[MT JTN]

Hi everybody. Quick question about the new SMG gearbox for those of you in Europe with hands-on experience:

If you rev the engine to the 8250 RPM redline, will the car automatically shift up one gear for you? Or do you need to make the shift yourself?

I know that in Launch Control mode you just keep your foot on the gas and the car upshifts for you.

My question is in regular driving. If I'm just in the city, in 3rd gear, for example, and I floor it, will the car upshift for itself or no?

(What does an SMG-II M3 do?)

Thanks all.
-Matthew

 

[Filthy Monkey]

Hi everybody. Quick question about the new SMG gearbox for those of you in Europe with hands-on experience:

If you rev the engine to the 8250 RPM redline, will the car automatically shift up one gear for you? Or do you need to make the shift yourself?

I know that in Launch Control mode you just keep your foot on the gas and the car upshifts for you.

My question is in regular driving. If I'm just in the city, in 3rd gear, for example, and I floor it, will the car upshift for itself or no?

(What does an SMG-II M3 do?)

Thanks all.
-Matthew

Strangely, despite hitting the rev limiter so many times, I can't really remember, but I think it holds it until you change up yourself...

 

[Wolverine]

I've heard that in certain situations (f.t., in L.C. mode), the car will rev to 8500 rpm. Anyone seen this?

 

[alsahher]

No it wont change alone in S mode .. its not as the automatic gearbox.. you have to change by yourself..

Only in LC it will change by itself :M5rev:

 

[frylord]

Don't have mine yet so I wouldn't know if this is true but according to the manual.

In the following situations, the M Sequantial gearbox anticipates your intentions when in Sequential mode:
* Upshifts and downshifts are only performed at suitable engine and road speeds; for example you cannot downshift if the resulting enginespeed would be too high.
* When you bring the car to a halt 1st gear is selected automaticaly.
* Shortly before you reach the minimum speed for the selected gear, the gearbox shifts down without any action required on your part.

So no it doesn't upshift at the redline, like the VW/Opel/Audi tiptronic gearboxes (god I hate that).

 

[MEnthusiast]

in S mode it will not- it will hit the rev limiter. In D, it will. In D, it will downshift and the drive logic mode will determine how willing it is to downshift.

 

[Gustav]

Correct.

No it wont change alone in S mode .. its not as the automatic gearbox.. you have to change by yourself..

Only in LC it will change by itself :M5rev:

 

[MT JTN]

Very good! Thank you all!

That would take out a lot of the fun if it would upshift automatically for you. Bah!

-Matthew

 

[MEnthusiast]

I agree. It lets you choose. D for real automatic like driving and S for sequential F1 style driving. I was very impressed with the D mode and I found changing drive logic settings produced real differences when in D. I found I preferred level 3 for D and 5 for S (ie. D3 and S5). I did not notice much in the way of shift speed difference but the higher drive logic modes change how much throttle you need to call for a downshift and how long it holds a gear before an upshift.

 

[m5-black]

I also like D3 when in automode- Does anyone know what the rationale behind D1 is, which seems to want to get to 7th as fast as it can.

 

[Autobahnraser]

Does anyone know what the rationale behind D1 is, which seems to want to get to 7th as fast as it can.

It's for driving in wintry conditions!

 

[bernhtp]

It might be for EPA mileage ratings - like the skip shift on the Corvette.

Tom

 

[chris.bailey]

It's for driving in wintry conditions!

yeh. By the time it shifts from 1 to 2 the snow has melted hiha

 

[MEnthusiast]

I agree and I also think its to protect you the owner and whomever you may have loaned your car to: Mrs. (or Mr.) or valet, etc. When they punch it, it will be at the lowest part of the powerband- and if they have not hit the power or M buttons they will also be in P400 mode. Just a guess. Upon reflection, I like this for your and my speculative reasons.

 

[Autobahnraser]

German M6 manual, page 48, topic Drivelogic: "Drivelogic offers a variety of drive programs. Drive-Modus (D): There are 5 drive programs available, from relaxed (1) to sporty, very dynamic (5). The 1st drive program makes the cars start in 2nd gear, what is recommended under wintry road conditions with ice and snow."

 

[MEnthusiast]

You wont go very far, or very effectively/ safely for that matter, on those stock tires if there is even a hint of snow on the ground. Read more of the owners manual, because I am certain it says the tires on the car are summer tires and not appropriate for driving in the winter. If the manual does not say this, it should.

While starting in 2nd would be helpful for winter driving, I think the reason is a combination of factors mentioned here.