Z4 ON A HILL

A

Aeroadster

Member
Hi all!

Recently I have purchased an 03 Z4 3.0 SMG. SMG is basically the name of the automatic transmission (if anyone asks).

The car is fantastic but I am having a problem that really irritates me. I have noticed that when I have stopped on a hill or any sort of incline, the car will start to roll back as soon as I depress the brake pedal. So basically I have to switch from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal in a split second to avoid rolling back and potentially hitting the car behind that keeps sniffing my arse.

I have heard rumours that the Z4 is fitted with some kind of 'hill assist' that automatically increases the revs slightly so that the car nudges forward a little after letting go of the brake pedal. However I don not know how to activate this feature. I have the pre-facelift model if that matters?

I have driven other automatic BMW's and they seem to hold on a little while up a hill.

Also, is there a possibility of damaging the SMG transmission if I hold onto the brake and set the revs at the same time then let go off the brake pedal?

If anybody has any advice it would be greatly appreciated :thumbsup:

Thanks!
 
Aeroadster now that is a bind and will spoil your drive a little, my Zed is a manual and does have a brake assist so brake stays on a couple of seconds allowing you to set off without using handbrake. I sure hope someone on site with auto box can advise you. cheers Baz :thumbsup:
 
SMG is not an automatic box but rather a manual with hydraulic and electronic clutch to control gear changes so you won't be getting the sort of effects a normal auto box would give on hills of holding the car which you're expecting.

As far as I recall hill assist is on much later models so you won't have that.

I'm sure an SMG owner will pop along with technique to overcome the issue.
 
Not sure how it works in a automatic car. but mine works when u dip the clutch pedal then take foot off brake pedal and apply a little gas. Am sure someone will be able to help on this matter. It's a useful assist to have so hope it gets sorted.
 
First of all, SMG is NOT an automatic, it is a manual with an automatic clutch. Big difference as there is no torque converter which will do what you think it should do.

All SMG models as other E85 from that era do not have hill hold, only the facelift version has that.

Why not use the handbrake like you do with any other manual car?
 
pvr said:
First of all, SMG is NOT an automatic, it is a manual with an automatic clutch. Big difference as there is no torque converter which will do what you think it should do.

All SMG models as other E85 from that era do not have hill hold, only the facelift version has that.

Why not use the handbrake like you do with any other manual car?
Click to expand...


Too slow :poke:
 
Ok ok. I know that SMG is not any ordinary automatic gearbox. SIGH...
I knew this prior to purchasing the car!

Everyone who I tell I have an SMG, they cannot contain themselves for a minute or two until I finish my sentence

"BUT...BUT AN SMG GEARBOX IS NOT AN AUTOMATIC..."

The point i'm trying to get at is that despite being a special manual/auto box(if you like) BMW should of thought about this scenario and it should have a fix or technique.
 
I reckon what has been said already would be the perfect solution for the scenario you are talking about.
Use the handbrake.
 
Aeroadster said:
Ok ok. I know that SMG is not any ordinary automatic gearbox. SIGH...
I knew this prior to purchasing the car!

Everyone who I tell I have an SMG, they cannot contain themselves for a minute or two until I finish my sentence

"BUT...BUT AN SMG GEARBOX IS NOT AN AUTOMATIC..."

The point i'm trying to get at is that despite being a special manual/auto box(if you like) BMW should of thought about this scenario and it should have a fix or technique.
Click to expand...

No different to a manual car.
 
Nictrix said:
I reckon what has been said already would be the perfect solution for the scenario you are talking about.
Use the handbrake.
Click to expand...


Yes I asked for advice and I got it. I'll start using the handbrake.

Thanks.
 
Yep. Its that or start left foot braking on a hill, which probably isn't advisable.

I agree, it you seem sensible if bmw had put hill start on the smg car. From what I've read, the clutch fluid has a temperature monitor ( is that correct? ), so minimising the load on balancing on the throttle on a hill would surely be a good thing. Maybe try M3 forums etc? The smg is a bit of a rarity in Z world, so experience is limited. :thumbsup:
 
Zed Five said:
Yep. Its that or start left foot braking on a hill, which probably isn't advisable.

I agree, it you seem sensible if bmw had put hill start on the smg car. From what I've read, the clutch fluid has a temperature monitor ( is that correct? ), so minimising the load on balancing on the throttle on a hill would surely be a good thing. Maybe try M3 forums etc? The smg is a bit of a rarity in Z world, so experience is limited. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...


Thanks Zed Five! :thumbsup:

Can I ask why we should never use our left foot on an automatic (AND YES I KNOW SMG IS NOT AN AUTO)?

I always keep my left foot on the foot rest and just use the right for accelerating and braking, but what is the reason?
 
Aeroadster said:
Can I ask why we should never use our left foot on an automatic (AND YES I KNOW SMG IS NOT AN AUTO)?

I always keep my left foot on the foot rest and just use the right for accelerating and braking, but what is the reason?
Click to expand...

No reason, it just needs learning not to STAMP down with your left foot on the clutch! :o
 
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