I am looking at options to replace my recently bent S2000 and my shortlist so far is quite varied:

Caterfield + beater
S2000 (of course but with a turbo and racelogic this time!)
330d touring (my family has always owned estates and I quite like the space)
WRX PPP estate (but my brother has one so probably not)
123d (yes another oil burner but with a chip probably quite a lot of fun)
E46 M3
E39 M5

I hadn't really realised how cheap M3's were until the prices were highlighted by marks "beater" thread. For between 12 and 15k an M3 with around 50K on the clock seems like an incredible bargain.

There is a good review of manual vs SMG here http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10057 which is worth a read but I was wondering what owners here thought?

 

I'd be concerned about getting a SMG. When they go wrong there's aren't many specialists who are good with them so you have to end up going to BMW and they WILL cost a fortune, they have you over a barrell.

As good as the later SMG boxes are, a manual will always be more rewarding and fun.

 

Good article - well observed.

I'd only consider one as a 'Lude replacement, never an S2000 replacement and since I lift for changes even in a slushbox, I'd be happy driving an SMG. There is always that slight loss of throttle-steering with a conventional slushbox, which SMG avoids. It's a bit like turbo lag for me.

But the weight and maintenance issues would concern me. KISS!

 

My old high school geography teacher always used to go on about KISS!

Definitely the way I see it anyway

 

I recently bought my second e46 M3 SMG and absolutely love it! It really does make the car feel much more special for me. That and imho with the SMG box the interior looks far nicer too!

Serious fun to be had in one and I much prefer it to my friends manual M3 where especially in stop start traffic you can expect a decent workout for your left leg!

 

I have an E46 M3 with SMG & think it's better than manual

SMG can have problems though if you're unlucky!

My SMG pump failed after 70K miles, cost

 

I actually wish Id gone SMG - I bought the manual so the Mrs could drive it but she never does! I do like the peace of mind however but Id take my chances next time.

 

TBH I am not really bothered about the risk of it breaking I am more interested in what they are like to drive with SMG.

I think I quite fancy the prospect of an SMG transmission that takes some skill to master ie as per the article I linked to having to feather the throttle on downshifts etc...

ADP, why would the mrs not be able to drive an SMG? Surely she can just stick it in auto and it will be easier to drive than a manual.

 

It does sound a bit daft!

Mind you, so does an auto that requires nearly as much skill as a manual to use smoothly.

I suppose it's appropriate to the Freude am fahren theme though!

 

Shes never drive an auto and she's a girl - a) she'd probably refuse incase she got it wrong and crashed and b) if she didnt refuse shed probably get it wrong, and crash. Either way bad news for the owner, me!