Yes, I've done a number of searches, but I have some specific questions.

First, I live in northern VA and I just bought a beautiful Alpine White 2004 M3 from an excellent seller in TN for $43.5k. It has just over 11k miles (now that I've driven it back) and the following options: SMG, OEM 19s, Alcantara seats, Euro X-drilled rotors, the aluminum P7 brake pedal, and Sirius sat.

This one was bred for track duty, as it has no power seats and no sunroof. These options aren't missed, but I do wish it had seat warmers. Now on to the questions:

While driving it home (675 miles) I began to get a bit familiar with the way that SMG shifts. My intention is to keep this car a long time, so I'd like to prolong the life of the clutch.

-Are the higher sequential modes (S4-S6) easier on the clutch? Seems couterintuitive, but it seems like they're slipping it less than the lower modes. Is this true? Right now I'm using S3 for most of my driving (around town and some light brisk turns)

-When taking off from a stop, first and second seem to really be hard on the SMG. There is no clunking, but it just seems to really lunge and take a second to shift if I keep on the gas. Lifting the gas helps this a bit, but seems to lengthen the required time for the shift. Anything above the 2-3 seems to be really easy. Any recommendations on how to shift for easy driving? I don't want to kill the tranny.

-I've read people complain about downshifting when decelerating to a stop, and I can see this now. It seems that if you have your foot off the gas while you downshift to anything lower than 4th you get nailed with a fairly substantial engine braking that's pretty unpredictable and uncontrollable. I am intending to learn to left foot brake soon, so I guess this will help, but in the meantime should I just not bother to downshift when slowing down? Or maybe just shift to N and then back into 1st at the stop?

Sorry about the long questions, just hoping to get some advice. Please excuse me if I post this in a few of the large M3 forums, I'm trying to get visability.

Oh, and this car is unbelievable. I'm glad to finally join the club! :cool

im new myself but i'd like to welcome you to the club! hope you enjoy your new car :alright

Oh, a couple of pics. Sorry for the terrible shots, my apartment complex has terrible lighting. http://filebox.vt.edu/users/chcampbe/M3/front_corner_left_1_small.jpg

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/chcampbe/M3/front_corner_right_small.jpg

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/chcampbe/M3/rear_small.jpg

Better pics to come later!

Nice car and welcome. I would like to help with the SMG advise but I have a six speed. I am sure somone will chime in and give you some feedback.

Can you take pics of your seats? I didnt think alcantara was available in 04. Are you referring to M-Cloth?

congrats on the new ownership

Can you take pics of your seats? I didnt think alcantara was available in 04. Are you referring to M-Cloth?

congrats on the new ownership

Sure, I'll try to get around to that tomorrow. It's definitely alcantara. I lists as a $1000.00 option on the sticker: "M Texture Alcantara/Leather". I've been told it's called M-Anthracite. It's got a sort of waffled texture with subtle lines of M colors purple, blue and red running across it (almost like plaid but it really looks good). Unfortunately it really doesn't photograph well, because it makes the alcantara look light gray (it really looks dark) and the colored lines really stand out, which they don't. I'll take some shots with no flash, those should be better.

Thanks to all for the nice comments.

Not sure what you are reffering to?
Under laod, downshifts are perfectly controlable, and predictable.

first to second shifts are a bit harsh but not dangerously so. Lifting a smidge is the correct thing to do, though it sounds that you are lifting too much if it is lengthening the shift noticably. a small twitch is all that is needed and does not extend the shift time substantialy.

you are correct that the higher mode slip the clutch less, though I have no data to answer the question I would imagine that this is in fact easier on the clutch in the long term.

remember that shifting time is regulated by throttle position and if you are having trouble it sounds like you are still at full throttle while approaching a stop... not sure why that would be a good idea!

it takes some time to get the hang of this SMG thing, but it will be smooth as silk when you get the hang of it.

Sure, I'll try to get around to that tomorrow. It's definitely alcantara. I lists as a $1000.00 option on the sticker: "M Texture Alcantara/Leather". I've been told it's called M-Anthracite. It's got a sort of waffled texture with subtle lines of M colors purple, blue and red running across it (almost like plaid but it really looks good). Unfortunately it really doesn't photograph well, because it makes the alcantara look light gray (it really looks dark) and the colored lines really stand out, which they don't. I'll take some shots with no flash, those should be better.

Thanks to all for the nice comments.

OK, IM with you. thanks

:)

Yes, I've done a number of searches, but I have some specific questions.

First, I live in northern VA and I just bought a beautiful Alpine White 2004 M3 from an excellent seller in TN for $43.5k. It has just over 11k miles (now that I've driven it back) and the following options: SMG, OEM 19s, Alcantara seats, Euro X-drilled rotors, the aluminum P7 brake pedal, and Sirius sat.

This one was bred for track duty, as it has no power seats and no sunroof. These options aren't missed, but I do wish it had seat warmers. Now on to the questions:

While driving it home (675 miles) I began to get a bit familiar with the way that SMG shifts. My intention is to keep this car a long time, so I'd like to prolong the life of the clutch.

-Are the higher sequential modes (S4-S6) easier on the clutch? Seems couterintuitive, but it seems like they're slipping it less than the lower modes. Is this true? Right now I'm using S3 for most of my driving (around town and some light brisk turns)

-When taking off from a stop, first and second seem to really be hard on the SMG. There is no clunking, but it just seems to really lunge and take a second to shift if I keep on the gas. Lifting the gas helps this a bit, but seems to lengthen the required time for the shift. Anything above the 2-3 seems to be really easy. Any recommendations on how to shift for easy driving? I don't want to kill the tranny.

-I've read people complain about downshifting when decelerating to a stop, and I can see this now. It seems that if you have your foot off the gas while you downshift to anything lower than 4th you get nailed with a fairly substantial engine braking that's pretty unpredictable and uncontrollable. I am intending to learn to left foot brake soon, so I guess this will help, but in the meantime should I just not bother to downshift when slowing down? Or maybe just shift to N and then back into 1st at the stop?

Sorry about the long questions, just hoping to get some advice. Please excuse me if I post this in a few of the large M3 forums, I'm trying to get visability.

Oh, and this car is unbelievable. I'm glad to finally join the club! :cool


before i graduated in may from vanderbilt, i met that guy. He drove that car hard as shit before teh 1200 break in period. Make sure you have it checked out asap.

-jon

before i graduated in may from vanderbilt, i met that guy. He drove that car hard as shit before teh 1200 break in period. Make sure you have it checked out asap.

-jon

Hm, really? Not too crazy about hearing that. Perhaps he was following that "alternate" break in procedure? What was it called...moto man or something? What type of behavior are you referring to when you say he drove it hard as shit?

I sort of figured he didn't baby it as it requested the 12k mile service at around 10.5k miles.

Hm, really? Not too crazy about hearing that. Perhaps he was following that "alternate" break in procedure? What was it called...moto man or something? What type of behavior are you referring to when you say he drove it hard as shit?

I sort of figured he didn't baby it as it requested the 12k mile service at around 10.5k miles.
yeah, i replied to your other post.... ;) you should have the moderators combine the threads to make it easier.

-jon

the car looks great cosmetically however.. :)