E46 M3 SMG issues
E46 M3 SMG issues
Author
Discussion

estoril M

Original Poster:

69 posts

192 months

Friday 16th April 2010
quotequote all
Hi guys, I've got an E46 M3 SMG on a 52 plate.I have owned the car for nearly a year now and the mileage is just over 44,000 only 4000 done by myself.

In the last couple of weeks the SMG has started to function a little strange and seems to be intermitent.
After starting the car,selecting 1st gear and setting off the gear selector number on the dash keeps flashing when it should be on constant. This is happening in all gears, in automatic mode and manual mode and is starting to concern me.
This has been on and off for a couple of weeks and last week the smg warning light came up on the dash but then disapeared the next time.

There have been no problems changing gears up or down since owning just curious to find out if anyone could help me on the issue.

Thanx all any help apreciated

NickXX

1,644 posts

242 months

Friday 16th April 2010
quotequote all
LOL.

This happened to me on my drive home after picking up the car. Flashing SMG number in every gear and eventually the yellow cog - I was rather worried.


Basically, I had opened the bonnet and not closed it properly - so one of the bonnet pin sensors wasn't closing properly. Open the bonnet and close it again a bit harder to make sure it seats the sensors properly.

Should go away after that smile. Has worked for me 10 months/several thousand miles later.

estoril M

Original Poster:

69 posts

192 months

Saturday 17th April 2010
quotequote all
Tried giving the bonnet a good slam and everything seemed fine. Washed the car this morning and then started it up and the gear was still flashing, slammed the bonnet again and everything ok again??

I think it is something to do with the bonnet just wondering if possibly one of the sensors could be faulty.

Cheers for the help Nick biggrin

NickXX

1,644 posts

242 months

Saturday 17th April 2010
quotequote all
Yeah - could be a dodgy sensor then. The issue you describe (flashing SMG number, occasional yellow cog - but the car moves) is when one sensor (there are two sensors - one in each bonnet pin) is not read as being in the closed position. They are known to fail - might be worth poking around inside the bonnet pin holes to see if you can free the faultly one up.

I believe that if both sensors are in the open position (I.e. the bonnet is definitely open), the car will not engage a gear.

mat205125

17,790 posts

237 months

Tuesday 26th April 2011
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My M3 exhibited these symptoms this morning ..... I'm praying its something simple like that frown

Chessers

745 posts

236 months

Tuesday 26th April 2011
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Common causes - bonnet sensor not working or faulty salmon relay.

Both very cheap fixes.

mat205125

17,790 posts

237 months

Tuesday 26th April 2011
quotequote all
What's this "salmon relay" that I've heard talk of, and where under the bonnet does it live?

All fingers and toes are well and truly crossed that there is a cheap and simple fix for this "glitch"

Chessers

745 posts

236 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Hi mate, sorry for the late reply.

The Salmon relay can be prone to failing and is a very simple and cheap fix - you should be able to pick one up for between £5 and £8 from your local dealer.

Its located above the right hand side shock mount in the engine bay, secured with torx bolts. Take those off and you'll see it clearly.

Fingers crossed

steve singh

3,995 posts

197 months

Thursday 28th April 2011
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If it is the bonnet sensor I thought it wouldn't let you move the car?

OP - when it's flashing are you able to drive it still?

mat205125

17,790 posts

237 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
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Praise the lord! SMG "salmon" relay. £5.95 from the main dealer, and everybody's happy again!!! biggrin

david_h

579 posts

287 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
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mat205125 said:
Praise the lord! SMG "salmon" relay. £5.95 from the main dealer, and everybody's happy again!!! biggrin
Glad it was so simple to fix.

I keep 2 spare bonnet switches and 2x salmon relay's in the boot just in case out of paranoia if anything.

mat205125

17,790 posts

237 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
I'm adding one of each to my track day box of spares and consumables .... No way I'm risking getting caught short in the middle of Europe, and missing out on a brilliant weekend for the sake of a few pints worth of electronic gizmos!

Chessers

745 posts

236 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2011
quotequote all
Happy days - glad it was a cheap fix.

steve singh

3,995 posts

197 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2011
quotequote all
mat205125 said:
I'm adding one of each to my track day box of spares and consumables .... No way I'm risking getting caught short in the middle of Europe, and missing out on a brilliant weekend for the sake of a few pints worth of electronic gizmos!
Makes sense - nice one !