I just bought a 2002 M3, i am coming from a E36 M3. My 02 is an SMG. I really want to learn how to drive/enjoy the car. today i tried ot get on it, ( first time since i bought it) and i caused the car to jerk ( like i didnt know how to drive 5 speed) this kinda of concerned me. so i have decided to go about it the way i wanted and take it slow. If anyone has any pointers, thatwould be great, i damn sure dont want to replace the SMG, so i want to take car of it, i got 154K out of my E36, i would like to get the same out of my new M....thanks for your help and input.

Your throttle application directly relates to how the computer actuates the clutch. You have to mentally "pretend" there is a clutch pedal and drive as such.

Your throttle application directly relates to how the computer actuates the clutch. You have to mentally "pretend" there is a clutch pedal and drive as such.

i uderstand the concept, but when i lay off the gas pedal it feels like it shifts weird...am i being overly protective of the car? it was meant to be driven but i do not want to replace a tranny or rear diff.....

Lift just a split second after pulling the paddle.

Searching should yield plenty of info on this.....

just drive in the S mode, forget the automatic..... you'll get used to it and enjoy it even more... you can also reduce the drive logic to S2-S3 and the car will shift gears more smoothly... change between gears at 2500-3000 rpm and it should ride as smooth as butter.... peace

and avoid the sport button on daily driving... the response is quicker and this causes the jerks too... congrats and enjoy the new ride!

i uderstand the concept, but when i lay off the gas pedal it feels like it shifts weird...am i being overly protective of the car? it was meant to be driven but i do not want to replace a tranny or rear diff.....
You don't need to take your foot off the accelerator. You'll get smoother shifts if you stay on the gas. Also, Sequential (manual shift) mode definitely puts you in control of the shift points. I've noticed that Automated mode shifts at times when I don't expect.

I am confused with SMG myself haha, do they have a regular stick too or just paddles?

I am confused with SMG myself haha, do they have a regular stick too or just paddles?

There is a stick, as well as paddles.

The best way that I have found to shift these cars is to breathe off the gas when shifting, just like a regular manual box. I also left foot brake the car.

Once you embrace the technology, instead of fighting it, you will begin to get the most out of it.

That hardest part about SMG is the takeoff. That's were you are most likely to get into throttle oscillation, which causes the jerkiness. If you want to get into it from a dig, learn how to use launch control.

That hardest part about SMG is the takeoff. That's were you are most likely to get into throttle oscillation, which causes the jerkiness. If you want to get into it from a dig, learn how to use launch control.

can you point me to some documention for this?

this site should answer all your questions - http://www.m3smg.com/
if not try leo's site... IIRC it is "leo's leisure site" try a google for that.
I don't have the link handy.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=638106&highlight=launch+control

and avoid the sport button on daily driving... the response is quicker and this causes the jerks too... congrats and enjoy the new ride!


That's great advice actually. I'm on week 2 and that button is nothing but trouble for me in traffic lol.

you can lift off the throttle if you want, but there is no need. the DME cuts the engine power during shifts.

and the best way to control the shifts is with the drivelogic switch. 1 or 2 for slow, smoother shifts, 4 or 5 for quick, firmer shifts.

I've been leaving from a stop with SMG until I get into 2nd and then switching back to Auto (when in traffic areas that is). I'm sure this is just the n00b in me talking but I find there's a lot of lag in Auto from a stop when you're not trying to open it right up.

Any chance your launching with traction control on?

When you say "jerk" what do you mean exactly? When is this occurring? from a stop or when you are already moving? If you hammer an smg car from a stop and the dsc is on the cars reaction is very bad due to the dsc cutting gas and the smg trying to shift. If you want to hammer from a dead stop turn the dsc off.

you can lift off the throttle if you want, but there is no need. the DME cuts the engine power during shifts.

and the best way to control the shifts is with the drivelogic switch. 1 or 2 for slow, smoother shifts, 4 or 5 for quick, firmer shifts.

Or you can leave it in 5 and breath off the throttle to get quick AND smooth shifts.

and avoid the sport button on daily driving... the response is quicker and this causes the jerks too
The latest voluntary DME software recall also includes an update for SMG software and the sport button that makes it much more agreeable at lower speeds/gears and greatly improves throttle blipping. I STRONGLY recommend this recall to anyone with an SMG and the years covered under the DME recall. Call your dealer and reference BMW emissions recall 06E-A01
Or you can leave it in 5 and breath off the throttle to get quick AND smooth shifts.
+1.

In the end, the sport button doesn't save you much more than not having to mash the accelerator as far to get the same throttle response. I also find S5 my favorite driving setting. S4 if I'm just not in the mood to do anything but behave.

The latest voluntary DME software recall also includes an update for SMG software and the sport button that makes it much more agreeable at lower speeds/gears and greatly improves throttle blipping. I STRONGLY recommend this recall to anyone with an SMG and the years covered under the DME recall. Call your dealer and reference BMW emissions recall 06E-A01

+1.

In the end, the sport button doesn't save you much more than not having to mash the accelerator as far to get the same throttle response. I also find S5 my favorite driving setting. S4 if I'm just not in the mood to do anything but behave.

I've heard that the higher settings, S4 and S5, cause the SMG to wear out quicker. Is there any truth to that?

I just bought a 2002 M3, i am coming from a E36 M3. My 02 is an SMG. I really want to learn how to drive/enjoy the car. today i tried ot get on it, ( first time since i bought it) and i caused the car to jerk ( like i didnt know how to drive 5 speed) this kinda of concerned me. so i have decided to go about it the way i wanted and take it slow. If anyone has any pointers, thatwould be great, i damn sure dont want to replace the SMG, so i want to take car of it, i got 154K out of my E36, i would like to get the same out of my new M....thanks for your help and input.


Since you recently bought the car, you might also want to reset the computer. (I'm doing this from memory so I might be wrong about it. I'm sure some of the more knowledgeable members can correct me if I'm wrong.)

Get the car up to over 30 mph, bump the shifter into neutral and pull back both paddles for about 10 seconds. This resets the ECU to learn how you drive.

Again I could be wrong about the speed and the length of time to hold the paddles. I'm old and my memory is failing fast. You might be better off doing a search on this site unless someone smarter does a follow up to this post.

Good luck,
OldBMVGuy

I've heard that the higher settings, S4 and S5, cause the SMG to wear out quicker. Is there any truth to that?
If you mean the actual hydraulic assembly/mechanism, I wouldn't think so. As for the clutch, I could see that since it's shifting more aggressively.

There's very little real data on SMG failures other than sparse anecdotal stories, which hopefully means it's not the mechanical disaster some people like to paint it as. However, "absence of evidence" is not "evidence of absence".

I've heard that the higher settings, S4 and S5, cause the SMG to wear out quicker. Is there any truth to that?

If by "SMG" you mean synchros, then yeah maybe.