SMG driving tips and known behaviours...

[dubbs]

As there's definitely a techique to driving wiht SMG wondered if anyone had any hints and tips or know of any good links that point to a guide?

Better then learning "on the job" :-)

[Rawhide]

I can't add much but I'd be keen to see people opinion on this.

I recently bought a '03 E46 M3 and I've just been driving it in auto mode mostly commuting in traffic.

So I drive it in winter setting (1) in auto mode which means it starts in second gear.

In SMG mode I have it quite high as I'm more interested in spirited driving if I'm in this mode.

[Rawhide]

Also I noticed the SMG changes were quite agressive, but not in a good way. They were quite lurchy and violent meaning you HAD to lift for changes to be smooth.

I did an SMG reset recently which made the box a lot smoother. The car had a new diff and rear tyres recently so this could have affected the calibration.

To reset;

1) Get above 40mph - with enough speed to stay above 40mph until complete
2) shift into neutral
3) Pull back on both SMG paddles and hold them back for between 4 and 10 seconds (depending on which guide you read
4) shift back into gear.

Hope this helps

[waremark]

Everyone has different priorities. I like upchanges to be as smooth as poss, so my preferred mode on SMG was S1 - sure changes took a bit longer, but upchanges with a throttle lift are then as smooth as you can get them.

(With DCT, full throttle upchanges in S1 are very fast and very smooth)

[derestrictor]

Mine needs a service so I don't know if that will magically restore what I had thought was an acceptable 'thunk' quotient but certainly at the mo, I've been unhappy with the urban crawl performance.

The ability to roll up to lights and then suddenly execute a quick reacceleration from 0 in 1st remains a simple activity I've yet to master.

I've heard that the latest cars are improved in this regard (and hopefully the transmission doesn't sound like it's about to graunch itself to death! )

No, the //M6 is good for one thing and one thing only and it starts like this...

CHARGE!!! At which point all it's sins are forgiven...

[Vixpy1]

Certainly on the E46 M3 SMG, if you lift slightly when it changes gear it improves the smoothness of the change, or just switch to S5 and 'thunk' mode

[phatgixer]

Make sure the bonnet is closed properly.....

[dubbs]

I kind of feel I need to let the transmission take the strain before flooring it rather than say 70-80% throttle straight from the off.

Am I just being too mechanically sympathetic? I imagine it lurching and making disturbing clunking noises if I just go planting it... :-)

[Zod]

derestrictor said:

The ability to roll up to lights and then suddenly execute a quick reacceleration from 0 in 1st remains a simple activity I've yet to master.

While I won't pretend that I always get this right, the technique that works best is to change into 1st yourself while rolling up to the lights, rather than wait for the gearbox to decide to change itself just at the moment the lights go green, leaving you stranded.

[gizlaroc]

Auto mode is a complete waste of time imho.

You need the speed of changes that you get in 4 or 5 but changing at the revs you get from 1 or 2.



I always leave it on S5, you can make it as smooth as you want, I certainly find that lifting off is as smooth as any manual and far smoother than the slower modes of 3 or lower.


So lift off for smooth changes and just keep the throttle buried when you want to go for it.

[phatgixer]

phatgixer said:

Make sure the bonnet is closed properly.....

...otherwise the thing won't go into gear and beep annoyingly. Ask me how I know

[Zod]

gizlaroc said:

Auto mode is a complete waste of time imho.

You need the speed of changes that you get in 4 or 5 but changing at the revs you get from 1 or 2.



I always leave it on S5, you can make it as smooth as you want, I certainly find that lifting off is as smooth as any manual and far smoother than the slower modes of 3 or lower.


So lift off for smooth changes and just keep the throttle buried when you want to go for it.

That's exactly how I drive.

[jonlwright]

Zod said:

gizlaroc said:

Auto mode is a complete waste of time imho.

You need the speed of changes that you get in 4 or 5 but changing at the revs you get from 1 or 2.



I always leave it on S5, you can make it as smooth as you want, I certainly find that lifting off is as smooth as any manual and far smoother than the slower modes of 3 or lower.


So lift off for smooth changes and just keep the throttle buried when you want to go for it.

That's exactly how I drive.

+2!

[dubbs]

Rolling up on 1st then planting it if needed is fine but how about taking off from standstill...

Do you ease throttle in, let drive take up the weight/slack then go or just plant the throttle (not to the floor but a good way down)

I'm going to try at the weekend but can't help but feel it'll bog down or clunk/thunk... what's expected behaviour/noises from the car?

What are expected noises? I'm noticing it's different to a manual but different to an auto too so will be learning for a few weeks yet...

Got to nip down to Tunbridge to pick up some mats on Saturday... damn an early morning blast down the A21 :-)

Edited by dubbs on Tuesday 2nd December 10:26

[Vixpy1]

jonlwright said:

Zod said:

gizlaroc said:

Auto mode is a complete waste of time imho.

You need the speed of changes that you get in 4 or 5 but changing at the revs you get from 1 or 2.



I always leave it on S5, you can make it as smooth as you want, I certainly find that lifting off is as smooth as any manual and far smoother than the slower modes of 3 or lower.


So lift off for smooth changes and just keep the throttle buried when you want to go for it.

That's exactly how I drive.

+2!

+3

[CTO3]

Vixpy1 said:

jonlwright said:

Zod said:

gizlaroc said:

Auto mode is a complete waste of time imho.

You need the speed of changes that you get in 4 or 5 but changing at the revs you get from 1 or 2.



I always leave it on S5, you can make it as smooth as you want, I certainly find that lifting off is as smooth as any manual and far smoother than the slower modes of 3 or lower.


So lift off for smooth changes and just keep the throttle buried when you want to go for it.

That's exactly how I drive.

+2!

+3

+4

[dubbs]

dubbs said:

Rolling up on 1st then planting it if needed is fine but how about taking off from standstill...

Do you ease throttle in, let drive take up the weight/slack then go or just plant the throttle (not to the floor but a good way down)

I'm going to try at the weekend but can't help but feel it'll bog down or clunk/thunk... what's expected behaviour/noises from the car?

What are expected noises? I'm noticing it's different to a manual but different to an auto too so will be learning for a few weeks yet...

Got to nip down to Tunbridge to pick up some mats on Saturday... damn an early morning blast down the A21 :-)

Edited by dubbs on Tuesday 2nd December 10:26

answer this then instead of learning how to count!!! :-)

[Zod]

dubbs said:

dubbs said:

Rolling up on 1st then planting it if needed is fine but how about taking off from standstill...

Do you ease throttle in, let drive take up the weight/slack then go or just plant the throttle (not to the floor but a good way down)

I'm going to try at the weekend but can't help but feel it'll bog down or clunk/thunk... what's expected behaviour/noises from the car?

What are expected noises? I'm noticing it's different to a manual but different to an auto too so will be learning for a few weeks yet...

Got to nip down to Tunbridge to pick up some mats on Saturday... damn an early morning blast down the A21 :-)

Edited by dubbs on Tuesday 2nd December 10:26

answer this then instead of learning how to count!!! :-)

to take off smoothly, drive as you would a manual, i.e. let the clutch bite and gently increase the throttle. To take off like a hooligan, just floor it. If DSC is on, it will probably cut the power momentarily to avoid wheelspin. If DSC is off, you'd better be on a reasonably grippy surface, becasue it will squat and squirm. In MDM, it lets the wheels spin a bit, shimmies the rear end and takes off.

[jonlwright]

dubbs said:

dubbs said:

Rolling up on 1st then planting it if needed is fine but how about taking off from standstill...

Do you ease throttle in, let drive take up the weight/slack then go or just plant the throttle (not to the floor but a good way down)

I'm going to try at the weekend but can't help but feel it'll bog down or clunk/thunk... what's expected behaviour/noises from the car?

What are expected noises? I'm noticing it's different to a manual but different to an auto too so will be learning for a few weeks yet...

Got to nip down to Tunbridge to pick up some mats on Saturday... damn an early morning blast down the A21 :-)

Edited by dubbs on Tuesday 2nd December 10:26

answer this then instead of learning how to count!!! :-)

I find if you think of it as a manual car and when setting off let the clutch 'engage' as you apply power you can get it as smooth as any manual.

I find the tricky bit is keeping it smooth in slow stop/start traffic as you come to a halt each time - especially if you are being careful with clutch wear, but that maybe because I am always in S5 P500 sport? Luckily, where I live, it is not something I have to endure very ofter