Debating a Manual Conversion. Thoughts?

[sapote]

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?

The synchros in the SMG should be in better condition than most manual boxes, because the computer rev matched the rpm shift.

10K is too high.
I think 5K is reasonable.
Don't swap the bellhousing from another car/box, but machine your stock BH to match with the box to avoid potential input shaft bearing issue.

I don't trust SMG as it has too many components can fail, so higher probability to be standed somewhere than a manual box.

[davidinnyc]

I see an SMG car in my future for the reasons TexaZ3 stated. Do any of you drive the SMG in full automatic mode? I live near busy cities and could use a break during heavy traffic now and then.

I do when I'm trying to hold an iced coffee and turn onto busy Ventura without cupholders because I deleted them...

[Obioban]

Drive an 6mt car, and do what you prefer. That's all that actually matters.

Personally, I wouldn't own an e46 M3 if manual wasn't an option. SMG does not do it for me.

[0-60motorsports]

I see an SMG car in my future for the reasons TexaZ3 stated. Do any of you drive the SMG in full automatic mode? I live near busy cities and could use a break during heavy traffic now and then.

I do in A3 and it's perfect for traffic. Otherwise S5 for manual mode. You just have to learn to modulate the pedal right and it's smooth.

[Kipjames3]

I appreciate everyone's input and advice. I'll definitely try and find a manual car to drive. Hopefully the SMG doesn't give out on me anytime soon and I'll have some more time to think the decision over. In the mean time I think I'll take care of the rear subframe and check that off the list.

[Shonky]

The way I describe it:

You drive a manual like a manual
Drive an auto like an auto
Drive an SMG like an SMG

Its pretty rare my SMG ever jerks when driven properly.

I find the auto modes a bit rubbish though. Lower ones too slow (say D3) and changes gears when not in a good spot eg 1 to 2 taking off and turning in an intersection it changes leaving you without drive temporarily. In a manual you'd probably just hold 1st.

Then in the higher modes it won't change up enough. eg sits in 3rd at very light throttle at 60km/h when it should be in 4th at least.

[Nate047]

The heart wants what it wants, drive both and decide. I have 3 friends who have converted their SMG cars and none of them
regretted it. But clearly there are people who like and even prefer SMG.

Just don’t become an insufferable twat about your choice and make the number of pedals in your car your entire personally.

[Flow]

Just don’t become an insufferable twat about your choice and make the number of pedals in your car your entire personally.

This ^
Being happy while driving the car is all that matters.

[0-60motorsports]

The heart wants what it wants, drive both and decide. I have 3 friends who have converted their SMG cars and none of them
regretted it. But clearly there are people who like and even prefer SMG.

Just don't become an insufferable twat about your choice and make the number of pedals in your car your entire personally.

This 100%. Everyone I know wants to or have converted their M3s to 6MT, and always look at me and laugh with me about it, how I won't do it 🤣

SMG forever for me until we have the means to keep to alive, 6MT when no other choice is available.

[maw1124]

Just don’t become an insufferable twat about your choice and make the number of pedals in your car your entire personally.

That part... LMAO

maw

[jvit27]

I've owned versions of both; in the middle of converting my current E46. I always liked SMG but that's also because I had my first one in-period so there was a cool novelty factor. And by comparison it was light years better than 90's flappy paddles (incl. SMG1).

SMG2 gives the car some character, relatively more "exotic" whereas 6MT is more pure. I think it was JayEmm on Cars who said in a video "There is no good transmission for the E46 M3" and that sums up the dilemma/perpetuatal divide. The 420G is nothing to write home about and the SMG has a legitimate list of flaws. No one really expected a renaissance for single-clutch semi-automatic gearboxes nowadays, but they are carving out their place in the enthusiast space so that is actually good to see. The fact there are third party companies that offer relatively affordable ways to keep them on the road says that despite the witch chants, SMG is not universally hated. As car people though, the three pedal experience is just a simple requisite in our world.

SMG is a fun way to daily a car that (IMO) is not the best car to daily. When maintained and flashed it won't beg you to convert it *especially* if you already have another car that's a manual. 85% of the time I genuinely loved it. The other 15% of the time I'd curse when an upshift isn't super crisp, or the car takes a few extra seconds to start just because all the sensors are buffering. None of the aftermarket paddles or brake pedals I had ever tipped the scales in favor of leaving it in place. As time marches on and the car ages, the dichotomy of wanting a raw analog experience and having cars that are better at daily duty made me lament why I'd even run the risk of repair costs to keep that dream alive. DCT does the good things SMG does far better, does not need any real precautions or fortification, nor does it cause nearly the anxiety. And the ZF8 in my F31 has been so good at everything else that I found myself annoyed by the effort it takes to drive SMG correctly without the satisfaction of nailing the shift yourself. In practice the main difference is simply not using your left foot. Otherwise you have to move your hand and mentally time everything as you would with a manual anyways so in my head I just started to feel like I was being lazy.. and at low speeds it just isn't as engaging. Eventually it all boiled down to removing multiple failure points and 20lbs from a car that needed a diet anyways, not because there was any tangible hate for the SMG experience.

Now being nothing but a summer toy it would take way too long to accumulate enough miles on my car to truly kill the SMG system to where I have no fiscal choice but to convert it. When I do drive it I want it to be as fun as possible. Will I miss it? Yes. Would I much rather add an F430 with F1 transmission to better scratch that itch? Definitely. lol

[Kipjames3]

I've owned versions of both; in the middle of converting my current E46. I always liked SMG but that's also because I had my first one in-period so there was a cool novelty factor. And by comparison it was light years better than 90's flappy paddles (incl. SMG1).

SMG gives the car some character, relatively more "exotic" whereas 6MT is more pure. I think it was JayEmm on Cars who said in a video "There is no good transmission for the E46 M3" and that sums up the dilemma/perpetuatal divide. The 420G is nothing to write home about and the SMG has a legitimate list of flaws. No one really expected a renaissance for single-clutch semi-automatic gearboxes nowadays, but they are carving out their place in the enthusiast space so that is actually good to see. The fact there are third party companies that offer relatively affordable ways to keep them on the road says that despite the witch chants, SMG is not universally hated. As car people though, the three pedal experience is just a simple requisite in our world.

SMG is a fun way to daily a car that (IMO) is not the best car to daily. When maintained and flashed it won't beg you to convert it *especially* if you already have another car that's a manual. 85% of the time I genuinely loved it. The other 15% of the time I'd curse when an upshift isn't super crisp, or the car takes a few extra seconds to start just because all the sensors are buffering. None of the aftermarket paddles or brake pedals I had ever tipped the scales in favor of leaving it in place. As time marches on and the car ages, the dichotomy of wanting a raw analog experience and having cars that are better at daily duty made me lament why I'd even run the risk of repair costs to keep that dream alive. DCT does the good things SMG does far better, does not need any real precautions or fortification, nor does it cause nearly the anxiety. And the ZF8 in my F31 has been so good at everything else that I found myself annoyed by the effort it takes to drive SMG correctly without the satisfaction of nailing the shift yourself. In practice the main difference is simply not using your left food. Otherwise you have to move your hand and mentally time everything as you would with a manual anyways so in my head I just started to feel like I was being lazy.. Eventually it all boiled down to removing multiple failure points and 20lbs from a car needed a diet anyways.

Now being nothing but a summer toy it would take way too long to accumulate enough miles on my car to truly kill the SMG system to where I have no fiscal choice but to convert it. Will I miss it? Yes. Would I much rather add an F430 with F1 transmission to better scratch that itch? Definitely. lol

That's kinda where I'm at, I think. Maybe just drive it until it craps out then obviously do the swap then. This is summer fun car so and doesn't even get driven in the winter so obviously the miles won't be getting piled on anytime soon. I just don't want to be driving one day and it leaves me stranded. That would be my luck. Ha. I'm sure I can spend that money in other areas though.