BMW M3 manual or SMG???

jesusrdzc · #1 (**permalink**) 03-23-2004, 11:41 AM

Im in the process of buying a 2004 BMW M3.
I have read many articles featuring the car with manual or SMG gears, but I really dont know what would really be better.
I have heard that SMG has problems. How true is that? Is it worht it to add the Harman Kardon stereo option or the Navigation system?
This car will be my daily drieve to my job.

Can any one help out by saying which is better Manual or SMG and Why?

Also does any one know when is the current E46 line due to change styling? I heard the new 3 series is coming out in 2005. I would like to buy my M3 before it goes out of production with this body style. I like it very much.

Best Regards
JR

Kaisake · #2 (**permalink**) 03-23-2004, 02:51 PM

Most of the answers that you are seeking, can be found here:

http://members.roadfly.com/loki/e46m3_faq.html.

There are quite a few threads that address the Manual vs. SMGII issue. Here are the search results:

http://www.dtmpower.net/forum/search...earchid=391332

Best of luck on your search.

Shaich · #3 (**permalink**) 03-25-2004, 09:46 AM

Hey,

First of all, take only the manual gear this is much better and also faster i have a convertible M3 which is a bit heavier something like 150-200kg and i never lost a race against a coupe with SMG, second point you can enjoy that car only if you switsh the gears by yourself and by using a clatch, so belive better the manual.

HAMAN KARDON: You will waste your money if your car should be convertible one if that will be the coupe so it will be a bit better, but i suggest you to go to a good car hi fi company, i ordered the hamann kardon and i changed immediately so this is wasted money.

Regarding Navigation System MUST BE, first of all the interior is much more beautyfull, second its usefull. so GO ON IT

I hope i could help
Best regards
Shaich

EastCoastE30 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-25-2004, 01:50 PM

Go old school baby

///M3Hellrot · #5 (**permalink**) 03-25-2004, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shaich
Hey,

First of all, take only the manual gear this is much better and also faster i have a convertible M3 which is a bit heavier something like 150-200kg and i never lost a race against a coupe with SMG, second point you can enjoy that car only if you switsh the gears by yourself and by using a clatch, so belive better the manual.

If you can shift faster with a manual than SMG can, then you are a freak of nature. NO ONE can shift faster than .08 seconds (what the SMG does in S6). If you just meant that a manual can accelerate faster than an SMG car, I don't see how that could be either. I am pretty sure it is the same transmission, just a different way of shifting, so it isn't like it's heavier or something.

My advice, drive them both and see which one you like better. Personally, the only way I would get SMG is if i was going to track the car. It's good because it shifts fast as hell, automatically blips the throttle to the correct RPM during downshifting, etc... If you are just going to drive it spiritedly to work and back, go for the manual because it is more involved and more fun.

M3@Apex · #6 (**permalink**) 03-25-2004, 03:04 PM

well said hellrot

jesusrdzc · #7 (**permalink**) 03-25-2004, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by M3@Apex
well said hellrot

That quote on Tiff's M3 Test I think finally convinced me that my next car would be the M3. I want that wide smille too.

Im also thinking on adding to the M3 when I buy it the original CSL air intake of the engine and some other parts.

Thanks for all your coments I'll keep you posted on the purchase of my Car. Next week I will visit my local dealer.

faz · #8 (**permalink**) 03-26-2004, 03:41 PM

Hi

First of all choosing betwen SMG and Manual you have to drive the car yourself and see which one is suitable for u.

2ndly i would not drive the M3 to work and back everyday (depends on how far your work place is) i would have a 2nd car and drive the m3 twice a week to work.

Also if you have to travel a fair bit to work manual means that your left foot is going to be engaged and that can be a bit tirring.

good luck man

jesusrdzc · #9 (**permalink**) 03-26-2004, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by faz
Hi

First of all choosing betwen SMG and Manual you have to drive the car yourself and see which one is suitable for u.

2ndly i would not drive the M3 to work and back everyday (depends on how far your work place is) i would have a 2nd car and drive the m3 twice a week to work.

Also if you have to travel a fair bit to work manual means that your left foot is going to be engaged and that can be a bit tirring.

good luck man

It's very important what you are saying about distance.
The car will be driven mainly on a Freeway, from my home to my job there is like a 4 mile distance. The problem about test driving the Manual or the SMG is that the Dealership is rader small and they might not have an M3 for a test car. I have driven a Ferrari 360 F1 and I would like to have the impresion the SMG is about the same thing.
And about geting a second car jejeje

the M3 will Be my second car jeje.
Thanks on your Reply.
Take Care

fabadabean · #10 (**permalink**) 03-27-2004, 07:41 PM

I don't mean to tell you to go elsewhere to look for answers, but if you go to m3forum.net and do a quick search for SMG vs 6sp, you will find pages full of flame wars debating the issue at hand.. perhaps there you may find more answers...
as for drag racing, the 6sp is faster, simply due to the fact that you can launch faster... that said, SMG shifts are still faster; there is no way even the best shifter in the world can beat 0.08 seconds in S6... hell, even Ferrari can't beat 0.15 seconds!!!!

BMWBOY · #11 (**permalink**) 03-28-2004, 12:22 AM

Personally i would get a SMG.
Great gear box, a lot of fun to drive. + i drive in heavy traffic every day, manual is just not an option.

jesusrdzc · #12 (**permalink**) 03-28-2004, 08:45 AM

Seems the SMG is a better option in several aspects.
But, with the smg might the maintaninance costs rise?
Can I still do all of the nice tricks you can do with a manual?
Can the shifting knob on the SMG be used also as a shifter?

The car besides beeing drived to work I might drive it on highway on my way to visit my girlfriend in Phoenix or maybe if there is a Mexican Mischieff or players run which I have heard there is that posibility.

And Finaly I intend to keep this car a very long time. Seeing the new not to classic line cars that BMW came up with, I belive the new three series will follow the same line so I hope to keep thes car until a new cool M3 comes out.
So investment wise Probably the SMG transmision would turn better.

But still I will like to hear other coments of you guys.
So far my descion % on SMG and Manual is 35% for SMG and 65% Manual.

Jejeje so still submit your oppinions.
Best Regards
JR

fabadabean · #13 (**permalink**) 03-28-2004, 09:17 AM

Well, I'm gonna give you my arguments for SMG..
I'm having the same debate myself... I'm looking to purchase a used M3 this summer, and here's what I'm thinking of doing:
As of right now, I'm going to go with SMG because:
As much fun as the 6sp tranny is, I hear 1-2 and 2-3 shits are notchy... I also plan to track the car from time to time, so SMG would be a great advantage here... Whoever can beat a 0.08 second shift (S6) with a manual tranny deserves all the praise in the world... Also, for $2400, this technology is a bargain!! Ferrari charges 10k for a transmission twice as slow!! This is basically straight out of F1 cars, so it's awesome top of the line technology!!. If you love gadgets and gimmicks, this is the thing for you.
I also believe it may help boost resale value, but that's not for sure yet...
The only things I have going against SMG are the following: you can't "control" your car as well as you can with a 6sp as you can't control the clutch - ie no powershifting, harder to do burnouts etc... and the reparation costs are probably increased in drivetrain related issues...
But as of right now, this is where I'm at... I hope this helps

oh, and to answer to your questions, yes you can use the know to change gears, in addition to the steering wheel paddles. if you pull back on the knob, you go up a gear; push forward, you go down one...
Oh and also, I've seen pics of the new 4-series... looks real good; much better than the 5, 6 and 7 series!!!

jesusrdzc · #14 (**permalink**) 03-28-2004, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fabadabean
Well, I'm gonna give you my arguments for SMG..
I'm having the same debate myself... I'm looking to purchase a used M3 this summer, and here's what I'm thinking of doing:
As of right now, I'm going to go with SMG because:
As much fun as the 6sp tranny is, I hear 1-2 and 2-3 shits are notchy... I also plan to track the car from time to time, so SMG would be a great advantage here... Whoever can beat a 0.08 second shift (S6) with a manual tranny deserves all the praise in the world... Also, for $2400, this technology is a bargain!! Ferrari charges 10k for a transmission twice as slow!! This is basically straight out of F1 cars, so it's awesome top of the line technology!!. If you love gadgets and gimmicks, this is the thing for you.
I also believe it may help boost resale value, but that's not for sure yet...
The only things I have going against SMG are the following: you can't "control" your car as well as you can with a 6sp as you can't control the clutch - ie no powershifting, harder to do burnouts etc... and the reparation costs are probably increased in drivetrain related issues...
But as of right now, this is where I'm at... I hope this helps

oh, and to answer to your questions, yes you can use the know to change gears, in addition to the steering wheel paddles. if you pull back on the knob, you go up a gear; push forward, you go down one...
Oh and also, I've seen pics of the new 4-series... looks real good; much better than the 5, 6 and 7 series!!!

You got me there! I love gadgets and mostly buy new technology stuff.
If the SMG on the M3 is better as the one on the Ferrari 360 F1 we have a very very good thing here.
I think the bigest stunt I would pull on my future M3 would be to powerslided it or try maybe a 360. That's it.

Good luck finding your M3 too.

///M3Hellrot · #15 (**permalink**) 03-28-2004, 11:00 AM

I don't know who said it, but someone said launching a 6speed was faster.... I don't think so because with SMG you have a launch control option. Only thing that sucks about this is that the computer remembers how many times you have used it. The BMW dealership can then go and see if you have been "abusing" the car and might be able to use it against you to not value your warranty if something breaks. I think like 15 launches and some things were voided. Maybe this was just a myth, but I heard it a couple different places.