I fully understand all the 6MT folks out there. But my left knee is thrashed and 500 cluth push downs a day isn't happening. That accepted, I have an 05 Acura TL, and for what it is (I've had Mustangs and CBR's so I know speed and power) it's been a very good car. But I'm wanting to go back to more power with my luxury and the M3 is on the mind. The thing is, I've got tiptronic on my TL and hardly ever use it. If the SMG needs to be driven by manual imputs all the time, then it may not be a good choice for me.

My concerns are that I've heard the car rides rough no matter what you do in full auto mode. I also wonder if it's predomenantly driven in full auto mode, would it be harsher on the transmission? If I get an M3 it will likely have to be a higer mileage one, and I won't be able to be dropping 2k every five minutes. I've looked into the 330 Ci's with Steptronics a little bit, but the prospect of wanting a faster car, but buying a slower one doesn't thrill me even though I love the looks of the car, especially in ZHP trim. The M3, of course is the best looking and fastest, but I just have to be sure with SMG as the only auto option that it will make sense.

I never used the Auto mode in my SMG car. :nono It really is a bad joke. Very jerky and dim-witted, no matter what shift speed you select. I drove it in S5 or S6 mode all the time. Using the paddles is fun. If you are concerned that you couldn't be bothered to use the paddles to shift all the time, then perhaps a 330Ci w/ Steptronic or an older Merc C-Class AMG would be a better option for you.

SMG does not drive like an auto. You won't want to use the auto mode and the auto mode does not work well.

You don't need to use your left knee to operate an SMG. I'm not sure what the problem is. Just use the paddles--that's the whole premise of an SMG...

The issue is that he's comparing steptronic (in which you never feel much desire to shift it manually) to SMG because he has no real experience. Suffice to say that you don't feel that way driving SMG. Especially with the clunking and jerking that the auto mode does

I am 36 and past wanting to change gears all day while driving back and forth across town. I was worried with my SMG that I would not be able to drive it like my last automatic.....and now I am GLAD I CAN'T.......changing gears on the M3 brings you closer to the feel of what the engineers were trying to accomplish with the M3....when I am using the paddles to shift, I feel like I am back in a race car on a public road.....I think it is an awesome alternative to a stick....I love the paddles.

Auto mode in A3 works. It's not the best, but if you're on the phone or just not caring it's tolerable. The car is really easy to drive in manual mode though... no reason not to get it IMO. I too was shopping for a 330i ZHP auto and wound up with an SMG M3 - no regrets! The 330i ZHP auto was BORING. Lost all urge to own one after the test drive..

I live in a heavy traffic area too. If SMG is not your speed, then I suggest an '03 540i M-sport. They can be had with automatics and have very good power/looks with comparable pricing. It may bridge the gap between your TL and an M3 better than 330..

If I were in the market for a non-manual car with some grunt, I would shop used MB 500s, and 550s if I had the budget. From what I've driven, I say if you have to go auto, go MB. They're the only autos I've ever driven that I didn't hate.

If I were in the market for a non-manual car with some grunt, I would shop used MB 500s, and 550s if I had the budget. From what I've driven, I say if you have to go auto, go MB. They're the only autos I've ever driven that I didn't hate.

Go drive a new 335i. They have some of the best autos available.

I fully understand all the 6MT folks out there. But my left knee is thrashed and 500 cluth push downs a day isn't happening.


I feel ya on that left knee thing. Sometimes I dream of having an automatic but then I snap back into reality. I'd go crazy not having the ability to ride it out to redline and then shifting. But going SMG might not be that bad of an idea.

I like the 335's, and that would probably be the way to go, but it's a little out of my price range. I was thinking of getting an M3 in the 50k plus mileage bracket that I might be able to pick up for 25K or so. The payment would be ok and I'd have a little to tuck back in case/ when maintenance issues arise. I do really like the CLK 55 AMG's and you can find them dirt cheap, but I see some crazy stuff where a whole underbody panel has to be removed to do an oil change and I hear 300.00 bucks kind of stuff. Maybe I'm wrong on that, and it would be the better way to go.

In auto mode it drives just like a manual without the clutch. it just depends on what you like. IMO i like the maual feel.....plus the paddles

Ive got to be honest. the M3 is Power, the kind that most mustangs dont know about. And no matter what you do, its a rough kinda ride because thats what most people buy it for. The stiffness of the suspension and the way the car was manufactured demands attention and is unlike anything else out there. If your looking for an M3, get an M3, if your looking for something soft riding and fast, There might be a Caddy out there for ya.

I like the 335's, and that would probably be the way to go, but it's a little out of my price range. I was thinking of getting an M3 in the 50k plus mileage bracket that I might be able to pick up for 25K or so. The payment would be ok and I'd have a little to tuck back in case/ when maintenance issues arise. I do really like the CLK 55 AMG's and you can find them dirt cheap, but I see some crazy stuff where a whole underbody panel has to be removed to do an oil change and I hear 300.00 bucks kind of stuff. Maybe I'm wrong on that, and it would be the better way to go.

Sounds like you better do a little more research on the scheduled maintenance requirements of the m3. $300 oil changes are going to be nothing when you see the price for a valve adjustment...oh, and m3 oil changes aren't cheap either.

Learn to work on your car yourself. Then oil changes only cost what the oil and filter costs, $70-$80, the valve adjustment is not that complicated.

Then it doesn't seem so bad...

Steve

I am a hard core manual shifter and because of that I hesitated to get the SMG.
BUT, I have to say I'm very happy with it and I'm especially happy with how well the auto program works!
Driving to work I pop it into A1 which will start the car in 2nd gear and shift pretty smothly. AND, you won't have to bother to think about downshifts. But that is true in M mode as well.
Once you realize that the way you work the throtle influences the shifting points, you won't think it shifts to soon either.

So I would say go for it!
Just plan on spending some time to figure it out. Your first test drive may not give the SMG justice.

A lot of good info here. I bought a SMG because I didn't want to deal with shifting while on the phone, etc. It works well when you manually shift it, but in auto mode it doesn't always shift when you want it to.

I see people that drive the SMGs bash the auto modes and didn't really understand why until I bought one. To me, it is a different transmission than any I have ever driven and required me learning how to use it.

My wife had a Boxster with Tiptronic and in auto mode it drove like an auto (cause it IS an auto). The SMG is a manual transmission with a hydraulic actuator that works the clutch while tiptronic is an automatic with a manual shift mode but it still has a torque converter that smoothly transfers power when switching gears.

If you want to experience the jerking everyone talks about in a manual transmission, just do this. Accelerate moderately in any of your first three gears and before you are ready to shift, press the clutch without lifting off the accelerator. The sudden removal of power will cause you to be thrown forward several inches, then fall back and bang your head on the headrest. For even more dramatic effect, try this with a passenger in the car cause they won’t anticipate it. 2 or 3 shifts like this and your passenger will be convinced you can’t drive an MT. This is EXACTLY what you will do when you first drive an SMG. My wife was convinced it was crap.

How NOT to do that takes a little practice. In auto mode, the shift points are controlled by the computer and are very predictable. In A3, when I am leaving a traffic light with other traffic, mine shifts at exactly 3K in 1st and 2nd then 3.5K in 3rd. 4-6 are nonissues since you are not usually accelerating as hard in those gears so no jerking. For 1-3, what you have to do is anticipate the shift and lift on the accelerator just a bit and voila, smooth as silk shifts every time. The lift should not be enough to cause engine braking, just enough to match RPM to speed. I realized this RPM matching is something I do without even thinking about it when I drive an MT.

As far as it being harder on the transmission, in auto or manual mode the computer with match the RPM with speed when it reengages the clutch so no, it is not harder on the clutch. I really don’t understand why the BMW software guys didn’t add the RPM matching on the disengage because it makes the auto mode so much better IMO.

Erin

Learn to work on your car yourself. Then oil changes only cost what the oil and filter costs, $70-$80, the valve adjustment is not that complicated.

Then it doesn't seem so bad...

Steve

When Steve comes into town, he will do your valve adjustment for free! :D