Does the auto detract THAT much from the M3 experience?

**mishaken** · 10-26-2003, 04:18 PM

I've been looking at alot of E36 M3 prices and noticed a huge difference in price when equipped with an automatic. My personal preference has always been manual, but I am talking $5k under 5-speed pricing, on a $16k car. That seems a huge penalty when selling an auto M3.

So, is the 5-speed that integral to the driving experience that you are essentially paying $5k to get it?

**ponq** · 10-26-2003, 05:22 PM

I'd say the 5-speed is a huge part of the experience.

I don't think I'd pay $5k for it, but I certainly would shop around a little longer, maybe in a broader market in order to get a 5-speed.

**hal9000** · 10-26-2003, 06:00 PM

The issue with the auto is that in the M3 (note I'm only saying this for the e36 M3), the tranny is weak for the power. If you redline or beat on the car, the tranny will fail. Also if you're looking at modding the car for more power, you're sitting on a tranny time bomb.

IF you're looking at keeping the car stock and enjoying the suspension and handling of the car, not taking the car to redline or arguably beyond 5K rpms, then the auto's a great car.

**Evan e21** · 10-26-2003, 06:09 PM

If its an ///M car it must be a manny. It should be written into law some where. If you are going to get an auto then get a 328ia and save yourself some money on insurance.

**Aldo** · 10-26-2003, 06:17 PM

I drove a friends auto once and a cop pulled me over and gave me a ticket for improper equipment when he saw it was an auto
Aldo

**Def** · 10-26-2003, 07:04 PM

To put it bluntly - there is a good reason the auto cars are going for $5k less.

That should answer your question.

**FiKtIOn** · 10-26-2003, 07:14 PM

And you'll experience the same loss when to try to sell off an auto.

Like Jacob said, there's a reason they're going for 5k less, and that's not gonna change.

**Elusive303** · 10-26-2003, 07:23 PM

I drove a friends auto once and a cop pulled me over and gave me a ticket for improper equipment when he saw it was an auto

**rupes001** · 10-27-2003, 07:32 AM

An Auto M3? What's the point...may as well just get a 328.

**Bassmaster_old** · 10-27-2003, 10:41 AM

Im sure an auto M3 cost more initially..but depreciates faster...and desireability is way low...for the avg enthusiast.

**330zhp** · 10-27-2003, 11:43 AM

I saw a beautiful blue, convertilble M3. 1999, 20K miles, and the guy wanted 28K. When I saw it was an auto, I walked away. Major bummer!!!

**RobH** · 10-27-2003, 12:30 PM

These are generally enthusiasts cars and people that buy them today are going to be enthusiasts. When the E36 was new, I know a lot of folks that bought them with autos to satisfy the wife, or they bought them as a status symbol and didn't want manual. However now that the cars are getting on in years, people don't buy this sort of car as a family vehicle or a status symbol.

Under those circumstances, the auto is going to be worth less.

RobH
95 M3

**Gene V** · 10-27-2003, 01:16 PM

YES!

**sirtiger** · 10-28-2003, 12:56 PM

Originally posted by Aldo
I drove a friends auto once and a cop pulled me over and gave me a ticket for improper equipment when he saw it was an auto
Aldo

:

**Ali** · 10-28-2003, 01:04 PM

if i was going FI I'd get an auto and put a 3.91 LSD on there. For a daily driver an auto m3 isn't that bad, in damn atlanta traffic my left leg starts to hurt after a while.

**Ron17** · 10-28-2003, 01:12 PM

If I was going to start wearing skirts, I'd definitely get an auto.

**vjlax18** · 10-28-2003, 01:15 PM

The clutch in the M3 is sooooo light, it's almost honda-light... drive a car with a real clutch for a couple of days, and then jump into the M3 - you won't mind it.

**Ali** · 10-28-2003, 01:42 PM

Originally posted by vjlax18
The clutch in the M3 is sooooo light, it's almost honda-light... drive a car with a real clutch for a couple of days, and then jump into the M3 - you won't mind it.

no clutch= lighter

**Dean** · 10-28-2003, 01:53 PM

Just wondering what is 0 to 60 times and 1/4 mile times according to road and track or motortrend on a e36 m3 manual vs auto? How much difference. Thanks.

**Cobra Jet** · 10-28-2003, 02:47 PM

Originally posted by hal9000
The issue with the auto is that in the M3 (note I'm only saying this for the e36 M3), the tranny is weak for the power. If you redline or beat on the car, the tranny will fail. Also if you're looking at modding the car for more power, you're sitting on a tranny time bomb.

IF you're looking at keeping the car stock and enjoying the suspension and handling of the car, not taking the car to redline or arguably beyond 5K rpms, then the auto's a great car.

c'mon man, give me a %$#@! break!

Have you or ANYONE here EVER driven an auto M3 at all???? I mean REALLY driven one, like beat the crap out of it, drive it llike it's stolen??????

I beat the piss out of my auto and also have the Dinan tranny chip and have EXCEEDED the "5k redline" PLENTY OF TIMES... I don't have ANY issues at all with my auto equipped M3... and yea, that's also with 106k original miles on the entire driveline. So, your 5k redline remark is total BS IMO.

You guys make me laugh, really you do.

Do a search here in this forum under my user ID, you'll see the FACTS posted for the 1/4 mi. or factory specs between the auto & manual 5 speed M3 (1995).... these are specs direct from BMW that were available in the 1995 dealer issued brochure... If you guys will take a look, you'll see there is NOT a MAJOR "loss" in owning an auto M3...

You guys are only jealous that an auto equipped M3 CAN perform just the same, if not better than a 5 speed E36 M3... admit that fact. Both cars are IDENTICAL IN EVERY ASPECT, except for the 10% or LESS torque loss on an auto equipped E36 M3...

read the facts - go find that post of mine where I listed all of the facts for a 1995 model year. if anyone has specs or FACTS for STOCK M3's year by year comparison of the auto & 5 speed, POST THEM UP - instead of making totally biased and BASELESS claims on how the auto M3 "sucks" in your eyes...

One more thing, for those who do NOT know, the M3 auto tranny is a GM model, which can be upgraded to all bulletproof parts IF needed OR if someone wishes to retain an auto tranny and have the car modified for EXTREME use...

Coming from a performance car background and having MANY friends with much expertise in the automotive/performance arena, modifying an auto tranny is not such a hard thing to do... especially when it is as generic as a GM built tranny... billet parts are readily available too...

Just remember, owners of automatic M3's can do ANYTHING 5 speed guys can do to their M3's - superchargers, turbos, rear gears, exhaust, suspension, wheels, etc etc etc etc.... Where is the argument at fellas????

I have my 5 speed Mustang LX 5.0 notchback, so I don't need two 5 speed vehicles... besides, if I wanted to whoop on some 5 speed M3 guys, I'll break out the Mustang for some additional fun...

cheers!

**Cobra Jet** · 10-28-2003, 02:52 PM

for the lazy:

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...hreadid=126560

also - a 5 speed equipped M3 is only as good as the DRIVER... if the driver can't drive for shit, the car's gear box and performance means NOTHING...

cheers 2

**Ron17** · 10-28-2003, 03:03 PM

0.8 seconds in 0-60MPH and the 1/4-mile is very significant... by no means indentical.

**Madd96///M3** · 10-28-2003, 06:16 PM

while i understand where the purists are coming from, if you have driven both auto and manual in the past and would consider an auto....maybe the auto is for you. Personally, i would not get an auto unless I had a mercedes for traffic or an suv for trips etc. An auto M3 is by no means a bad car, but its defintely different from the manual.

**JB///M3** · 10-28-2003, 06:37 PM

Originally posted by Cobra Jet
c'mon man, give me a %$#@! break!

Have you or ANYONE here EVER driven an auto M3 at all???? I mean REALLY driven one, like beat the crap out of it, drive it llike it's stolen??????

I beat the piss out of my auto and also have the Dinan tranny chip and have EXCEEDED the "5k redline" PLENTY OF TIMES... I don't have ANY issues at all with my auto equipped M3... and yea, that's also with 106k original miles on the entire driveline. So, your 5k redline remark is total BS IMO.

You guys make me laugh, really you do.

Do a search here in this forum under my user ID, you'll see the FACTS posted for the 1/4 mi. or factory specs between the auto & manual 5 speed M3 (1995).... these are specs direct from BMW that were available in the 1995 dealer issued brochure... If you guys will take a look, you'll see there is NOT a MAJOR "loss" in owning an auto M3...

You guys are only jealous that an auto equipped M3 CAN perform just the same, if not better than a 5 speed E36 M3... admit that fact. Both cars are IDENTICAL IN EVERY ASPECT, except for the 10% or LESS torque loss on an auto equipped E36 M3...

read the facts - go find that post of mine where I listed all of the facts for a 1995 model year. if anyone has specs or FACTS for STOCK M3's year by year comparison of the auto & 5 speed, POST THEM UP - instead of making totally biased and BASELESS claims on how the auto M3 "sucks" in your eyes...

One more thing, for those who do NOT know, the M3 auto tranny is a GM model, which can be upgraded to all bulletproof parts IF needed OR if someone wishes to retain an auto tranny and have the car modified for EXTREME use... Coming from a performance car background and having MANY friends with much expertise in the automotive/performance arena, modifying an auto tranny is not such a hard thing to do... especially when it is as generic as a GM built tranny... billet parts are readily available too...

Just remember, owners of automatic M3's can do ANYTHING 5 speed guys can do to their M3's - superchargers, turbos, rear gears, exhaust, suspension, wheels, etc etc etc etc.... Where is the argument at fellas????

I have my 5 speed Mustang LX 5.0 notchback, so I don't need two 5 speed vehicles... besides, if I wanted to whoop on some 5 speed M3 guys, I'll break out the Mustang for some additional fun...

cheers!

don't have a heart attack b/c you have one hell of a fake M...no M should ever come in AUTO... sorry man, your performance numbers are shit compared to 5-spd... and go ahead, do FI and mod to hell...watch how long your tranny will last... now that will be something to laugh at..... have a good day....

OWNS U!!

**SI///M3** · 10-28-2003, 08:47 PM

No offense to those with auto M3s, but if I was spending the money and had a choice between an auto M3 and a manual 328 I'd rather have the manual 328. Yes, I've driven auto M3s. In a car like an M3 an auto sucks ass, and I'm not talking about performancewise. A M3 is about the driving experience, and IMO an auto KILLS the driving experience. If you at all like to drive your car agressively and enjoy the experience of driving you will strongly regret buying an auto.

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