I am looking at buying a used one in a year or so I was wondering if anyone has any long term expereinces with it. I have a former coworker who has a 05 m3 with SMG and he loves it.

Short term outlook - my wife can't drive the stick shift mcs and won't learn and I have been having some physical problems that could prohibit me from driving a stick shift for a while. I thought about an auto mcs but at the new price it's almost approaching the price of a used M3.

 

Well, one thing to know is that they do not all drive the same. Due to differences in the years and upgrades to software there are variences; some owners have not been happy after dealer changes to the SMG software. So in buying used test a few.

One thing about the SMG II in the M3 (at least in the one I got to borrow on occasion) is that the 'auto' mode was pretty harsh. Really wasn't worth using unless you absolutely could not shift as needed IMHO.

 

Do you remember what auto mode you were in? I will drive it in S mode but my wife might be using the A mode and I read the A1 is much smoother although I really won't know that until I test drive one.

My friend told me the auto mode is like an auto but is not. Weird way of saying it.:smile:

oh, and thanks for the info on the variances. I'll have to keep that in mind.

 

"A" (auto) mode is, as your friend says, like an auto but not. It's not nearly as smooth as a traditional automatic with a torque converter. A1 mode shifts very slowly and thus makes it seem like a very bad stick shift driver. A5 is only marginally better with it's quicker shifting. "A" mode is only good if you happen to be using one hand for something else.

Sequential "S5" is what I use to drive in all the time when I had my SMG M3. Nice quick shifts that you can make smoother with modulating the gas pedal during shifting. Much smoother than what A5 could automatically do on it's own. S1-S4 modes aren't worth driving in at all either as the lag in shifts is pretty nausiating. S6 I only reserved for the track since it requires DSC to be turned off. I only reserved the power button for the freeways and the track as it's very senstive to input, not ideal for city driving although I have friends who use the button 24/7.

eVal is correct in that you should test drive many used SMGII cars before deciding on one, they all have different characteristics based on their software version and the car's options, this basing on the one I had and about a half a dozen others I've driven.

Great car and value if purchased used, but they are overpriced new IMHO. I have a feeling your wife will drive in S5 once she learns how to, it's more fun and very easy to learn and get use to.

p.s. used MCSAs are already forsale at discounted prices. I can tell you I have just as much fun scooting around in the MCSa as I did the E46 M3, minus all the attitude.

 

More great information. thanks!

I am probably a year away from any serious test drives/purchase but I like to do a lot of research before making the plunge. For instance, I waited a year for our MCS to be delivered to Eb Mini.

How long did you have your m3?

 

By the by, if you will be considering 02-03 M3s you might want to get familiar with the bearing failure/engine issue on some production cars.

You can find out a lot here, from Jason site, he was a key player in getting information together about this and sharing it during the time BMW was doing their best to cover it up/profess ignorance about the issue:

http://members.roadfly.org/jason/m3engines.htm

I wouldn't let it scare you off from an M3 (after all I still got an M Coupe with the S54) but its good to know about it if you don't.

Cheers

 

I had the first production month of the SMGII (11/01) and sold it in early '03. In total a little over a year and about 18k miles. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

 

Thanks! Those are the exactly the years I would be in the market for when the time comes.

I didin't know that there were that many failures. I did read somewhere about a 6 year/100k mile warranty but I don't recall who was covered by it. I'll research this further.

:smile:

 

If I think of any more questions, I'll be sure to ask you.

Thanks for your information.:smile:

 

The 6/100 warranty is from BMW and applies to all cars with the S54 engine in it.

I thought the SMG was the best transmissions I have ever owned. I also drove around town in the S5 mode, with a good amount of time spent in S6. Mine was an 04 and I wouldn't let the dealer do the software update so I don't have any experienc with the upodate software. AS everyone else said the A modes are a little rough, but the lower a modes should be fine. If you lift just a little bit during shifting the car is as smooth as anything else. If you track the car you will find nothing better than the SMG, It lightning quick and perfect on every down shift. I also find SMG to be a superior transmission to Lamborhgini's E-Gear and Ferrari's F1 (Ferrari's name for their Sequential transmission, not the actual race car)

 

That's a nice color. I was at the dealer today and they had a M3 with SMG and the comp package along with some Dinan accessories. With a $2500 markup, the price was 75k! Whoa!