BMW E46 M3 SMG. Are They Truly Awful?

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ต.ค. 2024
  • The SMG. The hater's gearbox. The gearbox that will die as soon as you unlock the car. The gearbox that will make every journey a misery! The gearbox that makes the car undriveable!
    Are they really that bad? Let's find out :).
    I also drove a manual 330Ci, for which the review will be coming up soon.

ความคิดเห็น • 27

  • @fiatlux4265
    @fiatlux4265 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I've gone through the trouble of relocating my SMG pump to the passenger drug well bin, that's how much I want to keep the experience. I love the violent, visceral shifts it gives in S6 mode. I also have a Mk6 GTI in 6sm.. its a blast to go back and forth between SMG and classic manual. I prefer the SMG so I still get the Getrag 6 speed with a clutch, plate, FW of my choosing.. without controlling the clutch so I can focus more on perfecting advanced driving technique. The ppl that complain about SMG are those that don't understand its true function/design, and how to care for it and the proper technique for optimal performance. It only takes a bit of time to perfect the driving technique as it's Def different than DCT and automatics. But again, I love the "clunkiness" of the shifts, gives it a very mechanical feel that I think is so dampened or just outright missing from modern sportscars.. something about how raw the overall experience is. The SMG shifting is pretty fast when in S6 mode and full throttle no let go of gas on shifts. Not really much of a delay compared to DCT, maybe slightly, but to me, a very different experience and totally worth maintaining for its uniqueness of design alone! Although all my non e46 M3 car buddies lose interest when I try to explain what it is 😂🤣

  • @PRED8TR_21
    @PRED8TR_21 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    SMG deserves more credit than it gets, have 52k trouble free miles, great on track...but when pump eventually goes will save money doing conversion for new kind of fun to drive and make it more valuable

    • @Stag2997
      @Stag2997  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      How would you save money? Most places want £3k to convert one. Despite what Mike Brewer says, the pumps can be refurbished for £600 via either CPC or BBA Reman in the UK. That's much cheaper. A motor from Bukharrt used to be £500, albeit I know how Brexit has affected that price (£600 now with VAT?).

    • @danielkusharsky4384
      @danielkusharsky4384 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Stag2997 exactly just replace the motor and have fun

  • @redmgf96
    @redmgf96 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    No. They are perfect! I have no problem with in.

  • @biglefty08
    @biglefty08 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Also if you hold the left paddle shift in for 0.5 seconds while on the foot brake the engine will raise revs to maintain position of the vehicles on a incline/decline

    • @Stag2997
      @Stag2997  3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Indeed!
      I've never found the need to use that TBH :). As you can see, you can more than cope with it without it :).

    • @BiffTannenBTTF
      @BiffTannenBTTF ปีที่แล้ว

      It's a nice feature for sure.

  • @donovanholt5382
    @donovanholt5382 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have a 2004 m3 152k miles with SMG, biggest problems were replacing gearbox input speed sensor and gear position switch. 150 dollars in parts plus a 50 dollar CSL smg tune and the car shifts so amazing now. I would rather have SMG or the manual variant. That being said, if the pump ever goes, I'll probably swap to manual. SMG is a pretty dope transmission variant and is definitely unique.

  • @Moezer
    @Moezer 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    The only bad thing about SMG is the driver operating it

    • @bng3217
      @bng3217 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I can see the hate when one try the SMG in auto mode. The SMG should be shifted manually to extract its maximum performance and smoothness.

    • @Moezer
      @Moezer 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@bng3217 have had mine since 2017

    • @redmgf96
      @redmgf96 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      You are right about that.

  • @BiffTannenBTTF
    @BiffTannenBTTF ปีที่แล้ว

    The best upgrade to get for the smg is a longer shifter. I don't know why they used that tiny little thing from the factory.

  • @dalehinton82
    @dalehinton82 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I drive my e46 m3 with the smg in sport mode every single day. Forst thing I do.when I start my car I push the sport mode button. And drive it in manual mode.

  • @benbanks6880
    @benbanks6880 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Amazing boxes, I loved mine.

  • @lazarosalazar3366
    @lazarosalazar3366 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have a 2004 m3 with 126000, just had it converted to 6mt along with valve adjustment and bullet proofing the vanos. It is fun to drive, but I feel that I enjoyed the SMG more...alot more. changed purely for reliability (It was starting to act up).

  • @bensilva7300
    @bensilva7300 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    also the camera, at least a good camera with good optical image stabilization plus any software enhancements, the ride could look a lot smoother than it is, none the less i love your car, and works amazing

  • @jhrodriguez08
    @jhrodriguez08 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I’m sure people that complain about SMG are those that can’t decently drive a manual anyways. On mine the sport button is always on (software update) and it’s a manual, without sport on the car feels sluggish

  • @ericdizon2479
    @ericdizon2479 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I love my SMG... has no issues just when it gets extremely hot and I drive hard the temp sensor throws the trans off into limp for a couple seconds. Besides that I love it.
    Also the auto mode is trash, I've used it once when I got my m3 and never again.

  • @beenzer1109
    @beenzer1109 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Nothing wrong with the SMG, it may take a little while to get used to it, but once you've learned how to drive it, it's a decent system, in auto I don't like it tho,But I'm used to the ZF 8 speed as a daily.
    I drove a few manuals before I got my SMG, and wouldn't switch to a manual now.

    • @bng3217
      @bng3217 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Definitely need to drive the SMG in manual mode. Once you acquire the skill for manual shifting, it could be smoother and quicker than the stick.

  • @RR-mz8fz
    @RR-mz8fz 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    interest SMG video, thank you!

  • @mohammedhaq7451
    @mohammedhaq7451 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I’ve own SMG E46 for the last 20 years mate no problem at all people talk @@@@“”””

  • @hitty9
    @hitty9 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    your mistake was testing the smg when it was WORKING. They are awful because they break. And then they are super expensive.

    • @Stag2997
      @Stag2997  3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Mine's worked for 5 years.
      £600 for a pump motor is not I wouldn't consider too costly.
      £4k for an engine from big end failure I would. It's the same again if the boot floor cracks badly.
      Have you been taking Mike Brewer's word on expense again?

  • @mikepham7771
    @mikepham7771 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have smg with 400 000 km yes I said it