yet? They're bleeding fantastic!

[Debs 1980]

No not yet, have only been out twice since getting it at 5pm, and its knocking my confidence where I can't get it right. Obviously its gonna take time, just feel a bit concious as a woman too as I can see on some of the mens faces at the lights when I bugger up that there thinking 'oh no women driving M3' or should I say trying to

[///M3]

Lol, nah I think it's cool to see women drive something that's harder to drive than the average woman's car.

Seriously though, if you ease off the throttle as you shift up (you don't need to lift off completely though), the gearbox is so much smoother when changing up.

And the kangoroo-ing you refer to earlier (on the other thread) is known as a 'throttle-oscillation' which I've experienced a few times (always pulling away from a traffic light) and it supposedly happens when you're not smooth with the throttle:

1. you give it some throttle
2. car accelerates, pushes you back into seat, your foot eases on pedal slightly
3. you give it some more throttle
4. car accelerates, pushes you back into seat, your foot eases on pedal slightly
5. you give it some more throttle etc. etc.

I have no idea why the car does this so vigorously though.

Edited by ///M3 on Saturday 30th May 23:18

[Debs 1980]

Cheers for your help, gonna go out in it tomorrow on a mission to get it right Seems a beast of a car to drive though, my hubby thoroughly enjoys it. The fastest I have owned was a Subaru WRX Saloon import but once again this to be honest was to me a standard auto gearbox nothing like SMG.

[john_p]

For smoothness, drive it like it's a manual, just with the clutch done for you.

i.e. still have to lift off when changing up - match revs a little when you are slowing down fast.

[3wheels3]

In auto mode the car kind of chases the throttle. When it catches up it'll change up. If your driving normally you'll sense the car looking to change, roll gently off, it'll slide up a gear then roll back on throttle. Almost thinking is enough.

Taking the 'car chasing throttle' analogy you can keep squeezing throttle tantalisingly just ahead of the point it wants to have changed (like sex or surfing) and it'll just keep it from changing up taking revs higher and higher. Think about rolling off car catches up and clicks next gear in. It is amazing how you can 'play it' and if practised it becomes a psychic. Obvious full bore for max attack.

I think it's easy to drive smoother than manual with enough practice. Roundabout and the like should be prepared for, they don't spring out of nowhere! Good obervation and planning will give plenty of time to make roundabouts no problem.

[gizlaroc]

Personally I would forget auto mode, to get the gears to change quickly enough not to lunge between changes you need to be in A4 really, and the problem with that is it then wants to change at around 4500rpm which is too high.

It should have the change of A4 all the time imho and..

A1 start in 2nd and change at 2000rpm
A2 start in 2nd and change at 2800rpm
A3 start in 1st and change at 2800rpm
A4 start in 1st and change at 40000rpm
a5 start in 1st and change at the redline.

and

A6 to be traction off and change at the redline.


The way it is now I find it next to useless. I find in manual mode it is the smoothest or the most agressive gear change of any car, depending on what you want and how you change.

[0836whimper]

I bought an e46 SMG M3 yesterday, took it out properly this evening. Learning the SMG foibles too....loving the manual downshifts. Auto is not going to get used very much.

But headline is that it is a seriously capable car.....I had high expectations but they have been exceeded. Power, grip, handling, soundtrack (through open sunroof). What a machine !

Edited by 0836whimper on Tuesday 2nd June 23:48

[The Restorer]

I've had auto experience with my previous car, a twin turbo Supra which I absolutely loved. Coming from that into the M3 I really do not like the fully auto mode. I end up trying to anticipate the gear change and it changes too late imo, also when it does because this uses a proper clutch opposed to a torque converter the changes weren't as transparent as I was used to. For that reason I always drive in manual mode.

As for shifting I've found setting the "throttle change speed" thing to 4 and using the lever at lower speeds to be best. At higher speeds I will use the paddles. I've found setting 4 to be a good balance between a relatively quick change in the lower gears and comfort in the higher gears. Setting it less when casually driving around town I find the lower gears take too long to engage. Higher and my partner gets angry!

Also try it with keeping the throttle pedal pressed (i.e don't ease off). Easing off and trying to time that with the electronic biting point may be making the situation worse. I keep the pedal pressed and change without any lurches.

As well as each persons driving style, different cars may have a different version of the SMG software update applied. For this reason each person will have their own recommendations but I'm sure after a few weeks you'll have found what suits you and your car best.

[0836whimper]

The Restorer said:

As for shifting I've found setting the "throttle change speed" thing to 4 and using the lever at lower speeds to be best. At higher speeds I will use the paddles. I've found setting 4 to be a good balance between a relatively quick change in the lower gears and comfort in the higher gears. Setting it less when casually driving around town I find the lower gears take too long to engage. Higher and my partner gets angry!

Also try it with keeping the throttle pedal pressed (i.e don't ease off). Easing off and trying to time that with the electronic biting point may be making the situation worse. I keep the pedal pressed and change without any lurches.

As well as each persons driving style, different cars may have a different version of the SMG software update applied. For this reason each person will have their own recommendations but I'm sure after a few weeks you'll have found what suits you and your car best.

Very helpful post, thanks. From knowing nothing about how to approach this, I seem to have settled on exactly the same settings preference, so it shows it's not 'my car' specific. Only worry about that in town though, once on the open road it's happy-land all the way. What a car.

[mat205125]

Debs 1980 said:

No not yet, have only been out twice since getting it at 5pm, and its knocking my confidence where I can't get it right.

It takes longer than that. Go out at the weekend and find a nice quiet twisty country lane, and you'll come back knowing that you made a good choice.

After a few days you'll get "the knack" of timing your paddle pull and throttle lifts to make all of your shifts seemless. 1st to 2nd is always gonna be the one that is hardest to master - My only critisism of SMG is that I think the 1st to 2nd shift should be a percentage faster than the rest of the shifts on all but S5. It's the one that I would "snap shift" when pulling away normally, where as later changes would be more sedate.

[dubbs]

It took me about a month in the M6.... by then it was dead smooth.