Straight Six hatchet job M3 convertible SMG!!
Discussion
I thought the same. He was very keen to mention the dealer's name of Darren Woods. That and alot of people have jumped on the bandwagon. I've not had mine change as slow as Mike Brewer's M3 did on Wheeler Dealers, and that was when mine was stock!
However, I'll go out on a limb here. The SMG is not that bad with a few key things seen to:
-Engine : It may not have any fault codes, but things like tired coil packs really affect the S54. Same with the VANOS Valve blocks ; the factory seals just are not man enough for the job ; my pressure regulator seal from BMW squared off after only a year of use and 10k! My engine now runs much better than when I bought the car, and a 31k example I've been in; that was a dissapointment considering it had a CSL airbox on it as well! Even a shot thermostat will affect how the VANOS cuts in.
The SMG 'Box works on load, and if the engine isn't as good as it could be, it will affect it.
-Drivetrain ; Most M3s will be IME on tired Guibo and prop mounts, in addition to the subframe bushes. When I changed my Subframe bushes, I was stunned at the difference in response, both in the gearbox shifting but also the throttle response. When I did a full prop refresh (including the CV ; this caused most of my 'thumping'), I was stunned at the difference!
-CSL remap ; Contrary to popular believe, you can heel and toe an SMG, at least in non-CSL form ; It's funny how the road testers don't know that
. The CSL 'box remap however transforms the gearbox. Upchanges are where the biggest differences are; they are miles quicker and snappier ; it's actually a joy to change down! It's £100 via a man, or around £50 with a lead that can code your car (and scan for codes via BMW's INPA and DIS systems. That was hands down the best bang-per-buck modification I made.
Before an SMG is converted I'd at the very least try that mod. All of the above however have transformed my car. I thought I'd hate the SMG last week when I took it for a spin. Quite the opposite
. It's a shame the bodywork needs work now but it is 18 years old...
Most however will still be on factory props etc. Yes they'll be low mileage and 'original' but these cars are now getting on for 15 years old, so things won't be as fresh as they could be ; rust can seep into 'non contact' spots on bearings, the rubber on the prop support bearings won't be all that, and depending on if the clutch has been done, most will put substandard grease into the CV joint and not what BMW recommend (different to the CV joints) or at the very least something like Redline ; my grease was like water when it came out.
I do like a manual 'box, but I've really been enjoying the SMG in mine lately. Even a chap I know who works at a BMW dealer was stunned at how smooth mine was. It could be smoother in auto but in reality it's fine. S4 with no lifting of the throttle does give good, authorative, yet non-jerking or neck snapping gearchanges like the internet would have you believe.
The only reason I know about the above isn't from my car, but from a friend's. He was dissapointed at the lack of neck snapping in S6 in his convertible! That had the work I had done as well, but also a HG, full VANOS rebuild and SMG motor all the way back in 2014, when only a handful of specialists knew about it.
However, I'll go out on a limb here. The SMG is not that bad with a few key things seen to:
-Engine : It may not have any fault codes, but things like tired coil packs really affect the S54. Same with the VANOS Valve blocks ; the factory seals just are not man enough for the job ; my pressure regulator seal from BMW squared off after only a year of use and 10k! My engine now runs much better than when I bought the car, and a 31k example I've been in; that was a dissapointment considering it had a CSL airbox on it as well! Even a shot thermostat will affect how the VANOS cuts in.
The SMG 'Box works on load, and if the engine isn't as good as it could be, it will affect it.
-Drivetrain ; Most M3s will be IME on tired Guibo and prop mounts, in addition to the subframe bushes. When I changed my Subframe bushes, I was stunned at the difference in response, both in the gearbox shifting but also the throttle response. When I did a full prop refresh (including the CV ; this caused most of my 'thumping'), I was stunned at the difference!
-CSL remap ; Contrary to popular believe, you can heel and toe an SMG, at least in non-CSL form ; It's funny how the road testers don't know that
. The CSL 'box remap however transforms the gearbox. Upchanges are where the biggest differences are; they are miles quicker and snappier ; it's actually a joy to change down! It's £100 via a man, or around £50 with a lead that can code your car (and scan for codes via BMW's INPA and DIS systems. That was hands down the best bang-per-buck modification I made.Before an SMG is converted I'd at the very least try that mod. All of the above however have transformed my car. I thought I'd hate the SMG last week when I took it for a spin. Quite the opposite
. It's a shame the bodywork needs work now but it is 18 years old...Most however will still be on factory props etc. Yes they'll be low mileage and 'original' but these cars are now getting on for 15 years old, so things won't be as fresh as they could be ; rust can seep into 'non contact' spots on bearings, the rubber on the prop support bearings won't be all that, and depending on if the clutch has been done, most will put substandard grease into the CV joint and not what BMW recommend (different to the CV joints) or at the very least something like Redline ; my grease was like water when it came out.
I do like a manual 'box, but I've really been enjoying the SMG in mine lately. Even a chap I know who works at a BMW dealer was stunned at how smooth mine was. It could be smoother in auto but in reality it's fine. S4 with no lifting of the throttle does give good, authorative, yet non-jerking or neck snapping gearchanges like the internet would have you believe
.The only reason I know about the above isn't from my car, but from a friend's. He was dissapointed at the lack of neck snapping in S6 in his convertible! That had the work I had done as well, but also a HG, full VANOS rebuild and SMG motor all the way back in 2014, when only a handful of specialists knew about it.
SebringMan said:
I thought the same. He was very keen to mention the dealer's name of Darren Woods. That and alot of people have jumped on the bandwagon. I've not had mine change as slow as Mike Brewer's M3 did on Wheeler Dealers, and that was when mine was stock!
However, I'll go out on a limb here. The SMG is not that bad with a few key things seen to:
-Engine : It may not have any fault codes, but things like tired coil packs really affect the S54. Same with the VANOS Valve blocks ; the factory seals just are not man enough for the job ; my pressure regulator seal from BMW squared off after only a year of use and 10k! My engine now runs much better than when I bought the car, and a 31k example I've been in; that was a dissapointment considering it had a CSL airbox on it as well! Even a shot thermostat will affect how the VANOS cuts in.
The SMG 'Box works on load, and if the engine isn't as good as it could be, it will affect it.
-Drivetrain ; Most M3s will be IME on tired Guibo and prop mounts, in addition to the subframe bushes. When I changed my Subframe bushes, I was stunned at the difference in response, both in the gearbox shifting but also the throttle response. When I did a full prop refresh (including the CV ; this caused most of my 'thumping'), I was stunned at the difference!
-CSL remap ; Contrary to popular believe, you can heel and toe an SMG, at least in non-CSL form ; It's funny how the road testers don't know that. The CSL 'box remap however transforms the gearbox. Upchanges are where the biggest differences are; they are miles quicker and snappier ; it's actually a joy to change down! It's £100 via a man, or around £50 with a lead that can code your car (and scan for codes via BMW's INPA and DIS systems. That was hands down the best bang-per-buck modification I made.
Before an SMG is converted I'd at the very least try that mod. All of the above however have transformed my car. I thought I'd hate the SMG last week when I took it for a spin. Quite the opposite. It's a shame the bodywork needs work now but it is 18 years old...
Most however will still be on factory props etc. Yes they'll be low mileage and 'original' but these cars are now getting on for 15 years old, so things won't be as fresh as they could be ; rust can seep into 'non contact' spots on bearings, the rubber on the prop support bearings won't be all that, and depending on if the clutch has been done, most will put substandard grease into the CV joint and not what BMW recommend (different to the CV joints) or at the very least something like Redline ; my grease was like water when it came out.
I do like a manual 'box, but I've really been enjoying the SMG in mine lately. Even a chap I know who works at a BMW dealer was stunned at how smooth mine was. It could be smoother in auto but in reality it's fine. S4 with no lifting of the throttle does give good, authorative, yet non-jerking or neck snapping gearchanges like the internet would have you believe.
The only reason I know about the above isn't from my car, but from a friend's. He was dissapointed at the lack of neck snapping in S6 in his convertible! That had the work I had done as well, but also a HG, full VANOS rebuild and SMG motor all the way back in 2014, when only a handful of specialists knew about it.
Thanks for sensible/knowledgeable reply, Can't understand why this guy was so biased,I'm no expert but on second M3 with SMG convertible which I had to have pump replaced weeks after I bought it but since then apart from normal E46 problems(speed sensors) all OKHowever, I'll go out on a limb here. The SMG is not that bad with a few key things seen to:
-Engine : It may not have any fault codes, but things like tired coil packs really affect the S54. Same with the VANOS Valve blocks ; the factory seals just are not man enough for the job ; my pressure regulator seal from BMW squared off after only a year of use and 10k! My engine now runs much better than when I bought the car, and a 31k example I've been in; that was a dissapointment considering it had a CSL airbox on it as well! Even a shot thermostat will affect how the VANOS cuts in.
The SMG 'Box works on load, and if the engine isn't as good as it could be, it will affect it.
-Drivetrain ; Most M3s will be IME on tired Guibo and prop mounts, in addition to the subframe bushes. When I changed my Subframe bushes, I was stunned at the difference in response, both in the gearbox shifting but also the throttle response. When I did a full prop refresh (including the CV ; this caused most of my 'thumping'), I was stunned at the difference!
-CSL remap ; Contrary to popular believe, you can heel and toe an SMG, at least in non-CSL form ; It's funny how the road testers don't know that
. The CSL 'box remap however transforms the gearbox. Upchanges are where the biggest differences are; they are miles quicker and snappier ; it's actually a joy to change down! It's £100 via a man, or around £50 with a lead that can code your car (and scan for codes via BMW's INPA and DIS systems. That was hands down the best bang-per-buck modification I made.Before an SMG is converted I'd at the very least try that mod. All of the above however have transformed my car. I thought I'd hate the SMG last week when I took it for a spin. Quite the opposite
. It's a shame the bodywork needs work now but it is 18 years old...Most however will still be on factory props etc. Yes they'll be low mileage and 'original' but these cars are now getting on for 15 years old, so things won't be as fresh as they could be ; rust can seep into 'non contact' spots on bearings, the rubber on the prop support bearings won't be all that, and depending on if the clutch has been done, most will put substandard grease into the CV joint and not what BMW recommend (different to the CV joints) or at the very least something like Redline ; my grease was like water when it came out.
I do like a manual 'box, but I've really been enjoying the SMG in mine lately. Even a chap I know who works at a BMW dealer was stunned at how smooth mine was. It could be smoother in auto but in reality it's fine. S4 with no lifting of the throttle does give good, authorative, yet non-jerking or neck snapping gearchanges like the internet would have you believe
.The only reason I know about the above isn't from my car, but from a friend's. He was dissapointed at the lack of neck snapping in S6 in his convertible! That had the work I had done as well, but also a HG, full VANOS rebuild and SMG motor all the way back in 2014, when only a handful of specialists knew about it.
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