BMW and M Power Owners
- Thread starter panthro
- Start date
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Is actually a very good gearbox and suits the car well. It's a 3 Series Estate not a Z4, the nature of that box combined with the power delivery of that engine is a great pairing and excellently suited to effortless performance.
It's nothing like a DCT in terms of shift speed but It isn't meant to be.
It's nothing like a DCT in terms of shift speed but It isn't meant to be.
[TW]Fox;27769313 said:
Ok thanks for stating the obvious; no where did I compare it to a Z4 or a DCT gearbox so not sure why you felt to bring that up.
I don't like it paired to the N54 engine and find it's changes to be sluggish as well as undecided under acceleration. It is however a lot better than the 5 speed box in the E46, which is even more awful.
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The auto gearbox works superbly particular on the 335i. I would say that the manual gearbox is less in keeping with the car than the auto is. With the relentless acceleration the 335i has, both hands need to be on the steering wheel - having the auto with paddles worked brilliantly.
The gearbox was a teeny bit sluggish at low speeds in high gears, but get over 15-20mph and in every mode it was brilliant. Sport manual changes were quicker than i'd ever be able to do in a manual, and very smooth. Changes in D were perfect. I can't really think of anyway it could be massively better? Obviously the newer ZF 8sp gearbox is quicker in nearly all circumstances, but the 6sp ZF is still very good indeed - and most importantly, far and away from the "slush box" autos of old.
The behaviour of the box *did* change a lot between software updates. When I first got the car, when it was on like an 09 software level, the changes in sport/manual were very harsh and jerky. Then when the software of the car was updated, these became so much less jerky and quick.
The gearbox was a teeny bit sluggish at low speeds in high gears, but get over 15-20mph and in every mode it was brilliant. Sport manual changes were quicker than i'd ever be able to do in a manual, and very smooth. Changes in D were perfect. I can't really think of anyway it could be massively better? Obviously the newer ZF 8sp gearbox is quicker in nearly all circumstances, but the 6sp ZF is still very good indeed - and most importantly, far and away from the "slush box" autos of old.
The behaviour of the box *did* change a lot between software updates. When I first got the car, when it was on like an 09 software level, the changes in sport/manual were very harsh and jerky. Then when the software of the car was updated, these became so much less jerky and quick.
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E46 330i -
Blower stopped working for the heater. New hedgehog resistor needed.
DSC/red handbrake light and brake lights have come on and stayed on. Speedo has stopped working. This has occurred after towing a works van out. If I turn the car off and then on lights stay on but the handbrake light turns Amber. They went off after a while then came on again as I went over a speed bump.
Loose connection or duff sensor? Where should I start?
Blower stopped working for the heater. New hedgehog resistor needed.
DSC/red handbrake light and brake lights have come on and stayed on. Speedo has stopped working. This has occurred after towing a works van out. If I turn the car off and then on lights stay on but the handbrake light turns Amber. They went off after a while then came on again as I went over a speed bump.
Loose connection or duff sensor? Where should I start?
There's loads of info on this forum about E46 ownership dude.*Sigma that is*
I've tried searching for M3 within this very thread but no joy. Too short a term to search.
Duh, didn't state that in my other post.
Drive both SMG and Manual. You may well prefer one over the other even though you think you may prefer the opposite.
I always longed for a paddle shift high performance car but look here, I actually prefer the manual instead. More involving, more rewarding and the manual 6 is just glorious once you slap on the weighted short Sport gear knob. That and the SMG isn't the greatest around town, even in the softer box modes.
Thanks!
I'd probably prefer a semi-auto for my next car but if it is an M3 then I think i'll go for a manual a) because as you say, it's apparently not the greatest around town and b) the manual means there is one less thing to go wrong. It won't be a second car (possibly could be in the future though).
I'm just looking for common problems at the moment to know what to budget for.
Are OEM bushes available at reasonable cost? I don't want to polybush anything.
Will try to find one that has the boot floor welded to at least budget for it. Just reading Gibbos thread (on M3 cutters, not on here) and he seems to have had the cracks welded then new plates bonded, interesting, wonder how much it cost? Redish Motorsport charge ~£3k for cut out and welding
Are OEM bushes available at reasonable cost? I don't want to polybush anything.
Will try to find one that has the boot floor welded to at least budget for it. Just reading Gibbos thread (on M3 cutters, not on here) and he seems to have had the cracks welded then new plates bonded, interesting, wonder how much it cost? Redish Motorsport charge ~£3k for cut out and welding
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