Driven an SMG M3 Trans???

[XCELR8]

Thinking of picking up an M3 next year wtih the SMG trans but have a question. I know there are many differ modes you can drive it in, but is there just a standard mode that will allow you to drive it like a regular automatic? Wife would like to just get in it and go w/out messing with paddle shift. Any info would be great!

[hhseouljah]

yeah, there are 5 automatic modes and 6 sequential modes.

[G3NIU5]

i think there should be a law that prohibits sporty/s cars to come out in any other transmission other than the standard manual

[P_Diddy]

I test drove an SMG M3 when I was shopping for the G35. I drove it pretty hard, enough to start freaking out the saleslady . The SMG, even in it's most comfortable setting, shifts fast and jerkily. I'd imagine that would get annoying very quickly.

[DrPJM1]

Under perfect CAR GOD RULES:
Sports cars should have manual transmission only, GT's may be sold with both, luxury/cruisers with automatic transmission only.
LOL!

[GeeWillikers]

Originally Posted by P_Diddy

I test drove an SMG M3 when I was shopping for the G35. I drove it pretty hard, enough to start freaking out the saleslady . The SMG, even in it's most comfortable setting, shifts fast and jerkily. I'd imagine that would get annoying very quickly.

I got to drive a 2005 SMG M3 back in April and I was underwhelmed - both with the car and the tranny.

Agree with your assessment, not smooth at all. It's probably something that could be refined somewhat after really learning the behavior of the car - I didn't have a chance to put that many miles on it.

As for the car itself - awesome ride but horribly overpriced - typical BMW. It didn't strike me as anything special for over $60K.

[kenchan]

I just can't stand un-smooth AT's...

[ZeroGen]

SMG is "technically" a manual.

[Finiti35]

Originally Posted by P_Diddy

I test drove an SMG M3 when I was shopping for the G35. I drove it pretty hard, enough to start freaking out the saleslady . The SMG, even in it's most comfortable setting, shifts fast and jerkily. I'd imagine that would get annoying very quickly.

The SMG is absolutely as smooth as any automatic once you get the hang of it. One thing is me or you going to the dealer and testdriving it, another thing is riding in an SMG M3 with an experienced driver to really get an idea about the driving experience. It has a learning curve just like a manual car.. at first it's jerky and uncomfortable, but you get used to it. With the SMGII it's all about throttle modulation, you need to let off the gas before shifting or it will snap your neck.

[heeb]

It has different modes. It has agressive shift modes, or if you just want to lay back and drive you can set it to a different mode to make it smoother shifts.

I love the SMG transmission.

[humanRESEARCH]

I had fun with the SMG-equipped M3 I drove. It could have been the fact that it belonged to a stripper, but I really had a great time. As previously mentioned, once you get the hang of it, the BMW SMG is an amazing transmission.

[glennp_1999]

Originally Posted by Finiti35

The SMG is absolutely as smooth as any automatic once you get the hang of it. One thing is me or you going to the dealer and testdriving it, another thing is riding in an SMG M3 with an experienced driver to really get an idea about the driving experience. It has a learning curve just like a manual car.. at first it's jerky and uncomfortable, but you get used to it. With the SMGII it's all about throttle modulation, you need to let off the gas before shifting or it will snap your neck.

I absolutely agree on this one driving the SMG is like trying to learn how to drive all over again. Letting off the gas to change gear is necessary. I don't remember but I think it's from S1 to S6 settings one being the least aggressive and six being the track mode. I could be wrong I didn't really play around with the shifter that much.

[mastermind050]

Yeah I am in the same camp as the people that enjoyed the SMG. It is an amazing transmission. And for the people saying that a real sports car should have a manual tranny, remember that the "M" in SMG stands for manual, as Zerogen stated, it is technically a manual, just computer controlled.

I had a lot of fun driving that car and people are right, once you get used to it, the thing is a blast. And besides, what human do you know can shift a manual tranny as fast as an SMG? That definitely saves some time at the strip...

[G3NIU5]

^^^i said a standard manual. yes i have driven it and would love to have the M3 even in SMG if i can afford it, but somehow, the feeling is not there.

[Finiti35]

Originally Posted by glennp_1999

I absolutely agree on this one driving the SMG is like trying to learn how to drive all over again. Letting off the gas to change gear is necessary. I don't remember but I think it's from S1 to S6 settings one being the least aggressive and six being the track mode. I could be wrong I didn't really play around with the shifter that much.

Correct, I think you're talking about launch control (S6), track mode only comes with the ZCP package but you're right, launch control revs up the engine to 1800 rpm instead of you worrying about launching. All you have to do is floor it. It has some other cool features like rollback assist, rev-matched downshifts, shift lights on the tach itself, maybe I'm forgetting something. Whether it's more fun than driving a stick totally depends on the driver, but one thing I love about SMG is the way the shifts feel in S5 mode. Even the fastest shift in a manual can't snap your neck like that