Aak777 From Qatar, joined Apr 2001, 284 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 years 12 months 5 hours ago) and read 3580 times:
I'm planning on purchasing the Z4 with SMG gearbox which is available on the M3. So is it known for its breakdowns or not? If yes is it expensive to repair?
Thanx
Flight152 From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 3291 posts, RR: 7 Reply 3, posted (7 years 12 months 5 hours ago) and read 3564 times:
The SMG gearbox is available on the 5-series, 6-series, Z4, M3 and standard on the 2006 M5. While it shifts faster then any human possible, I would often perfer a regular 6-speed manual, but buy whatever you like, and feels best to you.
DucatiRacer From United States of America, joined May 2005, 231 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (7 years 12 months 4 hours ago) and read 3549 times:
I have an M3 with the SMG and it is decent. I would have preferred the 6 speed, but my partner does not care to shift so the SMG was a compromise. I would point out 2 things, first, the SMG in the Z4 is a less sophisticated version of that found in the more expensive BMW models. The version in the M cars and 6 Series is very modifiable for different driving styles and situations, that found in the Z4 is much more limited. I had an SMG equipped Z4 as a dealer loaner and hated it as the car never seemed to do what I wanted it to, but that may be because I was constantly comparing it to the M3's. Second, you cannot really get a good appreciation for how an SMG car really drives until you have driven it for a good bit. A quick test drive is not enough to really familiarize oneself with the real characteristics of that transmission, you will probably find it awkward for a while, which can make a bad first impression.
My recommendation would be to see if the dealer will let you have one for a day and spend some real time behind the wheel. Finally, I have driven an automatic equipped 3.0 Z4 and found it more than quick enough even with that transmission. Accordingly, if you don't want to shift, the auto is probably good enough. If you do want to shift, try the SMG (but I'd go for the stick).
AA777 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 2465 posts, RR: 32 Reply 7, posted (7 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 3521 times:
We have a BMW M3 with SMG, and I have grown to really like it. At first it feels clumsy, and you really have to learn how to modulate the gas, or else the clutch sets in too fast and you're gonna be jerking around. But once you get it down, its a really convenient and fun piece of machinery! My car is a manual (but its an AUDI), and I havent driven the M3 in the manual so I dont know which is better on the M3, Manual v. SMG. Make sure you test drive one, to see how you like it first. BMW makes amazing manual transmissions, so you certainly will not be making a mistake if you decide to go for the stick. I recommend trying ALL the transmissions, because their Auto is simply the best automatic I have ever driven. We had an X5 4.4i and it shifted beautifully, I never felt any of the shifts, it was wonderful. Traded it for a Cayenne, which has a better interior and nicer exhaust note, but the transmission can be a little...shifty / lazy....
Anyhow, Enjoy the bimmer, no matter what you get, you will be in love with it.
AA777 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 2465 posts, RR: 32 Reply 9, posted (7 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 3518 times:
LOT,
I have pictures of the M3 in front of my house if thats what ur hinting at....
AirxLiban From Lebanon, joined Oct 2003, 4491 posts, RR: 55 Reply 10, posted (7 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 3508 times:
Aak777, I think that it depends on what kind of driving you are going to do.
The SMG is great and when in the most aggressive setting can shift faster than any human can I think something like 0.16 seconds, which is faster than Ferrari's F1 transmission even. But it's not really the best of both worlds...the SMG is still a manual transmission and as such you have the sensations of driving a manual car while driving it that automatics do not have such as the lurching forward and backward.
I have not driven an SMG BMW but I have been driven in one. Just don't think that the 'auto' mode on the SMG is like a typical automatic transmission.
Recently i had the opportunitiy to drive an E46 330i performance package in the US, which has more horsepower, 18" wheels and a tuned suspension. Let me tell you one thing...i did not miss the manual at first, but then once running the engine through all the gears up to 120+ mph it eventually got old and i wished i had a 6-speed.
Anyway I would just like to say that I love the Z4 and wish you many happy kilometres driving it. Let us know what you choose.
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 80 Reply 11, posted (7 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 3506 times:
Quoting Flight152 (Reply 3): While it shifts faster then any human possible, I would often perfer a regular 6-speed manual, but buy whatever you like, and feels best to you.
Even though, supposedly, the SMG shifts faster than a human can (half the time of the Magnetti Marelli F1 box in Ferraris) the M3 is still faster with the 3 pedal box.
Quoting Aak777 (Reply 5): The trouble is believe it or not the dealer says that not one customer has bought a manual gearbox Z4 in this country.
Well, that says one of 3 things. First, that the dealers are pushing the SMG because they make more money. Second, that is a sad sign. Third, the guy is full of $h!t and is trying to get you to spend more.
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
DucatiRacer From United States of America, joined May 2005, 231 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (7 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 3491 times:
Quoting LOT767-300ER (Reply 8): Wow, the ratio of BMW M3 owners is pretty damn big here....hmmm
Wow, a whopping 2 whole people have mentioned owning M3's, I do believe you have uncovered a nest of pimple faced 17 year olds posting made up stories from a computer in high-school study hall, guess there is no point lying to you about my 2 foot long e-penis now.
For the record, the vast majority of people in the entire world who own a BMW with SMG are going to be M3 owners because until barely a year ago it was the only BMW model offered with that transmission.
Jutes85 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (7 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 3462 times:
Quoting DucatiRacer (Reply 12): Wow, a whopping 2 whole people have mentioned owning M3's, I do believe you have uncovered a nest of pimple faced 17 year olds posting made up stories from a computer in high-school study hall, guess there is no point lying to you about my 2 foot long e-penis now.
Cfalk From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (7 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 3446 times:
I find it criminal that anyone can even consider buying a car like the Z4 with anything other than a manual transmission.
The only excuse for the SMG or an auto is that you are physically handicapped. It increases your fuel consumption, reduces available power, reduces the controlibility of your drivetrain, and is more machinery to maintain, and eventually fix.
FLVILLA From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2004, 394 posts, RR: 3 Reply 15, posted (7 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 3442 times:
Auto's on alot of cars add value !
There are not many 5/7 Series, E/S class or A6/A8 out there in manual. A manual version of these vehicles are harder to re-sell because the majority of them sold are auto's and it's what the people want. Big executive cars like these in manual has an element of cheapness, I'm sorry but they just do. When ever I look on the net particularly at the manufacturers sites looking at the used cars, I always find that manual versions are hard to come by and when they do they are usually the smallest engine and not one upgrade.
I hope in life i can work to live, not live to work
Cfalk From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 16, posted (7 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 3441 times:
Quoting FLVILLA (Reply 15): There are not many 5/7 Series, E/S class or A6/A8 out there in manual. A manual version of these vehicles are harder to re-sell because the majority of them sold are auto's and it's what the people want
True to a certain point. We were talking about a Z4, however - a sports car.
As far as the bigger cars you mentioned, I found out something interesting lately. I own a 1994 BMW 540i with the 300hp V-8 and a 6-speed manual transmission. It has about 200,000 km (120,000 miles), and still runs great. The resale value in Switzerland for this car is higher than it would be with the automatic transmission, as the automatic would need extensive maintainance at this point, while the manual just keeps on running.
I also found out that my car is very rare - very few buyers bought this engine with the manual. So it's a bit of a collectors' item
Flight152 From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 3291 posts, RR: 7 Reply 17, posted (7 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 3424 times:
There are not many 5/7 Series, E/S class or A6/A8 out there in manual.
Considering of all the cars you mentioned, the 7-series, S-class, and A8 don't even offer a manual option, I don't place high merit on your comment. A good persentage of the 5-series sold in the US are manual.
FLVILLA From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2004, 394 posts, RR: 3 Reply 18, posted (7 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 3416 times:
Quoting Flight152 (Reply 17): A good persentage of the 5-series sold in the US are manual.
Why bring in a market that I don't live in ?? I made my comment based on the market I live in, I assumed most people would realize that from my location flag.
I hope in life i can work to live, not live to work
Flight152 From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 3291 posts, RR: 7 Reply 19, posted (7 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 3412 times:
I was mearly making a comment on how 5-speed premium sedans do have a large market. How about a responce on the wrong info you gave..? (I did check UK's MB, BMW and Audi websites)
FLVILLA From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2004, 394 posts, RR: 3 Reply 20, posted (7 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 3411 times:
Quoting Flight152 (Reply 19): How about a responce on the wrong info you gave..?
I don't see where I gave wrong information. I said :
Quoting FLVILLA (Reply 15): There are not many 5/7 Series, E/S class or A6/A8 out there in manual.
Which is true, there aren't alot of those vehicles in manual, so much so that some of them don't even give you the option. So where exactly did I say that there where 7-series/S-class/A8's in manual ? Also whose to assume that I only count the most recent models of those vehicles ?
I hope in life i can work to live, not live to work
Sponsor Message: 
From Qatar, joined Apr 2001, 284 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Lebanon, joined Oct 2003, 4491 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2004, 394 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
