I currently have a Mazdaspeed3.. I'm wanting a dual clutch tranny car this summer/fall since I'm moving and I don't want to be driving stick in traffic every day.. So I'm considering an Evo X MR.. The issue is that a brand new one I think is too expensive so I'm thinking about a used '08 with under 20k miles on it. I'm finding a good amount of 'em in the northeast portion of the country.. Question is..

Why are there so many at dealerships with under 20k miles on 'em?
Are there a lot of transmission issues?
Is there anything I should be looking out for?
Is this even a good idea? Haha.

I am definitely going to end up with the mod bug.. But I don't imagine I'll go any further than a TBE, intake, and a tune..

 

Can you live without a clutch pedal?

 

I'm hoping I'll survive. I've driven stick for the last 6 years of my life.. And I know I'll miss it but when I think about being stuck in traffic daily I get pretty happy about not having a clutch pedal.. Haha.

I autocross as well.. and I imagine with the SST it'd make it pretty easy being in super sport mode because the issue there with a 5spd is not being able to shift back into 1st and then to 2nd fast enough. So There's that..

Plus.. I believe SST is the future and I'll have to get rid of that third pedal someday.. I may as well start out with a car I've been wanting since I was a teenager haha.

 

There are some issues with the SSTs out there leaking, 2010, 2011s even. Do some searches on that and be sure to check out the car your looking at.

Make sure to find out whats left on the warranty, the SST is 11k to replace. Don't think you can drag the hell out of this tranny.

I find the SST a little bit clunky in traffic to be honest. I end up using the paddles to shift. But that beats your foot and right arm dancing around, maybe?

On the good side, the SST on the autox course it's a nice advantage. Lighting shifts and you don't take your hands off the wheel. On the track Super Sport mode will make you a god.

 

Yeah I've done some searches and it seems that some people are having great luck with it and there's been more than those with fault trannies. From what I'm reading if I keep the torque below 350wtq, I should be pretty safe? ..I imagine I would be under that with just a TBE, intake, & tune.

Geez.. Are there any aftermarket clutch kits out there yet? Last I saw they hadn't made 'em yet.. Is that the main thing that goes when the tranny goes?

Since I'll be getting it used from a dealership and not a private seller, I can only imagine I'll have the rest of the powertrain left.

Yeah paddles definitely beats the foot. I commute downtown and I'm usually down to a 5mph roll for miles.. and starting 1st and stopping.. and doing it over and over again for half an hour gets pretty exhausting for the left leg.. which is why this seems like a dream for a day to day commuter.

My other option is a BMW 135i but.. even though it's faster.. I just don't think it meets my handling needs, especially for the price. It doesn't even have an LSD! Plus.. the BMW community is ridiculous. They don't make intelligent knowledgeable comments like here at evolutionm or over at MSF.

 

check out ssp performance they do have a clutch kit!!

 

My general hate of the MR aside, I'd really think twice about a used one. There have been a few people here burned by used MR's because of the SST and Mitsu's general dishonorable warranty policies. Go read the horror show threads posted by "Webman".

 

what bmw forum did you go to? as a previous bimmer owner i found a plethora of knowledge on all models when i was modding mine.

as for your decision to go SST or stay stick, thats a toughy. as convenient as it is, i feel that it tends to take away the driving experience :/ but thats just me and few others.

but if you see it as a way to better yourself in Auto-x and avoid the pain that is traffic, than i say go for it if those are your main reasons.

btw the 135i is a mean little car, and handles like a champ. however, super expensive to mod and when getting into the BMW you'll for it when it comes to maint. bimmerforums.com check them out if you havent already.

 

i had evo x mr loved it never had 1 single problem with it during the year and a half i had it
sold it cause had some family issues now i resolved does issues and iam looking for another evox but this time gsr cause i really missed the manual gearbox...it feels you have more control on the car with a stick then with an auto

 

I have never heard of any issues with the sst trans. Now I am a bit worried as my g/f is looking into a X se. I dont want her to have any problems. Especially with something like a trans. Although the se is brand new, I am a bit skeptical now.

 

Man they're expensive.. But I guess the 400hp clutch kit isn't too bad. But I can only imagine I'd have to pay to get that installed.. I have done all the mods to my MS3 myself but.. I don't imagine I'd be able to rip apart a transmission to install 2 clutches.. Haha.

Yeah I told myself I'd never buy a used car again a few years ago because I've always had such bad experiences with 'em but when you're talking about $40k cars.. It's just sort of hard to justify and it seems like such a deal to get a used one. I guess I'd just have to check up on the warranty. I just remembered back when I was looking at Evo 8s and 9s.. and all the horror warranty stories from them.. I hear Mitsu likes to void Evo warranties for no good reason.. Haha.

I was on bimmerforums.com, I didn't read much of it but from what I had read it just seemed like everyone just thought very "Apple" like.. Like no reason behind things.. just "because it's a BMW" type of attitude. One guy said it was physically impossible for a Mazdaspeed3 to beat a 135i from a roll because BMW says the 135i has 300hp and the MS3 only has 268... Haha ...physically....impossible....

I agree it takes away from the user experience but I think overall performance in autox & day to day driving will be better. I will own another manual car sometime though, maybe I'll pickup a VR-4 sometime in the next couple years.. Haha.

Actually.. modding is cheaper than you think for the 135.. BMS has their intakes for $99.. Downpipes are fairly inexpensive.. It's only expensive when you buy parts directly from BMW but of course, if you buy anything aftermarket from any manufacture it's expensive. Cobb just released their AP for the 135, which is what got the 135 idea in my head in the first place. I'm glad to hear that you think it handles well though! It's not out of the picture yet, but I'm leaning towards the Evo because it seems that I can get a used 2008 MR for about 32k and I would want an N55 135 since they were the first to get the 7spd DCT.. and well, they're showing up for upper 30s at the cheapest..

If money wasn't an issue, I'd just pickup both cars. Haha. I love them both. The Evo of course just isn't nice enough and doesn't have heated seats.. but the seats are so much better than the 135.. but it's such a nicer car.

 

Glad to hear you didn't have any problems!

Well.. if your girlfriend keeps it stock.. I don't imagine she'll have any problems and if she does I can only imagine the warranty will cover it. I think dealers void more male warranties than females.. haha.

I want to mod.. as much as I say I want to stay stock out of fear.. I will end up modding. And that is why I'm super skeptical about this decision.. especially used.

 

lol i gotcha, yeah i forgot to mention i was basing prices for mods for the 1 series when it first came out. kinda like the 07 350z when it came out... modding was rediculous for both :/

and as for bimmerforums, i totally understand where you're coming from. yes there are a ton of people there who believe because they purchased the bimmer badge, they automatically win everything because it's a bimmer. but there are people on there who know their **** and will help you if you needed. every forum has retards... come on O.o

you can get heated seats in the X O.o if thats what you reaaaally desire lol. BMW = luxury and sport, X = hint of luxury + lots of racecar potential .

 

Every forum does... have retards but I have been trolling on bimmerforums and 1addicts and it seems that the BMW community has more than say.. the Evo or Mazdaspeed community.. But yeah, I'm sure there are also a lot of people on there who know their stuff.

Yeah it's what I was told today by someone at work.. saying that aftermarket heated seat kits work just as well, the guy apparently installed it on his Jeep and it was just as good he says as the ones in his BMW 540.. so I guess that is an option.

Yeah it's definitely something I really desire.. that's coming from the guy that installed remote start on my Mazdaspeed just to heat up my car before I get in it.. It's ****ing cold here in northeast Ohio in the winter lol. My girlfriend's GTI has heated seats and it's so.. nice..

I also said out loud today.. I'm not ready to grow up, I should get an Evo.. I'm 24 this year and all my friends say I should get an Evo as well due to the fact that I said I was going to get an Evo ever since I was 16.. But as I grew up I wanted something nicer lol but I think I want to go back to my roots! Haha.

 

I'd say buying a used MR is riskier than buying a used GSR. Many who did have bad luck with their SST's traded it in while it was still somewhat intact, and the dealership they traded it to 99% likely they didn't bother to fully check the hardware - just take the plates off and post the price, like any other used car.

I think anyone who has a good condition MR is probably looking to sell privately, because they wouldn't be afraid of anyone test-driving it thoroughly. A dealership just looks for any scratches/dents, then takes it in on trade - any easy way out for someone who's abused an SST, or just had a lemon

Overall I think the SST is pretty reliable and a great piece of tech. You just have to remember people will only post of bad experiences, there are probably way more people out there not having any problems