Debating a Manual Conversion. Thoughts?

[Kipjames3]

So earlier this year I picked my first E46 M3 and it was almost the exact spec I wanted for my CSL inspired build (original, I know) but for one thing; the SMG. I've never driven an E46, let alone one with SMG, so after reading all the hate for the transmission I still decided to pull the trigger on the car. Now after owning it for almost 6 months and driving it a good bit, I've started to think about the famous manual conversion. I honestly don't hate the SMG as much as I thought I was going to after reading all the posts and comments online about it. It definitely takes some getting used to and the 1-2 shifts are tricky to time, even with the CSL tune that mine came with. But still, I don't hate it. But with winter coming and not planning to drive the car at that time, I've started to think about the process.

I've called multiple places around me and got prices from $5k all the way to $10k, with that shop recommending a whole new transmission from a donor car. Their reasoning for this was no matter how well the bell housing is shaved and put back, the clutch and transmission will still feel bad due to the stress of the SMG put on the synchros? I'm not calling out the shop because they are well reputable shop, I'm just repeating what I was told. The in between jobs ($7k) involved installing a new clutch because they said while you are in there you might as well do it. The lower end estimates ($5k) just involved OEM BMW parts, bell housing job, and all involved labor. Again, I'm new to all this so just stating the research I've done in my area.

So I guess my real question to all owners who have done the swap, was it worth it? Do you miss the SMG at all? And any other possible advice or opinions on the topic.

[karter16]

I'm an SMG owner and haven't done the swap, so realize I'm not one of the opinions you're targeting but thought I'd mention this below.

• SMG on Euro M3 tune was fine once you get used to driving around it.
• CSL SMG tune + the revmatch parameters on Euro M3 tune was a significant improvement
• CSL SMG tune paired with CSL software on the DME (as part of airbox conversion) was better again and more co-ordinated.
• The above, plus a dialed in tune and fuel tables like the Mullet tune make the SMG amazing. I mean downshift confidently with foot completely off the gas, even from 2nd to 1st completely reliably with perfect revmatched. It's completely changed how I drive with it. It used to be a case of driving around its idiosyncrasies, something I'm sure SMG drivers will relate to, now I've had to unlearn all that and just enjoy driving it.

Not sure what your current setup is and/or whether you're considering the CSL airbox and tune at some point, but thought I'd point this out, as depending on your plans you might want to give that a go first and see what it's like.

[Flow]

I'm on the SMG team.
CSL software + rev matching + ... and I love it.
I'm in France, where every single car is manual. My wife's boring shitty car that she loves is a small 1.5L diesel and a 6 speed manual. Nothing special here.
The E46 is the only automatic / automated transmission I own , and it gets a lot less hate because all the rest is manual.

I might swap it to a 6MT once the SMG system dies, but until then it is a brilliant transmission. It is fast, gives much more sensations / feedback than the dual clutch transmissions as it is single clutch.
I don't get the hate for it from purists, it is perfectly good.

[TheSage]

I haven't had any issues with my SMG. I know i will miss it sometimes. Since i bought my car, its always been the plan to swap. Just got my kit from AMS yesterday. I will miss the lazy driving but I* feel my car deserves a manual. I'm also looking at a separate donor 6 speed car so if the trans feels weird i can swap in a true 6 speed. I haven't secured that purchase yet so its not a option to not install a modded bell housing.

[sbay]

I’ve had both, first manual, then SMG, SMG, then back to manual. Properly maintained the SMG system is great. With the CSL software and the rev matching as mentioned above, the car has a certain feel to it that I can’t explain…and I kind of miss. It just goes and goes. The manual on the other hand truly makes you feel connected to the car, which sounds cliche as usual. But damn, there’s nothing like shifting a car while it’s screaming at 8k rpm. That’s worth something. I say wait until your SMG system goes kaput, and decide from there. Until then, enjoy it

[gheorghe]

Let me know if you decide to pull the trigger and swap (I did and am not regretting my decision one bit going to manual). I have a whole kit including transmission and the brown clutch switch to swap over.

[PetrolM3]

I also got an SMG because I thought it would make my 2 hour daily commute easier. I had only ever driven manuals at that point but this specific car was very unique (Individual Collection) so I lived it for a couple years. When I stopped commuting and got another car for a daily driver, I converted it to manual operation. Zero regrets - SMG is simply not a good system for street driving. Was it worth it for me? Yes - I did the work myself, got all the parts cheap and sold the SMG components while they were still desirable and I ended up breaking even. Would I pay $10K for the swap? Absolutely not. I'd sell the SMG and buy a factory manual car.

Many of the 'shops' offering conversions aren't exactly E46 M3 specialists. Very few are actual experts on this conversion and most of them overcharge for the job. I'd reach out to one of the forum members who do this work - they will do a much better job and likely charge less.

kaiv is who I'd recommend though I'm not sure if he still offers this service and how much the price has increased over the past several years both in terms of labor and parts (E46 M3 parts prices have skyrocketed lately and many have become NLA).

[PetrolM3]

It is fast, gives much more sensations / feedback than the dual clutch transmissions as it is single clutch.

If by 'sensations / feedback' you mean bucking and jerking then sure... it certainly does that better than DCT. However, it's inferior to DCT in every single way including how fast it is. My GTI's DSG (VW's dual clutch) is a pleasure to drive and no less engaging than the SMG was in my M3. Except no bucking or jerking. SMG was 'cool' when it came out but it's really not a great unit for street driving.

[M3llowM3]

I bought my car as SMG, and drove it as SMG for 2-3 years before I did my swap. I always told myself I would only swap it when/if I got issues with the SMG. I got the dreaded cog light one time on a super hot summer day, parking and then starting shortly after a long drive. But it never came back, and my SMG system overall was functioning well as far as I know.

As others have said, the revmatch tune and the CSL tune make a MASSIVE difference to the drivability and feel to driving the SMG, so if you haven't done those, i'd advise you to. You can do these yourself with ecuworx (25 pounds or something for the license but well worth) and an amazon cable.

I ultimately swapped to manual, because I was driving my winter beater GTI which is a 5spd and thought one day fuck is life it too short to drive auto, and started researching and saving for the job.

I did it around 2021 or 2022 during covid times, and heavily researched all the parts needed, and ultimately spend around 2k$ CAD on parts + a bell housing, which was closer to 1k$ cad. Labor was about 2k$ cad. Overall I'm happy I did it, and I think I now have more KM on the car manual than I did SMG.

Ultimately its your call, if it's something you really wanna do. My biggest piece of advice is to just make sure you do all the research.

[Flow]

If by 'sensations / feedback' you mean bucking and jerking then sure... it certainly does that better than DCT. However, it's inferior to DCT in every single way including how fast it is. My GTI's DSG (VW's dual clutch) is a pleasure to drive and no less engaging than the SMG was in my M3. Except no bucking or jerking. SMG was 'cool' when it came out but it's really not a great unit for street driving.

I don't experience that, no bucking or jerking here.
Max shift speed in manual, I just let go of the gas pedal for a split second, next gear engages, and I get back on it.
In the end, it really is a matter of personal preference, and there won't be any objective answer.

[TexaZ3]

I'd say this....drive a factory manual before you commit. They are not THAT great.

[PetrolM3]

I'd say this....drive a factory manual before you commit. They are not THAT great.

LOL

Let me guess - you have an SMG and that's your bias talking?

While I agree that 420G transmission isn't smooth like the ZF box BMW used in non-M cars (probably because 420G is made for higher power and able to handle more abuse), and the M3 manual shifter isn't S2000 good, 6MT E46 M3 still a relatively pleasant and rewarding car to drive and the manual shifter/clutch fits the car's character much better than SMG. This sentiment is shared by probably 99% of people who owned or drove both.

PS. I don't disagree that the OP should drive one before making any decisions.

[Epsilon]

If you're on a budget, then just maintain the SMG system. Maybe relocate the SMG actuator to the drug bin. There's nothing worse than driving out into the mountains roads and then seeing that cog light on a hot summer day and get stranded in our 20 year old cars.

I went for the manual just to reduce anxiety of the additional mechanical complexity that can potentially be a failure point of the SMG. Nothing to do with feel or being one with the car. lol

[TexaZ3]

LOL

Let me guess - you have an SMG and that's your bias talking?

No, that's my experience talking. An objective opinion from somebody who owned five E46 M3 coupes over the last 15 years, 2 of which were 6-speeds.
They are fine, just not THAT great.

[PetrolM3]

No, that's my experience talking. An objective opinion from somebody who owned five E46 M3 coupes over the last 15 years, 2 of which were 6-speeds.
They are fine, just not THAT great.

Fair enough - as I said earlier, I don't disagree that the manual shifter feel isn't S2000 good but it sure is better at being a manual than SMG is at being an auto or a manual...