E46 M3 - SMG failure and a £6k bill

[mdowning]

A friend's SMG box started playing up a week ago - it wouldn't engage a gear. He's taken it to a main dealer and they've run diagnostics and are quoting £6k (!) for a new box inc labour. They said something has gone wrong inside the box, and policy is to fit a whole new box rather than investigate further.

Can anyone suggest next steps, before writing out a cheque for £6k?

Btw, car is immaculate 03 model, 70k miles with full main dealer BMW history. Had Insp II 6 months ago.

Any help much appreciated...

[KENZ]

Ouch..That's one of the reason's why many stay clear of high mileage SMG cars.. The added cost compared to a manual is scary.. One of the reasons why I bought a manual M3. I would negotiate a better deal or go elsewhere.

[duff]

Is 70k high mileage??

As it's not under warranty by the sound of things, I'd take a chance on a 2nd hand box and have an indy fit it. Should be able to do the lot for under £1500 I would imagine.

[deano23]

mdowning said:

A friend's SMG box started playing up a week ago - it wouldn't engage a gear. He's taken it to a main dealer and they've run diagnostics and are quoting £6k (!) for a new box inc labour. They said something has gone wrong inside the box, and policy is to fit a whole new box rather than investigate further.

Can anyone suggest next steps, before writing out a cheque for £6k?

Btw, car is immaculate 03 model, 70k miles with full main dealer BMW history. Had Insp II 6 months ago.

Any help much appreciated...

I had same problem with mine recently. I had a new SMG pump unit fitted though under warranty. The box was fine as far as i'm aware. The SMG pump is a £1500 fix. Suppose it depends on what exactly the diagnostics throws up.

Where are you located? Reason I ask is because the garage I had mine fixed at were a very helpful bunch who could assist you further.

[nottyash]

KENZ said:

Ouch..That's one of the reason's why many stay clear of high mileage SMG cars.. The added cost compared to a manual is scary.. One of the reasons why I bought a manual M3. I would negotiate a better deal or go elsewhere.

I agree totally.
You listen to most M3 drivers(with SMG boxes) on here and they advise all potential new M3 buyers to buy the SMG as its better and they keep their value better.
Cases like this do happen, and I dont rate SMG anyway.
Manual all day long.

Edited by nottyash on Wednesday 15th April 17:27

[Paul_M3]

KENZ said:

Ouch..That's one of the reason's why many stay clear of high mileage SMG cars.. The added cost compared to a manual is scary.. One of the reasons why I bought a manual M3. I would negotiate a better deal or go elsewhere.

This one sounds a bit different to normal. It's only really the pump on the SMG which is different and an expensive fix.

If it's inside the gearbox then it could equally happen on a manual, as they are identical.

First I've heard of an actual gearbox fault on an SMG, it's either the pump, relay or sensor normally.

Edited by Paul_M3 on Wednesday 15th April 19:57

[birdcage]

My first CSL had swarf in the gearbox and BMW paid the bill under goodwill (not warranty) and it was 7k

[Noel]

Paul_M3 said:

KENZ said:

Ouch..That's one of the reason's why many stay clear of high mileage SMG cars.. The added cost compared to a manual is scary.. One of the reasons why I bought a manual M3. I would negotiate a better deal or go elsewhere.

This one sounds a bit different to normal. It's only really the pump on the SMG which is different and an expensive fix.

If it's inside the gearbox then it could equally happen on a manual, as they are identical.

First I've heard of an actual gearbox fault on an SMG, it's either the pump, relay or sensor normally.

Edited by Paul_M3 on Wednesday 15th April 19:57

When my box failed it wasn't the pump. A spring had broken which acted to engage the gears. Take it to an indy or pay the £6K, your choices are limited. My indy offered a new box at £4.3K but only after failing to fix the gearbox after 4 months.

I can't recommend the guys I used, Thorney maybe?

Good luck

[LJTS]

SMG failure is usually down to one of three things!

SMG Pump failure
SMG Relay Failure
Compression Spring Failure

I've replaced all the above on my M3 & resolved the SMG problem

Need any more info let me know & I'll post it up here

Don't let the main dealer rip you off!!!

[Paul_M3]

LJTS said:

SMG failure is usually down to one of three things!

SMG Pump failure
SMG Relay Failure
Compression Spring Failure

I've replaced all the above on my M3 & resolved the SMG problem

Need any more info let me know & I'll post it up here

Don't let the main dealer rip you off!!!

Hi mate,

I'm interested in this, as I've just bought an 05 SMG M3 Coupe.

I know all about the pump and relay, but the compression spring is a new one on me.

What is it, and how much / how easy is it to fix?

Cheers,

[gerradiuk]

LJTS said:

SMG failure is usually down to one of three things!

SMG Pump failure
SMG Relay Failure
Compression Spring Failure

I've replaced all the above on my M3 & resolved the SMG problem

Need any more info let me know & I'll post it up here

Don't let the main dealer rip you off!!!

4 smg ECU mine went through 2 ,2 pump failures ,endless relay problems not to mention quite a few flatbed collections. I have had no trouble over the past 21 months though not since i had it changed to a manual box!;)

Edited by gerradiuk on Thursday 16th April 01:05

[Rags]

Blimey!

Storm in a tea cup!

So what people are suggesting is that based upon a few SMG failures documented on forums and general hearday regarding numerous SMG failures, everyone should avoid SMG?

I do not debate the fact that SMG can have its issues but for one issue relayed on a forum, there are hundreds of SMG M3 owners who have totally reliable cars.

Granted, if you have an issue and take it to a Maindealer, their 'replace and not repair' mentality will ensure that your bills are rather high.

If we took your advice, no one would ever buy a CSL!

When buying an SMG car, go in with your eyes open, don't EVER drive it in auto mode, ensure the latest SMG software has been loaded and enjoy the car!

Rags

[jim_1976]

I had a couple of problems with my SMG, but it was down to software. The gearboxes are identical!! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, the difference is that the gears are changed/selected by means of a hydraulic selector unit on top of the box. What has already been mentioned about covers common problems, pump and sensor's are most common, if you can use the word common, with the odd relay or software glitch now and again. I loved my SMG car, but I used it mainly on the track, most folk who don't like SMG haven't given it a chance, or just don't know how to use it to it's full potential (I know I'll upset someone with that last comment!!). Get it into a good indipendant garage and get an honest opinion. Dealers are just not interested in repairing things, they just want to rip anything in doubt off your car and replace it with new expensive stuff, that they are fitting with their astranomical labour rates!!! I also maintain that there is no such thing as a good mechanic in dealerships these days. They seem to rely on computers telling them what is wrong with a car (which I suppose with some newer cars may well be allowable!) but noone I have spoken to in recent times has ever spoke to me about "experiences" with problems like "I remember this time........", to much reliance is put on a laptop, and believe me, I've been given the wrong diagnosis on numerous occasions by dealerships, only to find far more informative and reliable information on a forum!! If it needs a box after all (which I would doubt), these cars are at an age now that breakers the length and breadth of the country have them a plenty! A box or good used SMG pump should not be hard to come by, and have a competent mechanic do the job for you. These cars do not involve rocket science as so many people will lead you to believe! Yeah, the appropriate diagnostics and ability to update software is required, but most indy BMW specialists have the ability to carry all of this work out nowadays. 6K??? wouldn't be my money!! Good luck!!

[M3John]

£6k for repairs !!!!


If i were him i'd give www.fabdirect.com a call.

Edit ;

gerradiuk said:

LJTS said:

SMG failure is usually down to one of three things!

SMG Pump failure
SMG Relay Failure
Compression Spring Failure

I've replaced all the above on my M3 & resolved the SMG problem

Need any more info let me know & I'll post it up here

Don't let the main dealer rip you off!!!

4 smg ECU mine went through 2 ,2 pump failures ,endless relay problems not to mention quite a few flatbed collections. I have had no trouble over the past 21 months though not since i had it changed to a manual box!

Edited by gerradiuk on Thursday 16th April 01:05

Exactly what gerradiuk has said above ^^^ and all for considerably less than the £6k quoted.

Edited by M3John on Thursday 16th April 13:01

[deano23]

www.gateforth.com

Give them a call.

Paul will no doubt give you some helpful assistance.

[AngryApples]

Guys

whats the easiest way of getting the SMG software updated?

Do i have to go to a stealer?

[jim_1976]

A good indy should be able to update your software. I'm not sure exactly what it does other than re-calibrate the biting point of the clutch to take wear into account. If this is not done on an annual basis (or sooner, can't remember the mileage?) the hydraulic clutch doesn't know where the biting point is and the car gets jerky. My last car was awful to drive, I had just bought it and thought maybe that was the way it was meant to be, but when my mate drove it he immediately told me to get it sorted!! The guy who reprogeammed it said it hadn't been done in 5 years!!! Although the car had only done 42k miles, it had been missed on 3 visits to the dealer. It takes just over an hour to do and apparently when the mechanics in the dealers are paid by the job, they can't be bothered standing watching a computer screen for an hour!!!

[LJTS]

Paul_M3 said:

LJTS said:

SMG failure is usually down to one of three things!

SMG Pump failure
SMG Relay Failure
Compression Spring Failure

I've replaced all the above on my M3 & resolved the SMG problem

Need any more info let me know & I'll post it up here

Don't let the main dealer rip you off!!!

Hi mate,

I'm interested in this, as I've just bought an 05 SMG M3 Coupe.

I know all about the pump and relay, but the compression spring is a new one on me.

What is it, and how much / how easy is it to fix?

Cheers,

See link below:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BR93...

Item 9 is usually the culprit! Gearbox has to be lowered to allow access to check spring

[SLacKer]

LJTS said:

Paul_M3 said:

LJTS said:

SMG failure is usually down to one of three things!

SMG Pump failure
SMG Relay Failure
Compression Spring Failure

I've replaced all the above on my M3 & resolved the SMG problem

Need any more info let me know & I'll post it up here

Don't let the main dealer rip you off!!!

Hi mate,

I'm interested in this, as I've just bought an 05 SMG M3 Coupe.

I know all about the pump and relay, but the compression spring is a new one on me.

What is it, and how much / how easy is it to fix?

Cheers,

See link below:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BR93...

Item 9 is usually the culprit! Gearbox has to be lowered to allow access to check spring

Just imagine the pain if you paid £6k and found out that a spring worth a pound was the cause. It has to be worth a second opinion.

If you look at this page it shows the difference between the SMG and manual box - none (the box itself not the boly on SMG bit)

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?model=BL92&a...

The dealer should be ashamed, don't fall for the ripoff.

[Ducade]

Rags said:

When buying an SMG car, ... don't EVER drive it in auto mode,

Why?