Have you ever wondered just how much faster the SMG is than a normal person? Well today we're here to find out! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok @kiwicarlife.yt / kiwicarlife.yt / kiwicarlife.yt Thanks for Watching!
A thousand % of agreement here. SMG and paddle shift is just for lazy drivers or Dylan racetrack sunday. Manual is the way to go for pleasure, and I value that above a few milliseconds on a chrono.
BMW made a 4.1 gearing set that was going to be standard for the e46 m3 but it was too rowdy and they stuck with the 3.62 gearing. It is now a popular modification and since the fact the part is OEM is a plus. I have it in my e46 m3 and it completely transforms the car where 1st is almost useless and you have to shift into 3rd to hit 100kph. This new gearing in combination with a CSL airbox and a tune makes the acceleration and torque noticeably stronger than my dyno tuned and decatted e92 m3. I highly recommend it as it makes the car keep up with any brand new hot hatch or sports car, not that it matters anyway.
Honestly, you did pretty well! So is it worth having an SMG for 0.1 sec faster 0-100k/h if it means giving up a 3rd pedal? Absolutely not! I think you've just proven a manual to be a better option and that you honestly don't gain anything worthwhile in regards to acceleration times.
Nah, 80 ms 😂😂 doesn't seem like that at least for the sound it makes when shifting... I think modern ones probably does like this claims but not these bmw's old gearboxes. In my opinion they are good enough, yeah, sure, but not that great performance yet
I think it's just the angle that makes it look that way, it also has a soft limiter so you're best to shift about 7800 before that starts kicking in and slowing you down
well you'd need to spend 10k on the 130i to be on par/better (LSD, shorter ratio, coilovers, spherical bushes/arms etc) but that comes ootb with M3 and the S54 is objectively better engine than the N52
You can still blow up your engine money shifting rev limit or not. The rev limit only prevents fuelling above a certain point, the car won't deny you the ability to put it in a lower gear and spin at too high a speed.
Im guessing you have tried, but do you have just enough revs left to leave it in 2nd before you hit 100kph?? That change into 3rd arrives at the exact wrong time #BadTiming
We all knew that the smg would be quicker, but .01 of a second slower (which in the real world feels no different)is definitely worth it for having the manual.
I often wonder how fast my 370z does to 100 versus modern automatic versions being manual. It's more fun so doesn't matter but good to see you got so close to the SMG time here!
How comfortable were the shifts putting it around town with the SMG though. I know for example the DSG's are really quick going flat-out, but not so great around town.
I’d disagree any VAG group or BMW DCT is perfectly smooth around town. Honestly the SMG was smoother than most people can drive manual themselves. People like to hate but you can see why a lot of people bought it back in 2000 because at the time most normal autos were horrendous
@@KiwiCarLife I'm not hating, was a genuine question. Honestly, if the Civic i bought came with a decent auto, i'd have gone that route probably too. But CVT is just not great. :)
I think its one of those situations where most hate it because of the perception that it's bad, rather than having driven one and really deciding for themselves that it's bad. A bit like the Honda Civic FN2, too many listened to Jeremy Clarkson :)
