SMG to 6MT Conversion

[sapote]

I haven't recorded any early signs of issues at start ups... I have encountered a couple signs of dying while pressing in clutch and letting the revs drop during upshift from a stop. i stalled it a couple times by just letting the rpms go too low... felt like there might be a leak somewhere or just a miscalculation by the dme.

So confusing as I don't know this is a response to previous poster or this is a new problem you wanted help.
I think people should create a new thread instead of piggyback on this very thread.

Anyway I think you should check the clutch pedal sensor for correct part and the wiring.

[pawelgawel]

I haven't recorded any early signs of issues at start ups... I have encountered a couple signs of dying while pressing in clutch and letting the revs drop during upshift from a stop. i stalled it a couple times by just letting the rpms go too low... felt like there might be a leak somewhere or just a miscalculation by the dme.

[SandeepM3]

Whats going on everyone. Been away for a whole and forgot some of the in and outs.

But I just wen to take the car out of storage and I soon as I crank it it starts and immediately dies. Like 1 healthy chug and die. Is there anything related to the swap it could be? Loose EWS wire or something? Everything looks good with the wires and worked fine before storage but if thats common for that ill rewire it. Or if its could be something completely unrelated to the swap.

Thanks for any suggestions!


EDIT: Nevermind. Pulled the MAF and started up. We good. Mind immediately goes all over the place haha

[George Hill]

I would think simply removing the SMG option code from the VO should do the trick as far as the ISTA tree?

Sounds like the car wasn't coded at all based on the rest of his issues

Unfortunately it does not seem to be the case on the couple of dozen converted M3s, E46s (auto to manual) and E39s (auto to manual) they all retain the module (EGS/SMG) on the tree unless the EWS module is swapped with a manual car.

If you know how to go past that though, I would love to implement it as this really bugs me to see that module on the tree.

[terra]

I would think simply removing the SMG option code from the VO should do the trick as far as the ISTA tree?

Sounds like the car wasn't coded at all based on the rest of his issues

[George Hill]

ISTA control unit tree will show the SMG as red because it decodes the VIN in the EWS module and then can't communicate with the module. AFAIK there is no fix for this without changing how the VIN is configured BUT it doesn't seem to cause any issues.

I suspect you have some coding issue going on, I feel like I've seen that communication fault when its not coded out entirely.

[m3_sancho]

Hi guys,

I converted a SMG to Manual and everything is fine except one thing. But first I would like to know if it's normal ISTA is showing the Transmission ECU in red in the ECU tree? Also if I check the codes in the DME, it says no communication with transmission ecu. No check engine light or cog light.
I used martins tool to change the binary and coded the rest with ncs.

The problem right now which occurs randomly is that the car goes into limp mode when the DSC is triggered sometimes. For example DSC is off and I take a spirited turn which would let the car slide a bit, it would go in limp mode sometimes. However today I was trying to let it happen and was doing donuts and a little burnout and it worked fine, no limp mode.

Any ideas?

Does anybody has an idea?

[m3_sancho]

Did you disconnect the SMG ECU?

Yes, disconnected and removed the SMG ECU

[Mr.wReckless]

Hi guys,

I converted a SMG to Manual and everything is fine except one thing. But first I would like to know if it's normal ISTA is showing the Transmission ECU in red in the ECU tree? Also if I check the codes in the DME, it says no communication with transmission ecu. No check engine light or cog light.
I used martins tool to change the binary and coded the rest with ncs.

The problem right now which occurs randomly is that the car goes into limp mode when the DSC is triggered sometimes. For example DSC is off and I take a spirited turn which would let the car slide a bit, it would go in limp mode sometimes. However today I was trying to let it happen and was doing donuts and a little burnout and it worked fine, no limp mode.

Any ideas?

Did you disconnect the SMG ECU?

[m3_sancho]

Hi guys,

I converted a SMG to Manual and everything is fine except one thing. But first I would like to know if it's normal ISTA is showing the Transmission ECU in red in the ECU tree? Also if I check the codes in the DME, it says no communication with transmission ecu. No check engine light or cog light.
I used martins tool to change the binary and coded the rest with ncs.

The problem right now which occurs randomly is that the car goes into limp mode when the DSC is triggered sometimes. For example DSC is off and I take a spirited turn which would let the car slide a bit, it would go in limp mode sometimes. However today I was trying to let it happen and was doing donuts and a little burnout and it worked fine, no limp mode.

Any ideas?

[robgill]

I'm a subscriber to this channel on youtube and they released a detailed and well filmed/hosted video on their SMG to 6MT conversion. I really like these guys and I thought the video is great.

This is part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDThhOoVGIc

Excellent video, thank you!

[sapote]

i have a smg converted car and it is sometimes difficult to get into fifth gear. any way to fix this?

If only difficult on 5th but not 6th, then the issue could be the detent pin/spring for 5th/6th, located on the left side of the tranny (vu from car rear). If both 5/6 have similar issue then the issue is in the bell housing detent which controls the 5/6 gate plane.
Also, if the internal 5/6 shift rod fulcrum allen bolt is loose (if it was removed and was torqued down properly) then it might cause the problem. (5th/6th gears are flipped around (5th front and 6th rear) as compared to other gears (3rd rear 4th front) therefore 5th/6th shift rod is not directly shifted by through a fulcrum to change the shift rod direction. Hope it's not a loose fulcrum bolt as the bell housing has to be opened to fix this.

The same difficult to shift with engine not running?

[sapote]

Hey guys! Is the new manual transmission roller pin and spring (part 8,9 and 10 on diagram) 100% necessary if I go the route without gear position sensor? Or can I keep the SMG spring and roller pin in there?

You need to have these, if not the main shift rod (coming out at the tranny rear end) will be flopping around and the same for the console shifter (without detent).

[Str8Six]

i have a smg converted car and it is sometimes difficult to get into fifth gear. any way to fix this?

[Mr.wReckless]

Hey guys! Is the new manual transmission roller pin and spring (part 8,9 and 10 on diagram) 100% necessary if I go the route without gear position sensor? Or can I keep the SMG spring and roller pin in there?

To my understanding that spring is present in both manual and SMG gearboxes? Regardless it's susceptible to breaking hence it's common practice to swap it out whilst the gearbox is out of the car.

Regards