E46 M3 SMG - opinions on gear change

[alfa daley]

I hear good things about the SMG shift on the E46 but is it as good as they say. I have been contemplating a manual car for a long while but there is the possibility I might have to have my ankle operated on at some point in the next year - depends how well it heals up over the next 6 months - it's good right now but I would hate to buy a manual M3 and have it sat on the drive for months whilst I hobble about post-op wishing I could drive the thing.

I have always been a die hard manuals are best etc etc kind of guys but the thought occurred to me that SMG might not be that bad. So what's it like SMG owners? Still involving? Quick to pull away? SMG would mean I could get rid of my current Saab auto as opposed to having a 2 car fleet.

P.s is 15k about right for a 60k 2003 SMG?

[mat205125]

Try one!

I've always been a hardcore manual fan, and absolutely detest nearly all automatics.

Now I've got used to SMG, I love it!

I've got a couple of years (at least) to wait, but have every intention of swapping it for a current V8 M3, and will have to try those gear boxes before making a choice.

[haybaby212]

ive just got myself an smg and have alway had manuals before and i think its a marmite thing some people love it some people hate personally i love it.

you have 6 settings to play about with aswell and in the 6th setting its very very quick.

try one but try one on an extended test drive as then your tell best try some traffic driving and some twistys is the best way.

[NickXX]

alfa daley said:

I hear good things about the SMG shift on the E46 but is it as good as they say. I have been contemplating a manual car for a long while but there is the possibility I might have to have my ankle operated on at some point in the next year - depends how well it heals up over the next 6 months - it's good right now but I would hate to buy a manual M3 and have it sat on the drive for months whilst I hobble about post-op wishing I could drive the thing.

I have always been a die hard manuals are best etc etc kind of guys but the thought occurred to me that SMG might not be that bad. So what's it like SMG owners? Still involving? Quick to pull away? SMG would mean I could get rid of my current Saab auto as opposed to having a 2 car fleet.

P.s is 15k about right for a 60k 2003 SMG?

I recently moved to SMG from owning a manual e46 330d for 3 years. I love the SMG transmission - suits the car perfectly IMO. Involving in a different way to a manual - in my eyes a better driving experience. I really do not miss having a heavy manual clutch and the long throw, almost clunky, e46 manual gearbox.

Even around town it is great, and in crawling M25 traffic it's nice to just be able to stick it in auto.

£14,950 bought me a 56k Sept 2003 (facelift) SMG M3 in July this year. Silvergrey, Imola red leather, sat nav, 19s, HK, BMW warranty until March 2010. Brilliant car.

[alfa daley]

NickXX said:

alfa daley said:

I hear good things about the SMG shift on the E46 but is it as good as they say. I have been contemplating a manual car for a long while but there is the possibility I might have to have my ankle operated on at some point in the next year - depends how well it heals up over the next 6 months - it's good right now but I would hate to buy a manual M3 and have it sat on the drive for months whilst I hobble about post-op wishing I could drive the thing.

I have always been a die hard manuals are best etc etc kind of guys but the thought occurred to me that SMG might not be that bad. So what's it like SMG owners? Still involving? Quick to pull away? SMG would mean I could get rid of my current Saab auto as opposed to having a 2 car fleet.

P.s is 15k about right for a 60k 2003 SMG?

I recently moved to SMG from owning a manual e46 330d for 3 years. I love the SMG transmission - suits the car perfectly IMO. Involving in a different way to a manual - in my eyes a better driving experience. I really do not miss having a heavy manual clutch and the long throw, almost clunky, e46 manual gearbox.

Even around town it is great, and in crawling M25 traffic it's nice to just be able to stick it in auto.

£14,950 bought me a 56k Sept 2003 (facelift) SMG M3 in July this year. Silvergrey, Imola red leather, sat nav, 19s, HK, BMW warranty until March 2010. Brilliant car.

Interesting you say about the long throw and a poster on another thread mentioning the notchy gearbox of the E46. I've only driven two BMWs before, E36 328i and E39 M5 and disliked the clutch take up on both - very hard to shift fast compared with other cars I have driven.

Edited by alfa daley on Friday 18th September 01:11

[Toady1]

can you just leave your foot on the gas whilst changing gear? and does it blip on the down change?

[Rawhide]

Toady1 said:

can you just leave your foot on the gas whilst changing gear? and does it blip on the down change?

yes to both but it smooter to lift slightly as you would in a manual if your driving it hard. Blipping will happen if rev matching on downshifts

[NBTBRV8]

I've come from an E36 M3 SMG to E46 M3 SMG and whilst I liked the E36 I love the E46. SMG suits the character of the car to a tee, the subtle auto-blips at light throttle right through to the rear end twitching thump of flat throttle high RPM shifts are brilliant.

I've not driven a "manual" M3 but from what I have heard the throw is a bit long and 1st can be difficult to get when cold, but for me SMG is what an E46 M3 is all about.

I will go to the E92 M3 at some point, most likely after I do the E60 M5 thing (SMG again) but I am yet to decide if the E92 will be manual or DCT, I will have to try it.

The E46 M3 is an absolute classic, brilliant car. The SMG does have its flaws, but given two choices, manual or SMG, I'd go SMG every time.

[Toady1]

Rawhide said:

Toady1 said:

can you just leave your foot on the gas whilst changing gear? and does it blip on the down change?

yes to both but it smooter to lift slightly as you would in a manual if your driving it hard. Blipping will happen if rev matching on downshifts

I was a passenger in an smg car on a trackday that was terrible! which is why I asked! I think it was more likely that the driver was crap (though he didn't seem to think so!). He lifted off when changing gear and it was almost as if the car put the brakes on, then floored it again! not a nice feeling and almost deffinately damaging the engine mounts I'd have thought! I think it must have been his timing!!!