Do you think the E46 M3 is a future $100k car?

[David70]

Originally Posted by NB STIG

You make a good point. However, I think an SMG transmission is not, technically speaking, an automatic. I think the SMG transmission is something to be celebrated and preserved.

Call it whatever you want but you can put the transmission in Drive and it will automatically shift the gears for you. Your car used a single clutch, later clutched automatics used 2 clutches and made it a quicker, smoother shift.

Originally Posted by NB STIG

I am not sure if you ever owned an SMG M3, but I can tell you from experience that there is something very special about this car. I love manuals like everyone else, but there is just something very unique about an SMG M3.

I have ridden in one. It wasn't nearly as smooth shifting as my Audi with the dual clutch automatic.

Originally Posted by NB STIG

The more I drive it, the more I love it. Also, I can see myself driving this car into my 90s because I don't need to have healthty knees to deal with a clutch. I also see myself taking this car to the track into my 90s for the same reason. I don't think it would be so easy to do so with a manual M3. An SMG feels just like a manual M3, but is faster and much more versatile. You can daily or you can track it. It succeeds on both occasions much better than a manual...in my opinion.

Also, in my humble opinion, I think there are other people out there, like me, that really appreciates this technology and will want to preserve it. Thus, the comment "I think SMGs will become highly desirable..." Knowing what I know, I would pay premium for a mint SMG M3 any day of the week.

Thanks again for taking the time to comment. Different points of view is what makes a forum like this so great...I hope your Z4M is worth a lot of money one day soon!

No problem with any of this, I think you have a great car and many like it. The market as a whole hasn't put the same value on the SMG as the Manual but maybe someday they will. As you said there is still a large following for it.

Enjoy!

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by David70

I have ridden in one. It wasn't nearly as smooth shifting as my Audi with the dual clutch automatic.

I'm VERY pro manual (and have converted a couple SMG M3s to manual), but that statement is 100% missing the point. SMG is more involving than a DCT/torque converter automatic/CVT because it forces you to engage with it like a manual to be smooth. Rev matching, lifting, etc is still on the driver-- and it IS less smooth at the hands of someone that doesn't know what they're doing as a result.

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by Obioban

I'm VERY pro manual (and have converted a couple SMG M3s to manual), but that statement is 100% missing the point. SMG is more involving than a DCT/torque converter automatic/CVT because it forces you to engage with it like a manual to be smooth. Rev matching, lifting, etc is still on the driver-- and it IS less smooth at the hands of someone that doesn't know what they're doing as a result.

That's an excellent way to describe it. Modern DCTs and similar clutched autos are very comfortable when left alone with the computers shifting. That SMG was pretty rough when left alone, but great when you treated it like a manual, and even better when you drove the car hard and shifted at higher RPMs.

I got to drive three of them before: Two 03 E46 M3s and a 05 E60 545.

[speed130]

I’ve had both and have driven roughly 200k miles between them, a 6MT Coupe which was lost in a garage fire (still not over it) and now a SMG Convertible for the past 16 years. They are each different driving experiences but there is something to be said about learning the SMG’s tendencies while pushing the car properly and having the option to cruise around with it shifting itself. It’s a nice trade off for those that don’t want to or physically can’t consistently deal with three pedals.

I recall a little less then half of e46 M’s were produced with the SMG but is was a $2400 option at the time. The value of manuals have risen because they no longer make them. They no longer make them because less and less people were buying them and modern cars were becoming too powerful for most people to handle ie the need to driver aids programmed through the engine, transmission and differential(s). It is enthusiasts that are driving-up prices because properly sorted cars (especially those remaining stock) are getting rarer and rarer. It’s supply and demand.

And I do very much miss my 6MT e46 M3 Coupe. It was the best, most complete GT car I’ve ever had. Which is why I’m not surprised to see prices increase. People should be chasing them! They’re well worth it. There is no other chassis/driving experience quite-like the e46 M3, regardless of transmission.

[Forzanerazzurri]

[QtheGenius]

any individual car has a chance of becoming a six figure car, but that doesn't mean every example will be. If you have less than 5,000 miles, perfect paint, museum kept example of a CSL, then in a few years it might be $100k. Maybe a tastefully modified example could as well, but your average example that you see on the street? Probably not.

[pobierzpc]

Originally Posted by Krychool

100k for e46 m3? in good condition, low mileage and rare vin options for sure. Broken Roads Download na PC
Also e46 m3 is the best m3 in all time IMO

M3 rules! Matt bought that car for that price. I think car prices will get even higher than now.