E46 M3 - SMG?

pepsilol · 8 Sep 2013 at 21:34

Whats the census on the SMG vs the manual?

Housey · 8 Sep 2013 at 21:36

Personal preference, manual less finiky.

pepsilol · 8 Sep 2013 at 21:51

I take it the SMG in that car isn't something super unreliable aka don't go near it style?

Just uses a normal clutch and changing one is just like any other manual?

Housey · 8 Sep 2013 at 21:54

I don't think it's unreliable, but they do have clutch slip issues on some and a manual doesn't need the right software update etc. I was never a fan of the SMG which is why both my M3's were manual but I know others like them. As I say it's pretty much down to personal preference.

PMKeates · 8 Sep 2013 at 22:07

I quite like SMG.

Fuzz · 8 Sep 2013 at 22:11

Manual every time

pepsilol · 8 Sep 2013 at 22:21

Reading up on these, looks like a cheap M car to run.

Conanius · 8 Sep 2013 at 22:38

pepsilol said:
Reading up on these, looks like a cheap M car to run.

I don't think 'cheap' and 'm car' belong in the same sentence unless it also contains 'are/is definitely not'.

That aside, NickXX's M3 SMG is a lovely drive, and I'd recommend the SMG very highly. Certainly felt as good as the DSG in my Fabia.

pepsilol · 8 Sep 2013 at 23:03

I trolls

Gibbo · 8 Sep 2013 at 23:12

SMG is the only auto I'd take over a manual.

rjk · 8 Sep 2013 at 23:52

i liked the SMG in gibbos track car.

the csl firmware livened it up somewhat.

would definitely consider if i was buying an e46

Regy53 · 9 Sep 2013 at 08:03

Loved my smg m3 while on it.

However after a few months of commuting 60 miles a day I was getting tired of it. When it auto mode you do have to think about it all the time and its slightly un natural.

There are horror stories you read of smg pumps and so on but I never had any issues over two e46 m3 smg cars I owned.
If I was to buy another e46 m3 i would probably go manual next time if it was not a weekend car

panthro · 9 Sep 2013 at 08:21

I'd take a manual E46 over SMG. The 6 speed manual is really good.

Gibbo · 9 Sep 2013 at 09:15

Regy53 said:
Loved my smg m3 while on it.

However after a few months of commuting 60 miles a day I was getting tired of it. When it auto mode you do have to think about it all the time and its slightly un natural.

There are horror stories you read of smg pumps and so on but I never had any issues over two e46 m3 smg cars I owned.
If I was to buy another e46 m3 i would probably go manual next time if it was not a weekend car

Yep admittedly its auto mode is a bit dumb, it does not learn and will change gear really when you don't want it to do so, but I drive mine in manual mode 99% of the time which is where it excels. Treat it like a manual and it is brilliant.

Will Gill · 9 Sep 2013 at 09:17

personally, manual > SMG

HummuH1 · 9 Sep 2013 at 12:55

Depends what driving you mostly do.

For me, SMGII => manual every time.

pepsilol · 9 Sep 2013 at 14:24

So just budget a grand for a failed pump on the SMG then.

HummuH1 · 9 Sep 2013 at 15:35

pepsilol said:
So just budget a grand for a failed pump on the SMG then.

If it breaks, yes.

Are you also going to budget £5k for a new engine just in case that breaks too?

pepsilol · 9 Sep 2013 at 16:05

[TW]Fox · 9 Sep 2013 at 17:01

HummuH1 said:
If it breaks, yes.

Are you also going to budget £5k for a new engine just in case that breaks too?

Engine failure is unheard of, so that would be daft.