Chris Wilson Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 My vet has bought a POS 56 plate M3 Convertible with the dreaded SMG gearbox. It often selects neutral on coast down or when stopped, especially once warmed up, and only selects a gear after prolonged fiddling with the paddles or frequent key on and off. The gearbox fault light comes on at such times. When it does drive it's usually OK. My Bosch software diagnostics are not proving too helpful. Thanks. Why *DO* people buy this junk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el_bandido Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Whifbitz might be able to help, they have been doing a lot of work with BMW DCTs. Worth asking Paul anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Might be useful. From what I gather, the most common cause of failure is a dead pump. http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=929327&page=2 https://burkhart-engineering.com/54160en However, as a worst case scenario, converting these to manual isn't a terrible job, as the gearboxes are the same to all intents and purposes I did consider one of thezse boxes as a swap in my Supra, as the E46 adapters are readily available, and the later CSL gearbox management is supposed to make these boxes superb things to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted May 17, 2017 Author Share Posted May 17, 2017 Good find, thanks for that! I don't think he'll be into swapping to manual. I'll see how I get on with some more diagnostic, cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted May 17, 2017 Author Share Posted May 17, 2017 Whifbitz might be able to help, they have been doing a lot of work with BMW DCTs. Worth asking Paul anyway. Good idea, will do, cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rider Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Why *DO* people buy this junk? The M3's have a lot of weak points. Aside from the auto box, the VONOS system being troublesome but nothing quite as damning as the . BMW M3's, particularly the E46s offer up plenty of good reasons to stick to Jap reliability. Maybe this shift issue video could point to something to check, ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted May 22, 2017 Author Share Posted May 22, 2017 Found a pal has bought the genuine factory software to diagnose these as he specialises in auto gerboxes and was turning away loads of them, he commented that he'd like everyone in the area to buy one so he could fix `em up and retire early. Can be anything from a bonnet closure switch or a simple high amps relay to £5K plus... Mickey mouse job from BMW...Thanks everyone, will post the fault for closure in due course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Safely Insured Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 The M3's have a lot of weak points. Aside from the auto box, the VONOS system being troublesome but nothing quite as damning as the . BMW M3's, particularly the E46s offer up plenty of good reasons to stick to Jap reliability. Maybe this shift issue video could point to something to check, ? I disagree. The E46 M3 is actually a damn reliable car. Especially for one that runs such a high specific output and asks for nothing more than routine servicing. The points you've mentioned are the car's only real weak points. I would ditch the SMG and stick a manual in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rider Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 I disagree. The points you've mentioned are the car's only real weak points. Sub frame cracking is common and being common its pretty damning on BMW engineers being able to stress factor design properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Safely Insured Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 It's not ideal but it's not something I'd hold against the E46 or BMW, because all cars have problems. And considering the M3 has surprisingly few issues, it's not something that would really bother me. Especially since a lot for sale have already had the subframe professionally repaired. Google any model of car and they all have issues.. Porsche have their IMS issue Mazda have the Rotary engine Mercedes W210s rotted like 80s Fiat's, etc There are other BMW's which have far more crippling issues than the E46 subframe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 I remember the Corsa B also had stress fractures which would appear by the B pillars back in the day when I had a GSi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 Did a bit of googling and stumbled onto this video of an e46 M3, the flex/movement when driving looks terrifying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastcar Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 Basically if it's German it's crap:p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sukhy Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 SMG pumps are common failures on E46 M3's and cause all kinds of issues/errors. My brother had one and so did a mate, both suffered from this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted June 1, 2017 Author Share Posted June 1, 2017 Looking like it's the pump or pump motor. What a POS these things are. Plus it wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding and flexes and twists like hell, (hopefully 'cos it's a rag top, and they aren't all like that). Towing eye supplied with the car in the moulded boot lid holder is far too short to reach the threaded insert behind the M3 bumper, you need a none existent Torx screwdriver to get into the main fuse box under the bonnet, and Googling general reliability issues suggests it's definitely not a good buy for a bank robber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted June 1, 2017 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Basically if it's German it's crap:p Sounds reasonable. I have 3 with hardly any problems with any of them. Granted, the M3 sub frame issue is a cracker though. Besides a new battery my Z4M has wanted for nothing and the 330 Ci has survived being ragged regularly. Merc is on a 16 plate and has not yet been back to the dealer after 21K miles. H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2 MSW Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 Sounds reasonable. I have 3 with hardly any problems with any of them. Granted, the M3 sub frame issue is a cracker though. Besides a new battery my Z4M has wanted for nothing and the 330 Ci has survived being ragged regularly. Merc is on a 16 plate and has not yet been back to the dealer after 21K miles. H. regularly??? About as regular as getting piles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 regularly??? About as regular as getting piles I do get piles regularly though. Your point being? She is out again tomorrow. H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayr Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 bit off topic but my '10 plate M3 is DCT - the paddle mode is very responsive but the auto mode is horse poo - lags constantly and delays selecting gears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pudsey Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 Did a bit of googling and stumbled onto this video of an e46 M3, the flex/movement when driving looks terrifying. Holey moley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastcar Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 Sounds reasonable. I have 3 with hardly any problems with any of them. Granted, the M3 sub frame issue is a cracker though. Besides a new battery my Z4M has wanted for nothing and the 330 Ci has survived being ragged regularly. Merc is on a 16 plate and has not yet been back to the dealer after 21K miles. H. You must be a very lucky man! Are you Irish by any chance;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 You must be a very lucky man! Are you Irish by any chance;) Nope. 330 Ci has just done 40 odd laps of Oulton Park today at full keg, without an issue. You won't find many perfect cars these days. Supra is the best build quality I have seen to be fair but you can't eat the same food everyday or life would get pretty boring. You must have the experience of the car first hand to give an honest appraisal. The Z4M is as much fun as I have ever had in a car but that will also need to be changed at some point, just not now. H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Supes Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 Might be useful. From what I gather, the most common cause of failure is a dead pump. http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=929327&page=2 https://burkhart-engineering.com/54160en However, as a worst case scenario, converting these to manual isn't a terrible job, as the gearboxes are the same to all intents and purposes I did consider one of thezse boxes as a swap in my Supra, as the E46 adapters are readily available, and the later CSL gearbox management is supposed to make these boxes superb things to use. I have one of these boxes sat in my garage as I was originally going to convert it to manual and put it in the Supra. Converting to manual looks very straight forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
and1c Posted June 5, 2017 Share Posted June 5, 2017 Did a bit of googling and stumbled onto this video of an e46 M3, the flex/movement when driving looks terrifying. That video is a bit like thrashing a supra with a blown turbo and videoing the smoke coming out the back! Just needs repairing. They are a good car IMO. (the manual ones, non cabriolet) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted June 23, 2017 Author Share Posted June 23, 2017 I said I'd post the issue. the hydraulic pump brush cover was full of brush dust and the pump was drawing a huge current. The 40 amp relay that controls it, when opened, had no contacts left and was high resistance, hence the pump was slow and intermittent. I cleaned out the brushes and commutator, checked brush length, and despite some commutator wear the segments looked serviceable, so reassembled it and fitted a new relay. It seems fine now, or as fine as these things probably ever are.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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