SMG vs. Manual
#11
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Silicon Valley Area
My Ride: 2008 M5 -- Exterior: Silverstone, Interior: Black. Fully Loaded. That just about sums it up! :-)
Oops! My last post should have read "WITHOUT Penalizing me..." The SMG was very smooth as I came to a stop and it dropped back down to 1st gear automatically.
#12
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 141
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From: Massachusetts, USA
My Ride: X3 | 3.0 | 6-speed manual
Well it's not ordered yet.....awaiting pricing and the ability to really place an order and not just give a dealer a deposit. I hope that the ability to order a 550i starts in the next couple of months.
I'm all the way on the east coast, outside of Boston. I went to Wagner BMW today (the dealer closest to me) but they didnt have a single SMG-equipped car available to drive. Not an M3, nada.
When I do order I will let a few local dealers compete, so I figure I'll try to get into an SMG test drive at at least one of those dealers.
Glad you enjoyed your SMG experience! I'm looking forward to checking it out myself.
I'm all the way on the east coast, outside of Boston. I went to Wagner BMW today (the dealer closest to me) but they didnt have a single SMG-equipped car available to drive. Not an M3, nada.
When I do order I will let a few local dealers compete, so I figure I'll try to get into an SMG test drive at at least one of those dealers.
Glad you enjoyed your SMG experience! I'm looking forward to checking it out myself.
#13
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,298
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From: Winter Park, FL
My Ride: 2005 545i (SMG)
Titanium Gray
Black Interior, Anthracite Trim
M-tech kit
Sport Package
Premium Sound
Satellite Radio
Active Cruise
Comfort Seats
Navigation
Folding rear seats
I have SMG, and it was the best decision I made with my 545.
I feel so "in control" of the car with SMG. I can do things with it I could never do with any car before.
I only had true manual experience from driving my brother's M3, but I was rather good with the true manual.... But I like SMg more. It's quicker, less work, and you can put it in auto mode if you ever have to. (I almost never use auto mode, but sometimes its nice)
I feel so "in control" of the car with SMG. I can do things with it I could never do with any car before.
I only had true manual experience from driving my brother's M3, but I was rather good with the true manual.... But I like SMg more. It's quicker, less work, and you can put it in auto mode if you ever have to. (I almost never use auto mode, but sometimes its nice)
#14
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 14,776
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From: So Cal, USA
My Ride: 545iSMGSilver GrayAuburn Dakota LeatherLogic 7 Premium SoundSports Package
Hey anyone with experience with SMG and Manual on hills? Like stopping in the middle of the hill and trying to accelerate up the hill? How well does SMG behave?
Anyone in San Francisco can comment?
Reason I ask. I'm up in SF this weekend and was driving around in my MINI 6spd manual... Oh man... hills are a killer on clutches and a major wear and tear on the clutch. I think I burned off a few thousand miles off the clutch just from today! So cars now w/out DSC+ w/out the brake roll back assist how well does SMG behave on really steep hills?
Anyone in San Francisco can comment?
Reason I ask. I'm up in SF this weekend and was driving around in my MINI 6spd manual... Oh man... hills are a killer on clutches and a major wear and tear on the clutch. I think I burned off a few thousand miles off the clutch just from today! So cars now w/out DSC+ w/out the brake roll back assist how well does SMG behave on really steep hills?
#15
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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
The SMG does hills without any problem. You simply move your foot from brake to gas and you drift back a small amount (less than you would with a traditional manual, in most cases.)
One thing you should NOT do with an SMG is hold yourself on the hill with the gas (like you can in an automatic). Doing this is equivalent to riding the clutch and will burn out the clutch quite rapidly...
One thing you should NOT do with an SMG is hold yourself on the hill with the gas (like you can in an automatic). Doing this is equivalent to riding the clutch and will burn out the clutch quite rapidly...
#16
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,717
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From: Central Massachusetts
My Ride: Now Driving a Freakin' Prius!
Was...
2004 545i | SMG | White/Black | Sport | NAV | Logic 7 | PDC | Fold-down Seats | Adaptive Headlights | Cold Weather Pkg | Clear-again Bra | Mud Flaps | Bluetooth | Coat Hangar | Aux Input | All Weather Mats | 18"X8.5" BBS RK w/ Michelin Pilot Alpin's (winter) | New steering rack @ 1.2K & 17K miles| Software V.19.1 | B&B Exhaust (vrrrroooooommm!) <---Click.
If I don't want to roll back on a steep hill I put my left foot on the brake for a moment while I give it some gas. Just enough to keep it from rolling back when starting off.
#18
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,717
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From: Central Massachusetts
My Ride: Now Driving a Freakin' Prius!
Was...
2004 545i | SMG | White/Black | Sport | NAV | Logic 7 | PDC | Fold-down Seats | Adaptive Headlights | Cold Weather Pkg | Clear-again Bra | Mud Flaps | Bluetooth | Coat Hangar | Aux Input | All Weather Mats | 18"X8.5" BBS RK w/ Michelin Pilot Alpin's (winter) | New steering rack @ 1.2K & 17K miles| Software V.19.1 | B&B Exhaust (vrrrroooooommm!) <---Click.
Originally Posted by Rudy' date='Apr 9 2005, 11:53 PM
Yup, that works too.? No need for any parking brake acrobatics with the SMG...
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#19
Originally Posted by CoolTones' date='Apr 9 2005, 01:51 PM
There was a time during my test drive that accidentally forgot to drop from 4th gear down to 1st as I approach a stop sign.? Well, the SMG did it for me with penalizing me with any physical jerking.? Cool.
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One other thing -- how many SMG drivers get that silly grin on their face when they've just executed a perfect 5th-to-3rd downshift??!!
Anyway, I'm a dinosaur and understand the SMG preference of others, but I'll drive a stick as long as BMW lets me.
#20
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 141
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From: Massachusetts, USA
My Ride: X3 | 3.0 | 6-speed manual
Rudy what is the technique with SMG for crawling along in traffic jam type traffic? Im wondering what the SMG equivalent is of having the car in first...giving it a little clutch and gas to move it along, then immediately putting it back into neutral.
Also, what is the SMG equivalent of crawling along in first giving it no throttle...then just stepping on the clutch if you need to slow down...then releasing the clutch when you want to crawl along again in first.
Also, what is the SMG equivalent of crawling along in first giving it no throttle...then just stepping on the clutch if you need to slow down...then releasing the clutch when you want to crawl along again in first.