Hope everyone had a great weekend! Links to everything we talked about as well as related videos are in the description! Can't wait for you all to see the video on the E46 M3 Convertible behind me. Don't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications! Liking the video and commenting always helps as well. Thanks for watching!
We've had heat wave (humid 100+ degree days) up here in Massachusetts the past couple weeks. This past Saturday, temp was 104 and SMG COG dash light came on. I pulled into a parking lot to run an errand, put car into neutral and turned car off. Went in the store came back 20 minutes later and started car and check Engine light immediately came on. Used generic OBD2 reader and got P1717. Car would not go into gear. Turned off car, waited and tried to see if I could hear pump prime when opening door (I could not). I checked the 40 amp fuse and that was fine. I swapped the old salmon relay for a new one I had as a spare for this moment, Lol I then cleared the codes, crossed my fingers, said a prayer and started the car. Fortunately (this time) swapping the salmon relay worked. Car went into gear and I drove home normal, like nothing happened. Got home, properly checked SMG fluid color and level, both fine. Probably need to get INPA/ISTA to have on hand if this starts to be a recurring thing. Car has 133k miles. I'll probably consider buying most of the Manual swap parts sooner than later, just in case. Like you said, it's not getting any cheaper to do (with proper new BMW parts). This video coming out today definitely is speaking to me! Thanks Jason!
The heat will definitely do it! The SMG pump self preserves with it's temperature sensor. One way to be sure this doesn't happen again would be to relocate the pump and possibly even run a separate fan to keep it cool in this hot weather!
Fixing the SMG pump itself is not that bad as it used to be. The hydraulics doesn't usually go bad. It's just the DC electric motor that goes bad. You can get that replaced for ~1k. The kit below from Burkhart Engineering comes with the motor and some necessary bits and pieces that's good to have replaced.
i actually loved the way my smg drove. it was a perfect combination of of being in total control being able to shift from the wheel and also having a raw analog feel to it. ultimately though it suffered way too much with reliability and i ended up swapping it to a manual. for the 6-7 years i owned the car as an smg there was always some nagging little issues with it, it hated hot days for one, i almost got stranded once driving it out to the lake on a hot day, it just didnt want to go into gear...this wasnt a one time thing, it would often act up on hot days of even if i was just stuck in traffic. after thinking the pump was gone everytime id let it cool down and it would be fine. there was always a thought in my mind that the smg could just fail on me at anytime and leave me stranded so i never wanted to go too far with it.
To bulletproof your system: set drivelogic to position 1 and leave it there ALWAYS. Give the system enough time to work normally without thrashing. I've had it set up since the beginning for 12 years and have had no problems. Daily smg. And it still makes a blip on every downshift too
@@ShopLifeTV Exactly! I fired her several times at 280 km/h but NEVER launch control. That's why I also don't have a cracked undercarriage and no clunk either
You lean like on cold start right ? Drive logic set to 1, you start on the 2nd gear also. But indeed, give time to the fluids to heat up to the right temperature. Same after attacking, drive to let them cool down
You made this video after I just finished troubleshooting my smg e46 M3. I had to replace the Gear Indicator Sensor aka GPS. Hey I can always learn more. I actually think rebuilding that pump isn’t so bad is just that the replacement parts such as the accumulator, pump motor and solenoids are very expensive.
First time I drove a SMG I thought the car was broken. The sales man drove it back, I tested another one and was same. I got a manual and was the second best car I ever owned
when i was test driving them i drove and smg that was definitely broken and i just figured thats how it was (thats what the salesman said anyways) i ended up driving another that drove great though.
I want to put the blame on myself too. This was the first time driving a SMG and I did the tricks to get the most but seeing comments years after saying it wasn’t very good anyway. Not for me the manual I got was much better
Hi my smg wil drive dine for a while then just kick to 0 and stay there til I switch it on and off then il get gears again then sometimes whilst in any gearbit wil just fo to 0 and fo back to gear again also the car pops and bangz and throws flames but smells like overfueling The smg system is a pain
There's a Greek proverb that goes like 'Great minds think alike, fools seldom differ'. I know a few people that got E46 M3s this past week. I'll come back on who they are later 😂
I love your videos, and I’m an 04 SMG convertible hardcore fan. You missed the most common problem: the hydraulic pump (brushed) motor. The pump itself rarely fails. It’s the motor. Go to Eurton Electric to have the motor for rebuilt for $~$300, or buy a new aftermarket motor for $500; then relocate the entire pump assembly to the drug well, where the motor can be easily serviced when it fails (guaranteed to fail every 60-80k miles, because of the brushes)
I love your videos, you are very well spoken, direct and explain everything so well, thank you! I have 4 main issues with my 03 M3, I can’t communicate with the obd2, the orange car glows on dash with no warnings other than the car itself. I am having issues locking the car remotely and it beeps when I open the door. No one can solve this for me, I hope you are able to assist please and thank you. Take care!
Owned a 2003 M3 with the SMG, took it to my race shop and my main mechanic immediately told me to get the manual conversion. Of course, I began researching FURIOUSLY. Trying to find donors, bellhousing, kits, etc. During this time, I was still driving the car as normal, just on little trips around town and to some car shows. Along with that, the amount of people who would quickly poo-poo the car for the "inferior" automatic, instead would get a chance to drive it and realize how nice this little set up was. I fell more and more in love with the SMG but fell out of love for putting miles on it. Living in a 4 month "window" really puts a damper when you see this performance beast laying dormant for months. Sadly I sold it in February of 2023. Now! Here I am, in October of 2023, about to buy another M3. And from the same dealer I purchased my original one...even same year....same color...and same transmission. I may follow through with a manual swap, but honestly, I love the SMG despite some of it's issues.
I specifically wanted the smg. It allows me the control of the gears, not fight the clutch, especially in daily scenarios. It's cool af. Do I worry if it will die? Yes, but only probably as much as a traditional clutch. I am less likely to burn the the clutch in the smg, obviously, so I think it evens out. And it's fun as hell. Edit: Also if you do a video flashing the SMG to the CSL firmware or some of the other tunes, heard it was a great oem+ feel without switching the entire trans.
@@kiki2xx735 you have to shift, but you don't have to push any pedal to do it. There is an automatic 'mode' too, but the fact you dont have to push the clutch in makes it super easy.
I have had my 2004 e 46 SMG for 15 years now and I love it. knock on wood no issues once I learned how to drive it. I guess when the time comes I will repair it and not do the swap.@@Juke-Redlin
own a 2005 M3 with SMG. 1) ~1 week after buying it with ~22K miles on it, I went to start it and would not go into gear. Salmon relay ($13 and 15 minutes)...non-issue for 11 years and counting 2) SMG pump starting going out. Would give me the dreaded dash light. Finally replaced it about 6-7 years ago...no issues to date 3) SMG factory downshifts are lazy...just lazy. Did the Frank Smith SMG tune and it really dialed both upshifts and downshifts. The SMG tune is how it should have came from the factory, IMO. Overall, always had a manual before the SMG M3. I really don't miss the 3rd pedal
@@ABlackHound do I hammer it all the time? no. I would classify myself as defensively aggressive. I enjoy the high revs and the sharp crisp up and downshifts. I am in Houston, so typically highway and higher speed surface streets.
Yeah my SMG pump went at 98,000 kms. It certainly hates the hot Australian climate. But considering I owned the car for 5 years before I had to replace it, and I have owned the car for 9 years now and from what I have been told from BMW they normally go around 90,000 to 100,000kms, so as far as I’m concerned replacing the pump at 98,000 kms after years of enjoyment is a fair deal. I love my SMG m3.
The pump is probably fine. The motor brushes abrade away the commutator. Get the motor rebuilt ($US350) or buy a new aftermarket motor ($500), and relocate the entire pump assembly ($500) to the drug well. When your motor dies again (which it will), it will be easily serviceable in the drug well.
Another cheap fix is to check your trans fluid. A lot of people dont change it. Pentosine chf11s Mine was bone dry and it solved the problem. I heard the pump prime as soon as it was filled correctly. Make sure your key is in the 2-3rd on position so you are getting a proper read on the stick before adding your fluid.
In my experience the SMG issues have ALWAYS been the solonoid’s o ring failure. Super easy 2-3 hour job assuming you are competent. And only like $10 per solonoid ring kit!
I almost bought an e46 m3 with the smg. I’ve owned a couple manual ones. I was really close on pulling the trigger but changed my mind last min. Glad I held out cuz a great e92 m3 came up and I scooped it up. Great pricing
Great video. Thanks! Have 02 e46 m3 smg which is for track use only. Problem is it misses 4th gear half the time in both auto and manual shift modes. When it misses 4th I also hear what sounds like gear grinding. All other gears work fine. Want to keep the SMG but prefer not going through pump replacement or relo process if the symptoms sound like a gear related issue. I know very hard to diagnose here but thought i would mention the gear grinding noise if that may help. Thanks!
Thanks man! The conversion is the way to go. Once we finish all of the testing I want to do on my SMG (or if it gives out before then) we will be converting it. Might even try the "easy" conversion method and see how that goes.
Smg Salmon relay should be a preventative maintenance item since it's so cheap. I just replaced mine on the car that's only has 33,000 mi in 2023 and the car is 19 years old
You are an absolute legend sir - the most concise 10min about my SMG M3 I have ever seen. I had a quick question about the temperature sensor replacement on the SMG pump actually - can this be done while on the car? And if I unscrew the old temp sensor would this depressurise the whole SMG system or spray fluid everywhere or is this is an easy temp sensor replacement? Thanks and keep up the good work! 👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks great Vidya..Mine revs up if cruising lower than 2600 rpm in 3rd or 4th gear..This all started when my Keys accidentally shorted out my cig lighter..Any answers to that?
Sounds like clutch is beginning to slip, I would scan for any codes to see if there is anything that might be related to your cig lighter shorting out. It might just be a coincidence!
Expect the SMG PUMP motor to die soon. The motor brushes abrade away the commutator. When it does die, get the motor rebuilt ($US350) or buy a new aftermarket motor ($500), and relocate the entire pump assembly ($500) to the drug well. When your motor dies again (which it eventually will), it will be easily serviceable in the drug well.
do all of the compression spring go bad or only some? Also any advice removing the dowel pin holding the shifter actuator assy to the shift rod? I’m stuck at this step removing the transmission
Own a 2003 smg m3, had it since 2006... only now has a problem with the diff occured, but other than this, entire car has been solid... never any serious issues....
Yes. But… The pump is probably fine. The motor brushes abrade away the commutator. Get the motor rebuilt ($US350) or buy a new aftermarket motor ($500), and relocate the entire pump assembly ($500) to the drug well. When your motor dies again (which it will), it will be easily serviceable in the drug well.
Jason - you’re awesome! I have 05 SMG M3 Convertible - silver like yours - love it - 110,000 miles - just got it - but shifting problems. As soon as it’s warm it does bad things. First gear - on slow moving forward, it seems to jump out of gear. Does that a couple times, then I get that orange cog wheel light! Also does it in third gear - eventually it only works in 2, 4, 5, and 6. Then when I get home - my reverse barely works if at all. Help! What do you think it needs?
I have an e46 smg fault where it’s throwing up 2 faults for the clutch position sensor one shift travel one shift angle, positioning sensor been changed was 2nd hand tho, so has the pressure sensor fault still present, we had a spare box without clutch position sensor fitted that and still present . Even had a spare control unit fitted that and still the same, salmon relay changed and still the same and pulling my hair out where to go next 🙈🙈🙈🙈
Every time I service trans. Fluid flush for one is fluid flush for both on my end. Around every 20-30k depending on your driving. I’m at 156k on M3 with SMG. So far so good.
No such thing as lifetime fluid. I would change trans fluid along with the SMG hydraulic fluid every 30-40k miles or 2 years depending on driving style.
Hello i HOPEEEEE you can help me. I bought a smg2 e60 550i and its been sitting for one year already. Intermittent start. Its back to not starting again. New ALTERNATOR new battery new ibs. Its throws code for selection angle sensor. Can the senaor cause a no crank no start? With ista only N and R work. I havnt driven it once. Its on jacks
Hey, thanks for all the great videos. Been working on this e46 m3 with my father for 6 months and we're stuck at what appears to be an SMG issue. Do you know if the hood sensors are bad if it would throw codes? I've got a transmission code 21 in INPA and nothing else. Thanks!!
Very crucial information , your the man. However can i pick your brain abit. I have a 2003 bmw e46 325ci it works as is should in normal but as soon as i put it in sports after 5 minutes if usage it goes into limp mode and light will come on. I spoke to a few people on a forum and somehow they are saying is could be my battery causing this as it might be on its way out causing some mis communication with the sensors. Any help would be much appreciated thank you
Greetings from México Jason, this video is pure gold to me, but I still woul love to hear some more details for my problem. See, I am the very proud owner of a '04 e46 330 Ci which has a (semi, downgraded smg version), hope you have heard of it. As some, I've experienced transmission trouble and I'm now in panic. See my car only has 55K original miles and recently had issues where, when hot, it (transmission) didnt responded and it did whatever it wanted (went into any gear or none at all, gear on the display, etc). After my initial panic, and once towed home, I replaced all the hidraulic fluid from the plastic reservoir to the side of the tranny. The old fluid came out very dark and was very little amount (10 oz maybe?). I placed perhaps 8? 10? times (full reservoir) as much of new (pentosin, green metal can). Initial testing failed and still had the same issues (all erratic responses, it acted like crazy), but this happens only when hot (30 mins or more idling). Last time it idled for more than an hour and still seemed to still be normal?!?. I now suspect that even after I replaced the fluid of the plastic canister, there was still some original fluid in the system that just didnt worked and that also needed to be flushed out of the system. My problen is that there's basically no info about this version of smg around and I wonder if you can kindly give me some tips of how can I either completely flush the system (to be 100%sure all of the system's fluid is new) and how can I test if my pump is still producing enough presuure? (It makes all the regular noises when cold..all the issues happen when hot). I want to keep my car as I love it but at the same time, I cant use it nor drive nor sell it (God forgive me)... Sorry for this long letter, but you seem to be my only option for guidance at this time (dealer..not even in nigthmares) and I would love to feel confident of driving my car again. Thanks for your patience and kind words Jason.
Weird. Pump shouldn’t “prime” (its not actually priming. It’s pressurizing the accumulator) unless it’s preparing to be driven, I.e. when you open the door, or unlock the door.
Hi bud, you are BMW master mechanic with lot of experience and knowledge. Question for you buddy. I have BMW X5 2012 E70, few days ago I disconnected battery to work on alternator. Once, I replaced bad Alternator and re-connected battery but somehow it fried my FRM3 module. Now, I have to replace my FRM3 module from dealership... what will be the cause that fried my FRM3 module when I re-connected battery. as, far I know my battery had no issues or any error codes etc.?
I'm confused @shoplifeTV about the pricing for the conversion. You said it costs you about $4,000 to convert it but you also did a video with Jaime from Jamie's Garage where AMS sells the kit for about $2,000. Are there parts from his kit that are missing that I need to replace? I'm currently in the process of doing the conversion and I purchased the kit from AMS but if I'm missing a step or two, that wasn't covered by you guys in that video?
So, I have Smg light the one with gear and exclamation mark. It squeaks in low rpm and then light comes on. Goes off when I turn the car off for 2-3 hours do you know what could be the cause for it.
Hey, I have a 2004 SMG m3. I'm dealing with an issue right now where I have the COG light on after driving the car for maybe 10 minutes, even if it's just cruising on the highway. The code I scanned says 000020 SMG: gearbox input speed. I have seen this code before, and the last time I replaced the smg speed sensor and my problems went away. There was smg fluid inside the harness that I did my best to clean out, and I replaced the sensor, and the problems went away until like 6 months later. So fast forward and I now have the same code popping up, the symptoms definitely seem to be different. I've scanned numerous amount of times and that's the only thing that has popped up relating to the SMG. How do you think I should go about this? Thanks.
Most likely a speed sensor if the brake and abs light are on. If it is just the brake pad wear light then the brake pad wear sensor on the rear passenger needs to be replaced
@@ShopLifeTV thank you it is just the yellow brake pad indicator light no other lights, I’m likely fine to keep driving then no worry of damage to rotors..?
My 02 SMG M3 do not change gears on the paddle shift. I need to used the gear knob. It only happens sometimes. The gear change seems to have a delay of 1 or 2 seconds to change gears. Again - only happens sometimes. What could it be? Thanks a lot!
Disassemble the paddle shifters (easy, but don’t lose the springs) and blow some canned air in the contact areas. Reassemble, and see what happens. That worked for me.
Hi I have the exact same car as you have in the background :) It only has 42k miles but today it went to neutral while driving and after some panicked wiggling of the gear lever it directly went back to the gear I was in, 3rd. I moved the setting to 1 so it would creep from second gear after a stop and generally took it easy and limped home. But today is the hottest day I have driven it in so I am hoping that was that. But I will have it checked out to see what codes come up. If the pump goes, I will definitely convert it to manual but with the prices going up, do you think it is wise to just get the parts now and keep them until the inevitable happens?
NOOO! Don’t do it! SMG is a masterpiece, albeit with flaws. Most likely, your (brushed) pump motor has worn out. I’ve been through this TWICE. I’ve rebuilt the SMG motor (Eurton Electric) for ~$300, and am now relocating the pump assembly to the drug well (~$400) where future motor failures (every 60k miles) will be easily serviceable. Keep the SMG. (The pump RARELY goes bad. It’s just the motor)
2 main ones that can cause issues with slow gear changes or SMG gear position sensor issues. The detent springs (2) are also recommended to be replaced along with the locking repair kit (comes with 3 other springs). You can check on RealOem for the diagram and part numbers
I've been having some issues lately and maybe someone here can help me out. For starters, I work in pizza delivery in my m3 (I know not the best idea) and on three separate occasions in the last month I've had the yellow cog light come on while working. Each time it has come on, it was a very hot day. The first 2 times that the light turned on, nothing was that noticeably off. Although I checked the smg fluid after the second time and there was barely any in there, which I then filled along with changing the salmon relay. Last weekend the light turned on for the third time, and after 5 minutes the car threw me in neutral while driving, which left me in limp mode for around 15 seconds, then the car put itself back into third and seemed ok. I went home right away and parked the car until the next day. On the next day, I tried to shift the car but on the dashboard, the 1st and neutral gears would blink, as it would if the hood was open. I opened and closed all doors, trunk and hood, many times to see if it would fix anything but no luck. At that point I assumed the pump was dead so I did not attempt to drive the car with the blinking gears. The next day my friend brought his Carly over to scan my car, and he ended up clearing the codes. Carly wasn't much help as it isn't too sophisticated of a scanner, so my codes were cleared and I didn't have an answer. Next day I tried to see if I could drive the car with the blinking gears, and to my surprise the car worked fine. The car is now very much drivable, the only thing that seems wrong at this point is that whatever gear I am in blinks on the dashboard. These problems have been too consistent for it to be the hood sensors so I am at a loss. I've driven the car to a local shop to get the car INPA scanned but there were no codes to be read as they were cleared by my friend, and I've have no codes present it self on the dashboard since clearing. Should I keep driving the car until the codes come back and then get the car properly scanned? Or does anyone have an idea of to what might be happening. Btw, my pump seems to be priming and functioning fine so I don't think that's the issue. I know that this is a lot to read, but thank you to anyone that does and can help me out.
Easiest way would be to wait til the error occurs again and then have it scanned. Most likely due to heat issues or even an issue with one of the sensors. If you need more diagnostic help go to my website: www.shoplifetv.com
What actually makes the smg pump itself fail, I’m talking the pump and not anything else related like the relay or anything else. Solely the pump alone? and what’s the difference to it as compared to a new pump?
The pump rarely fails. The motor brushes abrade away the commutator. Get the motor rebuilt ($US350) or buy a new aftermarket motor ($500), and relocate the entire pump assembly ($500) to the drug well. When your motor dies (which it will), it will be easily serviceable in the drug well.
That gen of SMG is slow between gears though. The increasingly big problem with the 420G gearbox is that it's still not rebuildable and many are now needing servicing desperately. Please, as a community, let's solve that.
Hope everyone had a great weekend! Links to everything we talked about as well as related videos are in the description! Can't wait for you all to see the video on the E46 M3 Convertible behind me. Don't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications! Liking the video and commenting always helps as well. Thanks for watching!
Where are you located and how much does it cost to do a full smg to manual conversion? Appreciate your time! Thanks!
😂
I love driving the SMG cars. ❤
Great SMG vid guys! The most in depth one on UA-cam by far.
Thanks Rich! Planning on making some more SMG specific videos for those that need it!
We've had heat wave (humid 100+ degree days) up here in Massachusetts the past couple weeks. This past Saturday, temp was 104 and SMG COG dash light came on. I pulled into a parking lot to run an errand, put car into neutral and turned car off. Went in the store came back 20 minutes later and started car and check Engine light immediately came on. Used generic OBD2 reader and got P1717. Car would not go into gear. Turned off car, waited and tried to see if I could hear pump prime when opening door (I could not). I checked the 40 amp fuse and that was fine. I swapped the old salmon relay for a new one I had as a spare for this moment, Lol I then cleared the codes, crossed my fingers, said a prayer and started the car. Fortunately (this time) swapping the salmon relay worked. Car went into gear and I drove home normal, like nothing happened. Got home, properly checked SMG fluid color and level, both fine. Probably need to get INPA/ISTA to have on hand if this starts to be a recurring thing. Car has 133k miles. I'll probably consider buying most of the Manual swap parts sooner than later, just in case. Like you said, it's not getting any cheaper to do (with proper new BMW parts). This video coming out today definitely is speaking to me! Thanks Jason!
The heat will definitely do it! The SMG pump self preserves with it's temperature sensor. One way to be sure this doesn't happen again would be to relocate the pump and possibly even run a separate fan to keep it cool in this hot weather!
Fixing the SMG pump itself is not that bad as it used to be. The hydraulics doesn't usually go bad. It's just the DC electric motor that goes bad. You can get that replaced for ~1k. The kit below from Burkhart Engineering comes with the motor and some necessary bits and pieces that's good to have replaced.
i actually loved the way my smg drove. it was a perfect combination of of being in total control being able to shift from the wheel and also having a raw analog feel to it. ultimately though it suffered way too much with reliability and i ended up swapping it to a manual. for the 6-7 years i owned the car as an smg there was always some nagging little issues with it, it hated hot days for one, i almost got stranded once driving it out to the lake on a hot day, it just didnt want to go into gear...this wasnt a one time thing, it would often act up on hot days of even if i was just stuck in traffic. after thinking the pump was gone everytime id let it cool down and it would be fine. there was always a thought in my mind that the smg could just fail on me at anytime and leave me stranded so i never wanted to go too far with it.
To bulletproof your system: set drivelogic to position 1 and leave it there ALWAYS. Give the system enough time to work normally without thrashing. I've had it set up since the beginning for 12 years and have had no problems. Daily smg. And it still makes a blip on every downshift too
Most cars appreciate being cared for and driven properly! If you treat the car right it will reciprocate!
@@ShopLifeTV Exactly! I fired her several times at 280 km/h but NEVER launch control. That's why I also don't have a cracked undercarriage and no clunk either
wait what’s the drivelogic??
@@oni5909 The button at the gear lever, where you set the shifting speed
You lean like on cold start right ? Drive logic set to 1, you start on the 2nd gear also. But indeed, give time to the fluids to heat up to the right temperature.
Same after attacking, drive to let them cool down
You made this video after I just finished troubleshooting my smg e46 M3.
I had to replace the Gear Indicator Sensor aka GPS. Hey I can always learn more.
I actually think rebuilding that pump isn’t so bad is just that the replacement parts such as the accumulator, pump motor and solenoids are very expensive.
Haha well now you can reference it next time if you need it! Sounds like you got it covered lol
First time I drove a SMG I thought the car was broken. The sales man drove it back, I tested another one and was same. I got a manual and was the second best car I ever owned
Haha same here, I didn't expect all the clunks and quirks. But when driven hard it felt pretty great!
Probably has to be calibrated
when i was test driving them i drove and smg that was definitely broken and i just figured thats how it was (thats what the salesman said anyways) i ended up driving another that drove great though.
I want to put the blame on myself too. This was the first time driving a SMG and I did the tricks to get the most but seeing comments years after saying it wasn’t very good anyway. Not for me the manual I got was much better
Hi my smg wil drive dine for a while then just kick to 0 and stay there til I switch it on and off then il get gears again then sometimes whilst in any gearbit wil just fo to 0 and fo back to gear again also the car pops and bangz and throws flames but smells like overfueling
The smg system is a pain
There's a Greek proverb that goes like 'Great minds think alike, fools seldom differ'.
I know a few people that got E46 M3s this past week. I'll come back on who they are later 😂
I love your videos, and I’m an 04 SMG convertible hardcore fan.
You missed the most common problem: the hydraulic pump (brushed) motor.
The pump itself rarely fails. It’s the motor.
Go to Eurton Electric to have the motor for rebuilt for $~$300, or buy a new aftermarket motor for $500; then relocate the entire pump assembly to the drug well, where the motor can be easily serviced when it fails (guaranteed to fail every 60-80k miles, because of the brushes)
I love your videos, you are very well spoken, direct and explain everything so well, thank you! I have 4 main issues with my 03 M3, I can’t communicate with the obd2, the orange car glows on dash with no warnings other than the car itself. I am having issues locking the car remotely and it beeps when I open the door. No one can solve this for me, I hope you are able to assist please and thank you. Take care!
Owned a 2003 M3 with the SMG, took it to my race shop and my main mechanic immediately told me to get the manual conversion.
Of course, I began researching FURIOUSLY. Trying to find donors, bellhousing, kits, etc. During this time, I was still driving the car as normal, just on little trips around town and to some car shows.
Along with that, the amount of people who would quickly poo-poo the car for the "inferior" automatic, instead would get a chance to drive it and realize how nice this little set up was. I fell more and more in love with the SMG but fell out of love for putting miles on it. Living in a 4 month "window" really puts a damper when you see this performance beast laying dormant for months. Sadly I sold it in February of 2023.
Now! Here I am, in October of 2023, about to buy another M3. And from the same dealer I purchased my original one...even same year....same color...and same transmission. I may follow through with a manual swap, but honestly, I love the SMG despite some of it's issues.
M3 is still on my radar to get sometime I want a clean manual though, I’ve had 325i,330i time for a M car haha
Wait, so SMG doesn't stand for "Sorry Man Goodbye?" Thanks for the great video, Jason!
Hahahaha!
I specifically wanted the smg. It allows me the control of the gears, not fight the clutch, especially in daily scenarios. It's cool af.
Do I worry if it will die? Yes, but only probably as much as a traditional clutch. I am less likely to burn the the clutch in the smg, obviously, so I think it evens out. And it's fun as hell.
Edit: Also if you do a video flashing the SMG to the CSL firmware or some of the other tunes, heard it was a great oem+ feel without switching the entire trans.
So is it like driving a regular car or do you have to shift I’m confused ?
@@kiki2xx735 you have to shift, but you don't have to push any pedal to do it.
There is an automatic 'mode' too, but the fact you dont have to push the clutch in makes it super easy.
I have had my 2004 e 46 SMG for 15 years now and I love it. knock on wood no issues once I learned how to drive it. I guess when the time comes I will repair it and not do the swap.@@Juke-Redlin
own a 2005 M3 with SMG.
1) ~1 week after buying it with ~22K miles on it, I went to start it and would not go into gear. Salmon relay ($13 and 15 minutes)...non-issue for 11 years and counting
2) SMG pump starting going out. Would give me the dreaded dash light. Finally replaced it about 6-7 years ago...no issues to date
3) SMG factory downshifts are lazy...just lazy. Did the Frank Smith SMG tune and it really dialed both upshifts and downshifts. The SMG tune is how it should have came from the factory, IMO.
Overall, always had a manual before the SMG M3. I really don't miss the 3rd pedal
SMG tunes do seem to help with the lousy shifts. I am hoping to do some testing on the SMG trans and will post videos on it as I do!
How do you drive?
@@ABlackHound do I hammer it all the time? no. I would classify myself as defensively aggressive. I enjoy the high revs and the sharp crisp up and downshifts. I am in Houston, so typically highway and higher speed surface streets.
I would be forever grateful to anyone that could help with a current-day install of INPA.... Great vid! Love that SMG versatility.
ua-cam.com/video/cJd6wYG0T0I/v-deo.html
thats the video i used and it worked perfectly
@@dracula293 do you have the link to the video you used ?
@@javieraraujojr5926 yeah man thats the one i replied to the original comment here lol
@@dracula293 Hmm. I also can't see the link. i need this... lol
Yeah my SMG pump went at 98,000 kms. It certainly hates the hot Australian climate. But considering I owned the car for 5 years before I had to replace it, and I have owned the car for 9 years now and from what I have been told from BMW they normally go around 90,000 to 100,000kms, so as far as I’m concerned replacing the pump at 98,000 kms after years of enjoyment is a fair deal. I love my SMG m3.
The pump is probably fine. The motor brushes abrade away the commutator. Get the motor rebuilt ($US350) or buy a new aftermarket motor ($500), and relocate the entire pump assembly ($500) to the drug well. When your motor dies again (which it will), it will be easily serviceable in the drug well.
The SMG is cool. It's a timepiece with a dose of character. Never to be repeated. Am keeping my low mileage SMG for many years to come I hope.
Another cheap fix is to check your trans fluid. A lot of people dont change it. Pentosine chf11s Mine was bone dry and it solved the problem. I heard the pump prime as soon as it was filled correctly. Make sure your key is in the 2-3rd on position so you are getting a proper read on the stick before adding your fluid.
In my experience the SMG issues have ALWAYS been the solonoid’s o ring failure. Super easy 2-3 hour job assuming you are competent. And only like $10 per solonoid ring kit!
We will have a separate video going over rebuilding the pump soon and testing it long term!
@@ShopLifeTV awesome! We will be looking forward to it!
@@ShopLifeTV Very excited for that. Thanks!
Convert to a manual is the best way to solve all this problems.
Sweet smg to manual is the move
Always the best option and cheaper in the long run!
I almost bought an e46 m3 with the smg. I’ve owned a couple manual ones. I was really close on pulling the trigger but changed my mind last min. Glad I held out cuz a great e92 m3 came up and I scooped it up. Great pricing
As always man, pack full of useful information!!!
Thanks man, love to share my experiences!
The most insightful video on SMG.
Great video. Thanks! Have 02 e46 m3 smg which is for track use only. Problem is it misses 4th gear half the time in both auto and manual shift modes. When it misses 4th I also hear what sounds like gear grinding. All other gears work fine.
Want to keep the SMG but prefer not going through pump replacement or relo process if the symptoms sound like a gear related issue. I know very hard to diagnose here but thought i would mention the gear grinding noise if that may help. Thanks!
Love this guy and all his work....
Great video as always, the SMG is great in the canyon. I do plan on doing the conversion after I take care of the engine.
Thanks man! The conversion is the way to go. Once we finish all of the testing I want to do on my SMG (or if it gives out before then) we will be converting it. Might even try the "easy" conversion method and see how that goes.
Great video!
Any recomendations as to where to find a competent BMW mechanic for the SMG to 6MT conversion in the Los Angeles area? Thanks!
Nice! Very detailed and to the point explanation.
Smg Salmon relay should be a preventative maintenance item since it's so cheap.
I just replaced mine on the car that's only has 33,000 mi in 2023 and the car is 19 years old
Thanks for sharing this info, brother and sister. Dutch regards, Nico.
You are an absolute legend sir - the most concise 10min about my SMG M3 I have ever seen. I had a quick question about the temperature sensor replacement on the SMG pump actually - can this be done while on the car? And if I unscrew the old temp sensor would this depressurise the whole SMG system or spray fluid everywhere or is this is an easy temp sensor replacement? Thanks and keep up the good work! 👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks great Vidya..Mine revs up if cruising lower than 2600 rpm in 3rd or 4th gear..This all started when my Keys accidentally shorted out my cig lighter..Any answers to that?
Sounds like clutch is beginning to slip, I would scan for any codes to see if there is anything that might be related to your cig lighter shorting out. It might just be a coincidence!
My 2004 M3 has 98,000 miles on it and so far the SMG transmission is still holding up.
Expect the SMG PUMP motor to die soon.
The motor brushes abrade away the commutator. When it does die, get the motor rebuilt ($US350) or buy a new aftermarket motor ($500), and relocate the entire pump assembly ($500) to the drug well. When your motor dies again (which it eventually will), it will be easily serviceable in the drug well.
do all of the compression spring go bad or only some? Also any advice removing the dowel pin holding the shifter actuator assy to the shift rod? I’m stuck at this step removing the transmission
They’re literally called “automated manuals” for a good reason. It’s a manual with a robot doing the clutch work.
You got that right lol!
Own a 2003 smg m3, had it since 2006... only now has a problem with the diff occured, but other than this, entire car has been solid... never any serious issues....
If the pump can be fixed and be purchsed as a remanudactured part it could also probably be done by anyone witg the correct parts right?
Yes. But…
The pump is probably fine. The motor brushes abrade away the commutator. Get the motor rebuilt ($US350) or buy a new aftermarket motor ($500), and relocate the entire pump assembly ($500) to the drug well. When your motor dies again (which it will), it will be easily serviceable in the drug well.
Jason - you’re awesome! I have 05 SMG M3 Convertible - silver like yours - love it - 110,000 miles - just got it - but shifting problems. As soon as it’s warm it does bad things. First gear - on slow moving forward, it seems to jump out of gear. Does that a couple times, then I get that orange cog wheel light! Also does it in third gear - eventually it only works in 2, 4, 5, and 6. Then when I get home - my reverse barely works if at all. Help! What do you think it needs?
Hi. Is it possible to replace the smg temp switch without removing lines? Thanks in advance love the show.
I have an e46 smg fault where it’s throwing up 2 faults for the clutch position sensor one shift travel one shift angle, positioning sensor been changed was 2nd hand tho, so has the pressure sensor fault still present, we had a spare box without clutch position sensor fitted that and still present . Even had a spare control unit fitted that and still the same, salmon relay changed and still the same and pulling my hair out where to go next 🙈🙈🙈🙈
Perhaps a synchro? If so is replacing a huge issue? thanks again
really good stuff. appreciate all the videos. if you were here in NY, id have asked you to convert my m3 to a manual.
No comments on the lifetime of the SMG hydraulic fluid?? I’m at 120k miles and I keep wondering if it’s time for an SMG fluid change.
Every time I service trans. Fluid flush for one is fluid flush for both on my end.
Around every 20-30k depending on your driving.
I’m at 156k on M3 with SMG. So far so good.
No such thing as lifetime fluid. I would change trans fluid along with the SMG hydraulic fluid every 30-40k miles or 2 years depending on driving style.
SMG actuation system is closed, with virtually zero moving parts. There is no need to change fluid, unless you have contamination.
Can you please show us how fix the roof motor and any other problems they might have thank you
Hello i HOPEEEEE you can help me. I bought a smg2 e60 550i and its been sitting for one year already. Intermittent start. Its back to not starting again. New ALTERNATOR new battery new ibs. Its throws code for selection angle sensor. Can the senaor cause a no crank no start? With ista only N and R work. I havnt driven it once. Its on jacks
Hey, thanks for all the great videos. Been working on this e46 m3 with my father for 6 months and we're stuck at what appears to be an SMG issue. Do you know if the hood sensors are bad if it would throw codes? I've got a transmission code 21 in INPA and nothing else. Thanks!!
Very crucial information , your the man. However can i pick your brain abit. I have a 2003 bmw e46 325ci it works as is should in normal but as soon as i put it in sports after 5 minutes if usage it goes into limp mode and light will come on. I spoke to a few people on a forum and somehow they are saying is could be my battery causing this as it might be on its way out causing some mis communication with the sensors. Any help would be much appreciated thank you
Do you have a video on the differences between a M52 short block and a M54b25 motor? Interesting in more info depth info on these
Greetings from México Jason, this video is pure gold to me, but I still woul love to hear some more details for my problem. See, I am the very proud owner of a '04 e46 330 Ci which has a (semi, downgraded smg version), hope you have heard of it. As some, I've experienced transmission trouble and I'm now in panic. See my car only has 55K original miles and recently had issues where, when hot, it (transmission) didnt responded and it did whatever it wanted (went into any gear or none at all, gear on the display, etc). After my initial panic, and once towed home, I replaced all the hidraulic fluid from the plastic reservoir to the side of the tranny. The old fluid came out very dark and was very little amount (10 oz maybe?). I placed perhaps 8? 10? times (full reservoir) as much of new (pentosin, green metal can). Initial testing failed and still had the same issues (all erratic responses, it acted like crazy), but this happens only when hot (30 mins or more idling). Last time it idled for more than an hour and still seemed to still be normal?!?. I now suspect that even after I replaced the fluid of the plastic canister, there was still some original fluid in the system that just didnt worked and that also needed to be flushed out of the system.
My problen is that there's basically no info about this version of smg around and I wonder if you can kindly give me some tips of how can I either completely flush the system (to be 100%sure all of the system's fluid is new) and how can I test if my pump is still producing enough presuure? (It makes all the regular noises when cold..all the issues happen when hot).
I want to keep my car as I love it but at the same time, I cant use it nor drive nor sell it (God forgive me)...
Sorry for this long letter, but you seem to be my only option for guidance at this time (dealer..not even in nigthmares) and I would love to feel confident of driving my car again.
Thanks for your patience and kind words Jason.
Great videos! I have 02 m3 smg and the pump primes randomly when car is sitting causing the battery to drain. How can i fix that? Common problem?
Weird. Pump shouldn’t “prime” (its not actually priming. It’s pressurizing the accumulator) unless it’s preparing to be driven, I.e. when you open the door, or unlock the door.
Hi bud, you are BMW master mechanic with lot of experience and knowledge. Question for you buddy. I have BMW X5 2012 E70, few days ago I disconnected battery to work on alternator. Once, I replaced bad Alternator and re-connected battery but somehow it fried my FRM3 module. Now, I have to replace my FRM3 module from dealership... what will be the cause that fried my FRM3 module when I re-connected battery. as, far I know my battery had no issues or any error codes etc.?
What could it be if it makes grinding sounds when you put it on D?
Can you post a complete list of parts for converting to manual.. thanks
I'm confused @shoplifeTV about the pricing for the conversion. You said it costs you about $4,000 to convert it but you also did a video with Jaime from Jamie's Garage where AMS sells the kit for about $2,000. Are there parts from his kit that are missing that I need to replace? I'm currently in the process of doing the conversion and I purchased the kit from AMS but if I'm missing a step or two, that wasn't covered by you guys in that video?
1st off thanks for the info. With my SMG when i go to put it in 1st i hear a click/clunk then it goes back i to neutral any idea what that could be
So, I have Smg light the one with gear and exclamation mark. It squeaks in low rpm and then light comes on. Goes off when I turn the car off for 2-3 hours do you know what could be the cause for it.
What if your car stalls and then won't start despite the car telling you it's in neutral and being in neutral?
Hey, I have a 2004 SMG m3. I'm dealing with an issue right now where I have the COG light on after driving the car for maybe 10 minutes, even if it's just cruising on the highway. The code I scanned says 000020 SMG: gearbox input speed. I have seen this code before, and the last time I replaced the smg speed sensor and my problems went away. There was smg fluid inside the harness that I did my best to clean out, and I replaced the sensor, and the problems went away until like 6 months later. So fast forward and I now have the same code popping up, the symptoms definitely seem to be different. I've scanned numerous amount of times and that's the only thing that has popped up relating to the SMG. How do you think I should go about this? Thanks.
Hi, i have a 323ci 2000 how i do to adjust my sensor gas pedal
Hi I knew you have a lot of knowledge of smg my smg jumps out of 3rd gear why would that be kind regards Mem
cable dangling and yellow brake light on dash cable near rear passenger any ideas?
Most likely a speed sensor if the brake and abs light are on. If it is just the brake pad wear light then the brake pad wear sensor on the rear passenger needs to be replaced
@@ShopLifeTV thank you it is just the yellow brake pad indicator light no other lights, I’m likely fine to keep driving then no worry of damage to rotors..?
My 02 SMG M3 do not change gears on the paddle shift. I need to used the gear knob. It only happens sometimes. The gear change seems to have a delay of 1 or 2 seconds to change gears. Again - only happens sometimes. What could it be? Thanks a lot!
Disassemble the paddle shifters (easy, but don’t lose the springs) and blow some canned air in the contact areas. Reassemble, and see what happens. That worked for me.
Damn, now i know why manual is more desirable and is always getting swapped, the smg seems like a knightmare on top of the s54 issues 💀
Hi I have the exact same car as you have in the background :) It only has 42k miles but today it went to neutral while driving and after some panicked wiggling of the gear lever it directly went back to the gear I was in, 3rd. I moved the setting to 1 so it would creep from second gear after a stop and generally took it easy and limped home.
But today is the hottest day I have driven it in so I am hoping that was that. But I will have it checked out to see what codes come up.
If the pump goes, I will definitely convert it to manual but with the prices going up, do you think it is wise to just get the parts now and keep them until the inevitable happens?
NOOO! Don’t do it! SMG is a masterpiece, albeit with flaws.
Most likely, your (brushed) pump motor has worn out. I’ve been through this TWICE.
I’ve rebuilt the SMG motor (Eurton Electric) for ~$300, and am now relocating the pump assembly to the drug well (~$400) where future motor failures (every 60k miles) will be easily serviceable. Keep the SMG.
(The pump RARELY goes bad. It’s just the motor)
I converted my 2004 convertible to standard shift and now have 2 rebuilt SMG units for sale. Are you interested?
How many compression springs are there to replace
2 main ones that can cause issues with slow gear changes or SMG gear position sensor issues. The detent springs (2) are also recommended to be replaced along with the locking repair kit (comes with 3 other springs). You can check on RealOem for the diagram and part numbers
I took your advice and bought the compression spring kit and thanks for the great information
If BMW had added a clutch peddle and a stronger transmission it would have been perfect!!
How do I change the smg fluid?
Whats the difference between the e46 m3 smg vs a smg thats in the z4/e46
what’s a good place to buy angel lights at??
How much wood a left hand door look motor / actually from uk
Any maintenance we gotta do to the hydraulic fluid ?
If you mean the Pentosin fluid for the hydro mechanical actuation system: Mo maintenwmace required. It (should be) a closed system.
I've been having some issues lately and maybe someone here can help me out.
For starters, I work in pizza delivery in my m3 (I know not the best idea) and on three separate occasions in the last month I've had the yellow cog light come on while working. Each time it has come on, it was a very hot day.
The first 2 times that the light turned on, nothing was that noticeably off. Although I checked the smg fluid after the second time and there was barely any in there, which I then filled along with changing the salmon relay.
Last weekend the light turned on for the third time, and after 5 minutes the car threw me in neutral while driving, which left me in limp mode for around 15 seconds, then the car put itself back into third and seemed ok. I went home right away and parked the car until the next day.
On the next day, I tried to shift the car but on the dashboard, the 1st and neutral gears would blink, as it would if the hood was open. I opened and closed all doors, trunk and hood, many times to see if it would fix anything but no luck. At that point I assumed the pump was dead so I did not attempt to drive the car with the blinking gears.
The next day my friend brought his Carly over to scan my car, and he ended up clearing the codes. Carly wasn't much help as it isn't too sophisticated of a scanner, so my codes were cleared and I didn't have an answer.
Next day I tried to see if I could drive the car with the blinking gears, and to my surprise the car worked fine. The car is now very much drivable, the only thing that seems wrong at this point is that whatever gear I am in blinks on the dashboard. These problems have been too consistent for it to be the hood sensors so I am at a loss.
I've driven the car to a local shop to get the car INPA scanned but there were no codes to be read as they were cleared by my friend, and I've have no codes present it self on the dashboard since clearing.
Should I keep driving the car until the codes come back and then get the car properly scanned? Or does anyone have an idea of to what might be happening. Btw, my pump seems to be priming and functioning fine so I don't think that's the issue.
I know that this is a lot to read, but thank you to anyone that does and can help me out.
Easiest way would be to wait til the error occurs again and then have it scanned. Most likely due to heat issues or even an issue with one of the sensors. If you need more diagnostic help go to my website: www.shoplifetv.com
What actually makes the smg pump itself fail, I’m talking the pump and not anything else related like the relay or anything else.
Solely the pump alone? and what’s the difference to it as compared to a new pump?
The pump rarely fails.
The motor brushes abrade away the commutator. Get the motor rebuilt ($US350) or buy a new aftermarket motor ($500), and relocate the entire pump assembly ($500) to the drug well. When your motor dies (which it will), it will be easily serviceable in the drug well.
@@MEMcAndrews thank you i will do this for when i get my hands on another e46 m3 I’ve sold my previous one
That gen of SMG is slow between gears though.
The increasingly big problem with the 420G gearbox is that it's still not rebuildable and many are now needing servicing desperately. Please, as a community, let's solve that.
Hi dude
Happens when one buys a pos
Salvage
What else is new
Bmwselena
SMG is the best
Could you convert my 2006 ZCP SMG to a full 6 Speed Manual? I messaged you on Instagram but never heard back.
Yes, it is the same process on all M3s