My #ThursdayRant: The truth about the "dreaded" SMG M3...(and why it's definitely NOT an automatic!)
I get a lot of negative comments and questions about the SMG gearbox in my E46 M3, but mostly from people who know nothing about them. So I decided to settle a few rumours by explaining a little more about it and why I opted to buy it.
The most common question I get is: “How many times has it broken?” usually followed by: “…and isn’t it about £3500 ($4700) to repair it when it does break?” Truth be told, yes I did once get a fault but it was a sensor switch on the side of the gearbox. The car ran in limp mode and it cost me me £18.75 to fix. Other than that, my SMG gearbox has currently survived for over 13 years and 140,000 miles, and has outlived an engine. I have a few friends who also drive SMG M3s, and guess what, theirs aren’t broken either!
The other big question I get from fellow petrolheads is: “So why didn’t you just buy a manual?” Now I don’t actually mind this question, because it enables me to talk about the gearbox’s benefits…
A few years ago I used to run a track day company, which offered advanced driver tuition to people who would bring their own cars to racetracks around the UK. The E46 M3 is a very common car of choice for track day drivers, and I was finding myself behind the wheel of at least two almost every week. I loved the manual, but the SMG felt so captivating with the paddles and fast shifting when on track. To me, it just felt more special than the manual, and that’s what prompted me to buy one.
Here are the Q&As that might help dispel a few scary stories.
Q: So what is SMG? It’s an auto, right?
A: First thing’s first, no, it absolutely, definitely is not automatic. The car does not automatically start moving forward when you take your foot off the brake pedal and the car does not shift up the gears for you if you forget to pull the up-shift paddle either. It really will just bounce off the rev limiter. SMG stands for Sequential Manual Gearbox. It’s actually the same manual gearbox that is found in the cars with a clutch pedal, but instead of having the clutch foot operated, it has the clutch electro-hydaulically operated via a pump and wired to computers. I want to say it’s similar to Lamborghini’s original E-Gear system, but I don’t know enough about Lamborghini’s system to say for sure (please chime in if you know). With the exception of a few software updates (and an extra gear), it’s also pretty much the same Sequential Manual Gearbox offered in the E60 M5 and E63 M6, but yet they don’t seem to get the same hate.
Q: Does it put down the same power?
A: Yes.
Q: Is it as fast?
A: Independent testing actually suggests that in the most aggressive S6 setting, it shifts faster than even the fastest manual driver. However, real world comparisons tends to have SMG and manual cars neck and neck. So yeah, pretty much.
Q: Isn’t it much heavier?
A: No, not really. SMG cars weigh about 8kg/18lbs more.
Q: So why is it so hated?
A: Because when the system does have issues it’s headache inducing and wallet draining. However, problems are always easier to understand when investigated and broken down (as opposed to pointing in the general direction of an SMG and simply saying “all that is one big mess”).
The transmission itself usually holds up fine; it’s the hydraulic pump, the solenoids, and the relays that fail (and if you really want to get technical, the pumps tend to hold up fine, it’s the motors within that fail). These items can get expensive.
Q: But it’s not as involving and engaging as having a clutch pedal, right?
A: That’s all opinion. Would you think the 458 Italia and 991 GT3 are also cars that aren’t involving? I drive both a manual car and an SMG car and I find the SMG car to be fun in very different way.
So there you have it. Hopefully i’ve dispelled a few myths about the contraversial SMG M3. Any further questions? Feel free to fire away!
Q+A’s taken and adapted from here.
Comments
My only issue with the transmissions is that they have the Upshift and downshift reversed. I believe that if you would like to shift up then you should have to push forward, but i am sure there was research done and that there is a good reason why they build them backwards.
Interesting comment, It’s actually the correct way round. Historically sequential boxes (as seen in racecars) always shift up by pulling back, and down by pushing forward. Porsche decided to swap that round for some reason in the 1990’s with their tiptronic style boxes and that’s become the one that people seem to now think is “correct”.
Under acceleration you’re pushed into the seat and the forces are making it difficult for you to push stuff, it makes it easier to pull the lever back to upshift and continue accelerating. When braking it’s easier to push stuff, so you push the lever to downshift.
I didn’t read your polo
Gabz has the BEST GIFS
Actually the SMG that is know for breaking all the time is the SMG 1 out of the E36 I never heard about any problems with the SMG 2 system in the E46.
We didn’t get SMG 1 in the US, SMG 2 is known for those problems here.
“However, real world comparisons tends to have SMG and manual cars neck and neck.”
There’s only way to truly find out. LET’S RACE!!!
You will have to ‘unchip’ your M3 though, John. Won’t be having any cheating! #rockthestock
I’ll buy you a whole bag of chips before the race, then we’re even!
Still #TeamAdnan
Wait so John, is there not a setting where it acts like an automatic and upshifts for you without you pulling a paddle? That seems improbable?
There is, but due to the complexity of the gearbox it’s slow and sloppy. It just doesn’t work in that mode, so nobody really uses it.
I don’t know much about SMG, but in the way it is described it is definitely an automatic: it does both the clutching and the gear changing for you. You don’t manually switch gears (as in: there is no mechanical connection between the paddles an the gearbox), so it isn’t a manual. To describe it a bit disrespectful, the only thing you have to do is “say” when you want to change gears with the paddles.
I don’t want to hate on automatics, and I am not saying this wouldn’t be as much fun to drive as a manual. But technically speaking this is an automatic.
I have a question though: I am wondering as I’ve only driven a manual car on track. Doesn’t the absence of a clutch pedal (with both these cars and “normal” automatics) feel like you have less feedback from the engine/car and less feeling with what the car does?
Did you read the article? The SMG gearbox does not shift for you in sequential mode. I think you’re referring to Semi-Automatic gearboxes, which is very different.
And to answer your question, no not at all. Most modern supercars all now have paddle shift gearboxes. They’re lots of fun! You should give one a try.
I don’t see why people give you so much hate. It’s all down to personal preference. I have driven both a manual E46 and the SMG E46 and I have to be honest I would have the SMG it makes the child in you feel a bit like a racing driver and is that really a bad thing. But as I said its all personal preference.
And that’s what drew me to it. The first few laps I drove in an SMG car made me giggle like a child. It’s seriously good fun!
CT Staff, what do you think about manual modes in auto transmission cars? I don’t really know what to think about it.
It depends on the gearbox really. BMW’s “semi-automatic” is one of the silliest things I’ve driven. It’s as if the paddles are there to make you think you’re shifting, and will shift up for you if you rev it high.
That last bit about it being involving. Trick answer. The car is involving sure, but pushing a button to change gear or to actually rev match and slot the gear in with your hand, pushing the clutch… the manual gearbox is more involving than an SMG gearbox. The 458 with a gated manual would be considered a pure proper old school supercar and would get more of the “hardcore racecar” praise.
I think the problem is that people are told-SMG is rubbish and now they’re scared even to read what to look when buying M3 with this transmission…By the way-what to look for when going for a car with this transmission haha?
Buying tips are pretty simple, ask to look through the service history of the old car. If there are tale-tale signs of repeated gearbox work then that could be a reason to walk away. When test driving it, make sure all gear changes work and are smooth. Also look out for clutch judder, SMG’s get through clutches slightly faster then full manual, and it’s a pretty expensive job to swap one out.