As you probably know, the E46 generation of the BMW M3 shipped exclusively with the Sequential Manual Gearbox Mk2, or SMG II. Now, Britain-based auto tune-up shop Everything M3s offers to replace it with manual for only £3,500. But why bother?
Simply put, the main issue of the SMG II was its “innovative tech” status. It often switched slowly or abruptly, sometimes produced unpleasant noises at higher speeds, and often broke requiring expensive maintenance. On the plus side, it offered a choice between manual and automatic gear shifting – and actually didn’t require pressing the clutch pedal in the auto mode. However, with the abovementioned shortcomings in mind, this was hardly a redeeming feature.
This is precisely why E46 owners may benefit from a switch to the old-and-proven stick shift. The tuner says the entire process will only take a few days, and the kit includes 180 OEM BMW parts, so it isn’t a third-party workaround, either.
Watch the video for more details.