Will first year come with manual?

Robert · 12-13-2006, 12:42 AM

Dealer just told me first year M3 will not come with SMG only. Is this true... might be a deal breaker for me.

CSL-Fanatik · 12-13-2006, 01:42 AM

I have heard differently. I did some reasearch on German internet pages, and found that just about everybody says it will be offered in both SMG and Manual. However, none of the sites were official from BMW, so I can't guarantee it

I am personally not worried because I am going for the SMG, but I hope they will offer it in 6-speed just because I want my fellow M3 Passionates to have the option. I think it's fair to say that the M3 is more of a driver's car in comparison to M5 and M6, therefore I really hope BMW will offer manual.

Best regards
CSL-Fanatik

devo · 12-13-2006, 08:18 AM

I'll order mine in a six speed. I just bought an '06 SLK 55 AMG (like new, low miles) so I'll need more of driver's car to offset the MB's tiptronic tranny. These two cars should offer a great blend of driving dynamics. The M is my first choice, but a high HP, high line exotic roadster, for a decent price isn't bad either.

mloyelo · 12-13-2006, 01:04 PM

The dealers do not seem to have the best knowledge IMHO. Everything that I have read over the past 18 months indicates that the new M3 will come in a seven speed SMG as standard, with a six speed manual as an option (not sure if it's a free option or not). I would be very surprised if they removed the manual transmission altogether as they would like lose lots of folks like yourself that are old-school diehards.

Last E92 M3 · 12-13-2006, 01:09 PM

I think that first set of new M3 will come in SMG considering that's the standard.
After first set arrives, we should be getting manual afterward.
I usually don't listen to what dealers say about anything in general.
It seems to be that their information is outdated or something.
Dealers = Thumbs down for me.

12-13-2006, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mloyelo

The dealers do not seem to have the best knowledge IMHO. Everything that I have read over the past 18 months indicates that the new M3 will come in a seven speed SMG as standard, with a six speed manual as an option (not sure if it's a free option or not). I would be very surprised if they removed the manual transmission altogether as they would like lose lots of folks like yourself that are old-school diehards.

Driving an SMG is not very fun... On the race track I would definitely recommend.... For me, 6-speed manual.... Beware of what you ask for because you may get it......

devo · 12-13-2006, 02:11 PM

The sales staff doesn't get any proprietary information any sooner than the word on the net.
I would have to agree that most of the sales person(s) really have had very limited information regarding anything of substance about any of the sports cars that I have owned.
Many sales people lend their opinions about break in, oil changes, etc... with no basis for their belief.
Personally, I love it when one tells me that the break in really isn't necessary. Yeah right, brother, I'm gonna break in my new exotic, high HP engine the way YOU tell me too, rather than what the Bavarian engineers suggest.

Hans Delbruck · 12-13-2006, 03:00 PM

The spy videos of the car testing in the desert... sure sounds like a manual to me. I think we'll definitely get a choice of manual or SMG. This is the ///M3, not the ol-man-can't-shift ///M5.

enigma · 12-13-2006, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Delbruck

The spy videos of the car testing in the desert... sure sounds like a manual to me. I think we'll definitely get a choice of manual or SMG. This is the ///M3, not the ol-man-can't-shift ///M5.

Its 2007, the clutch pedal was so last century.

Its almost impossible to tell from the sound that a car is a manual and not an smg.

Last E92 M3 · 12-13-2006, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Delbruck

This is the ///M3, not the ol-man-can't-shift ///M5.

This, "you drive auto because you can't shift," is getting old.

As you can see in one of my threads about SMG and Manual, 3 out of 4 people will get SMG over Manual because of whatever reasons.

SMG and Manual are just two different driving experience. It might be a different story if we are talking about full auto and manual.
My 2 cents, if you don't mind.

Hans Delbruck · 12-13-2006, 06:43 PM

Whew, don't you guys get touchy about having SMG?!! I've never owned an auto or SMG in my life, but my M3, if I can stand to wait for it, will definitely have SMG or whatever autobox is offered. The M3 is not a sports car IMO, it's a GT car. I'd actually prefer DSG or a slushbox in the M3 to SMG. If I want to jerk my passenger's heads around, I'll row 'em myself. But the M3, with a V8... it's a big car now... it needs to shift itself.

Still, BMW markets the M3 as a sports coupe, and in my not so humble opinion, they will continue to offer a manual. They don't want to kill the heritage and brand completely.............

Hans Delbruck · 12-13-2006, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Last E92 M3

This, "you drive auto because you can't shift," is getting old.

What I was saying is that the target market for the M5 requires that BMW offers SMG, the target market for the M3 demands both manual and SMG.....

Now pull your panties back out of that bunch.....

enigma · 12-13-2006, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Delbruck

What I was saying is that the target market for the M5 requires that BMW offers SMG, the target market for the M3 demands both manual and SMG.....

Now pull your panties back out of that bunch.....

How many E39 M5s were sold with something other than a manual. Clearly the market doesn't reaquire any such thing. BMW is making the switch simply because its a vastly superior system to the old antique manual.

Nice backtracking but your post came off as an attack on those that would drive anything other than an manual.

Last E92 M3 · 12-13-2006, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Delbruck

What I was saying is that the target market for the M5 requires that BMW offers SMG, the target market for the M3 demands both manual and SMG.....

Now pull your panties back out of that bunch.....

...thats what you think it is.
in reality, no.

Thumbs up for nt.

Hans Delbruck · 12-13-2006, 09:23 PM

I guess we'll see when the car comes out, won't we?

M3 and M5 are in 2 different markets.

Hans Delbruck · 12-13-2006, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enigma

How many E39 M5s were sold with something other than a manual. Clearly the market doesn't reaquire any such thing. BMW is making the switch simply because its a vastly superior system to the old antique manual.

Nice backtracking but your post came off as an attack on those that would drive anything other than an manual.

Don't know why you said I'm backtracking?

Don't care either, come to think of it.......

Jason · 12-13-2006, 10:37 PM

Everyone crack open a cold one and relaxxxx

Hans Delbruck · 12-13-2006, 11:09 PM

Beer is good food.

12-13-2006, 12:42 AM	#1
Robert Major General 414 Rep 6,968 Posts Drives: 135i -> is350 -> Tesla M3 perf Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Socal iTrader: (1)	Will first year come with manual? Dealer just told me first year M3 will not come with SMG only. Is this true... might be a deal breaker for me.
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12-13-2006, 01:42 AM	#2
CSL-Fanatik First Lieutenant 91 Rep 388 Posts Drives: e46 M3, e46 M3 CSL Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boulder, CO / Frankfurt, GER iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [0.00] 2004 BMW M3 [0.00]	I have heard differently. I did some reasearch on German internet pages, and found that just about everybody says it will be offered in both SMG and Manual. However, none of the sites were official from BMW, so I can't guarantee it I am personally not worried because I am going for the SMG, but I hope they will offer it in 6-speed just because I want my fellow M3 Passionates to have the option. I think it's fair to say that the M3 is more of a driver's car in comparison to M5 and M6, therefore I really hope BMW will offer manual. Best regards CSL-Fanatik
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12-13-2006, 08:18 AM	#3
devo Colonel 755 Rep 2,736 Posts Drives: Bimmers & Porsches Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	I'll order mine in a six speed. I just bought an '06 SLK 55 AMG (like new, low miles) so I'll need more of driver's car to offset the MB's tiptronic tranny. These two cars should offer a great blend of driving dynamics. The M is my first choice, but a high HP, high line exotic roadster, for a decent price isn't bad either.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-13-2006, 01:04 PM	#4
mloyelo Enlisted Member 0 Rep 42 Posts Drives: 2005 Porsche Carrera Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Francisco, California iTrader: (0)	The dealers do not seem to have the best knowledge IMHO. Everything that I have read over the past 18 months indicates that the new M3 will come in a seven speed SMG as standard, with a six speed manual as an option (not sure if it's a free option or not). I would be very surprised if they removed the manual transmission altogether as they would like lose lots of folks like yourself that are old-school diehards.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-13-2006, 01:09 PM	#5
Last E92 M3 Lieutenant Colonel 34 Rep 1,507 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I think that first set of new M3 will come in SMG considering that's the standard. After first set arrives, we should be getting manual afterward. I usually don't listen to what dealers say about anything in general. It seems to be that their information is outdated or something. Dealers = Thumbs down for me.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-13-2006, 02:11 PM	#7
devo Colonel 755 Rep 2,736 Posts Drives: Bimmers & Porsches Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	The sales staff doesn't get any proprietary information any sooner than the word on the net. I would have to agree that most of the sales person(s) really have had very limited information regarding anything of substance about any of the sports cars that I have owned. Many sales people lend their opinions about break in, oil changes, etc... with no basis for their belief. Personally, I love it when one tells me that the break in really isn't necessary. Yeah right, brother, I'm gonna break in my new exotic, high HP engine the way YOU tell me too, rather than what the Bavarian engineers suggest.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-13-2006, 03:00 PM	#8
Hans Delbruck Major 75 Rep 1,288 Posts Drives: C63, 135i, Evo FE, GLE63 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Huntington Beach, CA iTrader: (0)	The spy videos of the car testing in the desert... sure sounds like a manual to me. I think we'll definitely get a choice of manual or SMG. This is the ///M3, not the ol-man-can't-shift ///M5.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-13-2006, 06:43 PM	#11
Hans Delbruck Major 75 Rep 1,288 Posts Drives: C63, 135i, Evo FE, GLE63 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Huntington Beach, CA iTrader: (0)	Whew, don't you guys get touchy about having SMG?!! I've never owned an auto or SMG in my life, but my M3, if I can stand to wait for it, will definitely have SMG or whatever autobox is offered. The M3 is not a sports car IMO, it's a GT car. I'd actually prefer DSG or a slushbox in the M3 to SMG. If I want to jerk my passenger's heads around, I'll row 'em myself. But the M3, with a V8... it's a big car now... it needs to shift itself. Still, BMW markets the M3 as a sports coupe, and in my not so humble opinion, they will continue to offer a manual. They don't want to kill the heritage and brand completely.............
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12-13-2006, 09:23 PM	#15
Hans Delbruck Major 75 Rep 1,288 Posts Drives: C63, 135i, Evo FE, GLE63 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Huntington Beach, CA iTrader: (0)	I guess we'll see when the car comes out, won't we? M3 and M5 are in 2 different markets.
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12-13-2006, 10:37 PM	#17
Jason Administrator 40636 Rep 21,237 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Everyone crack open a cold one and relaxxxx
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12-13-2006, 11:09 PM	#18
Hans Delbruck Major 75 Rep 1,288 Posts Drives: C63, 135i, Evo FE, GLE63 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Huntington Beach, CA iTrader: (0)	Beer is good food.
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