HPi has a DCT car as manual ??

[Godspeed]

Hi
I'm looking at a car tomorrow , but after HPi ing it it has the car as a 6 speed manual , and its a DCT car , is it normal for them to be classed as manual as they are not an automatic ?

Is there a better way of checking a car out , I phoned the 0906 number today in BMW and they couldn't tell me much about it other than 2 dealers it has been to for work , but one was for the running in service , and the other one when they sold it , and had it back to service it

As its a private sale , I want to make sure its all correct

Cheers Ian

[DoZZa]

It has a clutch, therefore its a manual.

[Godspeed]

Thanks , I know it has a clutch , so does my SMG E46 , just trying to check out why it has it as a 6 speed manual
Cheers Ian

[Stealth]

The HPI on my E46 M3 came back saying the car was a manual, I checked everything up and it came back clean, I suspect it varies between HPI companies or what someone registered it as having when it was first bought.

Nothing to worry about

[Godspeed]

ok thanks for that , got a million things running through my mind in readyness of handing nearly £40k over to someone tomorrow lol

[Z4M]

Have you checked the logbook serial number? Has UPI confirmed the issue date on the v5. Sounds like you need to dig a bit deeper.

[EVOmarc]

This is quite normal. Mine used to be Smg, but has never been classed as anything else but a manual.

[carsonr6]

The SMG gearbox is the same gearbox used in the E46 manual. Both SMG and manual cars are regarded as manual. SMG= Sequential MANUAL Gearbox.

[Godspeed]

Yes spoke to various places , DVLA confirm all other stuff is ok ,, they couldn't confirm manual or auto , it has had a private plate on and off , all dates tally there , spoke to 2 dealers who have serviced it , all seemed fine there , I'm not flying to see it untill 1pm so will speak to BMW in the morning to confirm what it should be

[carsonr6]

Mines is classed as a manual as well hence the above post.

[alpina527]

Can you get hold of the chassis number? You can put this into realoem to verify the box

[Paul_D]

Originally Posted by carsonr6

SMG= Sequential MANUAL Gearbox.

SMG actually stands for Sequential M Gearbox. (i.e. from BMW's 'M' division)

And yeah, they are classified as Manual's in a lot of documentation although that's incorrect really. It should be classed as an automatic.

[alpina527]

Originally Posted by Paul_D

SMG actually stands for Sequential M Gearbox. (i.e. from BMW's 'M' division)

And yeah, they are classified as Manual's in a lot of documentation although that's incorrect really. It should be classed as an automatic.

That's as maybe, but the car that is being referred to has obviously had some paperwork mixed up, or it's dodgy. The E92 DCT is a 7 speed box where as the manual as stated in the OP's post was described as a 6 speeder.

[Paul_D]

Originally Posted by alpina527

That's as maybe, but the car that is being referred to has obviously had some paperwork mixed up, or it's dodgy. The E92 DCT is a 7 speed box where as the manual as stated in the OP's post was described as a 6 speeder.

Sorry, I was replying to carsons/general comments in the thread, rather than the OP's specific issue.

(That's why I quoted him and not the OP)

[Godspeed]

i'll ask BMW in the morning to clear it up , everything else seems in order

[alpina527]

Lol, no worries mate. I didn't read it properly.

[carsonr6]

Originally Posted by Paul_D

SMG actually stands for Sequential M Gearbox. (i.e. from BMW's 'M' division)

And yeah, they are classified as Manual's in a lot of documentation although that's incorrect really. It should be classed as an automatic.

It's the exact same gearbox as the manual.

[carsonr6]

Oh and I think if you do some research you'll find that your wrong SMG does in fact stand for Sequential Manual Gearbox.

[Paul_D]

Originally Posted by carsonr6

It's the exact same gearbox as the manual.

Yes, I'm fully aware of that. The actual gearbox is irrelevent though. The important point is that the clutch is operated by a hydraulic actuator and not by the driver.

Therefore in the eyes of the LAW, it is classed as an automatic and can be driven by someone with an Automatic ONLY licence.

From the regs:

“vehicle with automatic transmission” means a class of vehicle in which either—

(a) the driver is not provided with any means whereby he may vary the gear ratio between
the engine and the road wheels independently of the accelerator and the brakes, or
(b) he is provided with such means but they do not include a clutch pedal or lever which he may operate manually "

Don't you therefore agree that ALL other documentation should reflect this to prevent any possible legal complications in the event of accidents, insurance claims etc?

Originally Posted by carsonr6

Oh and I think if you do some research you'll find that your wrong SMG does in fact stand for Sequential Manual Gearbox.

Did you get this fact off the internet by any chance?

I'm sure if I did some research I could easily find several sites where people would agree with you. Doesn't mean it's right though. Its just means more people are wrong.
The problem is that when a mis-truth is repeated enough times it can easily start to become a 'fact'. It's an easy trap to fall into.

Have a look at page 57 of your Owners Handbook, and tell me what the title of that section about the gearbox is.
(I'll give you a clue, the middle word ISN'T 'Manual'.)

[Godspeed]

I know on the my SMG E46 they have the same box as a manual , I take it the whole system is different on the DCT , being a 7 speed box and double clutch ?