Step Tronic:Good,bad Why? - BMW Forum

Maximusmace · 02-06-2006, 12:21 PM

Im new here so first id like to hello to every one:lol:

Okay guyz im getting a 328is in summer and i plan on getting it with Step Tronic. I plan on making an engine swap from its base engine to a 1995 M3 3.0liter engine. Will this cause a problem with the Step tronic? If so wat can I do to fix the problem and wat can i do to be able to keep the S.T? plz help

used:

Furious · 02-06-2006, 01:41 PM

first off , why get an automatic .. unless your getting it for free.... secondly no there should be a problem with the engine/transmission issue...
thirdly the problems you will encounter with this swap is that the 328 is obdII and the M3 engine is OBDI

bitcore · 02-06-2006, 07:25 PM

steptronic = automatic
it's the A\M button that's on the gear shifter console

if your thinking triptronic, (AKA:SMG,) good luck setting that up in an E36, I'd like to see that.

if you can, go manual and leave out the CDV when you do the swap
Welcome to the forums

4evrwyntr · 02-07-2006, 01:02 AM

Bitcore, The SMG-I was available for the e36 m3 evolution (321bhp) overseas. I am planning to put a... more hardy variation of this gearbox in my own e36 m3 (US-spec) - if an SMG-II can work, that seems most likely.

Butr you are both right, Steptronic is available on the auto's, and it is essentially useless. Just keep it in sport mode.

Maximusmace · 02-07-2006, 10:10 AM

Okay so Step tronic does nothing?? and even if i was to upgrade the ECU so that iT would remove rev limter and Gov? I mean why is S.T so useless lol i would luv to know why ppl even got it as a option. any added insight would be a great help. Thx guyz

Oh yeah and the reson why i wanted the Auto/S.t is because i live in New york and to be shifting up and down during the almost always traffic would well....cause me to kill some one. And personally i have used the S.t in my mums 325is and it does a good job of making g35's look old and grey compared to it, and thats no bull. any who more,more, n more insight XD

catalyst. · 02-07-2006, 06:22 PM

You would need an M3 transmission i beleive.. the m3 automatic is much stronger than the regular e36's.

4evrwyntr · 02-07-2006, 07:00 PM

Steptronic essentially allows you to manually shift your automatic. Why I mean it is absolutely useless is that even though you can manually shift, it is far slower than manual operation; or, last time I checked, normal automatic on Sport Mode (This may have changed with the e90's?). So any time gained by proper shifting is lost by slow shifts. Also, due to the slow shifts you really have to predict when you're shifting your car - unlike with an SMG though, you don't have to bother to rev match or what not - the ultimate lazy tool.

Not to say it's bad; I mean, if that's your thing...

Personally, just get the SMG

And hope it's not buggy...

spiff325is · 02-07-2006, 08:58 PM

Your better off getting a manual, plus it's cheaper(from the dealer). and it's Tiptronic, not Triptronic, and thats for Audi/Porsche..
Doing an OBDI 3.0L S50 swap is a good idea, but not if you plan on keeping the automatic transmission, it's pointless, and calling the Steptronic 'manual' is basically..well nonsense, it's auto, no clutch etc..but we all know this..
basically we are trying to tell you don't get an auto tranny(and getting steptronic wont be any more significant, because you still can't raise the RPM's manually unless in neutral, which is lame), unless you plan on swapping a manual with the S50.

bitcore · 02-07-2006, 09:40 PM

the AT does not have a clutch, it has a torque converter, this is where the majority of the crappyness of owning an automatic comes from. SMG is essentially an automatic transmission with an automaticly actuated clutch, and with the ability to control your engine's throttle.

4evrwyntr · 02-07-2006, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bitcore

the AT does not have a clutch, it has a torque converter, this is where the majority of the crappyness of owning an automatic comes from. SMG is essentially an automatic transmission with an automaticly actuated clutch, and with the ability to control your engine's throttle.

Yes... yes... but do not forget about the fact that the SMG is more precise, accurate and quick than humanly possible.
This is at the tradeoff of delicate wheel-horsepower control. Delicate control - by nature of it being a manual, you still have more control than with an automatic...

I am obviously a HUGE fan of SMG, because I think it can make driving much... well... more efficient than either manual or automatic. I am used to getting flamed for it. Bring it.

No, really, get a manual anyway. If you really want, you can always swap the manual with an SMG. Hydraulics is fun.

Furious · 02-08-2006, 12:24 AM

hate to tell you but first gen smg was a bit flawed. i love the idea , and its a sexy mod, but really i would rather a 6speed manual over smg..

Storamin · 02-08-2006, 02:40 PM

they're the same thing... both slow as molasas going uphill in winter.

///M Power · 02-08-2006, 02:44 PM

SMG is flawed, but faster than any human could drive a stick.

Ill agree with Storamin's statement about them though.

4evrwyntr · 02-08-2006, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Furious

hate to tell you but first gen smg was a bit flawed. i love the idea , and its a sexy mod, but really i would rather a 6speed manual over smg..

SMG-I, I will not deny, was very flawed. SMG-II much less so (seemed more sturdy in the z4 for some reason - maybe because of the torque/hp e46 m3?) But I have heard NOTHING bad about the SMG-III.

What my end goal is - SMG-II + Dinan S3.

bitcore · 02-09-2006, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4evrwyntr

Yes... yes... but do not forget about the fact that the SMG is more precise, accurate and quick than humanly possible.
This is at the tradeoff of delicate wheel-horsepower control. Delicate control - by nature of it being a manual, you still have more control than with an automatic...

I am obviously a HUGE fan of SMG, because I think it can make driving much... well... more efficient than either manual or automatic. I am used to getting flamed for it. Bring it.

No, really, get a manual anyway. If you really want, you can always swap the manual with an SMG. Hydraulics is fun.

Oh I wasn't dissing on the SMG, SMG is the shit!

Back on topic, unless you have loads of money and your going to track-prepare this car, I'd just throw a manual gearbox in there and call it a day.... unless you can get a damn cheep price for one