SMG v Auto ? curiousity makes me ask

[mr wilks]

Only ever had BMW auto's/tip ( after a couple of manual E30'S ) & have yet to sample the delights of SMG :wink:
We have DSG in our golf which is just about ok but nowhere near as seamless a change as the coupe box .
What if any are the bad or good points of the SMG ? i understand they are supposed to be sharper but are they ?

 

[bladeowner]

It takes a bit of getting used to I must admit, I guess they are a bit like Marmite...
Good points are it's a 6 speed normal manual box operated automatically, so no power loss. Changes down for you but you can of course change down yourself. Very fast changes in Sport mode. Can use it in 'auto' mode or sequential. Paddles on wheel housing (don't turn with wheel though). Sorts the clutch and throttle out for you- you can just floor it and change up without lifting off

Bad points are if your approaching a give way for instance and slowing down and then decide to go, sometimes the gearbox maybe changing gear and so you may not set off when you want! Which can be hairy. Hill starts need fine throttle control to hold on clutch. Reversing needs a degree of fine throttle control.

I tend to use it manual mode mostly but auto is good if driving in busy towns.
Overall I like it but I have sworn a few times at junctions!

 

[mr wilks]

It takes a bit of getting used to I must admit, I guess they are a bit like Marmite...
Good points are it's a 6 speed normal manual box operated automatically, so no power loss. Changes down for you but you can of course change down yourself. Very fast changes in Sport mode. Can use it in 'auto' mode or sequential. Paddles on wheel housing (don't turn with wheel though). Sorts the clutch and throttle out for you- you can just floor it and change up without lifting off

Bad points are if your approaching a give way for instance and slowing down and then decide to go, sometimes the gearbox maybe changing gear and so you may not set off when you want! Which can be hairy. Hill starts need fine throttle control to hold on clutch. Reversing needs a degree of fine throttle control.

I tend to use it manual mode mostly but auto is good if driving in busy towns.
Overall I like it but I have sworn a few times at junctions!

Yeah , i guess when you understand the pros & cons of the clutchless/auto/manual boxes you can anticipate the behaviour a little ?
I

 

[bladeowner]

I can certainly reverse off the drive and set off faster in a manual car than I can in this unless I am savage with the throttle. Fast country roads is where it comes in to it's own, it's great fun 'playing tunes' on the gearbox while you just concentrate on driving.
I guess it didn't catch on because it's a bit quirky and a normal test drive by a prospective customer wouldn't give them chance to get used it's foibles. Certainly BMW abandoned the idea after a couple of years.

 

[mac27040]

Well I have always had manual cars until the z4 smg, now I have the option of manual sequential or auto, to be honest I never use auto. Manual gearbox with sequential gear shift or paddle shift is great, only issue is hill start is interesting.

My z is my second car for pleasure and the smg is like formula 1 has come to my car in relation to controls but also the 3.0 litre give sensible fuel economy.

The drive is really fun and wouldn't go back to standard manual.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[PaulG]

I used to have a 7 series with an auto box and hated the torque converter on it. I now have the SMG box and I think its great, just a shame that BMW didn't continue with it. It has the advantages of an auto (no foot clutch and no having move the gear lever) with the advantages of a manual (a clutch rather than a torque converter and the ability to select & know which gear its in).

I have driven (briefly) the E89 with the 8 speed auto and that it much better than the old auto boxes. It does have the paddles on the steering wheel too, but does have the 'disadvantage' that you don't know when it will change when it reverts to full auto.

All told, I would have another SMG if possible.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Personally I think the old SMG is the worst of all worlds. It's not a manual for the purists, nor an auto for those who prefer them.

The one I dove was clunky and notchy only really being drivable when getting going and driving it hard.

Frankly I'm not suprised it was dropped when they have the fantastic auto box available.

 

[jimbo1958]

Personally I think the old SMG is the worst of all worlds. It's not a manual for the purists, nor an auto for those who prefer them.

The one I dove was clunky and notchy only really being drivable when getting going and driving it hard.

Frankly I'm not suprised it was dropped when they have the fantastic auto box available.

I partially agree with you Phil. You did comment about the clunkiness of the gearbox when you was in mine.
Having owned mine for 2.5 years now I have got used to it and have found to get a smooth a change as possible I change up at just over 3000 revs whilst lifting the foot off the gas for a split second.
As my Zed is my only car and is driven daily and 99% of it's use is "Stop/Start" in my commute in North London, a manual box was out of the question.
This left the Auto or SMG. My preference was the SMG due to the paddles and when I found my Zed in the classifieds here it was exactly the spec I wanted. Mileage,colour,Nav,Carver,108's,MFSW,M Seats so it was a no-brainer.

Would I buy a Zed with SMG again......Yes but would probably go for the Auto if the spec was right.
Would I recommend the SMG.....I wouldn't dismiss it again if everything else in the spec was right for the buyer.
Would I buy a Manual........My cars not a Garage Queen like a lot on here, and for my type of daily driving I'd have to have "Auto" in any marque I bought. If I was a fair weather or weekend driver then I'd consider a manual.

Just another perspective Mr Wilks.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Sorry Jimbo - that's the last lift I get ...lol

Of course in later years they fitted paddles to the auto and I developed a way of retrofitting them to the standard autobox, so you can have the best of both worlds that way.

Beauty of course is as you say about spec and with right year you can have anyone of 3 boxes to suit needs and preferences.

 

[Denis O]

If the SMG box in the Z is anything like the first generation SMG that was put into the e36 M3 Evo then in my view it makes the car undriveable.

I temper that by saying I only drove it for a 1/2 hour test drive but both myself and SWMBO were appalled and the test drive before us also commented to the sales guy that the gearbox/clutch were broken :?

I didn't realise BMW had done away with it but makes sense to me.

 

[jimbo1958]

Sorry Jimbo - that's the last lift I get ...lol

Sorry Phil.....wasn't having a dig. LOL :rofl:

Of course in later years they fitted paddles to the auto and I developed a way of retrofitting them to the standard autobox, so you can have the best of both worlds that way.

Yes....yours would be the ideal setup for my driving needs. Top job on the retrofit as well.

 

[bladeowner]

I believe SMG1 went into the e36, SMG2 into the e46 and the Z4 got SSG which is italian made. 3 different boxes. I reckon BMW stopped it not because it was crap but because people didn't buy it due to, as I said before - lack of time to get accustomed to it on test drives. I haven't heard many actual owners complaining about them. As mac27040 says- great fun.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Jim - I knew you weren't.
Just good to be able to debate and discuss the issues and not personal.
Heaven help Hanif we all liked exactly the same.