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auto owners.

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
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Beedub
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auto owners.

Post by Beedub » Tue Jan 10, 2017 2:59 pm

As im getting older I'm really loving the idea of of Autos in general, ill always have my z4m / toy for the manual/ involvement fun but, honestly imo the auto z4 3.0 makes ALOT of sense, i love the retrofit paddles behind the wheel, after following phill last year i was shocked how quick the auto moves off the line, left my Z standing building boost on a few occasions !!!

the dark Red Z in the classifieds has got me considering a purchase if i could get it cheaper. , i love it and it appears to be as good as they get condition wise now days.

auto owners what do you love / hate about the gearbox ? Are they reliable? are the shifts quick and clean or that slower slurred type mesh into the next gear??

manual owners would you consider a swap to the auto.

imo their really would be no noticeable difference in performance between the 2 from what I've seen , thoughts on this??
Last edited by Beedub on Tue Jan 10, 2017 4:52 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Chris_D
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SMG owners.

Post by Chris_D » Tue Jan 10, 2017 3:09 pm

I was thinking about an auto/smg when i was looking for mine but was put off by the repair costs should anything go wrong.
thinks go wrong more with auto boxes than manuals.
so i went for a manual :thumbsup:
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markplant
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SMG owners.

Post by markplant » Tue Jan 10, 2017 3:41 pm

I'm prepared to be shot down but aren't the auto and smg totally different, the auto is BMW's normal auto box but with paddles so you can tell it when to change, the smg is a automated manual box ,the autos I believe very reliable long as liked after , the smg a bit more fragile
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markplant
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SMG owners.

Post by markplant » Tue Jan 10, 2017 3:41 pm

I'm prepared to be shot down but aren't the auto and smg totally different, the auto is BMW's normal auto box but with paddles so you can tell it when to change, the smg is a automated manual box ,the autos I believe very reliable long as liked after , the smg a bit more fragile
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SMG owners.

Post by VRSteve » Tue Jan 10, 2017 3:42 pm

markplant wrote:I'm prepared to be shot down but aren't the auto and smg totally different, the auto is BMW's normal auto box but with paddles so you can tell it when to change, the smg is a automated manual box ,the autos I believe very reliable long as liked after , the smg a bit more fragile
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Post by tomscott » Tue Jan 10, 2017 3:43 pm

Had a go in an SMG M3 recently and IMO :thumbsdown:

They are just so slow and clunky. You have to drive them like a manual for it to smooth so before you pull the paddle lift off the accelerator change wait then back on the power, otherwise they are jerky and not much fun imo. Great when your hooning but in traffic or town or daily driving is pretty naff. Def something to get used to. There is a charm to them but they are def not for me, not a good auto transmition and not a good semi manual. Would be the manual every day for me even for a daily.

Driving it in auto mode was so slushy it would not change down on occasion would not change up. Just not very clever and doesn't really anticipate.

Compared to modern autos. My dad has a PDK 911 and that thing is like mustard, feels like a turbo because it changes so quick and smoothly you don't notice, meaning the power band is feels endless. Maybe its because I am more used to that and expected a little more.

Also as said cost of failure are not really appealing.

Its an old gearbox and really feels it.
Last edited by tomscott on Tue Jan 10, 2017 5:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Buckz
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SMG owners.

Post by Buckz » Tue Jan 10, 2017 3:48 pm

afaik the SMG is meh while the auto in the newer Z's is much better, if that's what you're after!
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Post by Marius » Tue Jan 10, 2017 4:08 pm

Smg is brilliant on the track or when you on it, you don't need lift of on gear changes either, only people who never owners would day you do. Had two m3 smg's, did over 30k miles and loads of track days.
However z4 never came with smg, the had ssg.

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SMG/auto owners.

Post by Beedub » Tue Jan 10, 2017 4:51 pm

arhhh ok... i got confused which the z4 had... as thats the car im interested in ill remove the smg references.
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GuidoK
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Post by GuidoK » Tue Jan 10, 2017 4:56 pm

Marius wrote: However z4 never came with smg, the had ssg.
What is the difference? BMW themselves calls them both SMG. What does ssg stand for?
I know the gearboxes have slight differences, the z4 is based on the 370Nm getrag 6 speed and the m3 is based on the 420Nm getrag 6 speed.
So both gearboxes come from getrag afaik, but have a slightly different design in the actuator mounting. But the mechanic principle is the same.
But being computer controlled boxes, something like different software can make the feel of the gearbox totally different of course.
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Post by pvr » Tue Jan 10, 2017 5:16 pm

The Z4 SMG version did not have settings, whilst the M3 version did.

I test drove one when I ordered my first Z in 2003, and it was not great.

The question was though to compare Automatic with Manual - which is the slush box. A couple of the weekenders had it, and as an automatic, it worked fine. Just that it did not suite my needs for a sportscar but for a daily runner, that would be fine.
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GuidoK
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Post by GuidoK » Tue Jan 10, 2017 5:21 pm

pvr wrote:The Z4 SMG version did not have settings,
Yes it does. The sports button also sets shorter shift times on the SMG transmission in the Z4.
It is written in the BMW mechanics' training manual :wink:
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Post by pvr » Tue Jan 10, 2017 5:51 pm

I meant the settings on the gear lever (1-3) that the M3 has.
Current:
911-50 Black - unique spec
X5M - 575 hp of fun in a V8
Abarth 595 Comp.
Golf Clipper - collectors item
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markplant
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Post by markplant » Tue Jan 10, 2017 6:13 pm

Wasn't the zed 4 smg box based on the e36 smg and apposed to the later e46 smg2,
But back to beedub's question, yes I would definitely consider an auto on a daily diver
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Post by VRSteve » Tue Jan 10, 2017 6:21 pm

My last few daily drivers have been autos as is my current (530d touring) and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Wouldn't want to be without a manual gearboxed car too though!
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