posted 12-22-2001 02:41 AM              

FYI -

DB

posted 12-27-2001 06:00 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by New SMG-boy:
... The dealer I purchased the car from (in L.A.) has six 6-speed cars and nine used E46 M3s... and noted that they haven't sold a non-SMG car in five weeks. The used ones will expand further as most of the incoming SMGs are for people who already own M3s - and are trading them.

FYI -

DB

---

posted 01-17-2002 08:41 AM              

I've been learning the ins and outs of the SMG II, and comparing it with my buddy Rolf's (who has a sliver M3 equipped much the same as mine). He allowed me to *ahem* borrow the local BMW club copies of the GPS discs for the European continent, helped me find a mechanic who actually owns an M3, etc...and here are some of my personal conclusions on SMG that you may like.

1) My car shift just as fast as Rolf's. As far as I can tell, Europe's "S6" mode is the same as our "S5". My car shifts every bit as fast as Rolf's. In order to get the tranny to do that, however, you need to be driving very agressively. The car takes it's own sweet time in city traffic, no matter what mode you're in. This isn't scientific, I didn't get out my cesium clock to check variations from 0.8 seconds, but it's perceptibly the same.

2) The car WILL work pretty much like an automatic if you want it to...this was a big issue for my wife who cruises (at high speeds) but doesn't drive it hard in the hills like I do...or at least I will when it's properly broken in. If I'm able to get the same 1/4 mile time as Rolf, discussion over.

3) I've tried Rolf's Launch Control and it's not that impressive. I'm still breaking mine in, but I have no doubt I'll be able to accomplish exactly the same thing without the computer's help. He and I were both able to match (by our own stopwatches) with LC off or on. The only difference we noted was that the initial RPM of 3800 or so with LC on isn't there with it off. It's about like stepping on the brake and the gas at the same time in a normal manual car...your RPMs don't dip QUITE as much when you bolt from the line. With DSC on, the tires chirp just a bit when you upshift each time...with DSC off it took several tries to keep from spinning out ruthlessly at each start and shift. You really have to feather the throttle carefully...and it's faster if you do. DSC made it a bit slower (.5sec or so) for the 1/4 mile than we could accomplish on our own after lots of practice but it also was saving the tires bigtime! What I imagine is that with him in S6 and me in S5, we'll be neck and neck in the quarter. With his LC, he'll get out of the blocks a smidge faster, and finish the quarter mile about a wheel ahead. Of course I weigh 10 pounds more than Rolf, so that may make more difference. Will report back in the spring.

4) I believe I know why BMW left LC off US models. Over here, they will totally void the warranty, on the WHOLE CAR, if you exceed 40 LC operations in total. Ever. I don't think that would stand up in court in the USA. You blow the clutch by starting in LC 150 times in a month, and then go to the dealer who tells you "No way"...that makes some sense. But imagine doing that, paying for the clutch yourself, then bringing it back with a cracked block and them still saying "NO WAY"...they'd get sued, and some lilly-livered judge would back the owner. That is just an opinion, but living over here and chatting with the locals has taught me that Germans are totally unimpressed with the degree to which Americans expect not to be responsible for themselves. I wouldn't be surprised at all if that attitude went all the way to the boardroom in Munich.

Now to figure out new ways to persuade myself not to let the car over 106 mph on the autobahn...