there are at least 3 explanations right here (archive)

Sorry - but we've answered the last 4 people who asked this same question in the past 48 hours, so forgive us when we get grumpy and wish the random visitors would avail themselves of a tiny bit of reading before begging to be spoon fed their own copy of the information.

But here it is once again.

SMG: Sequential Manual (or as BMW says "//M") Gearbox. It is the same exact 6 speed manual gearbox found on the M3 and M5, but fitted with hydraulic actuators and a big computer so that the traditional clutch pedal and shifter are eliminated in favor of a joystick on the console and finger paddles on the steering wheel. You click for a gear, the computer runs the clutch and shift linkage for you, and does it almost as well as a race driver if you wish. Computer can also emulate an autobox by picking gears for you but this is NOT a steptronic, there is NO torque converter.

Happy now?

Follow Ups:

Oh, be nice What else is there to do? 16:48 3/04/2001 (0)
Not to mention the full factory brochure below StoneWalk 14:44 3/04/2001 (0)

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