opinions of smg drivers

hi all my first post here.driving an 09 135i atm. but just paid dep on a 2002 m3 smg. having read about the smg not being as smooth when in traffic i was wondering what mode others use full auto or use paddles / stick. i guess i,ll find out for myself when i pick it up on 13th. by the way i love my 135 & will keep it at this stage. look forward to some feedback.

SMG isn't as smooth as driving a manual and can sometimes be a bit jerky if you go into a car park slowly / come up to a stop sign in second then need to drive off just as the car decides it needs 1st gear and puts the clutch in. I avoid this most of the time by hitting the - paddle / pushing the lever forward.

I've driven my car in auto mode for the best part of 2 minutes, hated it and have been driving it in manual mode ever since. It's much better. You can also get extended aluminium paddles off eBay for about $60 which make using the paddles a whole lot better.

I reckon SMG is pretty good in traffic in manual mode, obviously can't comment about auto mode. You get spoilt a bit not having to do the clutch work yourself when it's super boring in traffic.

As a tip lift off ever so slightly when changing gears. I mean the tiniest bit, still have a bit of throttle. This makes the shifts really smooth. I think S4 is the best shift mode personally.

Apart from that, enjoy the new car and get it to the track as soon as you can. It will make you appreciate the car much more, especially coming from what I assume is a slightly modified 135.

wait, you put a deposit on a car you have not driven yet?


My SMG is smooth - auto or manual mode. It helps if you can drive a manual car properly.

Takes some practise but eventually you get used to it. Having said that, I do drive mine with extra special care.

I find the later models have smoother shifting than the earlier models.

^ this can be because of newer software, newer clutch and adaptations/programing may be set correctly.

^ hmm yeah, surprised the OP put a deposit without driving it!

I use my auto mode a lot in traffic because I'm lazy haha but its pretty good for what it is. I usually use A4 or S4 whenever I'm driving so shifts are slightly quicker and not as slow.

I hate S1-2 as the shifts are so slow I feel as if cars behind me might rear end me. But I use manual mode majority of the time and its great I don't mind it does shake a little but you get used to it. But when you kill a Holden SS because the bogan driving it thinks his car is the best on the street the SMG doesn't matter much haha

I could be wrong but I think he has driven it. He just doesn't have enough experience to know how the smg works in traffic.

Ah ok well basically it works as any manual would just not as smooth. That's probably the easiest explanation lol.

once you learn to drive an smg is can be just as smooth as a manual. I would be very surprised if you regret getting it. I really enjoy mine.
Only the other day I thought I might get a new car but I still love driving what I have and mine has done 130,000 klms now and still very tight car no rattles ect,
I think you will be hard pressed to find anyone who has owned a well maintained M3 SMG to say a bad word about them.

Just make sure all the maintenance has been done as it can be expensive to to play catch up on brakes, discs and having the valves shimmed.
Good luck with your purchase

Originally Posted by AussieM3

once you learn to drive an smg is can be just as smooth as a manual. I would be very surprised if you regret getting it. I really enjoy mine.
Only the other day I thought I might get a new car but I still love driving what I have and mine has done 130,000 klms now and still very tight car no rattles ect,
I think you will be hard pressed to find anyone who has owned a well maintained M3 SMG to say a bad word about them.

Just make sure all the maintenance has been done as it can be expensive to to play catch up on brakes, discs and having the valves shimmed.
Good luck with your purchase

I agree. I was an SMG hater, then i got one and learnt how to drive it and i love it - i don't think i'll own another manual if there is a DCT option available in the car i am looking at.

The only time SMG is balls is when you are trying to do a quick 3 point turn. You have to be patient whilst going from reverse to 1st etc.

The only thing with SMG that I find jerking is coming to an almost complete stop and it decides to change down to 1st (as mentioned above). If you put your foot down to go when the clutch is disengaged then the SMG engages the clutch with your foot down like a mini clutch dump. Very easy to get used to and you know it's coming since it always does it.

Auto mode doesn't really work. If I want auto mode I want the faster shifts but if you put it in D5 (fastest auto mode) for example it won't change past 3rd gear at 60km/h which is painful. The lower D modes are just too slow and change up much too fast. Also it does things like change from 1st to 2nd half way through turning (e.g. at a T intersection turning on to the main road). So half way into the intersection you free wheel whilst it's changing gear. It's just doing it at the wrong time.

Aside from a few things like that I find SMG quite smooth and easy to drive. Those who say otherwise haven't ever lived with an SMG. Perhaps they've driven one once before and made their mind up based on that. In slow traffic, parking, reverse etc I find it just as easy to drive as an auto.

Basically it comes down to this:
1) You drive a torque converter auto like an auto.
2) You drive a conventional clutch manual like a manual
3) You drive an SMG like an SMG.

Originally Posted by Shonky

The only thing with SMG that I find jerking is coming to an almost complete stop and it decides to change down to 1st (as mentioned above). If you put your foot down to go when the clutch is disengaged then the SMG engages the clutch with your foot down like a mini clutch dump. Very easy to get used to and you know it's coming since it always does it.

Auto mode doesn't really work. If I want auto mode I want the faster shifts but if you put it in D5 (fastest auto mode) for example it won't change past 3rd gear at 60km/h which is painful. The lower D modes are just too slow and change up much too fast. Also it does things like change from 1st to 2nd half way through turning (e.g. at a T intersection turning on to the main road). So half way into the intersection you free wheel whilst it's changing gear. It's just doing it at the wrong time.

Aside from a few things like that I find SMG quite smooth and easy to drive. Those who say otherwise haven't ever lived with an SMG. Perhaps they've driven one once before and made their mind up based on that. In slow traffic, parking, reverse etc I find it just as easy to drive as an auto.

Basically it comes down to this:
1) You drive a torque converter auto like an auto.
2) You drive a conventional clutch manual like a manual
3) You drive an SMG like an SMG.

Spot on. I have a few small dislikes with SMG..

I don't feel comfortable letting other people drive my car if they don't have an understanding of the gearbox. I don't ever think I'll let my parents drive my car because they think it's a normal auto and would drive it accordingly then most likely get frustrated with it.

It's also annoying when it's a bit jerky in traffic and you have a passenger who doesn't understand the gearbox and thinks it's your driving. Worst is when you're on a hill and come to a brief stop and don't wait long enough for it to grab 1st and get the mini clutch dump.

Mine also seems to be a bit jerky in traffic when it decides to shift to 2nd when braking. I find I almost have to lift off the brake pedal slightly when it disengages the clutch into 2nd gear.

Apart from that I love it

I really want to give an SMG M3 a go. Ive only driven a couple of manual M3.

Do any of you guys left foot brake it and give it some throttle on the downshifts.?. i think thats what id do to make it a smooth shift ..

Originally Posted by YGOAMG

I really want to give an SMG M3 a go. Ive only driven a couple of manual M3.

Do any of you guys left foot brake it and give it some throttle on the downshifts.?. i think thats what id do to make it a smooth shift ..

Depending on the revs the gearbox will rev match (not blip) so you get a smooth downshift. This is generally only when you're pushing hard, not in traffic.

You can blip the throttle by giving the accelerator a stab on downshifts. I always do this in tunnels / any areas where the sound will echo.

Left foot braking would only really come in handy if you want to blip whilst braking. I've considered trying to give it a go but I think I'll be way to uncoordinated for it.

It still tries to rev match even when going lightly. Blip/rev match - basically the same really.

Originally Posted by YGOAMG

I really want to give an SMG M3 a go. Ive only driven a couple of manual M3.

Do any of you guys left foot brake it and give it some throttle on the downshifts.?. i think thats what id do to make it a smooth shift ..

I'll let you drive mine, although there's an issue on take off with my car, but once you get going it's fine.

Originally Posted by DeclanM3

Depending on the revs the gearbox will rev match (not blip) so you get a smooth downshift. This is generally only when you're pushing hard, not in traffic.

You can blip the throttle by giving the accelerator a stab on downshifts. I always do this in tunnels / any areas where the sound will echo.

Left foot braking would only really come in handy if you want to blip whilst braking. I've considered trying to give it a go but I think I'll be way to uncoordinated for it.

Im trying to get used to left foot braking.. think it will be a good skill to have, .

Originally Posted by Chewy

I'll let you drive mine, although there's an issue on take of with my car, but once you get going it's fine.

Ill take u up on that at the SAM

Originally Posted by DeclanM3

Spot on. I have a few small dislikes with SMG..

I don't feel comfortable letting other people drive my car if they don't have an understanding of the gearbox. I don't ever think I'll let my parents drive my car because they think it's a normal auto and would drive it accordingly then most likely get frustrated with it.

It's also annoying when it's a bit jerky in traffic and you have a passenger who doesn't understand the gearbox and thinks it's your driving. Worst is when you're on a hill and come to a brief stop and don't wait long enough for it to grab 1st and get the mini clutch dump.

Mine also seems to be a bit jerky in traffic when it decides to shift to 2nd when braking. I find I almost have to lift off the brake pedal slightly when it disengages the clutch into 2nd gear.

Apart from that I love it

It shouldn't really be jerky at all. Maybe try a reset and reset adaptations. Otherwise there's something wrong.

Originally Posted by Chewy

It shouldn't really be jerky at all. Maybe try a reset and reset adaptations. Otherwise there's something wrong.

When I say jerky it's not huge. The jerks I'm referring to is when you're at relatively low speeds and the car shifts down to 2nd, sometimes when the clutch is disengaged you get the natural gear braking effect which when coupled with normal braking can result in a quick small jerk. As if you press the brake pedal in a bit more for a split second.

The other time is when the car is engaging 1st from 2nd on a hill and you press the accelerator before the car has grabbed 1st so you're basically free revving in neutral for a split second. It get's first gear then lets the clutch out resulting in a mini clutch dump. I find it's worse when I'm on a hill. It's more a patience thing though, you just need to give the car that extra split second to grab 1st then you're fine.

Don't forget the bucking bronco it can become if in 1st/2nd and going around a bumpy intersection. Your hit the bump and your foot lifts off and it goes into stop stall mode which then makes you jerk again, rinse and repeat and it can get quite embarrassing if you don't get it under control.

Or if you try and drive while the car is cold, always had to let mine go two lights out on the warm up dial before trying to drive off, I always would forget at work when going home. The driveway was a steep ramp with speed humps and it just gets a mind of it's own as you slow and hit the hump and it starts bucking, usually a quick stab of the accelerator would fix it but with the speed humps it wasn't an option :-)