Newbie question SMG/AUTO

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Neil_W

Member
Hello all,

I am new to the Z4 world and currently car shopping, dumb question but is SMG the same as audi DSG like a flappy gear box. I have previously had a DSG gear box and loved it but never had a basic auto, whats it like to drive? I have found a z4 that ticks all the boxes I want but its an Auto and I am not sure as obviously a lil slower and more thursty than a manual or SMG, would like to hear from some people that have one?

cheers
Neil
 
I have the auto and love it.

Thirstier depends on how you drive the manual and slower the same. Most people would not shift 0.2 of a second quicker to 60...
 
SMG and auto/steptronic are different things so check out which one it actually is first, then we can give you better advice. You got any pics of it or a link to the ad?

:thumbsup:
 
Z4 SMG is several generations behind the likes of DSG (a dual clutch set up). Personally, I'd go manual or Auto, not SMG. (there are a few threads on this subject about...)
 
Perhaps I am just old fashioned (easy everyone.....) but a manual for me everytime - it's all part of the driving experience. :driving:
 
i like auto, stop and go, nice and simple

the paddles, well i have used then a dozen times at the most
 
Love my auto, despite always having owned manuals in the past, it's so convenient in traffic, but the bonus is the manual override, either using the paddles or steptronic. I've found myself using the paddles in Sport mode most of the time when in a hurry, or even whilst motorway cruising when you need a bit more control over the engine revs for the best overtakes. I would personally recommend it, but have to add, I'm a bit of a gadget freak at times and enjoy having lots of options to play with. As far as "official" SMG stands, from my limited research and knowledge, it's inferior to the current manual override gearboxes and may be one to avoid although I notice many dealers are offering SMG cars at a premium, I can't see the point! SMG translates to Sequential Manual Gearbox, the latest auto set up in my car is full auto with optional Sequential Manual Gearchanges ( the mechanics of which are academically of very little importance IMHO). . .end result . . .great fun :)


Delboy :)
 
Sorry but, yours is a torque convertor automatic with paddles, a completely different thing to a manual with hydraulically actuated clutch!

The only thing the gearbox systems have in common are that the steering wheel paddles on the new steptronics and the old SMG are the same!!! :P
 
texasjohn said:
Sorry but, yours is a torque convertor automatic with paddles, a completely different thing to a manual with hydraulically actuated clutch!

The only thing the gearbox systems have in common are that the steering wheel paddles on the new steptronics and the old SMG are the same!!! :P
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I don't think they are. On my 56 Z4 coupe, the paddles are the same as my previous E92 - forward for down, back for up - both sides do the same thing. On my E46 SMG the left paddle was down, the right was up (or vice versa, can't remember) so the layouts were very different.


I love my Z4 auto. Tootle around in busy stop-start traffic in Drive; press the sport button to get the box to change up later and faster; flick the gear stick over to the left for manual controls. Yes, manual might give you a tad more control, but the benefits of an auto on today's roads can't be beat IMO
 
mrklaw said:
texasjohn said:
Sorry but, yours is a torque convertor automatic with paddles, a completely different thing to a manual with hydraulically actuated clutch!

The only thing the gearbox systems have in common are that the steering wheel paddles on the new steptronics and the old SMG are the same!!! :P
Click to expand...

I don't think they are. On my 56 Z4 coupe, the paddles are the same as my previous E92 - forward for down, back for up - both sides do the same thing. On my E46 SMG the left paddle was down, the right was up (or vice versa, can't remember) so the layouts were very different.
Click to expand...

I meant the aluminium coloured paddles themselves are the same on the 03-05 Z4 SMG and 06-09 (facelift) steptronic automatic, I wasn't inferring as to how they operate in my post but the fact that BMW has used the same part number (IYSWIM) for both.

But to respond to your point, in the Z4 SMG both paddles (left and right) sides do the same thing, forward for downshift and backward for upshift. its not like the E46 which was as you describe. I presume you had the E46 M3 SMG which is SMGII and has the different shaped paddles with a '-' and a '+' on them (IIRC). The Z4 has SMG I, not as advanced and had no marking on the paddles because they both did up and down.

Maybe I am being pedantic :poke: and no offence to anyone is intended but I just wanted to clarify that the SMG gearbox bears no relation to the steptronic (with or without paddles) and in fact the SMG on the Z4 is the same gearbox as the 6 speed manual but without a clutch pedal, basically.

The only thing the SMG and steptronic systems have in common is that you don't use a clutch pedal!

On that note, they are both good gearboxes IMHO but you need to try both to see which you prefer. I enjoyed the SMG as it doesn't have a torque converter and as such is always 'locked up' once the gear is engaged. :fuelfire:
 
mrklaw said:
texasjohn said:
I don't think they are. On my 56 Z4 coupe, the paddles are the same as my previous E92 - forward for down, back for up - both sides do the same thing. On my E46 SMG the left paddle was down, the right was up (or vice versa, can't remember) so the layouts were very different.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

As stated above, you are describing M3 SMG II - which is pretty good. SMG in the Z4 is different...
 
Sorry so to clarify does the standard auto have paddles on the gear box as well to overide the auto? and the SMG is like a "semi auto" is that right

or is it that the auto is a standard auto with the option to override using the gearstick and the SMG is flappy paddle?

CONFUSED!?!?! lol
 
just to further confuse things (and thanks to texasjohn for his clear explanation), I have a 56 Z4 with some kind of auto - I have no idea whether there is an option for 'auto' and 'SMG' or just 'auto' (and you get SMG)

But on my Z4 it behaves like a normal auto - i.e it'll creep in 1st/2nd gear and in reverse which I think would suggest a torque converter? on my E46 M3 it didn't, it behaved like a manual gearbox with a robot clutch. It was an 03 M3 though, so perhaps they improved it by 06?
 
Neil_W, what reg is the car you are looking at?

mrklaw, you have a 6 speed torque converter auto 'box, with paddle shifts :thumbsup:
 
There is no option for auto+SMG. It is one or the other (or manual!)

SMG was only available on the early cars. 2003 - 2005. At that time there were 3 choices effectively: Manual, SMG or Steptronic automatic.

Yours is definately an auto with torque convertor, as there was no SMG option at the time; no facelift cars have SMG. Your auto just happens to have paddles (which are great, and I believe all facelift automatic cars have paddles). Pre 2006 automatic gearbox cars did not come with paddles when (ie when SMG was being sold), so it is quite easy to deduce.

Your M3 had a better version of SMG than the Z4. All E46 M3 had the same version of SMG.

I wont complicate matters further by mentioning the Z4 SMG was really SSG... :rofl:
 
mrklaw said:
just to further confuse things (and thanks to texasjohn for his clear explanation), I have a 56 Z4 with some kind of auto - I have no idea whether there is an option for 'auto' and 'SMG' or just 'auto' (and you get SMG)
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1) Your M3 SMG = Manual gearbox with hydraulic, computer operated clutch. Called SMG II. Good.
2) Your Z4 = Steptronic Auto. Good.
3) Z4 SMG = Manual gearbox with hydraulic, computer operated clutch, also know as SSG on the 330i. Not so good...IMO

SMG is not the same as SMG II. They had key differences...SMG used Magneti Marelli software instead of the Siemens gear on the M3, the paddles worked in a different way, etc etc. It wasn't offered for long and quietly dropped when the Coupe was launched and the Z4 face lifted (no Coupe has SMG). You have a 'proper' Auto, either a GM or ZF auto box with a torque converter and step tronic function for 'gear' changes - it's a quality transmission, and hence why you will find it super smooth / tractable

EDIT: oops he's already covered it!
 
texasjohn said:
There is no option for auto+SMG. It is one or the other (or manual!)

SMG was only available on the early cars. 2003 - 2005. At that time there were 3 choices effectively: Manual, SMG or Steptronic automatic.

Yours is definately an auto with torque convertor, as there was no SMG option at the time; no facelift cars have SMG. Your auto just happens to have paddles (which are great, and I believe all facelift automatic cars have paddles). Pre 2006 automatic gearbox cars did not come with paddles when (ie when SMG was being sold), so it is quite easy to deduce.

Your M3 had a better version of SMG than the Z4. All E46 M3 had the same version of SMG.

I wont complicate matters further by mentioning the Z4 SMG was really SSG... :rofl:
Click to expand...


You are a wealth of info, not only do you provide a clear answer on this you spot a set of speakers in a pic in the last thread I commented on. Impressive lol
 
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