Another review (sorta): M3 SMG

2760 Views 40 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Shades, Mar 24, 2003

webguy330i

Discussion Starter · Apr 21, 2002

After driving the Cooper S, I got a chance to tool around in an M3 equipped with SMG. To make a long story short, DAMN.

That system is incredible. It rev matches, it shifts SO precisely every damn time, and man, it's fast. One can only wonder how long this system would last if I had an M3 for a daily driver. I imagine the clutch would be dead in a week. Why you ask?

Because there's nothing better than sports mode +5!!

Needless to say, the car is very very fast. The shifts are a perfect orchestra of sound and tach movement, and the ass meter definitely says yes. I can easily see how this car is faster than the M3 6spd with even the most capable driver. It's just amazing how fast the shifts are pulled.

Don't believe me? Here, my girlfriend made some videos:

Click here to see a video of me driving this beast
Click here to see a video of me driving this beast again

Both times I was shifting with the paddles, in the highest manual mode possible (fastest shifting). This car is unreal. End of story, I don't care what anyone says about clunking or engine failures or anything else. It's bad ASS.

1 - 20 of 41 Posts

nate

· #2 · Apr 21, 2002

One of the coolest things about the E46 M3 is the new M Lock Differential :thumb:

SONET

· #3 · Apr 21, 2002

Thanks for posting those. I sure hope that car had already been broken in before you got to it!

Do you have any vids where you can hear the rev-matched downshifts? I think that would be the most awesome feature of SMG. Ferrari has had that for a while, and the MR2 of all cars does the rev-matching as well (any others?). Never tried either of them myself.

Some of you guys seem to have good luck driving all sorts of cars at dealerships. How do you pull that off? Do you pretend like you're going to buy, or do you just say you want to try them for fun?

--SONET

webguy330i

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 21, 2002

Sonet-

We ran out of battery power unfortunately. Fear not however, for my friend Tammy will be taking PDC delivery of her 'vert M3 SMG in a month or so, and we'll be taking many a video. I'll be sure to post those.

I'm extremely lucky to have a dealership as relaxed as Towne, and a sales guy as great as Dave. He's the kind of guy that knows if he maintains this friendship, that he's got a customer for life. So far, I'd say he's definitely upheld his side. =)

Oh yeah, the car had 1800 miles on it.

SONET

· #5 · Apr 21, 2002

Whew, it was already broken in. I was going to say! heh

That's the only down side I saw from ordering from a dealership out of my area - I won't have the chance to do stuff like this unless I drive three hours. Oh well.

So... back to this 'Tammy'... does she happen to be single with a desire to move to the west coast? {grin}

--SONET

webguy330i

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 21, 2002

She's married, but she wants to get back to Cali badly. =)

SONET

· #7 · Apr 21, 2002

Shucks, married...

She wants to move back though, eh? I can facilitate that.

Oh well, one out of two 'aint bad. teehee

--SONET

ALEX325i

· #8 · Apr 21, 2002 (Edited)

webguy330i said:
After driving the Cooper S, I got a chance to tool around in an M3 equipped with SMG. To make a long story short, DAMN.

That system is incredible. It rev matches, it shifts SO precisely every damn time, and man, it's fast. One can only wonder how long this system would last if I had an M3 for a daily driver. I imagine the clutch would be dead in a week. Why you ask?

Because there's nothing better than sports mode +5!!

Needless to say, the car is very very fast. The shifts are a perfect orchestra of sound and tach movement, and the ass meter definitely says yes. I can easily see how this car is faster than the M3 6spd with even the most capable driver. It's just amazing how fast the shifts are pulled.

Don't believe me? Here, my girlfriend made some videos:

Click here to see a video of me driving this beast
Click here to see a video of me driving this beast again

Both times I was shifting with the paddles, in the highest manual mode possible (fastest shifting). This car is unreal. End of story, I don't care what anyone says about clunking or engine failures or anything else. It's bad ASS.

Nice videos Chris. Glad you liked the car... It definitely puts a smile on your face, doesn't it? The smile on my face only gets wider, and wider...

It really doesn't take much to hit 70Mph, right?

Honestly, I have a hard time keeping mine under 90Mph... :yikes: Sometimes I find myself "cruising" @ 100Mph/little over 100Mph on local Hwys... :yikes: It just doesn't feel like you're going that fast... :angel: Good thing the speed limit in FL is 70Mph (nobody really drives at speeds lower than 80-85Mph)... If I still lived on LI (55Mph speed limit), I'm pretty sure my license would be long gone...

Edit:

According to WMP, 0-70Mph in 5.5/6.0s ... :thumb:

BS' Bimmer

· #9 · Apr 21, 2002

Damn I want one now! :bawling: Thanks for the vids!

BTW: I LOVE the laugh at the end of the first one! :thumb:

asura0s9

· #10 · Apr 21, 2002

e46 m3..... OH MY GOD......thats just making me drool...

now i'm jealous of two of my friends who are getting 2003 M3's.....
hehe.... but its ok.... i still love my 323i

WILLIA///M

· #11 · Apr 21, 2002

Thanks a lot. Like I didn't want one bad enough already.

Seriously, cool vids. Thanks. :thumb:

ObD

· #12 · Apr 21, 2002

Thanks, nice write-up & vids.

Now if it only had 4 doors ... hmmm

Adrian 330Ci'01

· #13 · Apr 21, 2002

Maniacal laughter says it all!!

Cabriolet

· #14 · Apr 21, 2002 (Edited)

Check out this great article of another M3 test with videos http://www.bmwnation.com/ARTICLES/smgii_01.html You will need a high speed connection to appreciate the video as they are large files. Turn up the volume. The sound of this car is fantastic. Hmmmm, I wonder how much of a trade in I could get for mine on a new M3 convertible ?

Mr. The Edge

· #15 · Apr 21, 2002

webguy330i said:
That system is incredible. It rev matches, it shifts SO precisely every damn time, and man, it's fast. One can only wonder how long this system would last if I had an M3 for a daily driver. I imagine the clutch would be dead in a week. Why you ask?

Because there's nothing better than sports mode +5!!

Both times I was shifting with the paddles, in the highest manual mode possible (fastest shifting). This car is unreal. End of story, I don't care what anyone says about clunking or engine failures or anything else. It's bad ASS.

It sounds like you actually missed out on the fastest shifting mode possible, which is S (for sequential, not sport) 6. To get to S6 (faster than S5) you have to be in S5, then switch DSC off, then the 6th bar shows up and you can select S6.

Mr. The Edge

· #16 · Apr 21, 2002

330Ci cabriolet said:
Check out this great article of another M3 test with videos http://www.bmwnation.com/home.html. You will need a high speed connection to appreciate the video as they are large files. Turn up the volume. The sound of this car is fantastic. Hmmmm, I wonder how much of a trade in I could get for mine on a new M3 convertible ?

Here's the direct link:

http://www.bmwnation.com/articles/smgii_02.html

Cabriolet

· #17 · Apr 21, 2002

Thanks atyclb. I was just in the process of sorting out the url and noticed you beat me to it. Next time I will test the url before I post. Sorry for the confusion.

ashecnc

· #18 · Apr 21, 2002

330Ci cabriolet said:
Thanks atyclb. I was just in the process of sorting out the url and noticed you beat me to it. Next time I will test the url before I post. Sorry for the confusion.

hey, is that your car or just a pic just like yours?

webguy330i

Discussion Starter · #19 · Apr 21, 2002

Re: Re: Another review (sorta): M3 SMG

atyclb said:
It sounds like you actually missed out on the fastest shifting mode possible, which is S (for sequential, not sport) 6. To get to S6 (faster than S5) you have to be in S5, then switch DSC off, then the 6th bar shows up and you can select S6.

Damn it. You know I thought there was an S6 but I didn't have any time to read the manual or anything so I had no idea. At one point I did turn off DSC but there are 2 buttons: one says "DSC" and the other looks like a tire gripping the road, I assume TCS?? What's the difference?

I also didn't get to play with the launch control.

alee

· #20 · Apr 21, 2002

Re: Re: Re: Another review (sorta): M3 SMG

webguy330i said:
At one point I did turn off DSC but there are 2 buttons: one says "DSC" and the other looks like a tire gripping the road, I assume TCS?? What's the difference?

One is DSC, and one is RDC tire pressure control reset button (use it to reset the tire pressure sensors).

1 - 20 of 41 Posts

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