SMG Share thread

[clavenk]

I disagree ... very few workshop knows the nature of the problem let alone fix it. APD in Glenmarie for example have fixed an E46 325 SMG actuator by installing an O-Ring bought from another known workshop that have the correct O-Ring. So there's only two workshop that i know off that have done O-Ring replacement.

The BMW solution is the 1st tried solution ever done which was graciously shared on the forum (bimmerfest) by a bmw enthuthiast like us.

One of these days we need to do a meet up and share what we know.

yes, i think we should.
But as far as i know most of the workshop just wan to earn more, especially see us(smg owner) = kinda like good to potong, cause so many thing can name out to ask owner change.
By the way, i think most of our smg part can be bought from ZF. Cause i went through a gearbbox specialist, he told me might not need to order from germany, cause zf usually have it.

 

[B33mEr]

yes, i think we should.
But as far as i know most of the workshop just wan to earn more, especially see us(smg owner) = kinda like good to potong, cause so many thing can name out to ask owner change.
By the way, i think most of our smg part can be bought from ZF. Cause i went through a gearbbox specialist, he told me might not need to order from germany, cause zf usually have it.

That's why we as BMW owners must know our car

Our gearbox is ZF but the SMG (or SSG) system on our ride is made by Magnetti Marelli ... M3 and M5 system is made by Siemens and ///M division of BMW

 

[jc@]

Wonder how much is the value of our car now. It's like hard to sell car. Saw this 325i smg selling from 125k for months. Now don't know still I'm motortrader or not. The last time I saw it cost less then 100k

 

[B33mEr]

Gearbox and differential oil change

Did some maintenance today and decided to try my friend workshop which is at USJ19 ... Changed my gearbox oil and differential oil which i think is relevant for SMG owners :-

Gearbox Oil

BMW MTF-LT2 - alternative is Redline MTL (RM55 per bottle)

Differential Oil

Didn't use BMW's offering because i've been using Redline gear oil 75W90 since early on and very satisfied with the results.

Open the fill plug 1st

Only then open the drain plug ... Oil is pretty clean actually but really stinks due to high sulphur content ...

Since the fill plug is pretty tight and at vertical angle we need to use a hand pump or a bottle squirter ... you'll know when it's enough when the fill plug starts to drip gear oil.

Now the gearbox

The fill in plug is up there ... It's a tight space. To access the fill plug on the gearbox we need to remove the gearbox support and few pieces of heat shields ... once remove we just open up the fill plug

Once done then we just open the drain plug ... Note the cylinder which is the SMG pressure accumulator

Once drained again we need to use a pump to drive the fluid in the fill plug

The SMG gearbox used about 1.8-2 liters of gearbox oil ... The remaining oil is then poured back into the MTF container for future use :rock:

Surprisingly the gearbox oil was quite clear and clean even after 70k km of use but i'm sure there are fine metal particles floating in that oil ...

Bonus pics:
Oil Leak ... lol

 

[clavenk]

Wonder how much is the value of our car now. It's like hard to sell car. Saw this 325i smg selling from 125k for months. Now don't know still I'm motortrader or not. The last time I saw it cost less then 100k

I saw mudah, few car selling at 87k-93k.

 

[clavenk]

That's why we as BMW owners must know our car

Our gearbox is ZF but the SMG (or SSG) system on our ride is made by Magnetti Marelli ... M3 and M5 system is made by Siemens and ///M division of BMW

So u were saying ZF does not sell smg part like actuator, hydralic pump?

 

[clavenk]

Did some maintenance today and decided to try my friend workshop which is at USJ19 ... Changed my gearbox oil and differential oil which i think is relevant for SMG owners :-

Gearbox Oil

BMW MTF-LT2 - alternative is Redline MTL (RM55 per bottle)

Differential Oil

Didn't use BMW's offering because i've been using Redline gear oil 75W90 since early on and very satisfied with the results.

Open the fill plug 1st

Only then open the drain plug ... Oil is pretty clean actually but really stinks due to high sulphur content ...

Since the fill plug is pretty tight and at vertical angle we need to use a hand pump or a bottle squirter ... you'll know when it's enough when the fill plug starts to drip gear oil.

Now the gearbox

The fill in plug is up there ... It's a tight space. To access the fill plug on the gearbox we need to remove the gearbox support and few pieces of heat shields ... once remove we just open up the fill plug

Once done then we just open the drain plug ... Note the cylinder which is the SMG pressure accumulator

Once drained again we need to use a pump to drive the fluid in the fill plug

The SMG gearbox used about 1.8-2 liters of gearbox oil ... The remaining oil is then poured back into the MTF container for future use :rock:

Surprisingly the gearbox oil was quite clear and clean even after 70k km of use but i'm sure there are fine metal particles floating in that oil ...

Bonus pics:
Oil Leak ... lol

Very good info, cause i was planning to change using red line also for axle and gear oil but saw somewhere saying smg only use smg gear oil else will spoilt the gearbox. But the thing is as far as i know smg gearbox is just a manual box. SO by right should be able to use red line manual transmision oil. I use red line in my satria. give me very big diff.

 

[midship]

May I know if MOTUL has compatible oil for the SMG?

 

[B33mEr]

Wonder how much is the value of our car now. It's like hard to sell car. Saw this 325i smg selling from 125k for months. Now don't know still I'm motortrader or not. The last time I saw it cost less then 100k

Well i for one have benefited from the misinformation and fears about SMG (SSG) cars on non-m E46 ... Best way is to educate people that SMG if properly maintained is not so bad after all. Our gearbox is pretty much bulletproof it's just the AMT system that needs watching.

So u were saying ZF does not sell smg part like actuator, hydralic pump?

Yes since Magneti Marelli supplies the SMG system not ZF. Just to be sure i called ZF malaysia and they said they don't do passenger cars transmission. They ask me to call the authorised workshop like M-Scope.

May I know if MOTUL has compatible oil for the SMG?

Not sure really ... As most info on compatible gearbox oil for our 5 speed ZF has always been from the US forums and they always mentioned Redline's MTL. Even Mike Miller (BMW guru) swears by that stuff. You need 2 bottles (RM55 each) of MTL.

 

[B33mEr]

Found a possible repair option for our SMG 5speed transmissions ... It's the hydraulic pump repair kit for the 6speed SMG :

Part Number: 23427571297
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=EV53&mospid=47725&btnr=23_0960&hg=23&fg=15

I'm pretty sure it can be retrofitted as the pump looks almost the same. It's a relief actually that at least we know there is a repair solution offered from BMW for our actuator and also our hydraulic pump :rock:

Original info: http://forums.5series.net/topic/86614-smg-transmission-fail-safe/page__st__30

 

[infinityKL]

morning beemer, thanks ..

have changed clutch kit before?

do we have to go for stock or is there aftermarket stuff for smg clutch kits?

not sure but i suspect the early morning jerk and vibration due to worn out clutch?

oh ya most importantly, how to really tell if its going south.. as u ald know i hv smoked it a couple of times hehe

 

[B33mEr]

morning beemer, thanks ..

have changed clutch kit before?

do we have to go for stock or is there aftermarket stuff for smg clutch kits?

not sure but i suspect the early morning jerk and vibration due to worn out clutch?

oh ya most importantly, how to really tell if its going south.. as u ald know i hv smoked it a couple of times hehe

Afternoon bro ... the usual symptoms would be clutch slippage (high rpm but the car doesn't move) and could be juddering when moving from standstill which may indicate a worn out clutch. What's the current mileage on the E46 bro? Stock clutch is designed for 100k miles. Have the previous owner change the clutch before?
Another possible reason for the vibrations could be that the throw out bearing need to be replaced or re-greased according to the info. There's a few SMG including ///M's owners that experiencing juddering when moving from standstill on 1st or 2nd gear.

Item no. 3
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=EV52&mospid=47644&btnr=21_0093&hg=21&fg=05

Related info:
http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=12087

http://en.allexperts.com/q/BMW-Repair-805/BMW-330-SMG-problem.htm

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e6...on/152670-clutch-judder-worn-down-clutch.html


regarding about aftermarket clutch ... i know that E46 M3 owners in the US have used aftermarket clutch + stock flywheels with out a problem. But the additional pressure may or may not cause additional stress on the hydraulic system. The stock clutch is pretty robust and can withstand SC or turbo applications from what i have gathered at e46fanatics.com ... But if you really wanna go one step further then Sachs sports clutch should be the ticket.

And no i have not changed clutch yet but i know a friend that has changed his 325 SMG clutch at APD.

 

[jc@]

Anyone try turbo or supercharged their smg/ssg I Malaysia? Will try to upload the parts I changed by tomorrow morning

 

[B33mEr]

Anyone try turbo or supercharged their smg/ssg I Malaysia? Will try to upload the parts I changed by tomorrow morning

Not sure but ESS have extensive experience in SC SMG/SSG cars in Europe.

 

[infinityKL]

"experiencing juddering when moving from standstill on 1st or 2nd gear"

spot on, juddering is more pronounced at cold starts. but no gear slippage.

after warm up all is good. 65,000+km

 

[clavenk]

"experiencing juddering when moving from standstill on 1st or 2nd gear"

spot on, juddering is more pronounced at cold starts. But no gear slippage.

After warm up all is good. 65,000+k

i'm facing the same shit... Please let me know if u have fix it. Mine quite serious, especially jam pressing on accelerator then release, the engine vibrate badly.

 

[B33mEr]

"experiencing juddering when moving from standstill on 1st or 2nd gear"

spot on, juddering is more pronounced at cold starts. but no gear slippage.

after warm up all is good. 65,000+k

I have that slight juddering too during cold start-ups after warm up no juddering... Maybe that's part of the characteristic of SMG or maybe our throwout bearing need replacing or re-greasing?

 

[infinityKL]

yep, thats the weird part, after warm up all works fine..
i actually whacked the car during cny trip back to ipoh,
enjoyed everybit on the highway, ride and shifting was smooth on all gears.
220kmh @ 5500rpm no vibration watsoever... rock steady!
the other teething issue "no reverse" in the mornings? have to use a bit of pressure on lever to engage R!
Again once warmed up, it works like a dream..
lets do a doctor visit together one of these days ...

 

[B33mEr]

yep, thats the weird part, after warm up all works fine..
i actually whacked the car during cny trip back to ipoh,
enjoyed everybit on the highway, ride and shifting was smooth on all gears.
220kmh @ 5500rpm no vibration watsoever... rock steady!
the other teething issue "no reverse" in the mornings? have to use a bit of pressure on lever to engage R!
Again once warmed up, it works like a dream..
lets do a doctor visit together one of these days ...

Yup let's do it bro :top:

Sounds that you're really enjoying your ride bro :top: I still look forward driving my car even after owning her for several years hehehe :love:

 

[clavenk]

b33mer, i saw u said ur BMW scanner is working? Can share what u did using the scanner tool? and where u got the usb cable and the adapter connecting to our car?