BMW E46 SMG gearbox problems

[yaz107]

Hi. I have a BMW E46 SMG (not M3), year 02. I keep getting a warning sign - a cog with an exclamation mark inside. I understand this means there is a problem with the gearbox. It used to mostly come up when trying to reverse but now it comes up in other gears too. Also, when drivign down the road, it goes into neutral itself and have to keep trying to get it back in gear - it mostly happens when I am slowing down at lights or a junction. Then again, sometimes i start it and its completely fine! I have seen a guy in agarage about this and he "thinks" its the hydraulic pump but is not sure. he has quoted me £1500 - 2000 just to change the pump. I am a bit hesitatnt to give him the car to fix when it might not be the pump and he will charge me for it anyway. Anyone got any advice or ideas on what it could be? Can you recommend anyone in or around East London to fix it - I dont mind going a bit further as long as they're good.

thanks very much

yaz

[Mattt]

With SMG faults, the solution always seems to be change pump & relay.

You could try the relay, but when mine played up (only cold starts though) - the pump & relay were changed (under warranty) and problem solved.

[Skerry476]

Have problem with yellow cog light on. Changed salmon relay but goes into neutral and wont changed gear until i turn engine off and take relay out and put back in then fine. Have error code po944 loss of pressure. Any advice please and any garages in east london if possible. Car sitting there gathering dust as too afraid to take it out. Please help

[Touring442]

These had SSG, which is basically the same Magnetti Marelli system as fitted to Alfa 156 Selespeeds. They can be very tricky to fix - BMW dealers haven't got a clue how to fix these and back in the day, you had to buy a complete box with the bits from BMW. An Alfa specialist clued up on Selespeed might be more use than a BMW specialist who isn't. I don't think Magnetti Marelli supply parts any more. they did the electrics and hydraulics, ZF supplied the gearbox. It was never popular, gave a load of trouble and BMW dropped it around 2005.

A conversion to manual may be the cheapest way out.

[Jakg]

Cheburator mk2 said:

I am afraid there are a lot of inaccuracies in your answer. Let’s just start with the fact that about 50% of all E46 M3s sold were SMG. That’s anything but unpopular in my book. Magneti Marelli didn’t do the hydraulics. The principle is the same, but they didn’t do it. Last but not least, the E46 M3 uses a Getrag box. It was the Z4MC/Z4MR and a few other E46 cars that use a ZF box.

yaz107 said:

Hi. I have a BMW E46 SMG (not M3), year 02

The SMG option is really rare on the E46 / Z4 non-M models - and it doesn't share much with the M3 gearbox. I think it's also a generation older.

[Cheburator mk2]

Jakg said:

The SMG option is really rare on the E46 / Z4 non-M models - and it doesn't share much with the M3 gearbox. I think it's also a generation older.

I am absolute tool - should have read the original post better...