Does the 2008 Z4 have a good trans?

CrazyOneToo · Post by **CrazyOneToo** » Tue Jul 16, 2019 6:46 pm

Hello fellow enthusiasts,

I am looking at buying a 2008 Z4 with paddle shifters. Is that a good setup? Is it reliable?
I am assuming that's not the dreaded SMG transmission correct?

I'd rather have the 6 speed manual but they are hard to find locally.

Also I may be confused about what the Sport Package contains.
By doing a VIN decode online this car shows to have a sport steering wheel and sport seats.
It does NOT list sport suspension or other sport options.

From my understanding the Sport Package includes : a sport button, a lower stiffer suspension, steering wheel, seats, and smaller rims.
Is that correct?

Thanks
Alan

skelters · Post by **skelters** » Tue Jul 16, 2019 8:44 pm

All the info is probably in here....

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15177

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Tue Jul 16, 2019 8:54 pm

Hi and welcome, Alan.

Sorry I can't answer your question about the SMG as I've only had manual ones.

But the spec seems to vary depending on which country the car was built for - from what you've said I'm guessing you aren't in the UK!

Over here we got 2 distinct models for the facelift cars, SE and Sport, but certainly for the 3.0Si I think both had the Sport button.

UK SE models had "Sport" Seats, steering wheel and sometimes smaller wheels, but the Sport models got M-Sport seats, steering wheel and suspension (stiffer and 15mm lower) plus a black headlining in the Coupe. But all of the Sport features were available as options on the SE models just to add to the confusion.

From what you have said it doesn't sound like that car has any of the "Sport Package/Trim" features - mine is a Sport and the VIN checker specifies M Sport steering wheel, M Sport suspension and M Sport seats.

I hope that makes sense!

patriot66 · Post by **patriot66** » Tue Jul 16, 2019 9:02 pm

A 2008 Z4 with flappy paddles will be an automatic gearbox. Pretty bomb proof I would think

Don't dread the SMG gearbox

Myself and quite a few others on here have it and have had no issues with it at all. The actual gearbox itself is the same 6-speed manual fitted to early 3.0i Z4s but it does not have a clutch pedal. Gears are selected by using the gear lever or flappy paddles and the clutch is activated/gear shifted by a separate electro-hydraulic system

CrazyOneToo · Post by **CrazyOneToo** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 6:23 am

Thanks for all the info and help.

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 12:30 pm

As above the E85 Auto is not an SMG. It's a slush box and a good one by most accounts.

Sharpy1975 · Post by **Sharpy1975** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 12:37 pm

Dreaded SMG......I absolutely love mine. Best of both worlds IMO.

Nick177 · Post by **Nick177** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 1:44 pm

I have a 2008 3.0Si coupe with automatic transmission. The car had 29k on the clock when I purchased it last September. Since then i’ve done 6k in the car. The automatic is so good that i’m unlikely to have a manual car again. The gears changes very smoothly no matter what speed i’m doing. The best bit is when I want to overtake I just hit the sport button. With today’s traffic an automatic is perfect. I did 750 miles last week travelling fron from Newcastle to Worthing and back. I hate to think how many manual gear changes that would have been. especially on the M25 car park.

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CrazyOneToo · Post by **CrazyOneToo** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 5:17 pm

The only reason I say dreaded is there are horror stories online about when they start breaking down.

Sharpy1975 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2019 12:37 pm Dreaded SMG......I absolutely love mine. Best of both worlds IMO.

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