E46 clubsport auto box

[red_zed]

Been looking at 330 clubsports as an alternative to my current steed, but have noticed that quite a few seem to have auto boxes

Having owned only manual cars to date, ive never really wanted an auto, although the thought of a paddle shift auto does appeal as i envisage it may give me a sense of involvement a normal auto wouldnt (i like changing gear, and the sense of control one has). There is also the kid in me which things having paddles like a racing driver would be fun...

anyway...my questions:

are all auto boxes on the clubsport an SMG one, or are some just a bog standard auto box?

what is the SMG box like, as someone coming from a manual background? Am I totally off the mark thinking that even having paddles is going to offer even some of the interactivity i get from a manual?

performance & economy wise, is there a marked difference between the SMG/auto/manual?

Thanks

[E30M3SE]

Torque convert autobox linked to paddles was fitted to these as an option IIRC not the M3 SMG II box.

[[TW]Fox]

E30M3SE said:

Torque convert autobox linked to paddles was fitted to these as an option IIRC not the M3 SMG II box.

Nope - the paddlest is SMG but it's SMG1 (or a system based on it) not SMG II as per E46 M3.

It's also cack.

[red_zed]

not worth looking at then, no?

[E30M3SE]

red_zed said:

not worth looking at then, no?

If it's SMGI as per E36 M3 definately not. IMO.

Edited by E30M3SE on Monday 14th July 17:10

[Slurms]

I think they called it SSG rather than SMG but it's the first generation sequential manual system out of the E36 M3 Evo. The fact that BMW withdrew it as an option should speak volumes..

I don't think the clubsports ever got the steering wheel mounted shift for the true autobox I think that was only introduced after they had stopped making them..