confusing but here it goes. For those of you with an SMG when your driving and are getting ready to shift do you let go of the gas pedl like you would in a manual transmission when your about to shift?
And how do you do it in first gear it irritates me that I have to press the gas pedal softly so the car won't pull back (or some people call it the bunny hop) like it would on a manual transmission. Shouldn't this be a much faster start up?? Thanks to those that respond.

Well to answer you first question I personally choose to slightly lift my foot prior to shifting due to the fact that it will give me a smoother shift at any given time, otherwise if I'm in the need for some spirited driving I always keep my foot down for the shifts. Secondly... there really isn't a way to speed up from first gear without feeling that jerky feeling unless you feather the accelerator.... otherwise you end up spinning your tires because you gave it too much power.. or like you said yourself.. getting irritated by having to start slowly...

You don't have to lift, but if you want a smoother shift, just take a bit off the throttle. Someone here mentioned "like lifting your big toe," which is about right. You don't want to come completely off throttle, just a shade will do.

I have no idea what your talking about with the second question. My car hooks up straight away. Are you on OEM Conti's? If you are, one of the easiest improvements you can make is by ditching those grease balls for some PS2's or REO50A PP's. HUGE difference.

Read the manual for the SMG clutch engagement reset procedure...

I guess what I am trying to say regarding the second question is when you drive a manual transmission I understand that you have to let go of the clutch and gas pedal about the same time you need to balance them out if not the car will jerk and possibly turns off. So I understand you need to treat first gear on the SMG just about the same giving it a very light start up with the gas pedal so it won't (bunny hop, pull back, etc.) but doesn't that defeat the whole purpose on being a fast car?? If I am at a stop light and there is a car next to me I notice that they can step on the gas and just go I on the other hand have to make sure I press the gas lightly and then go into 2nd gear and sometimes, not all the time, the car behinds me needs to apply his brake when I go into second gear...lol......I guess it just takes getting used to.

I guess what I am trying to say regarding the second question is when you drive a manual transmission I understand that you have to let go of the clutch and gas pedal about the same time you need to balance them out if not the car will jerk and possibly turns off. So I understand you need to treat first gear on the SMG just about the same giving it a very light start up with the gas pedal so it won't (bunny hop, pull back, etc.) but doesn't that defeat the whole purpose on being a fast car?? If I am at a stop light and there is a car next to me I notice that they can step on the gas and just go I on the other hand have to make sure I press the gas lightly and then go into 2nd gear and sometimes, not all the time, the car behinds me needs to apply his brake when I go into second gear...lol......I guess it just takes getting used to.

Read the manual for the SMG clutch engagement reset procedure...

:confused:

Kevlar - I don't think my manual talks about any resetting of the SMG clutch.....do you know what this would be??

I don't have the manual handy... but I know there is a page in there that says something to the effect of pulling both paddle in whiel travelling at approximately 10mph. I will have to wait until I get home to actually find my reference material.

Ok Thanks - kevlar.

Page 74 in the 04 manual.

Kevlar, in another post I believe you mentioned this can be used after a clutch change as well (as long as the clutch slave doesn't need to be bled). Is this the procedure you meant?

Following a tire or wheel change and
after mounting or removing snow
chains, the slip recognition of the
SMG Drivelogic must become familiar with the
changed condition.
Reinitialize the system afterwards:
1. Move the selector lever into
position N on a straight stretch of
road at a speed of over 20 mph
(30 km/h)
2. Pull both shift paddles for approx. 2 seconds.

If you do not carry out the initialization,
the system automatically "learns" the
changed condition gradually during
driving. This can become apparent due
to brief opening and closing of the
clutch.

That's it ... thanks.

Kevlar - What does that initialization have to do with the start up of first gear?? Please inform.

you should just keep your foot on the pedal when you up shift. it is throttle by wire the computer controls the whole thing (lifting the throttle when you up shift, and revving the engine when you downshift)

Kevlar - What does that initialization have to do with the start up of first gear?? Please inform.
It will reset the engagement point of the clutch unit which sometimes can cause the situation you are experiencing. One possible reason you are getting the uneven start is because the unit if fighting with applying power smoothly because it does not understand where the proper biting point of the clutch is.

Kind of like if somebody changed the engagemnt point of the clutch pedal.

you should just keep your foot on the pedal when you up shift. it is throttle by wire the computer controls the whole thing (lifting the throttle when you up shift, and revving the engine when you downshift)
A slight lift during shifts will make shifting smoother...

i kind of keep my right knee as well as the calf portion of my leg pressed up against the center counsil in a way that just alows my foot to move with the heel on the floor. do this and youll never " bunny hop " again.

Ok. I will try it but I am kinda nervous to mess things up. Do dealers by any chance know about this resetting (I suppose they do)? How will I know I have resetted the clutch what should I look out for? Thanks again!!

Ok. I will try it but I am kinda nervous to mess things up. Do dealers by any chance know about this resetting (I suppose they do)? How will I know I have resetted the clutch what should I look out for? Thanks again!!
Dealers can do the reset of the SMG adaption/engagement point as well. It normally is done when anything in the driveline changes or should the SMG unit get confused. They do it with the GT1 computer though because they can look at the adaption and reset it if necessary that way without driving the car.

Kevlar - you certainly seem to know a lot can i just ask another quick question. I got rear-ended a week ago and the bumper seems to be outline, the vehicle that crashed in to mine already accepted liability so it's just a matter of me taking it to the body shop so they can adjust the bumper. You can tell when you look at the linining of the bumper that there is more space on one side then the other.

Could bumps like this throw off the SMG computer also should I have the dealer look at that also?

The bump from behind shouldn't affect the SMG unit.

To fix the bumper, there are two clips on either side which cost a pretty penny for how big they are. But more importantly depending on how severe the bump is, it may have broken the clips, crushed the exhaust, crushed the rear bumper impact absorbers and broken the internal structural Carbon Kevlar support for the rear bumper. All those things could be broken and you would never know unless the bumper came off.

Good to know I will be taking it in tomorrow and will make sure they remove the bumper to check for all of that.