Failure to ensure that the battery voltage remains at a steady 14v may result in a bricked smg dme, interrupting the flash may also render your smg dme useless so you flash your smg dme at your own risk. The bmw m3 is a highperformance version of the bmw 3 series, developed by bmws. Jan 10, 2020 few cars have reached so close to perfection as the bmw m3 csl, a car that was always kept down by the companys smg automated manual transmission. The m3 is the wunderkind of the 3 series, and has been the performance standard in sport coupes for almost 30 years. The toughest aspect of driving our smg equipped m3 was getting a good launch at the track. To mr umberto this was a car to be driven only during sunny weekends. Check out this video from carfection in which they drive an e46 bmw m3 csl thats been converted to have a manual gearbox. A bmw m3 csl with a manual transmission is the greatest m car.
How to drive a bmw m3 with smg transmission youtube. E46 m3 smg to manual conversion lang racing development. Thats how the brochure of bmw s new smg sequential m gearbox reads. Apidas excellent e46 m3 buyers guide this morning once again reminded me how quick some enthusiasts are to vilify any transmission thats not a traditional three pedaler. First, lets setup winkfp with the e46 sp daten files extract the sp daten files from the zip file to a temporary location. Every used car for sale comes with a free carfax report. Electrohydraulic manual transmission, also known as clutchless manual, or automated manual. Pov putting the beloved 333hp e46 m3 through its paces. If this happens to a car you own it often make sense to convert the car to a manual rather than fix the smg unit. Bmw e46 m3 smg to 6spd manual conversion bmws e46 m3 is arguably the best m car to date.
We have 463 bmw m3 vehicles for sale that are reported accident free, 222 1owner cars, and 551 personal use cars. The car was sold in 072012 to a real lover who planned not to drive the car. The transmission itself is the same getrag typed sixspeed used in the threepedal m3. My recommendation is to drive both and decide, the torque of the 335 is definitely appealing, but the m3 is far more fun. A decade after the golf gti had turned the sports car concept on its head and shown that a hot hatch could be as chuckable as a roadster, bmw brought out the m3 in 1986. Used bmw m3 luxury cars with smg transmission for sale. As my daily driver, it is very comfortable to drive around town as well as on the freeway.
Sales were meteoric and the m3 was the car to be seen in for quite some time. Well, id like to take this moment to clarify a few things about bmws awful smg ii. Jul 01, 2002 smg first appeared in europe in 1996 and has recently accounted for half of all m3 sales outside the u. Jun 20, 2014 in 1996, bmw m introduced a manual transmission that was capable of shifting gears automatically without the use of a conventional clutch pedal or mechanical shifter lever. The hydraulic pump often fails resulting in a costly repair. Updating the smg ecu to run csl 255 software ecuworx. It was also devastatingly rapid and suddenly made the porsche 911 look a wilful extravagance. Bmw m3 parts genuine and oem bmw m3 parts catalog fast.
Even today, the e46 m3 has a real cachet amongst performance drivers as a car that doesnt have to rely on image. To change gears, the driver selects the desired gear with the transmission. If possible i would recommend the smg transmission. But where that disappointment lies will depend on the preferences of the driver, not the car itself. See my 2002 bmw m3 coupe testdrive for a full roadtest report. This bmw e46 m3 csl converted to a manual transmission makes. But all of you are missing out on fantastic vehicles because people with no experience with the system love to perpetuate the myth that the transmission murders puppies and gave your grandmother glaucoma. Used bmw m3 luxury cars with smg transmission for sale on. The first m3 was built to homologate the bmw 3 series for group a touring car racing in europe based on the e30 2 door coupe, and included aerodynamic body panels as well as upgraded suspension and engine components. May 04, 2006 the 2006 bmw m3 does show its age in its somewhat dated cabin electronics. The bmw smg transmission has both automatic and manual shift modes. How does the bmw smg work, and how do you operate a bmw.
M3 models have been produced for every generation of 3 series since the e30 m3 was introduced in 1986. Thats why cars like this thankfully autonomoustech free masterpiece e46 bmw m3 are becoming the goto car for enthusiast collectors and drivers alike. Now in its second generation on the current m3, smg ii is a big step forward, finally offering a viable performance alternative to the manual gearbox. In 1996, bmw m introduced a manual transmission that was capable of shifting gears automatically without the use of a conventional clutch pedal or mechanical shifter lever. The 2006 bmw m3 does show its age in its somewhat dated cabin electronics. As the m3 convertible is mechanically similar to the m3 coupe, ill use most of this testdrive report to focus on the new smg transmission and the cars convertiblespecific features. I drive both a manual car and an smg car and i find the smg car to be fun.
The e46 m3 had a couple major issues, one of the lesser ones is the smg gearbox. With their bold grilles, exoticlooking headlamps and short front and rear overhangs, the bmw 3 series cars are striking. Ideally a 335 for dd and a m3 for fun is the setup. How to own a bmw e46 m3 with a proper manual for next to nothing. This gives you the option of driving in automatic mode or standard. Hell, even an excellent automated system such as the porsche pdk gets crapped all over by some of the purist purists. Its been an absolutely wonderful run, but now its time to say goodbye to the existing e909293 bmw m3. Senior road test editor waltons notes were as follows. I get a lot of negative comments and questions about the smg gearbox in my e46 m3, but mostly. M3 driver this is car makes u feel that u will concor the road. Widely viewed as one of the best bmw m3s ever made, the bmw m3 csl just got even better with a manual gearbox. This bmw e46 m3 csl converted to a manual transmission. Beautiful bmw e46 m3 smgii in perfect conditon with full service history the car was bought in 082002 by mr. Unlike the plethora of tiptronic sequential gearboxes on the market today, bmws smg sequential manual gearbox is based on a manual transmission.
How to own a bmw e46 m3 with a proper manual for next to. I show you how to use the bmw smg, even at a stop light, in a drive. However, because the e46 bmw m3 is one of the most perfectly made bmws of all time, would you buy a basically brandnew one if it had an smg. Which in this car is the sixspeed smg sequential manual gearbox whose chrome shifter, sparkling in the sunlight like an exotic jewel, is located. Bmw m3 csl with manual gearbox is a purists delight. Manual e46 m3s tend to be more desirable and cost quite a bit more than manual m3s so often times owners can buy an e46 m3 smg and have it converted to manual for about the same price as buying a true manual. Search new and used cars, research vehicle models, and compare cars, all online at.
Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, tuning, specs, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more. With the redesign of the m3 comes a new smg system. After all, the e46 m3 csl, a car thats widely considered to be the finest driving instrument bmw has ever produced, only came with that very smg. A bmw m3 csl with a manual transmission is the greatest m. Unfortunately, after a few weeks owing it, i found it a bit over weight. Few cars have reached so close to perfection as the bmw m3 csl, a car that was always kept down by the companys smg automated manual transmission. The previousgeneration m3 offered the sequential manual gearbox smg in europe. Car and driver s guide to choosing the right bmw m3 for your garage details the e30, e36, e46, and e90 generations. Goes racing engine masters best drivers car week long road to monterey put up or shut. Former employee dan buxbaum brings by his 2006 bmw m3 for another fun episode of dude, i love my ride. Even with a tune a 335 feels numb, lethargic and boring to me.
In 1999 alfa romeo 156 was the first mainstream car with a sequential. Aug 01, 2001 bmw claims that using the acceleration assistant of the new smg makes the m3 perform more quickly and consistently than any driver could manage. Drive this car for five minutes and you too will be sold. The e46 m3 is actually one of the most reliable cars bmw has built in. Smg first appeared in europe in 1996 and has recently accounted for half of all m3 sales outside the u. The facelift also saw the introduction of a 6speed smg automated manual transmission, the first time an. Besides, dont miss to check our troubleshooting section in case of any problems. We offer refurbished and new parts as well as selected services. Bmw claims that using the acceleration assistant of the new smg makes the m3 perform more quickly and consistently than any driver could manage. A rare and highly collectable modern classic that is ready to be relished as a fun weekend car, or even as an exciting daily driver for a lowmileage commute. The smg is a surprising joy to use and great alternative to the 6speed. Thats how the brochure of bmws new smg sequential m gearbox reads. Mar 30, 2020 the m3 csl is known as one of the best m cars bmw ever produced with the exception of one component.
The m3 csl is known as one of the best m cars bmw ever produced with the exception of one component. The bmw m3 is a highperformance version of the bmw 3 series, developed by bmws inhouse motorsport division, bmw m gmbh. The smg society is a community dedicated for drivers of bmw s sequential transmissions which were fitted to several models. Youll be driving around town, cruising along, listening to some tunes. As a drivers car, the e46 bmw m3 csl is largely considered to be. Apidas excellent e46 m3 buyers guide this morning once again. The toughest aspect of driving our smgequipped m3 was getting a good launch at the track. The smg also has an automatic mode in which the car shifts for the driver, moving to the right gear based on engine and car speed. Bmwblogs the driveway features in their first episode a beautiful bmw e46 m3 with the second generation of the smg transmission. Mar 31, 2020 widely viewed as one of the best bmw m3s ever made, the bmw m3 csl just got even better with a manual gearbox. With a low weight construction and the highrev concept of its inline 6cylinder engine, for many it embodied a return to the virtues of the iconic bmw m3 e30. But i would never, ever swap my m3 for one even though i dd mine. This car has the luxury of a lexus, but the speed and handling of a porche 911. According to an interview car and driver recently had with bmw m boss friedrich.
Mp3 capability even for cds is nil, and the navigation system, while useful, has fewer features than most newer systems. Forums since 2003 a forum community dedicated to all bmw owners and enthusiasts. This 2004 bmw m3 is currently up for sale on bringa. Goes racing engine masters best driver s car week long road to monterey put up or shut up head 2. Compared to the standard m3, evo magazine reported that the cs has tangible gains in feel and agility and quickly gives you confidence to use all of its potential. My dreamcar just got a bit too heavy and smg sucked i owned a 99 bmw 328i and i loved it. I get a lot of negative comments and questions about the. Sadly, they read the ambient temperature coming off of the header, and trick the system into thinking there is a cause of. The initial model was available in a coupe body style, with a convertible body style added soon after. How to drive a bmw m3 with smg transmission highline platinum cars. Aug 23, 2018 former employee dan buxbaum brings by his 2006 bmw m3 for another fun episode of dude, i love my ride. An faq for the commonly misunderstood bmw smg ii transmission.