Hi all,

dont often post on this section, just sold my mint 93 big turbo escort cossie and am have just brought a bmw ms smg soft top with all the goodies.

What do people really think of these cars, looked on you tube and it seems to look very slow comparing to some cars, like a guy in a seat turbo, blows the m3 away.

Can people throw any idas of how to improve the car on looks and and performance.

Regards

Gareth

 

Bloody hell,

no one knows much about the m3 e46.

very supprised by this as thought people would of known faults with this car.

 

Ask AJ, he's just bought one.

Can't believe the SEat beat the beemer

 

Gareth,
Was the Seat a yellow one - got the link?

 

I had one. Staggeringly good all round car. you have to work the engine hard but they go well. SMG box is great. back seats are a bit upright for passengers over long journeys but overall. A genuine 4 seater, practical, good loooking, classy, reliable, comfy and fast droptop performance car!

 

i prefer the manual!!

 

Thanks for the info, Mr Rainbird will find the link for you, but the M3 was smoked to say the least, or he was not trying very hard.

 

Maria, is it correct you work for BMW? if so could you maybe find out this for me.

The car is fitted with the widescreen sat nav, but does not have the built in bluetooth kit for the car kit, could you find out what would be needed to get this feature to work in the car.

Many Thanks

Gareth

 

weirdly I have never driven a manual E46 M3

Driven the new V8 though

 

Just for you Mike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ8YMPO5JzU

 

looking to buy one of these at the moment but in a manual instead of a cossie!

have driven the smg and i think it restricts you too much for my liking, was having a bit of fun in the country lanes going to hastings one evening when i borrowed one from a friend and the car would let me down shift unless i was braking or below a certain rev limit.

On the other hand the manual was a dream. Just looking out for a nice black/black convertible one now

 

i had a cab then a coupe got to say the they both handled the same to me

i changed the wheele on the cab to bbs's alloys and on the coupe to csl alloys see below pics of the cab also on the cab i fitted a larini exhaust

 

gareth, you need to find out if it had the bluetooth prep from factory... pm me your reg or your chassis number and ill find out for you!

Lee - the manual is sooooooooooooo much better... and the v8 is poop!

 

That doesn't sound right. I've cringed a couple of times I've flicked it into first because i thought I missed the paddle and it jumps from 3rd to 1st and redlines This is in a CSL though.

 

very nice mate!

Bet the RS6 is much punchier mid range though isn't it?

 

nope you can do that in normal ones too

Maria... I'm not gonna argue about cars anymore with you! I've learnt my lessons! Just thought the SMG was nice to pottle around town with when you are feeling lazy and still quite fun when you wanna go for it a bit. Although I bet when you really wanna play the manual does give the ultimate control.

I wanna try a manual one now! I wonder if anyone has ever gone to the trouble of converting a CSL?

 

the RS6 was much much quicker all round but also much much more juicier lol sold it last year will have to update my sig, im looking for something else now but this new congestion charge is a pain as most cars creep into the Ł25 a day bracket Ł6300 a year just to drive into london before parking and petrol.

im actuall thinking of a 630i cab but not sure on the rear leg room for friends etc other than that a 335d m sport is on the cards

J

 

If they have I can see Rainbird chopping in Peggy!!!!!!

Not exactly a hard thing to do though, but most must prefer the SMG

 

Nope thats because you know i am always right!

 

but how would they know huh?


Maria.... sadly yes you are! and it kills me! I thought it was my one area of expertise!

 

I love mine

It's fun to drive & can be relaxing too being an SMG.
Whoever says the SMG is rubbish doesn't have a clue imo, you need to take time to get used to it properly but once you have done you'll love it!
I haven't found any bad points with the car at all, it's reliable, comfy, turns heads, sounds awesome (mine has an AC Schnitzer exhaust on it) & you can cruise along with the roof down & it looks amazing

I'm considering selling it now though because I hardly ever get a chance to use it

 

A J,

I saw your car on Piston Heads and was impressed with it and the car's in the back ground.

Well for me, i have not even driven the car yet, due to collect it on 4th May and have a drive back to devon along the motorway.

Really am over the moon and hope the hype on the smg is as good as i have been told.

 

I got your pm gareht, leave it with me and ill see what i can do!

 

Cheers mate.

Like I said, you have to get to know how to use the paddle shifts properly & the more you get used to them the better it'll get, it's like playing on the Playstation

 

You won't like the paddles at first. Will feel jerky and poo... but you will learn to love them and you learn to smooth the change by timing a little lift on throttle or changing at right revs etc etc... great for being lazy around town and when stuck in traffic

AJ... beautiful car dude. LOVE IT!

For me that colour was great... then dated badly suddenly but now its never looked cooler. Awesome dude!

Its weird how colours do that!

 

Thanks guys.

Been told that on the smg, there are different modes. The seller said it will take a good hour going over the transmission.
Does anybody know what sort of fuel returns you can get from the car, will it be more heavier than my escort. I got 240 miles on the cossie to a full tank

 

at a 150-160mph cruise you will get 17mpg. Which I thought was VERY impressive. My mum was less impressed...

 

your poor ole mum... lee.. siggy... very apt

 

Considering the speed, the fuel return is not bad at all.

 

I can get 27mpg in the csl on a steady 80-90 run

 

Its not the only thing I am good at!

 

The most I've ever had was about 25mpg on a long run doing around 70 mph.
Around town it returns around 19mpg.

 

I get that in a 318

 

M3 SMG is great once you get used to it but you simply have to spend a week or 2 with it otherwise it will feel cumbersome and alien.

As for fuel... You guys wana try the M5. I am genuinely offended by its fuel economy!

 

A black one passed me yesterday Stu (I was in the passat ) looked very cool

 

Thanks guys, at least the consumption is better than the cossie.
I think it must of been running rich.

Does anyone know about the bluetooth and if its not fitted to the wdescreen nav can it be fitted.

 

Ive had my Manual coupe a year now and still enjoy driving it.
Fuel ecconomy is blinding!Over 400 miles to one tank on a run(home to the ring)

I drove a few smg cars but couldnt get used to it, I just thought of it as a glorified auto.
Plus the Manual is less to go wrong and must be lighter?

 

Really? I thought you'd be getting a lot more than that!

 

Nop thats the best i get think its because its a heavy car plus small engine

 

Gareth you have a very long winded pm waiting for ya buddy!