Anybody here own a BMW M3 (E46) by chance? It's time for a new car.

 

Spidy owns one but he hasn't been posted much lately. I know he's been having tranny problems.

 

Six month delay between responses...LMAO
I forgot I posted here. A lot of M3 owners have had transmission problems, mainly differential woes. Too bad.

I'm going for a 911 C4 S as soon as our new Porsche dealership is built.

 

Well, since this topic is back, I've got one.

Not too many miles on it yet though.

 

Wow.....tranny problems that involve the differential Sounds familiar.

 

How's the supra?

 

You have to be racing with that bad boy!

 

Weird I haven't heard anything about tranny problems in the E46.

What is going on when Honda and BMW can't build transmissions?! WTF.

GM seems to be transmission king. Figures, doesn't it? I mean we get better cars but they get stronger transmissions. Why don't they stick the auto tranny from one of the GM models into our car?

 

I'd be happy with the engine and the tranny from my 99 Camaro SS. Stick that puppy in my CL-S... OH HELL YEAH!

-Ash

 

There was a differential prolem on eary E46 M3s because they use a very unique LSD. Unlike no other producion model, there is a pump inside the differetial that allows the car to put power down in even the most extreme angles.

 

Tom you answered to 2 of my questions but not in the last one.

So when is the 2003 coming in?

ANd can you please explain what you meant when you said that the Automatic mode with the SMGII is not really as people excpet it to be, or something to that.

 

my 2002 is being built in May and delivered in June, I ordered it 12 months ago.
It has SMGII.

 

The "automatic" mode is very different from a traditional auto. The automatic modes are very rough and crude, it doesn't shift well in auto because the computer isn't good at making smooth shifts with the clutch. Best to leave it in manual.

Here is BMWAG's page on SMG II

http://www.bmw.com/bmwe/special/smg/main.html

 

I think Honda realizes that their auto trannies are weak and thus thats why they probably made that deal w/GM to swap Honda v6 engines for knowledge on v8 engines and GM's auto trannies.

 

That was helpful. Thanks.

 

fuking-a, that is an awesome system. I didnt fully understand it before--I though it just shifts without a cluch, and thats all. Thus, I wasn't so impressed, since the new mr2 has the same system. But after looking at the page...all i can say is DAM . I mean, there is a mode to help you launch the car faster. I now believe it is worth every penny

 

No problem

Here is something that you might enjoy: http://www.bmwgroup.com/e/index2.sht...id_home.shtml&

It is an automotive discussion with the BMW engineers, you can ask them specific questions, etc. The current topic isn't great, but check out the old ones.

 

The M3 is enticing to me, or should I say was...until I've talked to numerous owners who have replaced their transmission and differential one...two...even three times. I have a friend in NY who I spoke to on the telephone who has a 2001 BMW M3 who has had two transmissions and three differentials. He sued under the lemon law (his car had 11,000 miles on it) and won, and since BMW resisted coming to terms until arbitration was used (in the form of the NY District Attorney), he's suing, along with several other owners who have experienced transmission problems. He's also experienced rough idling, EMS lights periodically coming on for no apparent reason (which seems to retard ignition to safeguard possible problems with the engine), clutch chattering and oil consumption. His M3 is currently at a BMW dealership in New York, collecting bird crap and dust, to be resold as a lemon (which is now in the car's title).

Personally, I don't wish to experience those problems. Even though it'd be replaced under BMW warranty, BMW said that he had overreved his engine (which a computer rundown by an independant mechanic revealed he didn't), and BMW refused to buy the car back without giving him a substantial loss. It may not cost me anything, but having the car sit there for half it's life seems like a waste of $50,000 to me. Hopefully they have fixed their problems, but I am still too weary.

My friend also ended up cancelling his order on a 760iL due to his experience. He ended up replacing the M3 with a left-over (ie marked-down) 2001 Dodge Viper RT/10 (which I don't think was the best choice).

As for me, I'm expecting delivery on a Porsche 911 C4S in May, possibly June (depending on when the dealership's construction is completed).

Thanks for all your help anyways. Good luck to all M3 owners, and future owners; have fun.

I'll try to stop by this forum more often.