So I drove my buddy's 2004 M3 last night, and the SMG is freakin awesome!? I love that thing! Is there any way that the G37's manumatic mode is as fast as that!?

 

Interesting comment seeing as how BMW has already killed the SMG and is a little behind schedule on its replacement. They were shooting for this fall, but only have a few test units built so far.

 

No, it wont be. Nor will it be as involved IMO. Even if it is, it doesn't function in the same way at all, sadly.

SMGII was great. SMGIII (M5, M6) is not as nice IMO.
335i does not have any SMG.

 

Hey Wyatthanson, Can you elaborate more on why SMGII was better than SMGIII? I'm looking to buy an 03 M3 Convertible with SMG transmission in the next couple months. So I would love to know the reasons.

 

SMG sucks. Dual clutches are the new thing, and they are much improved over single clutch systems.

 

smg was awesome. chirping 2nd and superquick shifts with a flick of the wrist. no way the g37 will have anything like it.

 

SMG II and SMG III are just updated versions. They "tried" to make it a smoother engaging transmission. The DSG from Audi is awesome though.

 

Keep in mind that you are talking about two completely different technologies. An SMG is a manual transmission without a clutch pedal, wheras the G37 manumatic is an automatic transmission with a torque converter.

Many people like SMG, and others hate it. If you visit the M3 forum you will literally find hundreds of posts either praising or condemming SMG. There heve been many heated exchanges on this topic.

As far as Audi's dual sequential gear box is concerned, it's great when upshifting since you have one gear selected and the next higher gear is preselected, but suppose you want to downshift from 4th to 3rd with 5th being preselected? That use to cause some hesitation, but maybe they have the issue resolved since I haven't kept too close to recent technological developments.

 

I never liked the idea of SMG.

It's either you get an automatic, or get a manual. I really don't see the point of an SMG unless the person does not have the will to learn how to use a clutch.

Just my thought...

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u never drove one, did you?

 

Actually, I have.

For the full experience, manual is the only way to go for me.

Everything is only a matter of personal preference; and for me, its 6MT.

Without a clutch, I feel as if im missing half the fun

.

 

i guess ur right if you compare it to manual.. but i'd rather take the SMG over auto. i like the feeling and jerkiness of it.

 

True.

If I were in that position, then I would surely get an SMG over an automatic.

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Guys, why are even talking about SMG? It's obsolete technology. DSG is the future. SMG sucks, plain and simple.

 

lol