E46 m3 does it really need to be manual!
Discussion
I’m finally in a position to get an e46 m3 , and I know this has been done to death but is manual really worth the premium?.
I know I should drive both and see what I prefer but I’ll only get 30 mins most on a test drive and I think smg might need longer to get the feel of, so anyone who’s had both I’d love your opinion, thanks
I know I should drive both and see what I prefer but I’ll only get 30 mins most on a test drive and I think smg might need longer to get the feel of, so anyone who’s had both I’d love your opinion, thanks
Clarkedontgo said:
I know I should drive both and see what I prefer but I’ll only get 30 mins most on a test drive and I think smg might need longer to get the feel of...
I can't imagine half an hour isn't adequate to get the feel of the SMG. I drove a Ferrari 360 with a paddle shift having only ever driven manual cars. It was immediately so intuitive I felt like I'd known the car all my life - it took no time at all to get used to it. Had I needed to compare it with a manual ten minutes in each would have been more than adequate, even without prior experience of the paddle shift version.Owned 6 E46 M3s over the years. 3 of each I think.
I recall the manuals being better but the CSL SMG settings/rev matching transmission updates you can do for the standard SMG M3's improves things a lot. Blips on down changes etc.
Guy called Martin on M3 Cutters developed/provides the software IIRC.
I recall the manuals being better but the CSL SMG settings/rev matching transmission updates you can do for the standard SMG M3's improves things a lot. Blips on down changes etc.
Guy called Martin on M3 Cutters developed/provides the software IIRC.
Found it
https://www.ecuworx.co.uk/how-to/using-the-mss5x-b...
Best £20 you'll spend if you have a SMG M3.
https://www.ecuworx.co.uk/how-to/using-the-mss5x-b...
Best £20 you'll spend if you have a SMG M3.
Clarkedontgo said:
I’m finally in a position to get an e46 m3 , and I know this has been done to death but is manual really worth the premium?.
Yes.Or pay to have an SMG converted. If there's one thing to be thankful for with the advances of DSGs/automatics like the ZF8, it's highlighted how totally and utterly s
t SMG gearboxes are/have been. Not great at release, and aged even worse.I'm sorry but a manual e46 is nothing to sing home about. Other than people thinking they're senna and forums driving prices up it really isn't anything special.
I'm not saying SMG is brilliant however with the csl settings it is better suited to the car than a manual box.
In my honest opinion the manual needs work to make it really slick.
SMG gets a bad rep due to reliability but if im honest that was all down to the first few years where BMW would just diagnose any issue as a 4k pump replacement when in actual fact the pump is very reliable its usually the bushes in the motor which fail causing most issues.
The best advice I would give you is to buy the best example regardless of smg vs manual as in the long run it's the condition of the car that will give you more headaches than the gearbox will.
For what it's worth i had an EB coupe with SMG with the csl settings and I can tell you in settings 5/6 flat shifting through 2nd/3rd&4th is an experience on its own. I covered 15k+ in two years and had no issues with the SMG on a 18 year old car at the time.
I'm not saying SMG is brilliant however with the csl settings it is better suited to the car than a manual box.
In my honest opinion the manual needs work to make it really slick.
SMG gets a bad rep due to reliability but if im honest that was all down to the first few years where BMW would just diagnose any issue as a 4k pump replacement when in actual fact the pump is very reliable its usually the bushes in the motor which fail causing most issues.
The best advice I would give you is to buy the best example regardless of smg vs manual as in the long run it's the condition of the car that will give you more headaches than the gearbox will.
For what it's worth i had an EB coupe with SMG with the csl settings and I can tell you in settings 5/6 flat shifting through 2nd/3rd&4th is an experience on its own. I covered 15k+ in two years and had no issues with the SMG on a 18 year old car at the time.
jon-yprpe said:
I’ve had manual and SMG - way prefer the SMG used ‘manually’.
So, basically, down to personal preference, so you might need to try both.
But whatever you get, check for rust.
Totally agree I couldn’t decide so bought one of each I prefer the smg in manual mode. Rev match software and a brand new clutch etc it’s savage. So, basically, down to personal preference, so you might need to try both.
But whatever you get, check for rust.
I owned an SMG with CSL/Gearbox Inertia latest software etc for 3 years.
Loved it, if I were to buy another it would be another SMG, never had the urge to get a manual.
Don't treat it like a DSG Audi and put some work into making it shift smoothly by letting off the throttle between changes and it's fabulous and very fast when shifting at high revs.
The rev matching when downshifting 2 gears at once and hearing the induction noise into high rpm's is unlike anything else.
Loved it, if I were to buy another it would be another SMG, never had the urge to get a manual.
Don't treat it like a DSG Audi and put some work into making it shift smoothly by letting off the throttle between changes and it's fabulous and very fast when shifting at high revs.
The rev matching when downshifting 2 gears at once and hearing the induction noise into high rpm's is unlike anything else.
I had 2 E46 M3s from new, both with SMG.
25k and 50k miles, and from memory zero significant problems (I.e. requiring any repairs).
In a curious way, the flaws made the experience more fun…..when in the mood!
Software updates improved some of the niggles, and when pushing-on the box was generally excellent.
The whole performance was improved if you managed the throttle sympathetically (in manual and auto modes).
My only real bugbear was the way the box dithered at very low speeds, the threshold between 2nd and 1st when slowing down being a real pain.
In choosing an E46 M3 now, I would be far more concerned over corrosion and floor cracking in the region of the rear axle carrier mounting points. Really st design and manufacture by BMW in that zone.
25k and 50k miles, and from memory zero significant problems (I.e. requiring any repairs).
In a curious way, the flaws made the experience more fun…..when in the mood!
Software updates improved some of the niggles, and when pushing-on the box was generally excellent.
The whole performance was improved if you managed the throttle sympathetically (in manual and auto modes).
My only real bugbear was the way the box dithered at very low speeds, the threshold between 2nd and 1st when slowing down being a real pain.
In choosing an E46 M3 now, I would be far more concerned over corrosion and floor cracking in the region of the rear axle carrier mounting points. Really s
t design and manufacture by BMW in that zone.Tony B2 said:
In choosing an E46 M3 now, I would be far more concerned over corrosion and floor cracking in the region of the rear axle carrier mounting points. Really st design and manufacture by BMW in that zone.
Definitely, and I think particularly the SMG I'd want to either see it having been done or budget for it to be sure. Manual maybe a bit less so.t design and manufacture by BMW in that zone.Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff