E46 m3 questions

[d6dph]

I was chatting to a mate last night and he was telling me about an E46 m3 he has been to view. He is looking at a SMG model and he drives pretty hard. There is a good chance he will be doing some track work and 'ring trips.

He works for a local motorsport engine builder (Field motorsport) and is an ex Mountune mechanic, They all drive like psychos! The car will be used to it's full extent.

He had a couple of questions that I said I would look into for him,

A) 155mph limiter, Can it be removed and what actual top speed could be achieved?

B) One of his concerns is that the box will change up mid corner if he is high into the rev range. Chances of this happening?

C) Anything that is a common fault with them? He is more than capable of doing any work required but he wants to make sure he gets the right car first time.

Cheers
Dave

[Simon13]

it'a manual box without a clutch pedal, i don't think it can change up on it's own either. You have to tap the lever up or down to change gear!

He should drive one first and see if he likes it as some people just can't get on with it. I'd stick to a manual one if i was looking for one

[Chris-W]

He should drive one first and see if he likes it as some people just can't get on with it. I'd stick to a manual one if i was looking for one

Have to agree there - although some do like it.

[wiledw]

I was chatting to a mate last night and he was telling me about an E46 m3 he has been to view. He is looking at a SMG model and he drives pretty hard. There is a good chance he will be doing some track work and 'ring trips.

He works for a local motorsport engine builder (Field motorsport) and is an ex Mountune mechanic, They all drive like psychos! The car will be used to it's full extent.

He had a couple of questions that I said I would look into for him,

A) 155mph limiter, Can it be removed and what actual top speed could be achieved?

B) One of his concerns is that the box will change up mid corner if he is high into the rev range. Chances of this happening?

C) Anything that is a common fault with them? He is more than capable of doing any work required but he wants to make sure he gets the right car first time.

Cheers
Dave

Don't buy a SMG they are crap and can go wrong (cost loads to fix) the manual is much stronger and is a better sporting option. i'm sure someone will point out that the csl is tiptronic which is true.

A) very simple to remove limiter giving 170mphish top speed this is due to gearing ect.
B) very unlikely unless he decides to change gear or hit the stick by accident.
C) Clutches burn out, my washer bottle split and the 'm diff' can fuck up costing £K to replace.

[c76jon]

smg all the way!!!

its unreal.manual box without clutch pedal

you could nevershift as quick

once you have learnt how to use the smg its amazing

a diff on a csl is a dozen not too over the top really

youcan drive the car in auto mode if you want but you wouldnt!!

the manual runs the same gearbox as smg


rear trailing arm bushes are common along with front ball joints

auto headlight height adjust fecks up

jon

[78dude]

My dad had an E39 M5 for a customer and they removed the limiter via one computer and they had 290 kmh with it on the German Autobahn

[maxfield]

Wasn't there a big end (?) bearing re-call on the earlier cars?

[Yaninnya]

M3 and CSL are both SMG. In auto mode it can change up in corner but I don't think that he will use automatic mode during trackday or on twisty unrestricted road.
Check diff noises during turning right, there is SI about it (special oil). Sometimes rear top mounts (not costly), trailing arms (bushes), warped brake discs are common, early cars suffers on engine block problems (nearly all affected where replaced on warranty), so check service history. Overall great car but, as Simon13 wrote, SMG is not everybody taste. I was trying to used with it and I just can't. It is just too far from proper racing sequencial gearbox.
Jan

[dibdab]

The speed limiter can be removed with a remap. The SMG wont change gear mid corner unless you ask it to or it has an ABS fault. Common fault on the SMG is the main relay failing, carried in stock at most BMW dealers and specialists, buy one and stick it in the glove box!

[wiledw]

SMG is not everybody taste. I was trying to used with it and I just can't. It is just too far from proper racing sequencial gearbox.
Jan

Which is why you get a manual it may not be a fast as smg but its stronger and more involving.

[Simon13]

See how SMG divides people! Just tell him to drive one of each when looking

Awsome car though

[Yaninnya]

SMG is not everybody taste. I was trying to used with it and I just can't. It is just too far from proper racing sequencial gearbox.
Jan

Which is why you get a manual it may not be a fast as smg but its stronger and more involving.

No, it is not stronger. It is still the same S6S 420G gearbox, just with SMG control system.
Jan

[BMracing]

Wasn't there a big end (?) bearing re-call on the earlier cars?

Correct.

This is the only M3 I drove properly when i worked for bmw and is a lot of fun. I'd still have a proper manual over it though, even for track.
The manual is a bit more reliable too, saw 2 or 3 SMG II gearboxes go in my time there, one failure made a complete mess of the engine. This is rare though and they're are generally very reliable cars. The SMG II is so much better than the old e36 SMG.
Inspection services are mega bucks (every 25k or so), as are the brake linings.
Generally clutches were replaced at the 60-80k mark (Not cheap either).

[BMracing]

Oh and coil springs often break, just like on any e46

[DieselMeister]

After trying M3 SMG / Manaul and a CSL, I still prefer to have a manual shift in general (got to perfect those rev-matched down shifts!).

Having said that, I think the general consensus is that after acclimatisation the SMG suits the roadracing disposition of the CSL quite well. I certainly felt the need to keep both hands on the wheel as the car is quite a bit sharper / more pointy than a regular E46 M3 imo.

[c76jon]

csl runs different software for smg

i think generally people dont understand what it is or does

its exactly the same as a manual but no clutch pedal

so you can shift with stick as you would a manual

gearbox does nothing until you tell it except car operates clutch for you

you also have control over speed of clutch engagement and disengagement

i tend not to use the paddles i prefer the stick , personal thing

after some time with it and learning to just slightly lift as you select gears its awesome

jon

[DieselMeister]

No, I undertsand the SMG concept perfectly after a weekend with each car (and the CSL runs different software, which is arguably better than that offered o nthe first E46s). I just prefer to operate the clutch for myself

[c76jon]

my comments were not aimed at you

jon

[Yaninnya]

gearbox does nothing until you tell it except car operates clutch for you

Exept auto mode.
Jan

[c76jon]

really?

thanks for that

jon

[d6dph]

Cool, Cheers guys.

Re the SMG box, We were aware of what it is and roughly how it works just didn't know how involved the cars ecu got. I'll pass on your comments.

[old_skool]

SMG is the nuts! Launch control is absolute dynamite. I love the way the engine gives a little blip of the revs whilst changing gear. I guess it's a bit like marmite, love it or hate it. I can't understand why anyone would want a non SMG car after drivingf the manual.

I had a manual M3 first and couldn't get on with it so went for the SMG optioned car. Truly awesome. There is no way you could change gear as quick yourself as the SMG can, especially in mode 6 with the DSC turned off.

[DieselMeister]

Jon - no worries mate ;) Still enjoying life in the fast lane? Upgraded brakes? Different tyres?

Dameon - I like the SMG, esp. on the CSL but I'm just a luddite I guess

BTW, if that's your S50B30 wagon in your sig pic - amen! Is that Ian 332i ahead in his Sport?

[GermanGorilla]

Hi,

The SMG box software on the CSL is the same as the std E46 M3,
it just has a couple of upgrades.

These upgrades can be put onto any SMG M3.

The main problem with the SMG box is that the ECU sends a
command to the SMG box, which then reacts to the command.
By the time the command has been acted upon by the box, the
engine ECU has moved on to another task, hence you get this
'slur' in the change no matter what you do.

Of course this all happens in milli seconds, but on very hard driving
you will suffer SMG 'slur' due to the fact that the signal emulates
from the ECU then onto the gearbox.

If anybody tells you they do not experince it then they are
not driving it hard enough.

A couple of well respected tuning companies are looking at being
able to make the SMG software, 'Pro-active' instead of 'Re-active'.

This already exists in part on some of the software supplied via
one company that Supercaharges E46 M3's, but even then it still has
some minor glitches.

Another headache for the SMG is the 'SAC' clutch and when replaced
with a 'proper' uprated clutch pressure plate and carbon / organic disc
or Cerametallic Disc, gets nearer to what BMW might have intended.

Lightened Flywheels are also problematic on SMG cars but do make
Manual Cars very responsive, on the pick up and lift off.

When its working correctly the SMG is very good, but as an everyday
the Manual is less problematic.

Regards,


The Gorilla.

[bloom_meister]

smg is horrible !

mine did 169 bouncing off the rev limiter so i'd say thats top speed

[c76jon]

if the software is the same then its the same

it it has changes then its not the same??

i had a clutch and flywheel changd due to very slight slur
tho this was at slower speedsrather than higher ones

when it was done there is no slur at all

i can assure you its driven as it should be so why would the slur now not be there?

jon

[GermanGorilla]

Hi,

C76 JON- I am not sure I follow you.

Of course its the same software, its just got some minor updates.

I suppose Man United are not Man United unless the same
11 players play every week ?

And yes, no matter who does what, the SMG slurs.

Its very design and application means that it can not be seamless.

Yes, I have changed the Clutches in both of the ones I have owned
and they have all slured, and so have all the ones I have driven.

My current CSL slurs even with all current updates.

I still prefer SMG.

Its better than the previous one, but it still slurs.


Regards,

The Gorilla.