Does the 2008 Z4 have a good trans?

CrazyOneToo

Member
 Arkansas, USA
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
 
Hi and welcome, Alan. :thumbsup:

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!
 
A 2008 Z4 with flappy paddles will be an automatic gearbox. Pretty bomb proof I would think :thumbsup:
Don't dread the SMG gearbox :D 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 :thumbsup:
 
As above the E85 Auto is not an SMG. It's a slush box and a good one by most accounts. :)
 
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. 714F96A6-5CB3-43C7-8E7C-8AAED4A423EF.jpeg
 
The only reason I say dreaded is there are horror stories online about when they start breaking down.

Sharpy1975 said:
Dreaded SMG......I absolutely love mine. Best of both worlds IMO.
 
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