M3E46 SMG and high miles - any experience?

[AngryApples]

Hi all,

on the brink of buying an E46 M3

This car will be my daily hack, placing around 1k miles a week on it

Thinking about a 53/04 plate

So, as I quite fancy an SMG, does anyone hear have any direct (as opposed to "my cousins friends sisters husbands mothers dog" type shenanigans) experience of the SMG2 at high mileage (and I'm talking 100k plus)

?

Thanks in advance for any feedback

AA

[jim_1976]

I don't. My car has 47k on it. The gearbox in the manual and SMG is exactly the same, these seem to be bulletproof. The only thing I can imagine you may have issues with would be the SMG hydraulic pump, these are nearly £1000 to buy without fitting. The engines are bulletproof too as long as they have had proper servicing. It may well be that if you are using the car as much as you say it will be fine with no problems. I have found over the years that a well used car seems to be more reliable than Sunday drive cars. There are plenty for sale around the 100k mark so I assume they can hack the mileage?

[Mattt]

I have the earlier SMG system, but I wouldn't buy without a decent warranty.

I had a new pump, clutch and relay at 40k.

Good when it works though

[jim_1976]

Older SMG? Was this the SMG1 that was fitted to the E36 cars?

[Mattt]

No, SMG to the Z4.

[jim_1976]

Is it the same in the Z4? A manual gearbox with hydraulic selector mechanism?? I don't know much about the Z4. I always thought that was a proper automatic gearbox. Every day is a school day!!

[Mattt]

Yea, same 6 speed box. I've heard it called a few things though - think it was referred to as H-SMG or something. The 3 series uses a SSG which is similar AFAIK.

[outnumbered]

The Z4 has never had the same SMG system as the E46 M3 (SMG II).

SMG II does mean there are more bits on the car that could go wrong, compared to a manual car, but as a system it doesn't seem to be intrinsically unreliable.

I've got SMG on my M3, and love it.

1K miles a week is a bit strong though - I think I'd look for something a bit more comfy myself if I were doing that mileage.

[Mattt]

outnumbered said:

The Z4 has never had the same SMG system as the E46 M3 (SMG II).

Where did I say it did?

[deano23]

Just make sure you get a decent warranty!

[AngryApples]

Cheers for the comments folks!