Inquiry About SMG Cars

[oceansize]

Things future SMG owners should know, particularly those that don't DIY:

1. Pump - Super expensive whether refurb or not, $2k and up
2. Actuator - Refurb $700 and up
3. Clutch Slave Cylinder - $330 and up (new)
4. Gear Position Sensor - $800 and up (new)

The above are retail prices so shops are going to tack on 25% or more.

You can get a used pump, but that is risky since low mileage used pumps are still pretty pricy and who knows how much life is left in the pump or what problems you might be inheriting.

All of the parts above are going to cease operating sooner or later so don't buy an SMG and complain when something SMG related breaks. Nothing lasts forever, particularly things that run under heat and pressure, its the way it is.

Another item that probably will cause issues somewhere in your cars lifetime are the compression springs. Shops will need to drop the transmission. Labor is going to kill you.

I appreciate my SMG but when issues arise I do the work myself. I'll never swap, I own two other manual sports cars plus I like the novelty and experience of the SMG.

[oceansize]

I have an e39 528i that has sentimental value. I’d love to swap a S54 and SMG into it. I think it’d be a great combination, with automatic mode for those lazy times.

Automatic mode is horrendous IMO.

[nyc951]

Automatic mode is horrendous IMO.

Understood. It’d only be used when I have a coffee and a croissant in my hands while commuting to work.

[nyc951]

Things future SMG owners should know, particularly those that don't DIY:

1. Pump - Super expensive whether refurb or not, $2k and up
2. Actuator - Refurb $700 and up
3. Clutch Slave Cylinder - $330 and up (new)
4. Gear Position Sensor - $800 and up (new)

The above are retail prices so shops are going to tack on 25% or more.

You can get a used pump, but that is risky since low mileage used pumps are still pretty pricy and who knows how much life is left in the pump or what problems you might be inheriting.

All of the parts above are going to cease operating sooner or later so don't buy an SMG and complain when something SMG related breaks. Nothing lasts forever, particularly things that run under heat and pressure, its the way it is.

Another item that probably will cause issues somewhere in your cars lifetime are the compression springs. Shops will need to drop the transmission. Labor is going to kill you.

I appreciate my SMG but when issues arise I do the work myself. I'll never swap, I own two other manual sports cars plus I like the novelty and experience of the SMG.

Appreciate the post. Your last paragraph is why I’d consider a SMG.

[Icecream]

After driving a CSL tuned SMG for 10 years and swapping to 6spd (with an AS ssk), I can 100 percent confidently say SMG experience underrated, 6 speed manual is overrated in comparison. Not saying it's worse/better but the manual certainly does not define this car and the SMG is far from ruining it, if you know how to drive. The only thing that ruined it was listening to all the SMG haters that have never ripped through the gears in S6 through the canyons.

[tlow98]

After driving a CSL tuned SMG for 10 years and swapping to 6spd (with an AS ssk), I can 100 percent confidently say SMG experience underrated, 6 speed manual is overrated in comparison. Not saying it's worse/better but the manual certainly does not define this car and the SMG is far from ruining it, if you know how to drive. The only thing that ruined it was listening to all the SMG haters that have never ripped through the gears in S6 through the canyons.

I might tend to agree with this. The 420g is not exactly an enjoyable box to shift for the most part.

if you have a Porsche or a Honda manual in the garage already, you have not much need for a BMW manual car.

[K-Dawg]

If I were E46 M3 shopping, condition and history would be on the top of my list, followed by color. Transmission preference would be pretty far down the list, and I'm not sure which way I'd choose.

[m3chanix]

My first post - Just sought out my first M3 and had to convince all my friends to let me give it a shot. Went in with the "I can swap it cheap" mindset but honestly I love it, man. I think once you drive around in it you'll understand all the posts claiming the one's trashing it have never driven one. I haven't even flashed to CSL yet btw. I can understand the hate maybe if it were my daily but smacking the paddle WOT really is a blast, especially in S5/6 when it really shines. You have to respect the tech and realize you're not getting into a 2023 build but I'm very glad I chose it

[Kevin2772]

Im on my second SMG E46 M. Every friend ive ever let drive it, understands it after experiencing it first had. While you dont have the clutch modulation of a third pedal, you do somewhat have to modulate the throttle to make the SMG as smooth as possible. Personally I love it but the expense of it is my only downside.

[maw1124]

If you have a Porsche or a Honda manual in the garage already, you have not much need for a BMW manual car.

IDK guys... I think about this a lot, but not for this car... a lot of cars I think about buying are from the '80s and '90s, where driving a stick is more or less required (928 GTS, 850 CSi, 635 Sharks), where I'm more or less just cruising around savoring the experience... but once paddle shifting transmissions (and even tiptronics), came about I don't see the need for manuals anymore... especially if I want to go fast... it's been a healthy reminder of why the whole manual craze began in the first place, and it wasn't to displace paddle shifting cars, but to replace the slush box BS of the 80's and early '90s where the automatics were objectively trash.

This most certainly isn't that.

maw