Z4 ON A HILL
- Thread starter Aeroadster
- Start date
By the seaside...
Hi. As they said eventually someone with an SMG will pop along with an answer. There is no silver bullet only the handbrake. You will get used to it. You can 'sort of' slip the clutch by feathering the throttle when get some experience but it is not recommended for anything other than a momentary pause. If you think hills are bad wait until you are about to jump into traffic from a roundabout/junction and it decides to take an age to change down from first to second. scary. But again you will get used to it and develop techniques to overcome these little bit of character. Enjoy and pray it doesn't break down the repair bills are really scary and definitely something BMW should have thought about!
Without doubt if you can teach yourself left foot braking it will be a skill you'll use in any sort of car.
I have to do it in auto boxes on proper hills or would never keep out of ditches.
Use it on the Z4 auto and manual Jeeps too, so a flexible skill.
Practice on your own and away from any sort of traffic....
I have to do it in auto boxes on proper hills or would never keep out of ditches.
Use it on the Z4 auto and manual Jeeps too, so a flexible skill.
Practice on your own and away from any sort of traffic....
It may not be too useful but I used to have a Auto Ford Focus a couple of years back.
When in D in my Focus, while on flat ground the car would roll forward ever so slowly.
Is it the same in your BM? Obviously the Focus did not have Hill Start assist, but this was their way of getting over your problem.
There was also a time when my Focus would stall while doing a Hill Start - Amazing for a Auto right? xD
But this was due to the Rev's not being high enough to hill start.
A Mech sorted this out, there was a air leak somewhere in my engine.
I know that's not 100% useful to you Aero but I hope it helps a little!
When in D in my Focus, while on flat ground the car would roll forward ever so slowly.
Is it the same in your BM? Obviously the Focus did not have Hill Start assist, but this was their way of getting over your problem.
There was also a time when my Focus would stall while doing a Hill Start - Amazing for a Auto right? xD
But this was due to the Rev's not being high enough to hill start.
A Mech sorted this out, there was a air leak somewhere in my engine.
I know that's not 100% useful to you Aero but I hope it helps a little!
There is no creep functionality in any SMG-equipped car I have driven, although I have only driven two that I recall.
SMG is a weird gearbox in that it is neither a traditional torque-converter automatic, nor a fully manual box (yes it is a manual box with a hydraulic clutch on it operated by computer).
As others have suggested, the handbrake is your friend in this scenario. Probably also making sure the car is in manual mode so you know you're in 1st.
SMG is a weird gearbox in that it is neither a traditional torque-converter automatic, nor a fully manual box (yes it is a manual box with a hydraulic clutch on it operated by computer).
As others have suggested, the handbrake is your friend in this scenario. Probably also making sure the car is in manual mode so you know you're in 1st.
Aeroadster
Member
Chii said:
Thanks for the advice chii!
No the zed does not creep forward in D, maybe moves a cm at most after engaging D but never 'creeps' like most BMW autos do.
I guess the handbrake and revs are my friend from now on!
Aeroadster
Member
photodrt said:
It's not that bad when pulling away in first then changing into second gear. Shifts fine.
Only time it takes a while changing gears is when moving from D to R but again thats only like 2-3 secs - I can live with that.
Basically is like a manual tbh, that time changing gears is probably the same time it would take to move from 1st to R if you had a manual gear stick.
Thanks for the reply also!
Aeroadster
Member
JayEmm said:
Thanks for your time in reply to my post!
Yes, I guess i'll just have to use my handbrake from now on.
Does anybody know if damage would be done if I hold down the brake pedal while I set the gas to the bite at the same time?
All our cars are auto with torque converters and I rarely use the handbrake other than if the lights are on red for a while and have to drop into neutral
If it's on s hill the torque converter holds it on a hill perfectly well. Normally I hold it with the foot brake ( right foot) into drive then drop the foot across . Never had a problem.
The auto off handbrake on the disco is very useful for s drastically steep hill.
Can't say I've ever needed the left foot on the road.
I have heard of a colleague launching his mate from the seat when he forgot he was in an suto hire care and decided the brake pedal was a clutch pedal.
If it's on s hill the torque converter holds it on a hill perfectly well. Normally I hold it with the foot brake ( right foot) into drive then drop the foot across . Never had a problem.
The auto off handbrake on the disco is very useful for s drastically steep hill.
Can't say I've ever needed the left foot on the road.
I have heard of a colleague launching his mate from the seat when he forgot he was in an suto hire care and decided the brake pedal was a clutch pedal.
The Z4 with SMG Gearbox is an Pre FL Model. The Faceliftmodels didn`t got the SMG Gearbox only 6 gear autmatic Transmission.
The Facelift Model also get a new Kind of MK60 System (DSC) and within the hill Assistent and Brake disc drying by raining.
regards ulli
The Facelift Model also get a new Kind of MK60 System (DSC) and within the hill Assistent and Brake disc drying by raining.
regards ulli
Aeroadster
Member
mac27040 said:
Hi, thanks for the reply!
When I park the zed in my driveway, which is straight and flat, I just leave the SMG gearbox in Neutral, pull the handbrake up and switch the engine off. There is no Park mode on the SMG.
Does it really matter which gear you engage when switching the engine off?
Thanks.
Aeroadster
Member
thepits said:Isn't the answer obvious? :?
Buy a proper manual!
Although I like manuals too, I must admit I love using the flappy paddles with SPORT MODE ON !
(That beastly growl that it unleashes!) :evil:I have a smg. You get used to the hill starts and you begin to realise you can do a quick switch from brake to accelerator on some hills that aren't that steep and if you are on a steep one just put the handbrake on and take your foot off the brake. Press the accelerator gently and release handbrake. 
Don't hold the brake down with one foot and rev with the other as you overheat the smg box. Especially if you do this for a long time. If it overheat the light on the dash comes on.
I also find in sport mode on a hill if I try and set off without the handbrake I press the accelerator too much and then take my foot off too quick which confuses it and it does a little bunny hop but you get used to that too and it doesn't happen when not in sport. I think this is due to the throttle response being increased in sport but I prefer how the car drives in sport and the way the steering feels.
Also when parking you are supposed to leave it in D (that's what the manual says anyway:. It will beep at you if you turn the engine off in neutral.
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Don't hold the brake down with one foot and rev with the other as you overheat the smg box. Especially if you do this for a long time. If it overheat the light on the dash comes on.
I also find in sport mode on a hill if I try and set off without the handbrake I press the accelerator too much and then take my foot off too quick which confuses it and it does a little bunny hop but you get used to that too and it doesn't happen when not in sport. I think this is due to the throttle response being increased in sport but I prefer how the car drives in sport and the way the steering feels.
Also when parking you are supposed to leave it in D (that's what the manual says anyway:. It will beep at you if you turn the engine off in neutral.
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