Hello all,

Can someone here explain the difference between the acura sport shift technology and the BMW M3 paddle sport shift technology? Thanks- Norcalsguy

 

From what I've read on the new BMW M3, their sport-shift / automatic transmission doesn't use a torque converter. Instead it uses a computer controlled clutch which can shift faster than most humans can. For this particular car, it makes driving a stick shift almost useless unless you just want to have fun driving a stick and dont want to live with just sport shift.

On a TL-S the sport shift is still an automatic transmission with a torque converter (which helps you to lose about 20% of your horsepower to the wheels) and is virtually like every other automatic transmission car out there except you can pick which gear you want to be in.

All in all, the BMW M3's Sport shift "automatic" transmission is tons better than the Acura's ... But the M3 costs significantly more.

 

Thanks! I thought so. Well makes sense huh. 30k car opposed to 50k car. Funny though I drove my friends Audi S4 avant with their sport shift it was terrible the shift time between gears seemed like an eturnity and the red digital read out was hard to see what gear you were in. -Norcalsguy

 

Well as far as I know, the computer controller clutch is a relatively new technology and is only available in two standard production cars, the M3 and the Toyota MR2 (however the MR2 does not offer an automatic option, it is only sport-shift).

There's probably more cars with it, but the majority of cars with sport shift are just like the Acura.

 

the smg system in the m3 is virtually a stick shift or manual transmission but instead of a clutch pedal a electric motor controls the give and the take of the pedal....depending on the setting the clutch is design to slip and let go at certain rpm with sensors monitoring the gas pedal and speed. as oppose to our cars we can only limit the upshifts and nothing more.....even in our cars you can only downshift so much ....

JON LERD

 

what he said! SMG is manual tranny that allows you to relax and let the computer shift for you. Tl-s sport shift is simply a auto that let's you select gears.

 

norcalsguy:
I'm not sure about the performance difference, but I think we all know about the price difference...

 

What's not to know....
333hp / 262 lb ft torque
3.2 Liter Inline 6 24 valve engine
0-60 4.2 secs
Top Speed 155 mph

 

there is a computer issue (like with anything new) that in a few cars with SMG's, they have revved the engine past 9 grand. The computer is supposed to stop this from happening. Basically the tech looks at the dignostic computer and sees it telling him the engine was overrevved. I'm sure BMW will fix this...for their sake I hope they do. THey have had a significant number of blown E46 M3 engines so far.

For $2500, the SMG seems like a great option to me. Ferrari charges about $10,000 for their F1 style auto/manual tranny. $2500 isn't too bad since most Auto tranny options are about $1200 or so.

As for the Audi S4 tiptronic...there is a $300 tranny chip available that makes the tranny shift much quicker. It's must of you chose not to row your own. But with an S4....I couldn't fathom an auto. At least it's a free option.

 

Is there a tranny chip available for the TL-S. I would love to get that.

 

If this is true then why does the CL-S have the same 260 HP in both the 6 speed Manual and the 5 speed Automatic?

 

the CLS 6 speed will put more power to the front wheels than the 5 speed auto CLS. How much more, I have no idea. But there is more drivetrain loss in the auto than the manual for sure.

 

Okay. Makes sense now. So the HP specification is for what the engine is putting out and that is different than what eventually gets to the wheels.

So this would signify that a CL-S Manual should be faster than the Automatic? Has this been confirmed?

 

I believe if you look at C&D or other publication's times on the 2003 CL Type-S 6spd versus the original reviews of the 2001 CL Type-S 5spd automatic, the 6spd was faster. I don't remember the times off the top of my head, but rest assured that the CL Type-S 6spd would be faster than its automatic counterpart.

 

not only will the CLS put more power to the wheels, but it will be a few lbs lighter as well. So overall, the power to weight ratio is better. I don't have times, but I can assure a 6 speed CLS will be faster by about .5 seconds in the 1/4 than the auto.

 

4.2 0-60! You sure you did not confuse it with Viper?

 

Guys,

At the end of the day how many of us will really feel the benifit of that extra .5 sec? Most of us drive in commute traffic and its hard to get a good straight away most of the time so in real life hard to see the added benifit of the M6 but on the track I agree M6 all the way then again what % of folks are tracking their cars?

Just my 2 cents - Norcalsguy

 

The difference in 0-60 time between the TL and the TL-S is also 0.5 second.

 

Thats about right. I've heard/read about the CLS 6MT doing 0-60 in about 5.9-6.3 seconds (Magazine times) with 1/4 mile in the 13.9-15.0 range (drags not magazines) while the CLS/TLS 5AT doing 0-60 in 6.2-7.0 (mags) and 14.7-15.2 1/4s (again real times). Obviously there is a higher likeliness of error for MTs, which is why you see the range so big.

 

Its makes a big difference when you are trying to beat the a-hole next to you before the lane merges up ahead!

 

BMW M3 - Paddle Sport Shift
Lexus IS300 - E-Shift
Acura TL/CL- SportShift
Toyota MR2 (upcoming) - F1 Shift

1. Which one is the best performer?
2. Which one is the most durable?
3. Which one is the smoothest?

Again... we all know about their prices...

 

That is how fast an M3 is...i know cuz thats the car i hope to get next :p