2002 M3 Manual V's Auto or semi-auto

[danfrith]

Hi, I have pin pointed a few M3's to look at. Some of which are quite a way from where I live. I have been looking for manuals! however a couple have come up in the right colour etc. But they are auto or semi auto.

Is there much difference in performance between the manual and auto. I know manuals will tend to be 'more fun' etc! just didnt know how the auto box was in a 2002 - 03 m3.

Any feed back will be great!

thanks

Dan

[aeroresh]

Do you mean SMG II?...Not exactly an auto

[Dave Dax builder]

You need to have a drive of both cars really. some people love and some hate the SMG.(I love it) Don't expect to fall in love with the SMG straight away. Remember how long it took you to get the hang of a manual when you first started driving, the SMG won't take that long at all but it is different, so try to get a good long test drive.

[DeadEye]

On my third M3 and this ones the first SMG.

In an M3 I wouldn't go back to manual.

I jumped into a CSL and could use SMG perfectly the first time I used it.

If nothing else, the gear knob is 100% better than a manual!

[RobbieM-Evo]

SMG has the faster gearchange - it can be used in full auto mode or flick the gears.

I still prefer driving using a gearstick however I had an ///M with SMG I and loved for a year.

At the end of the day you need to drive both, then make your own mind up.
On the SMG's it does take a while to get used to it so a long test drive is needed otherwise you will come away going "it's to gerky"

Good luck bud

[_deano]

With a SMG or SMG2 can you blip the throttle like you can with a manual?

[outnumbered]

_deano said:

With a SMG or SMG2 can you blip the throttle like you can with a manual?

SMG2 on the M3 blips the throttle for you on downchanges.

[craigAMV8]

Hi, the smg automatically blips the throtle on a down change. I have done the rabbit run the last 3 years in an o4 plate m3 smg cab which was a great car for a great event (check out there site www.rabbit-run.co.uk)and on the 2004 event there was a manual cab, my car thrashed his (i could undertake him on a massive bit of road). Make sure if you by a smg it has had all the recalls and mods (relay and software updates) also the much clutches, I sold the M3 with 39,0000 on the clock and it had a new clutch at 17,000 and 32,000, both under warranty, check out the rabbir run fils they are top.

Craig

[_deano]

i've ordered the Rabbit run DVD

[craigAMV8]

cool i'm sure you will enjoy it