Z4 owners with SMG?

[RoyE46]

Anyone own a Z4 with SMG? I've read all the reviews, and I'd love to hear from an actual owner.

 

[Big Daddy]

Roy, I do not have a Z4 or SMG, what are you hearing? I see we both live in the Seattle area!

 

[Dinan55]

I heard it sucks, it's not the same one as the M3's. I think the M3's is SMGII. They say it's much slower and not as fun. I'd rather have a regular manual than an SMG, takes the fun out of driving.

 

[RoyE46]

Roy, I do not have a Z4 or SMG, what are you hearing? I see we both live in the Seattle area!

The mystery is solved! Bimmer magazine and Motor Trend both published some scathing reviews of the SSG (the non-M3 version of SMG), yet I had test driven two examples and they seemed fine.

It turns out that the first versions BMW shipped had some ECU problems, and the magazines were looking at the problem units. Owners who have the software fixes are very happy with their SSG. Here are the links I got from one of the BMW CCA memebers:

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forum...=4083580&page=1

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forum...=4070898&page=1

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forum...=4458633&page=1

All you need is the "blue dot" ECU, and SSG works fine!

BTW, Big Daddy, have you joined the BMW CCA yet? It's the bargain of the century. It's $35 per year, and the people and events are great.
http://www.bmwpugetsound.com

 

[Big Daddy]

Yes I have, infact I was an executive board member of the Inland Empire Chapter for over six years in Idaho. I have been a member for over 10 years. I have not been to an event in the Seattle area yet though. Thanks for all the good links.

 

[markko]

I have one. It is spectacular.