Why you SHOULD buy a BMW E46 M3 SMG
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มิ.ย. 2024
- The E46 BMW came in two gearbox flavours - manual and SMG (sequential manual gearbox). Most purists would choose the manual - without first having a go in the SMG. I think that is a mistake.
The revered M3 CSL is pretty darn LOVED by any self respecting petrolhead - and BMW themselves decided it will be available as SMG only. Some people bemoan that fact, wishing it was available as a manual - but - purists would not want to see the CSL converted as it then loses its OEM status (stay with me here)..
SO, if you want a good CSL, at time of writing, they are around £60+k. By weird logic, the normal E46 SMG M3’s can be picked up at a cheaper price than the manual (if a great manual was £20k the SMG equivalent would be £18k).
BUT - having experienced both, turns out I actually LOVE driving the SMG. Why?... well it definitely ain’t no DSG - it is FAR more engaging. You have to learn how to drive the SMG and once you do, it makes you really feel part the car - and that engagement is proper fun, as well as totally addictive!
Another bonus, no-one (well, hardly anyone) hoons around 100% of the time - so the auto mode of the SMG may not be quite like an actual auto - but, driven right, it is perfectly capable of giving an easy, smooth, relaxing ride.
And one more thing - the purists would have a coupe, manual with no sunroof - which means the convertible with SMG - which is a beautiful, glorious machine, is the best value one to buy - and all good example of any flavour will hold it's value, or more likely increase.
Cheers
Mark
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The Estoril Blue Convertible SMG M3 featured is currently for sale at
www.anthonyjamescars.com/cars...
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My M3 was detailed by:
www.advanced-detail.co.uk
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Great video, SMG deserves more credit than it gets
Owned my SMG M3 vert for 11 years 100% agree with your comments most have never driven an smg but regurgitate something they have read on the internet, the csl software upgrade makes a massive difference, and the gearbox reset so it so it reacts to your driving style apposed to the previous owner/drivers style , it took me at least a few weeks to know how to drive it properly, the box is one of the reasons I have kept the car for so long 👍.
Like Simon said, the CSL software upgrade for the SMG is AWESOME!!! I have owned my SMG vert since 2008. It is a 2005. You MUST remove the tiny 12V pump motor at 60 to 90k miles!! It gets clogged with brush dust. Mine needed 2 cans of brake clean and no other maintenance. Just put if back. Not even new brushes were needed.
I have had my car at a REAL race track...Sebring. I passed ALL the Porshe 911 and Corvettes of that era...it was 2010.
I use ALL the settings, all 11 of them on the road, depending on the situation.
NOTE: It is critical for the SMG to install a brand new LUK dual mass flywheel EVERY CLUTCH renew. Do NOT fail to do this!
You should see the HATE for the SMG online. LOVE mine!!! 120K miles, only one salmon relay and clean the 12V motor. I DO de-grease the SMG area under the car periodically. Grease and oil hold heat in. SMG does not like heat. Brake clean FTW!
What makes the SMG CSL software so much better than the standard (am considering getting it done)?
Much faster. and 3800 RPM launch.
Software is free online. It will cost u some singe malt to a mate to get it installed. A VERY experienced computer savy mate. Need free BMW INPA software too.
SERIOUSLY consider getting a brand new LUK dual mass flywheel a nd a new SMG compatible stage TWO clutch/pressure plate and a bronze pin to replace the OEM plastic pin.
u want an ENDURANCE clutch, not a drag racing clutch
Keep an eye on your GUIBO. They get destroyed fast if you shift aggressively. PURCHASE both rear half axles, rebuilt or a GOOD Chinesium version. They do exist.Quite strong ones. If there is a lot of play in the CV joint when new, do not buy.
Must be reasonabley tight. YOU will have to re gease both ends. Use BIG thick strong tie wraps. Pull as tight as possible. CAnt reuse the hose clamps
The rear axles are fragile and not greased by BMW with proper grease. It separates badly over time.
Two new 36mm axle nuts. You or your tech peel the boots back and remove as much BMW or Chinesium grease as possible. They will likely be UNDER greased anyways.
pack with the finest full synthetic CV Axle grease. Red Line CV Axle grease from USA is best. Buy more than u think u might need. Valvoline is good. NOT Royal Purple.it will separate.
Spot on review. I've been driving my (identical) SMG M3 for 7 years and can absolutely attest to what you are saying. I'll be buying an additional one. Thanks to all those numpty TH-camrs who are avoiding them and worse still converting the SMG boxes to manuals; the rarity of the SMG's will only make the value of the car increase further once the nonsense spread by the 'manual only' drivel is finally debunked. The SMG does take a good year or so to master so you aren't going to do it in your 20 minute review drive no matter how fabulous a driver you think you are. The more I drive it the more I appreciate that this box married to the rest of this car is a frigging work of art - inspired design. Oh and one of the complaints of "the SMG box is it's sooo expensive to repair so avoid it - or spend as much on a manual refit :P" simply means you can't afford the car... you'll find that out in the first six months of driving it as they are thirsty, thirsty, thirsty... thirsty. Which is why I suspect so many come up for sale - sadly by which time they've been appallingly modded'. Having said this at 116K I have not had a single issue with the box. I never scrimp on service and yes this is expensive at times... see my prior point. You don't own an E46 SMG... it owns you - that is the way. When I'm asked what it's like, I say the E46 SMG is probably like a mistress ... expensive, ill tempered in the morning, and demanding and easy to lose control of... and utterly sublime when it counts.
What a spot on, perfectly judged comment. 😁👍👍👍
FINALLY... a good review on SMG, I've had mine for 12 years, would I swap it for a manual... Not on your friggin life.
Yeah, you've gotta learn how to drive them, but once you do, you'll love them. And it's true what he said about people slating the box after a very short run, my son had a go in mine recently, and was slating the box to death, then I jumped in, showed him how it should be done, and he's starting to warm to it now. Auto is crap tho..
Amazing video, great tips on how to care for my car. Love your pup too 👍🏻
Thanks John.. and pup is the real star!
Fab video! I’ve just bought a Phoenix yellow convertible SMG. The box isn’t great at first, but it’s growing on me!
Stunning…brilliant video, many thanks🙏
I got the same convertible as in your video with SMG got the CSL software update ands it’s great to drive I love it!!
Nice to see a video like this, totally agree that most of the criticism is from people who haven’t driven a car for long enough to get used to it..
Thanks for the vid. I'm on a hunt for an M3 at the moment, so I'm naturally hounding every social for pieces of info. The SMG is now an option, will need to try it out! Cheers. Lovely M3s btw! 👍🏻
Awesome video, thanks for sharing.
Great video and fully agree on SMG. My M3 CS SMG is a keeper. If you want a great manual from the period get something like an S2000. If you want the best E46 M3 experience it has to be SMG.
Totally disagree.
@@NakaiSan. Why is that?
@@qwazzic lol. M3 manual e46 is 100 times better than smg xd
@@NakaiSan.00 times better? Lol. No it's not. Definitely not for the extra premium for 3 pedals. With a proper csl remap it's perfection and suits the car well.
Just got my 2002 coupe SMG. Love it!
Ive been waiting for someone to make a video like this. I bought an SMG because i live in london and spent the previous 18 years driving a mk2 golf. i just cant be bothered with the clutch in traffic. The guy i bought the car from, said to me. give it a month before you decide if you like it. at first i thought i had made a big mistake. but just like he said, about a month into ownership i loved it. I've even had the pump fail. but that experience now means i can change a pump , bleed and calibrate it myself. its actually a pretty simple system to work on. With so many people converting to manual. these might end up being the rarer cars in the future.
Own my SMG since 2012. Has a learning curve, and people commenting negatively have rarely owned one. You need to drive it like a manual, and if you put the CSL software on it, it is awesome! Love your dog!
I have a e46 m3 manual convertible 50k on clock and a e46 m3 coupe smg with 20k on clock and I have to say I love them both don't knock ether thay are great cars just enjoy and have fun happy driving 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧❤ fantastic vid just subd👍
I have an 01 coupe, had an SMG with Frank Smith software (modified CSL) and it was amazing. Drive it like a manual with the throttle, it's never jerky. I've since manual swapped it because I couldn't find anyone who could actually diagnose the issue I had, which apparently was a bent selector rod in the gearbox - gearbox randomly then eventually not going into gear, it was not an SMG pump failure. People dump on the SMGII but I actually prefer it to the manual (I installed an RTD shifter) because it was a great box, launch control, rev matched shifts and I get to keep both hands on the wheel when I'm driving hard (just safer IMO).
Great review, had my SMG for years and wouldn't change it for the world. With the latest software version and a new SMG pump, the gear changes when in full attack mode are brutal.
How much is the pump ?
@@mrkevinlui yet to find out... but if you have to ask... :D
Top fookn banana 🍌.. love it!.. and now want an M3 SMG.. detailed of course 😍
great video!
car looks amazing
Love the video brother really really love this car since a child I'm 30yrs old now and one day I hope IL be able to buy one I don't care smg or manual the thing is if u take car of the car it will take care of u true but one day is one day by the way greeting from south Africa mate
love this
I can see why most prefer the manual. I actually enjoyed owning an e46 m3 w/smg. Sure, it’s took a bit to get used to. But once you understand how it works, then it’s a blast to drive. And from what I hear, adding the “csl” smg tune actually improves on the shifts. Eventually I would like to own another one.
It’s a secret guilty pleasure of mine but
… I like the rasp engine sound from the S54 engine, the tones change with RPMs
The 8,000 redine , fucking race car and has the looks to back it up
Also I’m a proud owner of 2 SMGs M3’s and plan on doing the research on keeping them pumping and working properly ,
We should all e46 m3 smg owners start a support website for mostly SMG pump, operating systems , codes and sensors , etc
To share information and keep them running well
Count me in...
Best of both worlds.
Nice beats
Love it!.. these fellas really look like they love proper cars!
Love my smg m3, yeah it’s maybe not the greatest at low speeds and in traffic but you just have to know how to drive it and when to shift. It was years ahead of its time.
13:34 I've experienced something different. My SMG was software tuned, which was a blast to drive, right up until the moment that little orange light went on.
the SMG will fail, might be as simple as the relay or as expensive as the pump.
I've experienced both, and when it happened, I was pissed, sitting on the sideline of a highway waiting on that ambulance..
I've spend a couple €'s more and converted it to a Manual, that's one thing I've never never regretted.
eventually I've driven the car 2 years with SMG, now close to 4 years with the Manual. both are great fun, but manual don't fail.
Yeah my pump failed and I even replaced the pump motor to no avail, now she is at a very well know shop for SMG swap 🎉
If you like the SMG, you should try a DCT car. It's like having the SMG shift speed at a 10 setting
I've owned my '02 e46 M3 lsb SMG for 5 years and couldn't agree more. Misunderstood and underappreciated. Takes a while to get used to but once you do it's hard to see going back to a third pedal.
I think it extends the clutch life as well
Nice!!!
Nice M3
Is it carbon black?
I like the color of the wheels,do you might know the color code of it?
flawless........
nice car but you got to get the passenger door and rear quarter sorted
Get yourself the CSL SMG update anddddd check ya subframe…
Have been considering the CSL upgrade..does it make a big difference?.. subframe has been checked and is OK.
@@FreeCarHunter no experience but from owners opinions online it makes a big difference
It’s not the subframe that cracks the subframe itself tends to be fine... it’s the boot floor that cracks where the subframe is bolted to. People ask to have the subframe checked and it’s fine when the problem is the boot floor of the actual car
@@eamosri it's really good to get info on this, many thanks. I've read that BMW did try to address the issue with cars post 2003.. but some of those have still had the problem. Trick is, I guess, to have yr M3 looked after by a trusted specialist. In my experience, specialists are SO much better to deal with compared to main dealers!
Does this M3 have an airbox installed. It sounds louder than stock
At 10:53 is when I knew I had to subscribe.
I am an owner of a 2002 M3 with a manual transmission.
What I can say is this: The SMG does present fantastic value for money, but other than perhaps being better on the track (debatable) it will never provide the same level of driver engagement that the 6 speed does.
That said, it all comes down to what you're after. If you want a factory manual, these are only going to continue to appreciate in price so the time to buy is now.
If you want to use the money you will save on buying an SMG, by all means. They are still a great car, I just don't think they provide the same level of engagement.
I have one for sale in Cyprus fully repaired including subframe and engine.
Only reason to buy SMG is because it's cheaper than buying one with manual transmission, even after you factor in conversion to manual. Otherwise it has all the negatives of an automatic and manual.
I question the convertible top far more than the SMG. Hell, I like driving my smg more than my "proper" gearbox car. Of course when the SMG shits itself I'll make it a proper gearbox as well.
All of the transmission problems on e46m3s I have seen were smg
its more like the ppl, told u rotary engine is not reliable
and then even didnt own a rx7 rx8 before
also the main point is that
rotary engine and smg gear box is not for daily
u use a sequential gear box for daily drive
of course its not comfortable
What exhaust is that?
Totally agree, cheaper smg parts for me lol
Why you should buy an SMG M3? Because it's going to come with a real M Car
The SMG is pain to drive in bumper to bumper traffic, but great in spirited mode.
Bumper to bumper, don’t drive so close and put it in bloody AUTO . You’ve obviously NEVER driven one
@@milessheppardson3008 - your assertion about me never have driven one is OBVIOUSLY wrong.
You must be driving it wrong then, or there is a problem with the car.
@@TheOrdersixtysix i agree i have a modern rs7c8 but also have a 2004 smg with csl software, it drives so smooth in traffic and round town
smg is all that
Most of the hate on the SMG gearbox is because people expect it to behave like a torque converter and not a sequential manual that it is. You need to know how to drive it, and the haters either have no clue or don't want to put in the effort to drive it.
QUESTION- where can i get a steering wheel re-trim from? UK based
Best in the business:
royalsteeringwheels.com/
“why you should buy an SMG”:
to swap to manual
The only good thing about SMG is that it is cheaper to buy. Sorry for the blunt argument. I have owned a manual e46 M3 for the past six years and have driven smg cars a lot. Good thing about a SMG car is that once it breaks you can easily convert it to a proper manual. An easy way to drop any argument in favor of the SMG is driving both a manual and Smg car the same day. I doubt anyone will praise the smg after that.
i had one 03 M3 convertible for 4 years. only problem was that SMG had a lag...almost had a few accidents with it because i had a c4s Porsche standard trans which had NO LAG - so perhaps the standard M3 would be fine. Perhaps the 2005 (same E46 body) might have fixed that SMG lag problem...all in all a Lovely car.
A simple SMG software upgrade removes this. A must upgrade for every SMG owner.
My smg hates sunny hot weather and comes out of gear 🙄 works perfectly in cold weather
wow. that's frustrating. are you going to try the csl smg update? 'comes out of gear' = goes into neutral randomly?
@@jonasbaine3538 it did go out of gear into neutral randomly last summer but so far it’s been fine this summer , I changed the salmon relay , maybe that has something to do with it 🤷🏻♂️
Nice. As a new fan tho please stop the random music moments .
"I detailed the brand new hybrid v6 engine for Mclaren" Every E46 M3 Owner: So?
Brilliant.
The only reason in 2023 is that you would have a pleasure to swap it for manual 😂😂😂
I love my M3 convertible Smg. But the truth is neither the manual nor Smg are ‘brilliant’ boxes. S2000 or Boxster have better boxes so why not indulge in the F1 tech and learn how to use it- for quicker, safer, more accurate shifts
Why u should drive a manual m3.
I recently got one. 04 Convertible SMG with 40k miles. My reason for getting that was the used market. If I were buying it new in 2004 then manual coupe for sure. But these are enthusiasts cars and they are driven enthusiastically, especially the manual ones. It is very hard to get a low mileage clean one of those at a reasonable price.
I wanted a car that was taken care of and driven gently, maybe by a dentist. The engine in mine looks like it just came out of the factory.
If I keep this car until the SMG pump goes then manual conversion is a no brainer.
SMG is somewhat frustrating especially at lower gears. When the car is cold it likes to stay in lower gears and is extremely jerky. Because it doesn’t disengage the clutch when you let off the accelerator. Clutch only disengages when it shifts. This is in automatic drive mode. Of course you can always manually shift up but it is far from smooth. SMG has a certain timing for clutch disengagement and reengagement and you really have to sync your accelerator to it perfectly, otherwise there will be an awkward slow down from engine breaking. I can only pull it off perfectly 3 out of 10 times. After third gear it gets much better. Once it is warmed up and you have the gear ferocity at its lowest setting, the car does not even go into first gear, it gets down to second gear even at complete stop and then creeps out from there. It makes it smoother but since this engine does not have a lot of torque at low rpms it is slow to respond.
Even after all that I love this car because the performance at high rpms on a smooth road with sweeping curves more than makes up for it. I find myself driving more aggressively when in this car, playing into the BMW driver stereotype :)
To convert it to manual. Whole vid in one sentence. 🤣
SMG is great when you learn how to use it
Why because the e46 is the best Car ever. Especially the M3
I wouldn't buy one just a 330i manual only
The Negative comments about SMG only come from know it all BOY racers...... BUT they forget to mention one MAJOR point about the SMG.... The reason why BMW only used the SMG in their fastest E46 M3 build ( the CSL ) .... Because they knew that the racing box was the SMG and not the boy racer wanna have a 6 speed manual box...... No Argument.. Full Stop...
Need For Speed Most Wanted
Anyone
Who put that bleeding music on the vid ? Ruined it with awful soundtrack.
SMG's are horrendous, there's a reason they are thousands less than a manual even though they were thousands more when new
Thick comment
the smg is fine but the m3 is slow af now. old news
This model is better than the f80 over all, still the e9x is better than them both
Most people on here talking about the smg transmission haven’t owned one, I have. Having said that I am warning everyone right now, it is the worst most uncomfortable transmission you will ever drive. It’s not a matter of if your smg pump will fail but when it will fail and it will at some point. The price to fix it is more expensive than converting it to a manual. Most people would agree that the smg transmission is jerky, sluggish and awkward. If you are higher in gears it’s not that bad but getting from 2-3 or 3-2 you will hate it very fast. Yes you can get use to it, yes it is bearable but I personally prefer the manual. Good luck to everyone!
11 years and 60k of my daily driving and I’m still waiting for it to brake , and it’s not that much to fix if it does go wrong these days ....
Own one. And it's great. Also owned a manual ZHP. Still prefer the SMG M3.
u fanny
nope it sucks
Lol, you SHOULD NOT ever buy SMG. Worst gearbox system there is. Problematic, jerky, sluggish and very expensive to fix. Oh, unless its CSL tune it shifts like my granny! To each their own i guess but for the absolute majority out there - if you plan getting e46, get manual only!
if its in good working order and you know how to drive it, it is very fun to drive. they are problematic though, i had one and ended up getting it swapped to a manual because it wasnt much more than having the pump replaced. i was always worried about taking the smg on long trips too because it was very finicky and didnt seem to like really hot days or really cold days.
SMG is no longer expensive to fix and the tunes for it are getting better. The stock manual in these cars are also rubbery and very unimpressive. There's good reason to get SMG
@@newton22 yes the gear boxes are pretty rubbery and notchy. its easily fixed with a heavy shift knob though. even the weighted zhp didnt help much, but when i went to the storm-motorwerks v2 it completely solved the notchy gearbox problem.
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