Test drove E46 M3, SMG acted weird at launch in 1st

samtaha · 05-07-2011, 01:39 PM

Hi, first time post. I'm in the market for an E46 M3 so I test drove a 2005 with about 95k km (58k miles). Everything seemed fine with shifting until once I was stopped at a traffic light and then the launch in 1st gear was completely jerky, like when someone is still learning how to drive manual and they can't launch in 1st gear smoothly. Eventually it upshifted to 2nd and went back to normal after that. It only happened once in my 20 minute drive.

I was in S mode with 2 bars (i guess you call it S2)...

I'm new to SMGII and was getting used to it, so I don't know, did I do something wrong or is this a known problem I should worry about?

joeye46m3 · 05-07-2011, 09:21 PM

Turn off DSCn go S6 mode then try it again, plz read the following steps, it may help =) Copied out of the other SMG-II post in other forum...

---
It's a perfect launch evertime.

Hold the shift level forward... Put the pedal all the way to the ground. The car will bring the RPMs to 3500rpm and when you release the level...

Your brain is slammed against the back of your head.

The car sidesteps the clutch delivering all power to the rear wheels which then maximize grip. The car may ease power some to make sure maximum grip can be attained... but it will leave strips of rubber behind.

The car will redline 1st then automatically grab 2nd on the hardest possible shift leaving behind more rubber but maximizing grip. The driver will have to hit the paddle to select 3rd gear but again the tranny will lay down more rubber.

It's the same launch mechanism the F1 cars use.
---

After the magazine I read... it said the US will not get launch control. The Europeans are supposed to get it, but the launch control is only warrantied for 30 launches ( the computer tracks it ). After that you are on your own.

here is a step by step video:

Good luck =)

tlp · 05-07-2011, 09:26 PM

I take it you were just doing a normal launch. You need to train your foot to roll/modulate the throttle initially or it can induce driver oscillation (aka herky jerky). This very is common for SMG newbies.

wisesoul · 05-08-2011, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeye46m3

Turn off DSCn go S6 mode then try it again, plz read the following steps, it may help =) Copied out of the other SMG-II post in other forum...

---
It's a perfect launch evertime.

Hold the shift level forward... Put the pedal all the way to the ground. The car will bring the RPMs to 3500rpm and when you release the level...

Your brain is slammed against the back of your head.

The car sidesteps the clutch delivering all power to the rear wheels which then maximize grip. The car may ease power some to make sure maximum grip can be attained... but it will leave strips of rubber behind.

The car will redline 1st then automatically grab 2nd on the hardest possible shift leaving behind more rubber but maximizing grip. The driver will have to hit the paddle to select 3rd gear but again the tranny will lay down more rubber.

It's the same launch mechanism the F1 cars use.
---

After the magazine I read... it said the US will not get launch control. The Europeans are supposed to get it, but the launch control is only warrantied for 30 launches ( the computer tracks it ). After that you are on your own.

here is a step by step video:

Good luck =)

I don't think the OP is talking about launch control, just about clutch engagement from a standstill in general. He can't use launch control at every stop sign and stop light

samtaha · 05-08-2011, 07:09 AM

Thanks for the replies. Yeah I wasn't trying to do launch control, just normal acceleration from the stop light. It was weird and very jerky until 2nd. So, I guess it was me not the car. That's good.. :-)

samtaha · 05-08-2011, 07:11 AM

Oh, and actually I was in Automated mode, so I guess that's A2 not S2.

IFX · 05-08-2011, 05:03 PM

dont drive in auto mode dude. seriously.

joeye46m3 · 05-09-2011, 12:55 AM

Sry for the misunderstanding

spiderz17 · 05-10-2011, 01:09 AM

Nothing wrong with the car. It just takes a bit of getting used to having the car control the clutch for you. Next time you drive a manual, drive it around a parking lot in first gear without modulating the clutch at all and you'll probably get the same herky-jerky feeling at some point.

But I wouldn't worry about it. Happened to me a couple times in the first week or two of ownership, but hasn't happened for a while. If you find it happening, I've found three solutions:
shift to second, let off the gas completely, or stomp on it.

jeskaM3 · 05-11-2011, 07:40 PM

same thing happened to me. I just bought an E46 M3 on Monday, and I've noticed it's a little tight between 1st and 2nd. not used to that, but I'll work it out.

I LOVE MY CAR!

indohan · 05-21-2011, 05:28 AM

Some people call that "hiccups".
It happens, usually when your foot and engine is not synchronized.
It usually happens by accident.
If you want to get rid of it, you can either: 1. Switch gear, or 2. Floor it.

Hope this helps.

///M3Lover · 05-22-2011, 02:52 AM

Just slowly apply the gas.

During these 7.5yrs, I found shifting the gears yourself is easier. Sometimes, you can't really predict when the computer is going to shift for you. For daily drive, I use S4 mode. When stuck in Traffic, I use A1 mode. This way, SMG starts in 2nd gear. You won't have to shift from gear 1 to gear 2 all the time.

05-07-2011, 01:39 PM	#1
samtaha Registered 2 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW Z4 3.0si Join Date: May 2011 Location: Abu Dhabi iTrader: (0)	Test drove E46 M3, SMG acted weird at launch in 1st - help Hi, first time post. I'm in the market for an E46 M3 so I test drove a 2005 with about 95k km (58k miles). Everything seemed fine with shifting until once I was stopped at a traffic light and then the launch in 1st gear was completely jerky, like when someone is still learning how to drive manual and they can't launch in 1st gear smoothly. Eventually it upshifted to 2nd and went back to normal after that. It only happened once in my 20 minute drive. I was in S mode with 2 bars (i guess you call it S2)... I'm new to SMGII and was getting used to it, so I don't know, did I do something wrong or is this a known problem I should worry about?
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05-07-2011, 09:21 PM	#2
joeye46m3 JOEY-E46M3 4 Rep 29 Posts Drives: custom widebody e46 m3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Rowland Heights iTrader: (0)	Turn off DSCn go S6 mode then try it again, plz read the following steps, it may help =) Copied out of the other SMG-II post in other forum... --- It's a perfect launch evertime. Hold the shift level forward... Put the pedal all the way to the ground. The car will bring the RPMs to 3500rpm and when you release the level... Your brain is slammed against the back of your head. The car sidesteps the clutch delivering all power to the rear wheels which then maximize grip. The car may ease power some to make sure maximum grip can be attained... but it will leave strips of rubber behind. The car will redline 1st then automatically grab 2nd on the hardest possible shift leaving behind more rubber but maximizing grip. The driver will have to hit the paddle to select 3rd gear but again the tranny will lay down more rubber. It's the same launch mechanism the F1 cars use. --- After the magazine I read... it said the US will not get launch control. The Europeans are supposed to get it, but the launch control is only warrantied for 30 launches ( the computer tracks it ). After that you are on your own. here is a step by step video: Good luck =) __________________ Looking for 4x (295)285/30/19 tires
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05-07-2011, 09:26 PM	#3
tlp Colonel 276 Rep 2,216 Posts Drives: 991 GT3, Sold:'11 e92 M3 SG/FR Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Las Vegas/SoCal iTrader: (6) Garage List SOLD 2011 BMW e92 M3 [9.10]	I take it you were just doing a normal launch. You need to train your foot to roll/modulate the throttle initially or it can induce driver oscillation (aka herky jerky). This very is common for SMG newbies. __________________ 991 GT3, Sold: '11 e92 M3 SG/FR ZCP\|ZCV\|ZP2\|2MK\|494\|415\|6NR\|752
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05-08-2011, 07:09 AM	#5
samtaha Registered 2 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW Z4 3.0si Join Date: May 2011 Location: Abu Dhabi iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the replies. Yeah I wasn't trying to do launch control, just normal acceleration from the stop light. It was weird and very jerky until 2nd. So, I guess it was me not the car. That's good.. :-)
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05-08-2011, 07:11 AM	#6
samtaha Registered 2 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW Z4 3.0si Join Date: May 2011 Location: Abu Dhabi iTrader: (0)	Oh, and actually I was in Automated mode, so I guess that's A2 not S2.
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05-08-2011, 05:03 PM	#7
IFX Banned 67 Rep 2,536 Posts Drives: AW e46M/N54 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Fla. iTrader: (1)	dont drive in auto mode dude. seriously.
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05-09-2011, 12:55 AM	#8
joeye46m3 JOEY-E46M3 4 Rep 29 Posts Drives: custom widebody e46 m3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Rowland Heights iTrader: (0)	Sry for the misunderstanding __________________ Looking for 4x (295)285/30/19 tires
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05-10-2011, 01:09 AM	#9
spiderz17 Not a BMW Insider 13 Rep 302 Posts Drives: X5 M50i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Nothing wrong with the car. It just takes a bit of getting used to having the car control the clutch for you. Next time you drive a manual, drive it around a parking lot in first gear without modulating the clutch at all and you'll probably get the same herky-jerky feeling at some point. But I wouldn't worry about it. Happened to me a couple times in the first week or two of ownership, but hasn't happened for a while. If you find it happening, I've found three solutions: shift to second, let off the gas completely, or stomp on it.
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05-11-2011, 07:40 PM	#10
jeskaM3 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 251 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Coupe ('01) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Port Hueneme, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2001 M3 [10.00]	ditto same thing happened to me. I just bought an E46 M3 on Monday, and I've noticed it's a little tight between 1st and 2nd. not used to that, but I'll work it out. I LOVE MY CAR!
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05-21-2011, 05:28 AM	#11
indohan ///MFEST DARK KNIGHT 2 Rep 178 Posts Drives: JDM Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (1)	Some people call that "hiccups". It happens, usually when your foot and engine is not synchronized. It usually happens by accident. If you want to get rid of it, you can either: 1. Switch gear, or 2. Floor it. Hope this helps. __________________
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05-22-2011, 02:52 AM	#12
///M3Lover Captain 15 Rep 618 Posts Drives: 04WhiteM3 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver, B.C iTrader: (1)	Just slowly apply the gas. During these 7.5yrs, I found shifting the gears yourself is easier. Sometimes, you can't really predict when the computer is going to shift for you. For daily drive, I use S4 mode. When stuck in Traffic, I use A1 mode. This way, SMG starts in 2nd gear. You won't have to shift from gear 1 to gear 2 all the time.
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