I would guess not. I am working on an SMG tank now, totally short trips around town. Really petting it most of the time. The OBC shows 17.1, but probably actual will be around 16 mpg.

 

No its about 1mpg difference... 1mpg lower than the step. ONE!!! C'MON who cares!! If you were considering 545 you dont care anyways... but if you really want to I bet you can get better MPG than the step.

 

I too would buy another SMG. I have driven manuals for most of my driving life, some 46+ years, and have always detested traditional automatics. I deplore the creep, the fact that you cannot effectively use the natural engine braking that you should be able to employ, and the constant hunting for gears that most automatics seem to suffer. Also, you suffer from converter slip, so your engine does not maintain a constant RPM. So, all in all, the SMG affords you the convenience of a clutchless manual, with none of the aforementioned disadvantages of a traditional automatic. When I miss the manual clutch, I drive the Vette.

Joe

 

I too would buy another SMG. I have driven manuals for most of my driving life, some 46+ years, and have always detested traditional automatics. I deplore the creep, the fact that you cannot effectively use the natural engine braking that you should be able to employ, and the constant hunting for gears that most automatics seem to suffer. Also, you suffer from converter slip, so your engine does not maintain a constant RPM. So, all in all, the SMG affords you the convenience of a clutchless manual, with none of the aforementioned disadvantages of a traditional automatic. When I miss the manual clutch, I drive the Vette.

Joe
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I've not driven an E60 with SMG but I had a go in a friends Audi TT 3.2 SMG and thought the manual change was fantastic, however I was more impressed with the way it changed smoothly when allowing the system change for itself. Don't worry though I'm not converting to Audi as the car didn't feel any quicker than my 530d. There would be no point having SMG on a diesel hence no option by BMW

 

Uh O... dont drive the SMG after driven DSG from Audi... The DSG is a lot smoother in auto mode in the TT... since it pre selects the next gear for you its changes are like automatics... Wish it was that smoth in the SMG Automode... In manual mode its fine... smooth as an automatic with a little practice.

 

With the ability to software update, do those of you that have experienced the rough shifting in auto mode think that it's something a software update might solve down the road?

 

I hope so... thats if BMW decides to WORK on the dang software!

 

Why is that?

 

I think SMG is great, I love it, but it's not for everyone.

People have different priorities when using their cars. That's why there are 3 transmission choices for our cars.

I commute against heavy traffic, so I never regreted getting SMG. SMGs is less work than stick shift, but more work than steptronic.

One last concern regarding SMG is reliability. If you're leasing the car, or planning to own it until the warranty expires, then by all means, go for it. If not, I don't know how bullet proof is SMG, but from my own experience, my SMG was replaced at 1,500 miles.
If it broke out of warranty, they say it's a $5,000 job.

Hope I didn't sacare anybody off, but this really happened to me.

 

Why is that?
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Well ok it could be fun but IMHO to gain optimum performance in a diesel car there is less importance on gearchanging compared to a petrol varient. i.e. They pull like trains in any gear! Also on the 535d BMW don't have a manual/SMG box capable of handling the torque.