May be chipping in for an M3.

Has anyone got any thoughts on the SMG version ? Anyone got experience of SMG Vs full manual ?

Is it true that SMG's depreciate faster ??

OKAY - No Interest...

How about this then.

Would you change a MY99 UK Impreza Turbo for a 2002 (52) BMW M3 SMG

 

I have a 3.0 ZM with SMG - when I first went to test drive the car I walked away uninterested as I juswt did not get the same feel / level of involvement as a manual. After speaking to people who convinced me that after a while not only did u get used to them but actually preffered them I decided to give one a go. AND I AM SO GLAD I DID


Dirving it is like playing arcade games. It is just so much fun and when u feel lazy u can I would deffinitely recomend it and would go back again - also if u pick up a new M3 they have the SMG2 which is even better (FYI - some of the early BMW SMG's had problems that required NEW CHIP!!)

Go for it

As for depreciation they actually perform the same as a mannual however it obviously costs more in the first place!!!

 

Cheers DanR.

I am getting the finance quotes on Monday so could be in it on Tuesday !!
Whoo. I have to say that it drove very nicely !! Just gotta get my head around getting rid of the Scoob !!

 

I test drove a M3 SMG(but then bought a C32 AMG because I'm boring!) and thought it was great. At low speeds its a little jerky but full throttle changes are fantastic!!

 

Brilliant - takes a good 1K miles to get used to but you'll never look back. I've lost count the amount of times i've stalled manuals now after being so used to SMG (it changes down into first for you when you are at a standstill)

Launch control a great party trick too!

 

Can you expand on that for me please

I assume it isn't just a case of burying the gas then flipping into 1st 2nd etc ??

 

Had mine for a year, love it too bits, took a while to get used to it but now it is great, fantastic on track to as you can keep hands on steering wheel all the time.
As for launch control, ive never done that officer
By the way, rumour has it if you do it more than 10 times it invalidates the warrenty, whether that is true or not i dont know!
Regards

 

What you basically do is put it into S6 mode, disable the the traction controls, then hold the stubby lever forwards and floor the throttle. Revs flare to the perfect amount (about 3.5/4k IIRC, but haven't done it for a while as its winter!) Release the lever whenever you want and off you go, keeping the throttle floored. The car will automatically regulate wheelspin and stop the engine bogging down. In the CSL the car will also do the upchange at optimum revs for you too but in the normal M3 thats up to you. Theres also two types of L/C - it depends on how fast you floor the throttle - slowly for a "controlled" start, quickly for an "explosion aggression" launch

Makes a difference IMO as the M3 will bog down from a standing start notoriously.

I've also heard that romour about usage - yes its true the car does log every L/C, but i've yet to hear of any warranties being revoked.......

ps if you go for another drive make sure you have the sport button engaged!!!

 

Is your car special or something? As far as i know the SMG gearbox was introduced on the E36 M3 Evo (6-speed). The ZM coupe had the Evo's engine but the 3.0 M3s gearbox, hence 5 speed and no SMG (6-speed would not fit) or 3.0 engine?

 

SMG2 is very good

 

Id swap the impreza for an M3 SMG any day..

Nice solid car that cruises well.. they can eat back tyres and drink fuel though!

ps get the 19's

David

 

Not what I've heard.

 

Im on about looks only

 

I worked in a BMW garage for 6 weeks (went back to Merc as it more like a Holiday camp than the concentration camp I signed up to), drove plenty of M3's with SMG boxes, didn't really like the box about town but it was very nice on the open road. The computers do have a data logging facility, and the boys rumoured that after 4 banzai launch controls carried out consecutively, the clutch was minced, I didn't find out though.

Craig

 

Allegedly if you hold it in 5th to the redline then change to 6th - it goes past the limiter.

Seemed to work for the one in our Le Mans convoy lsat year

 

It has got the 19's fitted.

What have you heard against them then ??

Apart from the fact that BMW quoted £250 a pop for the 18's and £350 a go for the 19's

 

i have a 52 plate m3 manual version i think it is the dogs but i do have a bit of a problem with changing gear as it is quite hard but i will be honest i have never driven the smg version but was told it is a problem, so i resorted to buying the manual and am quite happy with it. and as for the 155 mph part i have had that in fith gear and had more to go in 6th. the good thing bout buying german cars is that they are reliable

 

The general opinion in the motoring press is that it drives better on the 19s.
No personal experience of the difference - I do think the 19s look much better though.

Wouldn't panic, I hardly think they will desroy the cars handling but if I was buying one I would certainly test both.

Did you and if so was there a noticeable difference?

 

Manual all the way.
Driven all types of M3 and some.
Depends how spirited you drive.
I always want to have a clutch pedal.

 

SMG2 miles better than manual.

People who don't like SMG2 normally have only taken an M3 for a spin around the block. This isn't enough - borror the car from the dealer for the morning, things will fall into place and you'll NEVER look back.

 

A mate of mine has a 04 CSL with the smg 'box, he swears its the best thing hes ever driven, had the m3 (with smg) before that and a TT before that.

The gear change when flooring it in sport with the 'box ratios right up is something to behold, even about town in sport mode you can hear the throttle blip as it changes down!! Well tasty sound imo.

Hes also got the 19" 3 piece AC Schnitzer alloys on it which look really nice.