I want to try a flappy paddle box. The interwebs range from'it's a money pit PITA' to 'it's great and not any more expense than the 6spd'. I think someone on here has raved about them.
Any thoughts? The car I'm considering is well priced though with higher km (189) and a comprehensive service history (need to confirm when I go look).
Cheers, Jeff
I'm not afraid of them. Enough time has passed that people have identified ways to rebuild the actuator unit rather than the face the 1500-1800 replacement part route. That said, I'd still want a 2k discount over the price of a similarly equipped manual trans.
They can be more expensive to fix, but the system works quite well once you learn it. Its a great combination behind the S54 too.
There should be a dealer update on the software that controls the smg, IIRC it was the same one they used on the later "CSL" cars.
Also, INB4 everyone and their brother who has never driven one complains about everything like Bob Costas would. 
In reply to Jeff:
My good friend had an SMG. At first we all made fun of the choice (he ordered it new) but after driving it a few times, it wasn't THAT bad. It could be clunky at times in harsher settings and until I got used to it, I found that I would accidentally double upshift at times.
Definitely more stuff to go wrong/wear out/explode than the manual. But, SMG cars seem to go cheaper, at least around here, so that's a pro. It can also shift faster than anyone ever could.
I personally would prefer my own shifting, but the few times I drove his, I can't really complain all that much about it. I would however perpetually worry about the repair costs on it, especially since most e46's are long past their warranty days. A lot of folks hate them or the idea, and while it was not my preference, I have nothing bad to say about them other than additional costs to keep in mind for repairs.
DSG is better in every way than SMG, but I'd take an E46 M3 with SMG over no M3.
I LOVED my SMG. If the E46 was only available with a manual when I bought it, I would have gone straight for a 996. The SMG MADE that car for me. I drove it every day, all year long, and did over 90 track days in it. It was BRILLIANT.
It takes a little bit of seat time to really make the most of it. But all of the clunkiness that people experience really is exaggerated. You don't drive it quite like a conventional automatic. Really, you drive it like a manual that you aren't clutching. I loved loved loved it.
In reply to Lugnut:
This precisely......also, never put them in "Automatic Mode", well.....unless you want a laugh.
nderwater wrote: DSG is better in every way than SMG, but I'd take an E46 M3 with SMG over no M3.
This x eleventy billion!
Like mentioned earlier, if you drive it like a stick (lift on shifts) it drives OK. In auto mode you'll eventually be able to predict the shifts and compensate. I went from totally hating them to just despising them after I did a repair on one. After the repair I had to initialize and adapt the system. This seemed to make it perform better than any other one I had driven before. I imagine because most people drive them incorrectly and it adapts to their E36 M3ty habits. I'd still take a VAG DSG over the E36 M3ty Motherberkeleying Gearbox anyday
I hated VW's dsg.....completely turned me off of GTI's
Drove SMG on and off the track; I would never, ever buy one, want one, or be willing to face the potential repair costs.
David
My experience is with a 2005 M3 SMG. From 0 miles all the way to 60k miles with zero problems ... would buy one again.
Heh, this thread is the very definition of YMMV. My driving impressions:
Cars w/ smg's I thought sucked: Aston Martin & Lamborghini
Cars w/ smg's I thought were meh: BMW M3, M5 & M6
Cars w/ dsg's I thought rocked: BMW M3 & Porsche 911
I'm really interested in trying a DSG Evo & GTR, and even the VW unit too.
The SMG transmission is garbage. It's total E36 M3 on the street and in normal driving and only OK on the track, where you're going to use the car maybe 2% of the time.
Get a car with a dual clutch flappy paddle box instead, they're leagues better.
docwyte wrote: The SMG transmission is garbage. It's total E36 M3 on the street and in normal driving and only OK on the track, where you're going to use the car maybe 2% of the time.
Why do you say that? Which car did you own with an SMG transmission?
On a side note, did the SMG option come on the E36 as well, in foreign markets? I thought it was an option. Also, I thought I saw an SMG on a regular E46 once, maybe a 330Ci ZHP? Was that available over here in the states as well?
redhookfern wrote: On a side note, did the SMG option come on the E36 as well, in foreign markets? I thought it was an option. Also, I thought I saw an SMG on a regular E46 once, maybe a 330Ci ZHP? Was that available over here in the states as well?
Yes to both. E36 SMG cars were available overseas; I have seen two E46 330ci SMG cars for sale here, but they seem to be VERY uncommon.
I have never driven a SMG car, but considering their divisive nature, I sure would like to give it a try.
What kind of repair costs is everyone talking about? The gearbox is the same gearbox as the regular 6 speed. The clutch mechanisms are not complicated or terribly expensive, and the software (when I had the car) was updated regularly and for free (even out of maintenance).
In reply to Lugnut:
They're referring to the actuator system......which seems to be a rather uncommon failure.
Not sure of other parts, but on my afrorementioned friend's car, he eventually (at well over 80k hard-lived miles) had to replace the clutch. I recall it was about $1500 or so for that. No idea on the other parts. I'm sure a quick google may pull some owner experiences/costs/typical parts that need replacing
In the USA, the SMG was put in E46 M3's and M5's.
The SMG pump and electronics can cause problems, but the tranny itself is the same as the manual tranny.
Therein lays the issue, as the SMG just doesn't really work like an auto tranny, it clunks, it hesitates, it freezes, etc. You end up having to drive the car like a manual car, but without the clutch. Even then it lurches around at low speeds.
On the track, it's fun, but again, that's 2% of the time.
I'd much rather (and did) own a 6MT E46 M3, if I need an auto trans car, it will never be an SMG equipped car.
docwyte wrote: In the USA, the SMG was put in E46 M3's and M5's.
Actually you could special order it on the 330ci, but '04-05 only. I have seen a few in person and there are usually a couple for sale out of the ~500 in the US at any given time.
docwyte wrote: Therein lays the issue, as the SMG just doesn't really work like an auto tranny, it clunks, it hesitates, it freezes, etc. You end up having to drive the car like a manual car, but without the clutch. Even then it lurches around at low speeds.
Which is why I pointed out never put it in auto mode.....
The lurches at low speed can be taken care of in the settings...
I'd say drive one before you purchase one. There are few people who are neutral on the SMG. Love it or hate it---- find out which you are before taking the plunge.
Also, a quick drive may not be enough, as it takes a while to learn how to operate the SMG properly. (setting the parameters / figuring out how to operate it, etc.) It isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it may be yours.
This is one of those times that advice may not cut it....you'll have to experience it yourself to decide.
Based upon driving my dad's M5 SMG, I'd recommend that manual. In real life situations (on the road), I feel that I could make much quicker and more reliable shifts than the SMG. If you go with a fast shift mode (S5) and lift before you shift, it is actually pretty smooth but getting going from a stop is still rough. I can't comment on the reliability of the E46 SMG but the reliability issues with the E60 SMG is way over hyped.
Also, the automatic mode is terrible.
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