SMG E60 and everyday use?
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,167
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From: Southern California
My Ride: 2006 550i SMG
Agree with all the other SMG owners...traffic no problem. I like the ability to shift myself or go to auto mode. Going up hills in bumber to bumber is tricky. Never had a problem but it does feel like you have no control on working the clutch. Going down hill in bumber to bumper I can either coast in Neutral or try to get it in 2nd for less jerkinessessses. 
Bottom line...you can't go wrong with what ever you choose.
Bottom line...you can't go wrong with what ever you choose.
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,447
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From: NJ (EXIT 4), SUMMERS IN GREECE
My Ride: 2006 550 SMG
To me SMG is superior to manual in traffic. I had a manual E39 before and I goto NYC often..Let me tell you what a pain in the ass it was being stuck in heavy traffic with a manual. The SMG is perfect, you still get the enjoyable feel of a manual and no soar left leg in traffic. As far as rolling back on hills all BMWS have the hill assist wich gives you a couple of seconds after you release the brake pedal before it actually rolls.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: San Diego, CA
My Ride: 2007 E63 AMG | Obsidian Black | Schwarzes Nappa | Black BirdEye Maple | Premium II Package | Electronic Trunk Closer | Parktronic
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-----------------------------------------
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Originally Posted by katheikia' post='347207' date='Oct 20 2006, 04:02 PM
As far as rolling back on hills all BMWS have the hill assist wich gives you a couple of seconds after you release the brake pedal before it actually rolls.
Contributors
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 883
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From: East Coast
My Ride: 530i 6 speed
Originally Posted by jet190rs' post='347101' date='Oct 20 2006, 01:50 PM
Well I think SMG is too jerky when you're crawling in traffic in 1st gear. I prefer manual in traffic since I can modulate the clutch myself and have more control. However, if I were stuck in traffic for HOURS, then I'd definately take SMG over manual.
Maybe my car's SMG is jerkier than others' here though...
Maybe my car's SMG is jerkier than others' here though...
Contributors
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 14,776
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From: So Cal, USA
My Ride: 545iSMGSilver GrayAuburn Dakota LeatherLogic 7 Premium SoundSports Package
Originally Posted by katheikia' post='347207' date='Oct 20 2006, 04:02 PM
As far as rolling back on hills all BMWS have the hill assist wich gives you a couple of seconds after you release the brake pedal before it actually rolls.
Ya it came later.. after the introduction of the E90, DSC+. I'm not sure I want it... I mean I want it... but I dont want the brake assist... where it releases a little brake pressure at the end of the stop so the car doesnt jerk... makes for a better smoother stop... I dont think it does... I can stop better myself. I've driven it in loner E90s and didnt like it. Otherwise DSC+ is a good thing.
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 17,310
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From: Pittsburgh, PA USA
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
One of the keys to not being jerky with an SMG in stop-and-go traffic is to be smooth on the gas, both when pressing the gas and when easing off the gas. Many people are used to an automatic where you can push the gas gradually but release it completely and the car won't jerk. In an SMG (as well as a manual) you press the gas gradually, (especially in the lower gears) but you need to ease off the gas with the same gradual nature.
It's a tough habit to break because even if you're experienced driving a manual, when your left foot doesn't have any pedal, your brain sort of automatically flips into "automatic transmission mode" so your right foot tends to press the gas like you would on a slushbox...
It's a tough habit to break because even if you're experienced driving a manual, when your left foot doesn't have any pedal, your brain sort of automatically flips into "automatic transmission mode" so your right foot tends to press the gas like you would on a slushbox...
Members
Joined: Apr 2006
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I live in Hk and there are hills and slopes everywhere here.
The car holds for 2 seconds on a slope before you roll backwards.
And i hate parallel parking the smg bacwkards on a a down hill slope.
But SMG not hard to live with. You can always put it into D-mode
The car holds for 2 seconds on a slope before you roll backwards.
And i hate parallel parking the smg bacwkards on a a down hill slope.
But SMG not hard to live with. You can always put it into D-mode
Contributors
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 14,776
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From: So Cal, USA
My Ride: 545iSMGSilver GrayAuburn Dakota LeatherLogic 7 Premium SoundSports Package
Originally Posted by Rudy' post='347285' date='Oct 20 2006, 08:17 PM
It's a tough habit to break because even if you're experienced driving a manual, when your left foot doesn't have any pedal, your brain sort of automatically flips into "automatic transmission mode" so your right foot tends to press the gas like you would on a slushbox...
YOU'RE Soooooo right on that... before it was easy cuz the MINI and 545 were both manual and i was use to letting off the gas slowly but now the IS 350 is a auto I got into the habbit of just letting off the gas fast cuz if i dont theres basically no engine braking and the car flies forward much faster than I need... Not good... its deteriorating my manual driving skills...
Thread Starter
Members
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 127
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From: UK
My Ride: 530i MSport, Silver Grey, Step, 19" 172 Wheels, Media Pkg inc MP3, Heated Front Seats, Black Leather Seats, Aux Port, Space Saver Wheel, M Rear Spoiler, Ext Voice System
Good to have all this feedback on everyone's experiences 
Thanks!
If possible I'll get to test drive the E60 SMG this weekend... will post back...
Thanks!
If possible I'll get to test drive the E60 SMG this weekend... will post back...
Contributors
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,623
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From: Los Angeles, CA USA
When I had owned my car for only a month I got stuck in a stop and go traffic on an uphill road and within 10 minutes the clutch overheated and the car would shake violently every time I tried to move. I had to pull over and let the clutch cool off before I could continue driving. At the time I was not using the Sport mode. I started using the SMG exclusively in Sport mode soon after that because I feel that the SMG shift speed and throttle response is not to my liking (too slow) in the standard NON-sport mode. However, using the Sport mode when driving uphill has the added advantage of engaging the clutch faster and therefore not causing a clutch overheat. In the non-sport mode the clutch is engaged a lot slower to make it smoother, however, by doing this slower essentially it simulated "riding the clutch" (which overheats it if your're driving uphill).
So I would recommend always using the SMG in Sport mode for safety reasons (car responds quicker which helps in emergency or accident avoidance maneuvers), as well as to decrease the chance of the clutch overheating on uphill roads.
So I would recommend always using the SMG in Sport mode for safety reasons (car responds quicker which helps in emergency or accident avoidance maneuvers), as well as to decrease the chance of the clutch overheating on uphill roads.