Discussion
You should test drive one. I had the SMG3 in an E60 M5, and that was a very poor gearbox, only useable in fully manual.
I would not entertain the prospect of an SMG E46 M3, but it is rather personal preference so only you can decide. The value of SMG cars tend to be quite a bit lower than manuals, if this gives any indication.
I would not entertain the prospect of an SMG E46 M3, but it is rather personal preference so only you can decide. The value of SMG cars tend to be quite a bit lower than manuals, if this gives any indication.
What stories? SMG pumps failing?
I've got an '05 plate E46 M3 SMG Convertible on 88k miles that I have had from 12 months old/8k miles. Enthusiastic driving during all that time!
No issues with the SMG whatsoever. I tell a lie ... I had to have the bonnet sensors replaced at 15k miles - basically they can fail and make the ECU think the bonnet is up when it is closed, affecting gearbox engagement. That was fixed relatively cheaply by my local indy, a fairly common issue but nothing to do with the SMG itself.
I find it great for my type of driving - pootling around town in Auto when I need, using the paddles and/or lever in free flowing traffic.
I would advise you to drive one to see if you like it. It is infinitely better than the Audi TT DSG box I had prior to this car, which was like stirring a couple of housebricks in a vat of treacle, by comparison.
The E46 M3 online community tends to be full of scaremongers and unicorn hunters. They all want a manual coupe with its rear floor reinforced, the VANOS done, the crank main bearings replaced, no rust, a full BMW service history, an Inspection 2 including the valve clearances recently done, and want to pay £8k for it. Dreamers. I dread selling mine because I know I will have to engage with this level of unrealistic idiocy.
I've got an '05 plate E46 M3 SMG Convertible on 88k miles that I have had from 12 months old/8k miles. Enthusiastic driving during all that time!
No issues with the SMG whatsoever. I tell a lie ... I had to have the bonnet sensors replaced at 15k miles - basically they can fail and make the ECU think the bonnet is up when it is closed, affecting gearbox engagement. That was fixed relatively cheaply by my local indy, a fairly common issue but nothing to do with the SMG itself.
I find it great for my type of driving - pootling around town in Auto when I need, using the paddles and/or lever in free flowing traffic.
I would advise you to drive one to see if you like it. It is infinitely better than the Audi TT DSG box I had prior to this car, which was like stirring a couple of housebricks in a vat of treacle, by comparison.
The E46 M3 online community tends to be full of scaremongers and unicorn hunters. They all want a manual coupe with its rear floor reinforced, the VANOS done, the crank main bearings replaced, no rust, a full BMW service history, an Inspection 2 including the valve clearances recently done, and want to pay £8k for it. Dreamers. I dread selling mine because I know I will have to engage with this level of unrealistic idiocy.
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Thursday 27th May 12:24
I ran an e46 M3 SMG(2) for 9 years and loved it. I bought it after owning a manual e46 330d and never thought that much of the manual box.
I have a friend who had an e60 M5 with the SMG3 box which he said was terrible around town compared to the SMG2 box in the M3.
My only regret was that they were about the same price as the manuals when I bought it in 2009, but manuals held a much bigger premium when I sold in 2018.
I have a friend who had an e60 M5 with the SMG3 box which he said was terrible around town compared to the SMG2 box in the M3.
My only regret was that they were about the same price as the manuals when I bought it in 2009, but manuals held a much bigger premium when I sold in 2018.
PurpleTurtle said:
The E46 M3 online community tends to be full of scaremongers and unicorn hunters. They all want a manual coupe with its rear floor reinforced, the VANOS done, the crank main bearings replaced, no rust, a full BMW service history, an Inspection 2 including the valve clearances recently done, and want to pay £8k for it. Dreamers. I dread selling mine because I know I will have to engage with this level of unrealistic idiocy.
Who then proceed to throw cheap nasty tat at it. 
SMG this, SMG that...
We still have a 2001 SMG Coupe in the family bought at 12mths old and 8k miles, now on 110k... Yes, the pump went last year. It cost EUR200 to rebuild the motor. The clutch lasted 100k miles - quite a few track days and Ring trips and London traffic too.
Overall, I think we have had 8 or 9 M3s since 2001 - Coupes and Cabs. Manuals and SMGs. I would not have another manual...
At present I have an Imola Red Coupe SMG. If I was selling and somebody tried to bid me lower because it was SMG, I would just tell him to do one. The cars are at an age where current condition is all that matters. Not whether it had a running in service at preciely 1200 miles or if it was owned by Lord Such... And if you want a manual, go and get a manual....
We still have a 2001 SMG Coupe in the family bought at 12mths old and 8k miles, now on 110k... Yes, the pump went last year. It cost EUR200 to rebuild the motor. The clutch lasted 100k miles - quite a few track days and Ring trips and London traffic too.
Overall, I think we have had 8 or 9 M3s since 2001 - Coupes and Cabs. Manuals and SMGs. I would not have another manual...
At present I have an Imola Red Coupe SMG. If I was selling and somebody tried to bid me lower because it was SMG, I would just tell him to do one. The cars are at an age where current condition is all that matters. Not whether it had a running in service at preciely 1200 miles or if it was owned by Lord Such... And if you want a manual, go and get a manual....
I had a manual 2004 silver M3 coupe and 12 years on recently bought an SMG 2004 silver M3 coupe.
Manual box wasn’t great as far as I remember, I much prefer using the SMG as what it is, a clutchless manual shift. It is poor in auto mode vs the DCT box.
But with the SMG in the fastest shift mode and using the gearstick, I really like it.
Manual box wasn’t great as far as I remember, I much prefer using the SMG as what it is, a clutchless manual shift. It is poor in auto mode vs the DCT box.
But with the SMG in the fastest shift mode and using the gearstick, I really like it.
SMG boxes are fine, but in my view you need to update the software to the CSL map. I've had two SMG M3s and I personally thought the CSL map made the gearbox much better. From memory it only cost about £100. I removed the ECU and sent it via registered mail to get looked at - was back with me 3-4 days later.
Rchamps said:
SMG boxes are fine, but in my view you need to update the software to the CSL map. I've had two SMG M3s and I personally thought the CSL map made the gearbox much better. From memory it only cost about £100. I removed the ECU and sent it via registered mail to get looked at - was back with me 3-4 days later.
You can now do that yourself courtesy of ECUworx for a lot less if you have a laptop and aren't scared of pressing a few buttons on the super intuitive software interface.I had 2 E46 M3s with SMG boxes (both from new) and did a combined total of 75k miles in them, with not a single issue requiring any repair.
The auto mode is not that good, but once you tune into its ways and how to provoke shifts by throttle adjustments it was definitely usable (especially useful in motorway stop/start/jam conditions).
The manual mode was absolutely fine so long as you do not expect a DCT experience where no thought is required. The interaction required was actually quite enjoyable, compared with the utter detachment of twin-clutch transmissions.
The only thing that become an annoyance was the low speed dithering down change from 2nd/1st.
The auto mode is not that good, but once you tune into its ways and how to provoke shifts by throttle adjustments it was definitely usable (especially useful in motorway stop/start/jam conditions).
The manual mode was absolutely fine so long as you do not expect a DCT experience where no thought is required. The interaction required was actually quite enjoyable, compared with the utter detachment of twin-clutch transmissions.
The only thing that become an annoyance was the low speed dithering down change from 2nd/1st.
I had an M3 CSL and regular E46 M3 both with SMG boxes. I now have a DCT equipped M2 Comp and honestly I miss the characteristics of the SMG, I think it's a great box and quite involving when it's banging through the gears. They're quite reliable too, lots of other things to be scared about (and any fast car of that age) on an E46 anyway.
Nailing a perfect shift by lifting off the throttle just the right amount during a high rev shift is exhilarating.
Downshifting straight from 4th to 2nd, letting the CSL SW and Inertia update revmatch and hearing the induction noise and revs is exhilarating.
Love my E46 SMG, wouldn't dream about having a manual.
It's on it's second pump and clutch though
But it's also done 115k miles.
Nowadays, if you get failures on SMG system, there is so much information online that can you can perform repairs smartly and cost efficiently.
Downshifting straight from 4th to 2nd, letting the CSL SW and Inertia update revmatch and hearing the induction noise and revs is exhilarating.
Love my E46 SMG, wouldn't dream about having a manual.
It's on it's second pump and clutch though
But it's also done 115k miles.Nowadays, if you get failures on SMG system, there is so much information online that can you can perform repairs smartly and cost efficiently.
rassi said:
You should test drive one. I had the SMG3 in an E60 M5, and that was a very poor gearbox, only useable in fully manual.
I would not entertain the prospect of an SMG E46 M3, but it is rather personal preference so only you can decide. The value of SMG cars tend to be quite a bit lower than manuals, if this gives any indication.
As a die hard manual fan, I love my SMG3. Much prefer it or the auto and DCT boxes I've used, as it has character in a way they just don't. Autos are good for sitting in traffic, but you might as well be fully electric if just in traffic.I would not entertain the prospect of an SMG E46 M3, but it is rather personal preference so only you can decide. The value of SMG cars tend to be quite a bit lower than manuals, if this gives any indication.
The SMG box does need to be used properly and it does need resetting every now and again, but mine is booth smooth when I want and violent when driving it hard.
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