Newbie purchasing Z4 with SMG gearbox

[Tommy2hands]

Hello hope everyone is good,

I've finally ditched the wife sold the house and have a few pennies hanging around to purchase a Z4. I'm thinking of going for the 3.0l SMG autobox, does anyone care to comment on how these perform? I've added a link to the car I'm hoping to get any advice would be greatly appreciated, I'm also thinking that the wheels are going to need refurbishing, does anyone know the general cost of this if they've had it done themselves

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201606205107664?postcode=st101jt&onesearchad=new%2Cnearlynew%2Cused&sort=default&price-from=4000&page=2&model=z4&body-type=convertible&search-target=usedcars&searchcontext=default&make=bmw&price-to=4500&radius=1500&logcode=p&adPos=2


Thanks in advance and as a new member I look forward to a little berating

 

[Greg 01]

Hi Tommy .
I also recently bought a 3.0 si auto .
Always stayed well away from auto,s but I
Now love the car .
The auto is a great drive although I didn't
Expect it to .the paddle shift is like having the
Best of both .
Greg.

 

[Tommy2hands]

Thanks Greg!!!

 

[patriot66]

I have a SMG gearbox and love it ! SMG is NOT an auto. It is a 6 speed manual with clutch but NO clutch pedal. You select gears either with the stick or paddles. Electronics then activate hydraulics to work the clutch and select the chosen gear. It has a full auto mode also if you should desire. It takes a short while to learn how to use it properly and get the most from it but then it is superb. The harder you drive the faster it shifts, especially in Sport mode. My car is 2003 with 60k miles and I have owned mine for 18 months now with no issues at all.

 

[Tommy2hands]

Thank you!!

 

[Roundozo]

Looking at how the car sits I would say that it's been lowered. Might be worth asking what other mods if any. Headlights look like they could do with a restoration.

 

[MACK]

The SMG seems to be a marmite box in the ZED. If memory serves its the less refined/less reliable SMG 1 as used in the E36 not the SMG 2 found in E46's. Like I said some love it, some hate it and it does have a rep for being unreliable which may be unfair. When they do go wrong its usually the clutch actuator I think and its not cheap at all

 

[Denis O]

If it's the SMG 1, as used in the e36 M3, I found it totally undriveable. It didn't matter if it was in manual or auto, it was bloody awful.

I would suggest you test drive before any commitment.

 

[jimbo1958]

I have a SMG gearbox and love it ! SMG is NOT an auto. It is a 6 speed manual with clutch but NO clutch pedal. You select gears either with the stick or paddles. Electronics then activate hydraulics to work the clutch and select the chosen gear. It has a full auto mode also if you should desire. It takes a short while to learn how to use it properly and get the most from it but then it is superb. The harder you drive the faster it shifts, especially in Sport mode. My car is 2003 with 60k miles and I have owned mine for 18 months now with no issues at all.

+1 With all of this.
It ain't no DCT gearbox but loved the 4 years ownership of my 3.0i SMG.
Does take getting used to though.

 

[patriot66]

If it's the SMG 1, as used in the e36 M3, I found it totally undriveable. It didn't matter if it was in manual or auto, it was bloody awful.

I would suggest you test drive before any commitment.

I agree you should definitely test drive it. However a short 10 minute drive is nowhere near long enough to master the SMG gearbox. I suggest an hour or more of 'spirited' driving on good open A roads with the car in Sport mode will give you a good idea of what it's like.
I have covered 6500 miles in the car since I bought it and it's far from 'bloody awful'...it's superbly 'drivable' ! Even my wife can drive the SMG fast and smooth. She likes it so much if we go out on a run I have a helluva job getting her to let me have a drive ! :x
Just to clarify the E85 SMG gearbox is the 6 speed manual 'H' gearbox fitted to the 3.0i with the addition of paddle shifters, SMG control module and hydraulics.

 

[Greg 01]

Hi guys .
Anyone got a pic of the gear stick etc for this smg ? .
Cheers greg.

 

[Tommy2hands]

Thank you all for taking the time out to add comments, I will of course be taking for a good 20/30 mins to see how it feels, there are a few things with the car that need attention, the seller did point these out when I called him to enquire about the car, obviously I'll try to get a reflection in what I hand over at the end of the day, I've factored in £320 for a refurb of wheels and £100 for a replacement xenon bulb so wouldn't look to pay more than £3800

I'll let you know how I get on Friday, hopefully with some pictures of my own!!

 

[Mr Tidy]

Welcome to the forum OP.

Never been a fan of anything without 3 pedals, but I can see why some may like these - you'll be able to make your mind up when you drive it.

I got the 135 wheels on my first Coupe refurbed for £35 a wheel (scuff marks flatted and wheels painted with wheels still on the car). Sadly I cannot help with a recommendation as I live miles from you in Berkshire.

But I see the one you are looking at has 108 split-rims and these can be expensive to do, especially if there is corrosion and bubbling lacquer around the heads of the allen bolts. If you can find someone good in your area they may be able to give you a rough idea of the cost for those sort of wheels.

Anyway good luck with the test drive - looking forward to some more photos in the Newbies section once you've bought one!

 

[Kap'nZ4]

Mines a 3.0si auto Coupe.

Best of both worlds when I want to push her and make others cry.
Prefer 3 pedals, but this has me a little bit spoiled.

 

[Denis O]

Hi guys .
Anyone got a pic of the gear stick etc for this smg ? .
Cheers greg.

There's a picture in the advert linked by the OP.

 

[Denis O]

If it's the SMG 1, as used in the e36 M3, I found it totally undriveable. It didn't matter if it was in manual or auto, it was bloody awful.

I would suggest you test drive before any commitment.

I agree you should definitely test drive it. However a short 10 minute drive is nowhere near long enough to master the SMG gearbox. I suggest an hour or more of 'spirited' driving on good open A roads with the car in Sport mode will give you a good idea of what it's like.
I have covered 6500 miles in the car since I bought it and it's far from 'bloody awful'...it's superbly 'drivable' ! Even my wife can drive the SMG fast and smooth. She likes it so much if we go out on a run I have a helluva job getting her to let me have a drive ! :x
Just to clarify the E85 SMG gearbox is the 6 speed manual 'H' gearbox fitted to the 3.0i with the addition of paddle shifters, SMG control module and hydraulics.

Surely, if it takes an hour or more to get used to the box, there's something amiss with the design of the box.

As a private seller, I wouldn't be very happy if someone wanted to take my car off for an hour and half of spirited driving on the test drive. But then again, I've never had to sell such a "Marmite" vehicle.

 

[Ducklakeview]

I drove one when looking for mine, I bloody hated it... Reminds me of the "robotised" manual in some Citroens. Hill starts and reverse uphill parking would, I imagine be fun....

Bought a 3.0i Auto in the end, and LOVE it!

Mike

 

[Tommy2hands]

Ended up not getting the SMG as the seller never bothered getting back to me :| did end up getting the 3.0l manual Only had it for a day but I absolutely love it!!! Thank you all for your helpful comments, off to find some winding roads now :evil:

 

[Greg 01]

Cheers Denis