M3 gears question!!

[chilli]

Have I got this right....

Normal gearstick usually means a normal manual. Flappy panel thing is the SMG one and the small silver stick is the automatic?
I'd rather have the small silver one really, but not too sure about having an M3 in an auto.

I'd appreciate any views!

Cheers.

[DangerM0use]

It's either manual or SMG. There is no automatic M3, although SMG has an "auto" setting.

[Zod]

DangerM0use said:

It's either manual or SMG. There is no automatic M3, although SMG has an "auto" setting.

it does but it's better to pretend it doesn't.

[chilli]

But the one I looked at earlier (autotrader) had a silver stick, and no clutch, or paddles. I guess it's just push/pull the stick to change gear?

[Zod]

chilli said:

But the one I looked at earlier (autotrader) had a silver stick, and no clutch, or paddles. I guess it's just push/pull the stick to change gear?

If it doesn't have paddles, the steering wheel has been replaced with the wrong part. Are you sure you didn't miss the paddles? Or are you talking about an E36 SMG? They didn't have paddles and the SMG was rubbish.

Edited by Zod on Friday 23 February 14:00

[chilli]

Zod said:

chilli said:

But the one I looked at earlier (autotrader) had a silver stick, and no clutch, or paddles. I guess it's just push/pull the stick to change gear?

If it doesn't have paddles, the steering wheel has been replaced with the wrong part. Are you sure you didn't miss the paddles? Or are you talking about an E36 SMG? They didn't have paddles and the SMG was rubbish.

Edited by Zod on Friday 23 February 14:00

It deffo didn't have paddles, and It was a 53 plate...thats a E46?! I'll try and find it again!

[M3John]

chilli said:

It deffo didn't have paddles, and It was a 53 plate...thats a E46?! I'll try and find it again!

sure is matey. If it had the short stumpy silver gearleaver with a small rectangular botton mounted right there with it, then this is the SMG jobbie and it would most definatly had the flappy paddles...Unless as stated previously, the steering wheel has been replaced for the wrong one.

[chilli]

Forth one down......Estoril blue - regency Motor co.... I wondered why it was so cheap!

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/

[freedman]

Why do you think it hasnt got paddles?, they are hidden behind the wheelrim so you wouldnt necessarily see them.

Another point, that car was mentioned on BM3W yesterday,its apparently Cat C accident damaged hence the low price, so I'd walk along way away if I were you

(and see mine in the ads if your looking for one -))

www.pistonheads.com/sales/136844.htm

Edited by freedman on Friday 23 February 16:12

[M5Dave]

Paddles are attached to the steering wheel and are behind the horizontal spokes (at the quarter to three position when the wheel is straight). When the wheel is turned they move with the wheel, that's why it's difficult to see them in the photo, but they're definately there.

[chilli]

Ah, ok. Many thanks.