3.0 to M

[ZermattV]

I'd love to write how much sweeter the 3.0 is and how you really don't notice the power difference ...but For me the M solves a number if issues that the 3.0 has - the brakes are much better on the M than the 3.0 and the ride is much more resolved- not perfect but not as brittle as the 3.0.


The clutch is savage and I wouldn't want to drive it every day and at first it takes a lot of getting used to- brain says same car same inputs- results say hang on totally different .

 

[LeeZ4MR]

The clutch is savage and I wouldn't want to drive it every day and at first it takes a lot of getting used to- brain says same car same inputs- results say hang on totally different .

I didn't mind the clutch on mine but I suppose I was used to a TVR, but I really hated the gearbox in mine first to second especially & it came as a big shock as the gearbox on my 520d was a delight(the engine was dire though)...but I just wanted to get a hammer & smash my M`s gearbox to bits!

Genuine question how does the 3.0 model`s gearbox compare to the M?

 

[pvr]

The 3.0 wasn't that great either.

For good gearboxes, you need an Audi or VW really. My best gearbox ever was the first Audi I had - an Audi 80 1.6.

 

[Adamski]

The clutch is savage and I wouldn't want to drive it every day and at first it takes a lot of getting used to- brain says same car same inputs- results say hang on totally different .

I didn't mind the clutch on mine but I suppose I was used to a TVR, but I really hated the gearbox in mine first to second especially & it came as a big shock as the gearbox on my 520d was a delight(the engine was dire though)...but I just wanted to get a hammer & smash my M`s gearbox to bits!

Genuine question how does the 3.0 model`s gearbox compare to the M?

3.0i box is a longer throw between shifts, more like a 3 series gearbox and more compliant. Clutch is much more forgiving, and has much more travel between "bite" and full engagement.

The CDV was much more noticeable on the 3.0i too, but I got rid of mine, which made a massive improvement

 

[Adamski]

The 3.0 wasn't that great either.

For good gearboxes, you need an Audi or VW really. My best gearbox ever was the first Audi I had - an Audi 80 1.6.

My VW Polo GTi was on its 3rd gear box. Not a good advert for VW. Most Polo GTi gearboxes failed before 60k :thumbsdown:

 

[LeeZ4MR]

The 3.0 wasn't that great either.

For good gearboxes, you need an Audi or VW really. My best gearbox ever was the first Audi I had - an Audi 80 1.6.

Thanks I was curious, I have read that the 335i manual is pretty highly rated.

 

[pvr]

Did you ever drive an MKI Golf? That gearbox was just delicious with a very short gear lever and my Audi just had a tiny stump right above the gearbox. You could move that with your little finger.

The 6N Polo we had (is that the GTI you are referring to?) was nowhere near as nice and indeed had paddle box failures.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

The clutch is savage and I wouldn't want to drive it every day and at first it takes a lot of getting used to- brain says same car same inputs- results say hang on totally different .

I didn't mind the clutch on mine but I suppose I was used to a TVR, but I really hated the gearbox in mine first to second especially & it came as a big shock as the gearbox on my 520d was a delight(the engine was dire though)...but I just wanted to get a hammer & smash my M`s gearbox to bits!

Genuine question how does the 3.0 model`s gearbox compare to the M?

3.0i box is a longer throw between shifts, more like a 3 series gearbox and more compliant. Clutch is much more forgiving, and has much more travel between "bite" and full engagement.

The CDV was much more noticeable on the 3.0i too, but I got rid of mine, which made a massive improvement

Thanks the CDV is meant to make a marked difference from what I have read.

 

[pvr]

On the 3.0 you could notice it, on the M it is a waste of time removing it.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

On the 3.0 you could notice it, on the M it is a waste of time removing it.

The knowledge on here is awesome.

 

[ZermattV]

Best two gearboxes I've has have been my Mk5 Golf GTi - which was a pleasure to change gear and my my Mk2.5 MX-5 which once warm was like a rifle bolt - which doesn't sound great but was in fact fantastic .

 

[mr wilks]

Did you ever drive an MKI Golf? That gearbox was just delicious with a very short gear lever and my Audi just had a tiny stump right above the gearbox. You could move that with your little finger.

The 6N Polo we had (is that the GTI you are referring to?) was nowhere near as nice and indeed had paddle box failures.

Ran a 03 Passat 1.8T estate from 90k to 148k & the gearbox / clutch was a dream , THE best manual i,ve ever driven
Son has had Lupo , 2 Polo,s & 2 Golf,s & they have all been similar

 

[LeeZ4MR]

Best two gearboxes I've has have been my Mk5 Golf GTi - which was a pleasure to change gear and my my Mk2.5 MX-5 which once warm was like a rifle bolt - which doesn't sound great but was in fact fantastic .

My favourite gearbox has been my TVR & I loved how solid & heavy it felt...but its based on a Ford T5 gearbox so most people hate it!

I didn't like the manual gearbox in my M3 at first but I did warm to it in the end...I think one of the best gearboxes I have experienced but never owned is a Honda manual gearbox though.

 

[budfox]

Don't think I've ever wished my Si were faster, or more expensive to run, but if there's one thing that I know I'd love about an M it would be the noise.

 

[Adamski]

Did you ever drive an MKI Golf? That gearbox was just delicious with a very short gear lever and my Audi just had a tiny stump right above the gearbox. You could move that with your little finger.

The 6N Polo we had (is that the GTI you are referring to?) was nowhere near as nice and indeed had paddle box failures.

Polo 6N2 Gti, yep. Soft gearbox, couldn't take the torque and just chewed up 'boxes

 

[-Tom-]

Don't think I've ever wished my Si were faster, or more expensive to run, but if there's one thing that I know I'd love about an M it would be the noise.

With me that was the thing, there was nothing wrong with my SI and I didn't ever drive it all that fast. The fact I wanted an M was not to do with going faster, but just the point that I wanted one for the overall car.

A bit like wanting an automatic watch ... Difficult to justify but if you want one and can get one you will be happy, even if others shake their head.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[craig3.2]

The 3.0 wasn't that great either.

For good gearboxes, you need an Audi or VW really. My best gearbox ever was the first Audi I had - an Audi 80 1.6.

I couldn't agree more, the best gearboxes I ever had were in 2 (at the time) new Seat Leon Cupra(s) I had with the Audi 20v turbo engines and 6speed box.....so smooth compared to either the 3.0 or m, but you get used to them, lol.

 

[craig3.2]

On the 3.0 you could notice it, on the M it is a waste of time removing it.

The knowledge on here is awesome.

Ditto, did the same cdv swap to a (zeckhausen??) mod'd item on my 3.0i it made A HUGE difference, barely much noticeable diff on the M, as said

 

[original guvnor]

I think one of the best gearboxes I have experienced but never owned is a Honda manual gearbox though.

I have to say the gearbox in my 2001 Honda Civic is an absolute peach Lee. Superb. My Dad's driving a lot of Hyndai's at the moment because he's a non-Exec of a franchised dealer, and the Hynudai gearboxes are a joy to use as well. In actual fact the i30's are a damn fine car all round.

 

[Rene_Z4MC]

On the 3.0 you could notice it, on the M it is a waste of time removing it.

The knowledge on here is awesome.

Ditto, did the same cdv swap to a (zeckhausen??) mod'd item on my 3.0i it made A HUGE difference, barely much noticeable diff on the M, as said

Ehhh, wut? :?
I removed the CDV in the first week of ownership, horrible clutch control drove me nuts.
After removal it was fine, so on my ///M it made a huge difference.

ps why would you replace it with a modified version, just remove the damn thing.