So, once I sat down to start out engaged on this text, I struggled to search out the correct option to begin. How do you introduce a legend? The BMW E46 M3 debuted twenty years in the past and practically each fanatic has a narrative about it – both driving one, lusting after one, or (in the event you’re Klaus Frohlich, former head of growth for BMW) sick of drivers benchmarking each automobile ever made towards it.
Proceed Studying Under
I’m no exception – the E46 M3 made me fall in love with vehicles once more, and particularly, BMWs. Working in New York over a decade in the past, a modified Titanium Silver, Competitors Bundle coupe caught my eye and I couldn’t look away. I quickly purchased my first E36 and commenced an automotive attachment from which I’ve nonetheless not recovered.
The E46 M3 undoubtedly represented a excessive level for BMW. Useful however understated design, a tireless powertrain, and rewarding driving dynamics all backed up BMW’s promise to ship the “Final Driving Machine”. Even twenty years later, the automobile stays a hot-ticket merchandise for fans as a result of timeless design and driver’s seat thrills.
However, I didn’t drive that automobile.
The Notorious SMG
I drove an early mannequin (pre-2003), convertible E46 M3 with the SMG transmission. Arguably one of many best vehicles BMW’s M division ever churned out, in its least fascinating type. You don’t know what SMG is? Concentrate, as a result of this half is necessary.
It stands for Sequential Guide Gearbox and was touted as “Formulation 1 impressed” – a paddle shifted guide transmission that replaces a clutch pedal with a little bit robotic (an electro-hydraulic pump) that does the legwork for you. Sadly, it appears this robotic is sleeping on the job among the time.
The SMG transmission is reviled by many due to its excessive price of upkeep, awkward shifting patterns, and lack of a standard clutch pedal. SMG homeowners will let you know “nicely, technically it’s a guide…” and clarify that “you simply must learn to drive it.”
However don’t imagine that. There aren’t any clear benefits to the SMG transmission. Every thing it does, a standard guide can do higher, and solely disconnects you from the driving expertise – which is unlucky, as a result of the driving expertise is type of the entire level of proudly owning certainly one of these.
The actual pleasure of driving this the automobile is within the steering really feel and suspension tuning. BMW’s famend hydraulic steering is heavy, however fast. The steering wheel is substantial, however by no means cumbersome, and offers good highway really feel by the re-tuned, M-specific suspension. The automobile really feels particular as you’re feeling it out – mannequin particular struts, springs, and sway bars work in tandem with the short steering to really reward good driving.
The Well-known S54 Engine
Numbers aren’t actually the headline – the S54 inline-six presents up 333 hp and 262 lb ft of torque on this iteration, barely turned up from the Z3 and Z4 M variants that used the identical engine. The actual drama comes from the powerband – with peak torque coming in round midway up the tach at 5000 rpm, and all the facility exhibiting up at simply shy of the S54’s 8000 rpm redline. With an optimum 0-60 time a little bit faster than 5 seconds, the M3 stays “fast” by 2020 requirements.
The inside lives as much as “driver’s automobile” expectations too – whereas analog in comparison with nearly any automobile made within the final 10 years, that isn’t a mark towards it. There are many buttons that do issues, however most of it’s purely practical. Other than the same old lights, regular local weather management, and window switches, we’re actually solely getting one small row of superfluous buttons.
Admittedly, a lot of the options there are “essential” – convertible controls and heated seats and such. A pair different buttons are current as nicely – a DSC button to disable the steadiness management, a tire stress monitor (TPM) reset button, and one final button merely labeled “SPORT”.
Surprise what that does. Shock, it places the automobile into “sport” mode – which, identical to in BMW M’s latest choices, remaps the throttle to its extra aggressive and sensitive setting. Whereas I may do with out the TPM and sport buttons, the inside remains to be minimalistic sufficient to really feel driver-oriented and utilitarian.
An Analog And Uncooked Driving Really feel
Anyway, driving the E46 M3 remains to be fantastic. As I discussed earlier, the actual pleasure of driving this automobile is within the dealing with and highway really feel, and that also shines by, even being barely worse for put on. I put the highest down and cruised again to satisfy the proprietor and, regardless of the wonky transmission, nonetheless managed to get pleasure from myself.
Learn Additionally: FIRST DRIVE: 2021 BMW M3 and M4 Prototype
The SMG transmission solely serves to make the automobile a much less gratifying expertise, by taking an necessary part of driving involvement out of the equation. As a substitute of brimming with pleasure with each upshift, there’s this bizarre lull within the motion that principally equates to you holding on to the steering wheel and ready for another person to bodily shift the gear.
So that you’re nonetheless driving as if it had been a guide – lifting off the throttle, shifting, and easing again on – however sacrifice complete management and engagement to be able to look forward to a sleepy robotic ghost hand to do your bidding. It’s bizarre, it’s silly, and I don’t get it.
The irony right here is that, even having pushed the “worst of one of the best”, I’d most likely nonetheless contemplate choosing up an E46 M3 in comparable spec. Convertible fashions outfitted with the SMG can be found at nicely below the $10,000 mark, even in serviceable situation. Whereas there’s little doubt it my thoughts {that a} guide coupe is the automobile to have from this era, I nonetheless completely loved my time with the automobile.
The identical traits that make most classic BMWs so engaging to fans – unequalled steering really feel, classically attractiveness, and a cockpit that feels particular – nonetheless make the E46 M3 noteworthy, even in what most would name its least-desirable configuration. And a sleepy, lazily shifting robotic doesn’t sway my opinion – however does make me admire the guide transmission just a bit bit extra.
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