My wife and I drove into the Latham, NY Smart dealership in our Mini Cooper S last Saturday and parked next to a Smart. It was the first time my Mini ever looked like a Maxi. We then took a Smart Passion out for a test drive and my only disappointment was the lengthy delay between shifts. Being that our test car was equipped with Formula One inspired paddle shifters I was rather hoping for Formula One inspired response times. So, my question is this: does anyone know of any after-market transmission goodies, or tuning techniques, to quicken the gearshift shift response times of the Smart car? Thanks.
I think the smart is still too new here in the states and there aren't a whole lot of after market or ecu remapping of the car yet. Give it time someone will probably come up with something to make the shift lag better. That aside, I've had my smart for about 2.5 months and has learned how to deal with the lag.
It ain't an F1 car......... Anyway, after about a day it all becomes normal. And in conversation at our meet yesterday, the guys who have 2K+ miles on them are noticing much improved shifting. I kinda think mine at 1K is better than when first delivered.
the 451 has a "learning computer" it adapts to the current driver over the course of about a month. it is a continous feature that if you lent your car to some one else for a couple of weeks it would drive different once you got back in it
I've done some Googling since my post and here is what I found:
"These are the things that I have found which have shortened the gear change interval.
o the computer's own improvements after 20,000km
o replace transmission fluid with best available European fully synthetic
o remap ECU
o delip air intake, remove centre disk (add scoop or your choice of inlet covers), and install race-performance air filter
o make more air volume available by a) leave airbox lid off, or cut largish hole on front end of the airbox
o periodic fuel treatment to keep system free of carbon buildup
After all this, my cdi now changes gears as quickly - fraction of a second - as I would with a fully manual gearbox (in non-race driving)."
I've done some Googling since my post and here is what I found:
"These are the things that I have found which have shortened the gear change interval.
o the computer's own improvements after 20,000km
o replace transmission fluid with best available European fully synthetic
o remap ECU
o delip air intake, remove centre disk (add scoop or your choice of inlet covers), and install race-performance air filter
o make more air volume available by a) leave airbox lid off, or cut largish hole on front end of the airbox
o periodic fuel treatment to keep system free of carbon buildup
After all this, my cdi now changes gears as quickly - fraction of a second - as I would with a fully manual gearbox (in non-race driving)."
Has anyone tried any of this?
by default with the 451's. My '08 smartie has 1000 miles and has already learned how to shift faster.
All these fixes apply to the 450 CDI . Diesel powered, differnet trans (6 speed)
Don't you think that the MB engineers have taken all reasonable efforts to make the '08 car as good as it can be without making an engineering project out of it?
If you want a car that runs, shifts and handles like an F1 car consider spending F1 car type prices for it. This car is NOT an F1 car.
the 451 has a "learning computer" it adapts to the current driver over the course of about a month. it is a continous feature that if you lent your car to some one else for a couple of weeks it would drive different once you got back in it
Thanks for sharing that with us. I would like an F1 trans in my car but the 4 hour lifespan between reworks seems a tad excessive Like mine just fine and it keeps getting better.
karl
Forget about F-1 speed shifting. I'm sorry for bringing it up! Forget about M-B/Smart reworking the bloody tranny to shift faster. Now then, consider this: I would like to know if there is a way, or if there are ways, to increase the speed of the shifting via a process and/or device(s) from the aftermarket. Let me say this again, the AFTERMARKET. Thank you.
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Like mine just fine and it keeps getting better.
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