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Sandcountry360 -
No and Yes. The new M5 originally came with only one transmission option - a new 7-speed automated-clutch manual (SMG III) built specifically to maximize the performance of its high-revving V10 500-hp engine. That's different than any other transmission BMW had before.
Yet, some American give-me-stick-or-give-me-death drivers demanded that BMW offer a real-man stick or else. With the US being its biggest market, Bimmer succumbed, and put the antiquated (circa 2000) Gertrag 6-speed (used in all the aforementioned M cars) in the M5 as an option. Since it was never designed for the V10, this transmission was simply wrong for the engine. 0-60 times dropped about half a second or so, as well as quarter-mile performance. In short, a 6-speed 500hp V10 M5 was comparable in performance to the older 400hp V8 M5. These "enthusiasts" got what they asked for and cried. BMW said "told you so."
The dozens of so examples of these unique M5s will be a collector's item some day. ;-)
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"Methinks the 6-speed Gertrag transmission in the old M3 is the same as the one in the new M3."
"And it's also the same transmission that they used in the older e39 M5 - 400 hp and 5.0L, and much heavier than the new M3"
Doesn't the new M5 use the same manual as the old M5, and thus the new & old M3's? Also, wouldn't the M coupe/roadster use the same transmission, as they have the same engine? So does this mean there's pretty much only 1 M manual transmission?
Also, about liking the new better than the old- the E46 has over 50k miles on it. It could have deteriorated some over time. Maybe when it was new it was more similar to the newer BMW shifter's feel?
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read the last phrase "I just think it's showing its age more than some other folks do" - it sounds like you are comparing the showing of age of the m3 to the showing of age of others - what i think you meant was I just think its showing its age more than others think it(M3)is". Haha in the middle of studying thought it was funny
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Change that fluid! My 06 Honda Civic SI had significant issues with 3rd gear engagement...the gear would occasionally grind, or not engage all the way and then pop out. As well as notchiness in 2nd especially.
At 15k, I swapped to AMSOIL MTF. Haven't grinded 3rd in the 27k since, nor had a pop-out.
AMSOIL and Redline are two gear oils that come highly recommended, just about universally. Try one and report back :)
Joe
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Current BMWs have super long throws. No fun. My 03 e46 had a factory installed short-shifter...that was nice. Too bad it would pop out of gear sometimes while cruising around - like 15 minutes into a freeway drive it'd just pop and be out of gear at 80 mph. Weird.
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"It seems like the best point in favor of the new M3 is that it's available as a sedan."
If I buy a new M3 it will be the sedan- although I consider it to be the heir of the original E28 M5. It's similar in size and weight, yet it has much more power. I'd still need another car for track days, however. A Z4 M Coupe would meet that need nicely, I think.
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My gearbox is the same as the e39 M5 (and apparently the e46 M3). For me, the main problem with the LT2 fluid is that it's not really good for a lifetime as the name implies. So at the very least, some sort of replacement is in order, whether it's the BMW stuff or something else. My shifting was uncomfortably notchy before the fluid swap.
Lifetime fluid just doesn't exist, and in a car driven as hard as an M3, that's probably especially true. Anybody draining the old stuff out at 50k miles or more will be glad they did when the originally light colored fluid comes out much darker, maybe even black.
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A lot of M3 owners put Royal Purple in their trannies. I tried it in my '01 but it felt really thin. I switched to Redline and it feels better, but it is extremely notchy for the first several minutes when the fluid is cold.
The BMW LT2 fluid is just fine and doesn't really need a different fluid. There is an LT3 fluid out now but BMW recommends to stay with the LT2 for the E46 M3. I wonder if the new M3 uses LT2 or LT3.
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teekay13
- Apr 22, 2008 2:07 pm
(#5 Total: 13)
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And it's also the same transmission that they used in the older e39 M5 - 400 hp and 5.0L, and much heavier than the new M3
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teekay13
- Apr 22, 2008 2:06 pm
(#4 Total: 13)
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Methinks the 6-speed Gertrag transmission in the old M3 is the same as the one in the new M3.
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Put some Redline MTL or RP Synchromax in the gearbox or at least flush out the BMW "Lifetime" fill. Replacing the factory fluid with better (and newer) stuff took virtually all of the notchy feel out of my 540i's 6 speed.
It seems like the best point in favor of the new M3 is that it's available as a sedan. I still love the M3 coupes, but if a buyer was willing to accept the reduced utility of a 2 door, a lot of dedicated sports cars would also be good choices at the same or lower cost.
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jr1m90
- Apr 22, 2008 12:45 pm
(#2 Total: 13)
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Pennsylvania, United States of America |
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Has anyone else noticed the creative names given to the pictures sometimes? I can sometimes catch them if the page loads just before the picture does, but going through the page source reveals that the picture file is: "2002 M3 Gearbox (and it glows!!!)". Just an amusing comment.
capital:
BMW could have refined the gearbox between the years, as I'd imagine they'd have to change at least some parts of it to cope with the extra power of the V8 and the new M's extra weight.
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capital
- Apr 22, 2008 10:27 am
(#1 Total: 13)
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Of course the transmission in the new M3 is the exact same unit as the old one..
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