What is SMG?

[Ahbengdriver]

I know SMG stands for Sequential Manual Gearbox.

Just curious if this is BMW language for manual geared cars, and is it same as typical manual 5 or 6 or 7 gear levels kind of manual gear boxes.

Also, I read somewhere SMG can also be put on automode? Now how does this compare with steptronic then?

 

[jaskin]

Re: What is SMG?

I was going to say do a search but apparently SMG SSG is too short to do a search on this forum
Here are some links to read up on
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=384527&highlight=SMG+SSG
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=356359&highlight=SMG+SSG
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=281193&highlight=SMG+SSG
Happy reading.

 

[TripleM]

Re: What is SMG?

Ah beng
Apart from the hardware/software differences, the real main difference is in the feel of driving the car ( ie gear shifting ). SMG is jerky whereas Steptronic is butter smooth.

 

[///M3]

Re: What is SMG?

Ah beng
Apart from the hardware/software differences, the real main difference is in the feel of driving the car ( ie gear shifting ). SMG is jerky whereas Steptronic is butter smooth.

heh so which 1 is better? sounds like ur votes go to steptronic? i prefer that to SMG..SMG sounds very high-tech to use.

 

[hitmee]

Re: What is SMG?

change to SMG steerign and enjoy steptronic lor. he he

pedal steering should be a norm now. why BMW still not offering it!!!!

 

[TripleM]

Re: What is SMG?

It's up to individual preference to be honest.
without any doubt, I prefer SMG but dun ask me to drive in SMG in auto-mode. It's the worst ever.

 

[jaskin]

Re: What is SMG?

I second that. terok.
Hitmee: the E90/92 got pedal shift options in the States

 

[Ahbengdriver]

Re: What is SMG?

So SMG is not the 6-speed manual?

 

[jaskin]

Re: What is SMG?

Its a 5 or 6 speed manual gearbox with Hydraulics controlling the clutch.

 

[SMYUEN]

Re: What is SMG?

SMG or what G all the same... all jerky.. my cambiorcorsa can only be driven in sports mode - manual or auto.. non-sport is atrocious...

so far, only the DGS is smooth smooth...

 

[TripleM]

Re: What is SMG?

So SMG is not the 6-speed manual?

Technically speaking it is manual but there's no clutch pedal to press.
The car rolls back on an up slope and when stationary (with engaged gear ), the car doesn't move forward...Majulah SMG!

 

[SMYUEN]

Re: What is SMG?

Technically speaking it is manual but there's no clutch pedal to press.
The car rolls back on an up slope and when stationary (with engaged gear ), the car doesn't move forward...Majulah SMG!

yo jack - what is it with you and majullah??? hahaha

 

[Rastaman]

Re: What is SMG?

Can i third that ?? haha..once u try SMG there's no turning back especially more for those who like spirited driving. I wouldnt even consider goin back to Steptronic at all.

Meantime, whats up with this auto-mode ?? , i use it all the time when traffic is crawling and it seems fine la. Ok maybe sometimes it's jerky ..hehehehe

 

[Gombat]

Re: What is SMG?

why so terok????? there is no clutch to control like in the traditional manual cars..........

 

[jaskin]

Re: What is SMG?

Rasta I've used the auto mode sparingly. Not even in traffic jams.

 

[The Mixmaster]

Re: What is SMG?

The car rolls back on an up slope......SMG

Haha. This caught me by surprise the other day when I was waiting for the traffic lights to change on a slope in my M3. I forgot for one brief moment that I don't have a steptronic any longer. I think the uncle in the car behind me was a bit worried when my M3 rolled backwards.

 

[TripleM]

Re: What is SMG?

yo jack - what is it with you and majullah??? hahaha

It's patriotism thingy Doc, u won't understand...

SMG or what G all the same... all jerky.. my cambiorcorsa can only be driven in sports mode - manual or auto.. non-sport is atrocious...

Haha, at least SMG is still very nice driven in normal mode, let alone sports mode. Only in auto-mode is crap. Jem , I am surprised u can put up with that flawed gearbox

 

[TripleM]

Re: What is SMG?

why so terok????? there is no clutch to control like in the traditional manual cars..........

Manual car be driven much smoother than SMG (auto mode) I swear...
If u hv sat in SMG cars in auto-mode, u will know what I mean...Come to the meet up and I'll show u what it's like but not this coming meet up as I won't be in town.

 

[Ahbengdriver]

Re: What is SMG?

Then my next question is, besides driving the manual mode of SMG, sometimes people will drive in auto mode right? Given its not such a great gearbox afterall(auto sucks?), why do car companies put this 'great' thinggie in high end cars such as the M3 when lower models, eg 330i or even the newer 335i uses steptronic?

MA-JU-LAH....ME-BLUR-LAH...

 

[TripleM]

Re: What is SMG?

Well, at the end of the day...auto-manual selection is there for you to play with depending on your driving style/preference. Some may find the SMG auto-mode perfectly fine and they can bear with the jerkiness while others can't ( I am one of them ).

Now back to your question on 330...
Well, the 330 came with 3 different transmissions to choose from: Manual stick, AutoSteptronic and SMG1, each with different characteristics and finds its own target market. I believe the same thing is already happening to 335 ( manual stick n auto steptronic with paddleshifts for sure ), not sure if 335 is going to come up with SMG or not and if it does, it's a question of SMG1 or SMG2. I think it's gonna be the former if anything. Or if lucky, maybe the newly anticipated DSG type of tranny ( remains to be seen in the future face lift model perhaps...let's see )

So bottomline, it's all about marketing choices.
If u don't already know..

SMG car is faster than auto-steptronic as not only it shifts gears faster but also it's lighter. Of course, manual stick is the lightest. For a comparion, SMGII in M3 is 15kg heavier than the conventional manual stick.

Hope I cleared your ambiguity...