E46 M3 SMG programmes

[The Stiglet]

My friend has just bought a very nice 2006 E46 M3 with SMG and wants to know about the SMG programmes. He took me out in the car last weekend and uses programme D3 (manual) for normal driving. On the whole he finds that he needs to pull away in 2nd gear from traffic lights in order to keep things smooth - is that normal?

Ideally, he'd like to know what all the programmes are most suited for. Can you guys help?

Cheers

[hoppo4.2]

i used mine in 6 all the time. the lower the number the slower the change time. auto is crap.
smoothness is all about the technique.

[The Stiglet]

hoppo4.2 said:

i used mine in 6 all the time. the lower the number the slower the change time. auto is crap.
smoothness is all about the technique.

Thanks for that.

As it's not my car, can you enlighten a bit more about the technique please? e.g. lift off slightly with gearchange etc.

Also, what about this starting in 2nd gear nonsense? Is there a smooth way to do that?

Thanks

[SS2.]

The Stiglet said:

Also, what about this starting in 2nd gear nonsense? Is there a smooth way to do that?

For gentle pootling around town, I tend to use the lowest setting whilst in full auto. This will select 2nd gear when stationary - no problem with that, there's stacks of torque. Other than for the first minute or so when the car has been started from cold, she always pulls away (and changes) very smoothly.

That said, when the SMG is on a lower setting, upshifts do benefit from a slight lift off the gas.

[shibby!]

I use S2 for auto made, and S5 or 6(traction control off) for paddle shifts etc.

S2 will take in 1st. I find S3 revs a little too high before changing gear, and if pootling around town seems hold the gear too long. i.e 3rd at 35mph or so.


Yup, technique is how you get smooth, slight lift offs between changes is how i do mine, although less noticable in other gear, its generaly 1st to 2nd that i feel i need it!
Although the lower the revs the slower the change speed.

I generally feel like sometimes i am much smoother with the speed right up and changing manually.

[0836whimper]

S5 all the time, never use auto, it's pants. A bit of practise and slight lift-off on regular changes keeps it smooth, stay in 2nd unless completely stopped also works (as already said, stacks of torque down there for a supposedly un-torquey car).

When out having fun, ignore all that and just slam those changes home (and wince slightly)

[gareth h]

Tell him to try s2 when it's cold (changes up sooner) and s5 when it has warmed up, his problem pulling away in 1st is because the throttle is very sensitive, he'll get used to it but balancing with a little left foot braking helps.

[The Stiglet]

Thanks guys, that's good info.

[danp]

I usually go with A2 (maybe S2) until it's warmed up, then move up to S3 and maybe even S4. ;-) Rarely higher - changes in S3 are pretty snappy.

Don't tend to use any of the other auto modes, just A2.

Believe it pulls away in 2nd in A1 (i.e. snow/ice mode!)

Not sure about S6 all the time hoppo!

[Cemesis]

Do not use any mode that requires pulling away in 2nd gear. Previous owner of my 55k SMG M3 toasted the clutch by using nothing but A1 whilst living in London. Clutch lasted about 3k with me before it needed replacement.

I'd suggest S4 for normal driving and leave S5 for when you are in a hurry. Never got on with the auto myself but others have found it OK.