Sad story of buying a used E46 M3 SMG
05-09-13, 11:31 AM
#16
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (20)
Nothing really sad about the story unless you consider getting a TSX instead of a M3 
. More than anything the Honda dealership should be given kudos for taking the BMW back.Really awesome on their part.
That said the M3 SMG was one of the first dual clutches I believe and it was a 55k car so when new. Of course the tranny will be expensive, at the time it was state of the art for BMW. In comparison a TSX has a 5 speed automatic still, something a Lexus had in 1997.
I have a pulse so I would have kept the M3 and told them to fix it. Completely apples to oranges in regards to cars here, the E46 M3 is one of the all time greats and the 2nd gen TSX is a nice reliable uninspired car about to get discontinued.
You can't really complain about a 11 year old BMW M3 if it breaks down, especially one not sold at a BMW dealership.
. More than anything the Honda dealership should be given kudos for taking the BMW back.Really awesome on their part.That said the M3 SMG was one of the first dual clutches I believe and it was a 55k car so when new. Of course the tranny will be expensive, at the time it was state of the art for BMW. In comparison a TSX has a 5 speed automatic still, something a Lexus had in 1997.
I have a pulse so I would have kept the M3 and told them to fix it. Completely apples to oranges in regards to cars here, the E46 M3 is one of the all time greats and the 2nd gen TSX is a nice reliable uninspired car about to get discontinued.
You can't really complain about a 11 year old BMW M3 if it breaks down, especially one not sold at a BMW dealership.
also 8800 is exaggerating it a lot. if he wanted a working car back on the road, it's about 1/4 of that price.
05-09-13, 11:54 AM
#17
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
and at 47K, NO I don't think the tranny should implode to the tune of $8800...11 years or not...
more info...
The e46 was great...looked great, drove great...that is until the trans would only give me reverse and 2nd. I mean, I could do 45 or 50 mph, but driving around at 6500 rpm would get old quick. Nothing drives like a BMW, but I'll give you guys some advice, don't buy one out of warranty as an only vehicle, well an M model anyway. And make sure you have records with it, although this one had all of its service records since new and had just had its inspection II done. Luck of the draw I guess.
Last edited by bagwell; 05-09-13 at 11:58 AM.
05-09-13, 12:06 PM
#18
SMG for E46 M3 was not a dual clutch. In fact, it's the same exact 6 speed manual gearbox as the E46 M3 6MT version except there is no clutch pedal and the clutch is engaged/disengaged via combination of computers/hydraulics when driver upshift/downshift. Since it's the same 6MT gearbox as regular E46 M3, SMG is really no more or no less "reliable" Although there are SMG hydraulic pump failures that are clearly doesn't happen with 6MT, that wouldn't "grenade" on you. It most likely just won't engage into any gears. In fact, SMG computer does help to save the gearbox from being "grenaded" by not allowing to be moneyshifted which certainly could happen with 6MT.
05-09-13, 12:07 PM
#19
Point is don't buy any German car out if warranty. A coworker bought a trade in M6 2010. Next day it was in the shop. Fixed it, drove it a day and back it was in he shop. Gave it back to the dealer and bought a new S5 vert with extended warranty. The BMW only had 40K on the clock
05-09-13, 12:21 PM
#20
If he could engage the 2nd gear and the reverse gear then most likely the gearbox AND pump was working fine. Could be it needed to swap/reprogram the SMG control module or one of more hydraulic line was in need of changing. Definitely not a $8800 job even if you took it to a BMW stealership. It probably didn't help that it was the 3rd car that wasn't driven at all and probably still had the original factory transmission oil never flushed out since leaving the factory in 2002.
05-09-13, 03:35 PM
#21
Lexus Test Driver
The last owner I knew who had problems (this would be circa 2009-2010) took his to two dealers in the area and neither would do anything but a full replacement, likely because they were already wary of issues with attempting a focused repair.
BTW, doesn't this remind us all of something... like the N54 debacle that was blamed on the HPFP? The takeaway from this isn't to avoid E46 M3 SMGs, but to avoid BMWs and perhaps German cars, period...
SMG for E46 M3 was not a dual clutch. In fact, it's the same exact 6 speed manual gearbox as the E46 M3 6MT version except there is no clutch pedal and the clutch is engaged/disengaged via combination of computers/hydraulics when driver upshift/downshift. Since it's the same 6MT gearbox as regular E46 M3, SMG is really no more or no less "reliable". Although there are SMG hydraulic pump failures that are clearly doesn't happen with 6MT, that wouldn't "grenade" on you. It most likely just won't engage into any gears. In fact, SMG computer does help to save the gearbox from being "grenaded" by not allowing to be moneyshifted which certainly could happen with 6MT.
05-09-13, 04:11 PM
#22
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Buying an 11 year old german car was the first mistake, dream car or not. Better off just lighting the cash on fire in your driveway.
I had a 2008 M3, that I traded in with 6k miles on it, for a 2008 TL-Type S. in the 6 months I owned that car, it was in the shop 10 times for various problems. That killed me on German cars, will never buy one again as long as I live, I don't care how nice it is.
I had a 2008 M3, that I traded in with 6k miles on it, for a 2008 TL-Type S. in the 6 months I owned that car, it was in the shop 10 times for various problems. That killed me on German cars, will never buy one again as long as I live, I don't care how nice it is.
05-09-13, 04:27 PM
#24
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
05-09-13, 04:50 PM
#26
Pole Position
"my dream car, a 2002 M3 SMG"
moral of the story....don't have such low expectations! :X
moral of the story....don't have such low expectations! :X
05-09-13, 04:53 PM
#27
Thanks.
05-09-13, 05:06 PM
#28
Lots of people say don't buy pre-2004 because they heard of rod bearing issues/engine failure in 2002-2003 MYs. Production dates after April 2003, "2003.5" models, had the issue fixed.
05-09-13, 05:55 PM
#30
SMG for E46 M3 was not a dual clutch. In fact, it's the same exact 6 speed manual gearbox as the E46 M3 6MT version except there is no clutch pedal and the clutch is engaged/disengaged via combination of computers/hydraulics when driver upshift/downshift. Since it's the same 6MT gearbox as regular E46 M3, SMG is really no more or no less "reliable" Although there are SMG hydraulic pump failures that are clearly doesn't happen with 6MT, that wouldn't "grenade" on you. It most likely just won't engage into any gears. In fact, SMG computer does help to save the gearbox from being "grenaded" by not allowing to be moneyshifted which certainly could happen with 6MT.
this story doesn't really come as much of a surprise, the smg is always a scary thing and i have heard so many people with problems. the m-dct was greatly improved, though i still heard issues.