E46 SMG - Crap?

[off your marks]

Guys

I'm prowling for an e46 M3, and as many who have gone down this route will find a lot of them are SMG. To me an auto can never really be a serious sporting option on a car like an M3 - or am i wrong and 'out of touch'

Also if I did plumb for the SMG then is it a kiss of death come resale time?

Thanks in advance

Ps - no intention of offending anyone with SMG - just want some honest opinions

Matt

[dan101smith]

Just go and drive one and see what you think. Some people prefer a manual, some SMG, so go with what you prefer, as it's going to be your car.

Have you noticed the prices of SMG vs Manual cars in the classifieds? That should tell you something.

[darreni]

You do realise that the SMG box is the same box as the manual, with hydraulic/electronic gubbins to control the shift?

It's not an auto is the traditional sense.

[off your marks]

thanks for the replies

yes - the best route is to try one thats for sure. I suppose i was asking if it has the stigma attached to it that the e36 smg had with the reliability issues and sluggish shift.

I also pay great attention to resale values and therefore wouldnt want to buy something that is a no no regardless of whether i like it or not. I know M3 resale values are colour and spec sensitive

thanks

matt

[thehos]

ive got a smg, wife wanted an auto for our next car, i wanted a m3, so smg it had to be, takes some getting used to, but wouldnt have anything else now.

mostly gets driven in auto mode, just cos its so easy.

get what you want, certainly not crap, only people who cant drive them say they are crap.

got to ask yourself why was the csl only smg, no manual?

[thehos]

just read you last paragraph, you need to buy on spec and colour thats right for you, lets say you buy a p/y manual, cloth seats, no extras, then you will be paying less anyway than a grey, red leather, smg, sat nav, 19's, etc, etc.


by the way i would have a p/y think its a nice striking colour.

[colball]

Hi Matt,

I bought my first M3 a couple of weeks ago and was not too sure initially whether i should get the SMG or not. I did a lot of research and the vast majority of what i read was very positive. The E46 is fitted with SMGII which is an improved system and does not suffer with the issues relating to the original SMG system.

Basically it does come down to personal preference, but as already pointed out, it is NOT an automatic system but a manual system controlled electronically. The cars default setting is manual, you have to put it into Auto if that is how you wish to drive it.

I made my mind up to buy an SMG before i really test drove one, as many of the people i had talked to about it said that it took a little while to get used to, and i must say that it really took a couple of weeks to get to the point where i am now and i absolutely am glad that i went with SMG.

You should test drive some and try to get as much time with the SMG as possible, if you really dont get on with it, then dont get one. But if you think you might be able to grow to like it once you get your head round it, then i would recommend the SMG everytime. It might be that you love it straight away!

I hope this helps.

[gareth h]

Ditto colball, I've had mine for 2000 miles, it does take some time to get used to and isn't great from cold, but apart from that it's good and the option of using auto when stuck in traffic is usefull. To put this into context I had an auto 330d a few years ago and hated it, so was a bit concerned getting an SMG car, am well pleased now!

[Schermerhorn]

If you can tame SMG then it is alot of fun. Mega fun!!

[gizlaroc]

The SMG is not an auto, it has an auto mode but it is verging on ridiculous imho!! Unusable 90% of the time.


The SMG adds to the whole experience, it makes the car feel more special to me than the manual version.
There is something about watching the revs scream passed 5000, 6000, 7000 and on to 8000 and then blipping the gear lever, the way the back end twitches and you feel the gears change with the subtle blow of a sledgehammer has a strangely addictive nature that I just don't get from the manual.

I nearly didn't buy a CSL because it was SMG, however, after living with it for a week I understood it completely and was so pleased the manual wasn't an option. When looking for another regular M3 the SMG was the only choice, in fact I wouldn't own a manual one one.

I have been converted!!


Also SMG cars are far more sought after than manuals and hold a premium in general, although other options can mask any premiums so it is hard to tell when comparing cars.

[Rawhide]

gizlaroc said:

The SMG is not an auto, it has an auto mode but it is verging on ridiculous imho!! Unusable 90% of the time.

I'd agree with all your comments apart from the above one. I'd agree that anywhere where you can 'make progress' manual mode is preferable but around London, commuting etc the auto function is pretty good.

it's not perfect but pretty good when your doing lazy driving.

[Zod]

I'm an SMG fan (I've been driving SMG cars (M3, M3 CSL and M5) since 2002), but I'd never describe the auto mode as anything other than crap.

[M3RMS]

SMG's absolutely superb and will command more come resale - and be easier to sell.

I've owned both. SMG transforms the car - I wouldn't consider a manual E46 now. It's reputation is probably the exact opposite of tiptronic with Porsche.

But it is personal perference, so you should try and get some serious time behind both and make your own mind up.

Cheers
RS

[M3RMS]

...... and as other people have said, it isn't actually an auto. It's a manual gearbox with an automated shift function. Very different - not at all comparable to an auto.

[JimmyRosa]

Hello everyone,


New to this forum, but not the site.

I'm on the same path as you off your marks with re to SMG. Had a couple of test drives so far, not for that long, but the gear change does seem rapid plus you are more focused on driving with both hands on the wheel.

[off your marks]

guys

wow - thanks for so many honest opinions, really usefull

the last 'auto' BMW i have was around 10 years ago and a 325i sport (E30) and the auto completely ruined it for me.

seems like i need to have plenty of drives to try it out.

glad the resale is not affected by it too.

thanks again for all the helpfull input

Best wishes

matt

[shamrock]

I'd suggest you try a few before you buy. There's quite a few rotters out there.

If you have the time it may be worth trying an E36 M3 SMG, E46 M3 SMG and E92 SMG.

I say that because I found the E36 to be awful, the E46 to be an improvement but still problematic and the E92 puts into perspective what an SMG should feel like.

[gizlaroc]

Rawhide said:

gizlaroc said:

The SMG is not an auto, it has an auto mode but it is verging on ridiculous imho!! Unusable 90% of the time.

I'd agree with all your comments apart from the above one. I'd agree that anywhere where you can 'make progress' manual mode is preferable but around London, commuting etc the auto function is pretty good.

it's not perfect but pretty good when your doing lazy driving.

OK, the main problem for me in auto mode is this.....

Get the changes quick enough (A4 or A5) and the car is revving too high.

Get the changes in auto mode to change around 2500-3000rpm (which is what you want round town) and the changes are far too slow. There is a noticeable drop in power and your head lunges forward as it swaps gears.


I wish they would programme the car so A1 starts in second, changes at 2500rpm but has the speed of changes of A5.
A2 would start in first, again change at 2500rpm with the speed of A5.
A3 could change at 3000rpm.
A4 could change at 3500rpm.
A5 could be the one that sees 8000rpm if you really feel the need to have a fast auto mode.
A6 is the same as 5 but with the traction off.


It could work pretty well, but as it stands I find all driving, even round London, far easier using the manual mode.

[Rawhide]

I can't argue with that.. they definately could optimise the shift points better. Changing gear at 2.5k from first is a complete waste of time.

[Zod]

shamrock said:

I'd suggest you try a few before you buy. There's quite a few rotters out there.

If you have the time it may be worth trying an E36 M3 SMG, E46 M3 SMG and E92 SMG.

I say that because I found the E36 to be awful, the E46 to be an improvement but still problematic and the E92 puts into perspective what an SMG should feel like.

Erm, the E36 SMG was (reputedly - I haven't driven one) beyond awful. The E46 SMG II was very good. The E92 system is DCT, not SMG.