Manual or SMG ?

[lazzag]

I am going to see a couple of M3s over the weekend(appointments made and I have about £13,000 to spend), they all have about 70,000 on the clock with various extras, one is a manual and the other two are auto(one with paddles). The trouble is I don't know much about about the SMG except I have read there can be trouble with the pump !!! and if this goes does it does it effect the box as a whole or just the paddles?
ANY advice is most welcome,thanks very much.

Edited by lazzag on Thursday 23 July 22:38

[Mattt]

If your SMG pump goes, you won't be able to use the box.

[lazzag]

Any idea how much it costs and is there any signs before failure ?

[gizlaroc]

Pumps are always on ebay or at breakers for £200-400.

It really is a non issue.

[C8LNJ]

I was a strict manual only type guy, found a M3 in a dealers which had SMG, gave it a go & stand by my purchase. Its a very good system. To be honest I drive with mine in Auto 80% of the time. Paddles & stick are left for fun times

[C8LNJ]

You say one is auto but no paddle (SMG?) is this possible??

I thought E46 M3 only came with manual or semi-manual flappy paddle gearbox?

[andye30m3]

I've been thinking about an E46 and for me it would have to be a manual for two reasons.

1) I don't do alot of town driving so the auto function isn't important.

2) to me SMG is just another thing to go wrong, ok its better than the E36 version but it could still brake and if you were unlucky and it did it could well be expencive.

[NickXX]

andye30m3 said:

I've been thinking about an E46 and for me it would have to be a manual for two reasons.

1) I don't do alot of town driving so the auto function isn't important.

2) to me SMG is just another thing to go wrong, ok its better than the E36 version but it could still brake and if you were unlucky and it did it could well be expencive.

I recently had to make this choice too and decided that it would be SMG. Had the car for a couple of weeks now, and from the perspective of getting the best possible driving experience from the car - it has to be the SMG. It is a superb system.

I recommend at least getting a test drive in an SMG model first. I have had an e46 manual and still own an e36 manual and would highly recommend going for the SMG box.

[Windymiller]

C8LNJ said:

To be honest I drive with mine in Auto 80% of the time. Paddles & stick are left for fun times

girl.

Mine was in auto the day I bought it, but hasn't been there since.

[Zod]

Windymiller said:

C8LNJ said:

To be honest I drive with mine in Auto 80% of the time. Paddles & stick are left for fun times

girl.

Mine was in auto the day I bought it, but hasn't been there since.

Yes it has - every time you start it. My first one would stay in whatever mode I left it, until a software update made it default to auto. Both subsequent SMG cars default to auto.

[Windymiller]

Nope. Mine defaults to manual. Always has.

Just wish I could make it default to DSC-off and S6 every time too!

[lazzag]

thanks very much to every one, I guess I will have to drive the 200mls+ and test drive them all, I just hope the first one has not gone if I do not like the second/third one