Model year gearboxes

[Bufort]

Can somebody please clarify which gearboxes were available for which years on which models? I thought that the coupe only had the option of manual and the SMG semi-auto, but I also read that the SMG option was dropped in 2006 for all facelift models - or was this only dropped for the roadsters?

Were these the 3 options?
Manual
Semi-auto (SSG and later renamed to SMG)
Automatic

Are these the two non-manual options?...

 

[Wondermike]

Pre-facelift -
Manual
6 speed SSG
5 speed torque converter auto

Facelift -
Manual
6 speed torque converter auto

 

[Bufort]

Pre-facelift -
Manual
6 speed SSG
5 speed torque converter auto

Facelift -
Manual
6 speed torque converter auto

If the facelift was 2006, wouldn't that mean no coupes had SSG? I test drove a coupe today which had the semi-auto with paddle shift - isn't that SSG?

 

[kis]

Pre-facelift -
Manual
6 speed SSG
5 speed torque converter auto

Facelift -
Manual
6 speed torque converter auto

If the facelift was 2006, wouldn't that mean no coupes had SSG? I test drove a coupe today which had the semi-auto with paddle shift - isn't that SSG?

No coupes are SSG/SMG. So neither was the one you test drove... It was auto coupe. Just had the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

The SMG has a gear knob like this:

 

[Bufort]

Pre-facelift -
Manual
6 speed SSG
5 speed torque converter auto

Facelift -
Manual
6 speed torque converter auto

If the facelift was 2006, wouldn't that mean no coupes had SSG? I test drove a coupe today which had the semi-auto with paddle shift - isn't that SSG?

No coupes are SSG/SMG. So neither was the one you test drove... It was auto coupe. Just had the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

The SMG has a gear knob like this:
23AE5B5F-06C9-4F6D-95DD-D6F4EBD693B2.jpeg

Oh I see. Does it have a technical name so I can search for info on it? I'm trying to find out about reliability. I can only find reference to the SMG ones.

 

[Wondermike]

ZF 6HP19

 

[Bufort]

ZF 6HP19

Thank you. I still can only really find opinions on the SMG gearboxes. I think a lot of people might be confused as to which they have though. :idunno:

 

[kis]

As far as I know SSG is SMG (SMG 1). SMG 2 is different...
The Z4 had the basic SMG and didn't ever update the gearbox (unlike the e46).

 

[patriot66]

All you ever need to know about SMG
https://www.smgsociety.com/model-overview/

 

[Bufort]

As far as I know SSG is SMG (SMG 1). SMG 2 is different...
The Z4 had the basic SMG and didn't ever update the gearbox (unlike the e46).

Yes but the coupe had neither SMG, it's one of the more traditional torque converter autos apparently.

 

[Bufort]

All you ever need to know about SMG
https://www.smgsociety.com/model-overview/

All you ever need to know about SMG
https://www.smgsociety.com/model-overview/

Thanks, but i'm after a coupe so I guess none of that applies. All the talk about autos in this forum seems to mention SMG, but alas, none of it applies then to the coupe (unless people are getting confused too).

 

[patriot66]

All you ever need to know about SMG
https://www.smgsociety.com/model-overview/

All you ever need to know about SMG
https://www.smgsociety.com/model-overview/

Thanks, but i'm after a coupe so I guess none of that applies. All the talk about autos in this forum seems to mention SMG, but alas, none of it applies then to the coupe (unless people are getting confused too).

The SMG was an option only on the pre-facelift cars '03 -'06 so never appeared in the E86 Coupe. Actually, the SMG isn't an automatic gearbox at all. SMG = Sequential Manual Gearbox, it is the same 6 speed manual Getrag GS6S37BZ box found in ALL 3 litre and //M models throughout the production life of the E85/86. The SMG even has a 'normal' clutch. However, there is no clutch pedal and instead of pushing in the clutch and moving the gearstick to select gears you simply push/pull the steering wheel paddles or gearstick and then an electro-hydraulic system actuates the clutch and selects the next gear sequentially up or down. You can select a fully automatic mode also but I never use this as it's really not very good.

 

[Bufort]

The SMG was an option only on the pre-facelift cars '03 -'06 so never appeared in the E86 Coupe. Actually, the SMG isn't an automatic gearbox at all. SMG = Sequential Manual Gearbox, it is the same 6 speed manual Getrag GS6S37BZ box found in ALL 3 litre and //M models throughout the production life of the E85/86. The SMG even has a 'normal' clutch. However, there is no clutch pedal and instead of pushing in the clutch and moving the gearstick to select gears you simply push/pull the steering wheel paddles or gearstick and then an electro-hydraulic system actuates the clutch and selects the next gear sequentially up or down. You can select a fully automatic mode also but I never use this as it's really not very good.

Yep, i'm all clued up on how the SMG works now, I was just saying that I can't find any opinions on the coupe's auto, only on the SMG's.

 

[kis]

Drop a M54 SMG into the e86. Only way you can have a SMG coupe

 

[Bufort]

Drop a M54 SMG into the e86. Only way you can have a SMG coupe

I'm not after one!