FYI: Troubleshooting SMG Relocation Problems

[kokgo20]

There is some successfully design where they fit the SMG pump horizontally in the drug pin,Dont know if they are available for sale or at least we could find the design for it.

The point of the relocation is to avoid the heat that kills these pumps. By having your catch can in the same location your are not doing yourself any favors, those things get hot and heat up the area.

[0-60motorsports]

Ejaz
I think that this forum was created in order for us to cooperate and share problems and solutions.
But it varies from person to person and You have the right to choose,Most know where to find and get the the bracket, but unfortunately it is not the required one. and that what me and @YulCmr was talk about.
The job is not impossible or secret, but as I said it takes time and several attempts to obtain the desired design.

Thank you Ejaz very much, and I hope yours prototype remains secret forever.

Ahmed, Whats with the hostility? I have to respect the creators wishes. That's it. He sent it to me and it is his to display to the world.

Why dont you just buy the Burkhart one:

https://burkhart-engineering.com/en/shop/bmw/bmw-m/bmw-m3/holder-set-smg-2-hydraulic-unit-relocation-suitable-for-e46-m3-incl-csl-bmw/

All you have to do is before mounting it vertically, you keep it horizontal until the bleeding is done and then it can go in and you are good to go and at 99 Euro its a great price.

[Ahmed.Alghoul]

That is from my car Ahmed. Mine was a prototype and I will not reveal the design as the creator has asked me not to. Other people like Burkhart sell the bracket.

Ejaz
I think that this forum was created in order for us to cooperate and share problems and solutions.
But it varies from person to person and You have the right to choose,Most know where to find and get the the bracket, but unfortunately it is not the required one. and that what me and @YulCmr was talk about.
The job is not impossible or secret, but as I said it takes time and several attempts to obtain the desired design.

Thank you Ejaz very much, and I hope yours prototype remains secret forever.

[0-60motorsports]

There is some successfully design where they fit the SMG pump horizontally in the drug pin,Dont know if they are available for sale or at least we could find the design for it.

That is from my car Ahmed. Mine was a prototype and I will not reveal the design as the creator has asked me not to. Other people like Burkhart sell the bracket.

[Ahmed.Alghoul]

There is some successfully design where they fit the SMG pump horizontally in the drug pin,Dont know if they are available for sale or at least we could find the design for it.

[Ahmed.Alghoul]

Hi guys. Quick update regarding my bleeding issue. Removed the burkhart bracket. I've put the SMG unit horizontally, like factory (That's kind of a "ghetto" setup, unit is held by rags and other stuff ... but it can't move.) My SMG is now working fine and ended up bleeding itself over time.

Long story short, if your hydro unit is not 100% bled, do not install it like Burkhart and some people suggest (Motor and solenoids on top, accu below) Your system will start to auto bleed the few remaining air while driving, then the pump will get air back in the system as it won't be able to get it out of the primary reservoir.

I'll start looking at new ways to install this, which may involve 180° rotating the unit (reservoir on top), decoupling accu from the pump and use a short braided line (have to check which diamater to use) with 2x90° bent connectors. Ideal solution would be to install the unit horizontally like factory but speace is quite tight in there .... Might be difficult to get a bracket fitting perfectly.

you are correct 100%
I was using the burkhart bracket and was keep having air in the system even with more than 5 time of bleeding
so I find that the best way to take air out from the system is to lay down the SMG unite horizentaly and do the bleeding procedure one or two time.
I think it could fit horizentaly in the space perfectly if you don't have the ABS pump in drug bin.It need some time and effort to design the bracket.

[YulCmr]

Hi guys. Quick update regarding my bleeding issue. Removed the burkhart bracket. I've put the SMG unit horizontally, like factory (That's kind of a "ghetto" setup, unit is held by rags and other stuff ... but it can't move.) My SMG is now working fine and ended up bleeding itself over time.

Long story short, if your hydro unit is not 100% bled, do not install it like Burkhart and some people suggest (Motor and solenoids on top, accu below) Your system will start to auto bleed the few remaining air while driving, then the pump will get air back in the system as it won't be able to get it out of the primary reservoir.

I'll start looking at new ways to install this, which may involve 180° rotating the unit (reservoir on top), decoupling accu from the pump and use a short braided line (have to check which diamater to use) with 2x90° bent connectors. Ideal solution would be to install the unit horizontally like factory but speace is quite tight in there .... Might be difficult to get a bracket fitting perfectly.

[eacmen]

Pic of mine in the drug bin. I simply zip tied the lines together and tucked behind valve covers on passenger side. Driver's side seems like I tied the lines to something sturdy. I'll take a look tomorrow. I have no issues and have been relocated for quite a while now. They lines have never moved.

Thank you! I’ll post updates and pics here of what I do.

[oceansize]

Tackling this project now. This PDF is good resource for how to remove the pump. But not necessarily for the full relocation.

The only real unknowns for me at this point is where/how to route and secure the lines to the drug bin. The steering column is dangerously close to the factory pump location. I ended up using zip ties into one of the factory rubber mounts for the smg pump.

Haven’t secured the hydraulic lines yet but I assume securing them somewhere in the intake plenum is probably a good idea.

The drug bin has a rubber insert for LHD cars. I plan to cut a hole in that rubber insert and route the lines through it. Don’t want the hydraulic lines rubbing straight on the sheet metal.

Pic of mine in the drug bin. I simply zip tied the lines together and tucked behind valve covers on passenger side. Driver's side seems like I tied the lines to something sturdy. I'll take a look tomorrow. I have no issues and have been relocated for quite a while now. The lines have never moved.

[eacmen]

I like this one, very thorough. Just be gentle with the red collet where the hose from the reservoir attaches to the pump. Easy otherwise.

HOW TO REPLACE AN SMG HYDRAULIC PUMP ON E46 M3.pdf

Tackling this project now. This PDF is good resource for how to remove the pump. But not necessarily for the full relocation.

The only real unknowns for me at this point is where/how to route and secure the lines to the drug bin. The steering column is dangerously close to the factory pump location. I ended up using zip ties into one of the factory rubber mounts for the smg pump.

Haven’t secured the hydraulic lines yet but I assume securing them somewhere in the intake plenum is probably a good idea.

The drug bin has a rubber insert for LHD cars. I plan to cut a hole in that rubber insert and route the lines through it. Don’t want the hydraulic lines rubbing straight on the sheet metal.

[oceansize]

Anyone have a link for relocation DIY?

have the pieces, just searching for a write up before I tackle.
Any “while you’re in there”?

I like this one, very thorough. Just be gentle with the red collet where the hose from the reservoir attaches to the pump. Easy otherwise.

HOW TO REPLACE AN SMG HYDRAULIC PUMP ON E46 M3.pdf

[FCD46]

Anyone have a link for relocation DIY?

have the pieces, just searching for a write up before I tackle.
Any “while you’re in there”?

[YulCmr]

Quick update here. Changed clutch slave cylinder. Bled ~10 times. Car was running fine for a week or so, then started buzzing again .... Checked red colar, nothing particular ....

After doing some research, I'm pretty sure that, orienting the hydrau unit with accu down and motor up is NOT very good if you have some remaining air in the system. The system is basically self bleeding while under function, so as long as air which get forced out of the circuit can't get sucked back by the pump, air should get away itself in the expansion tank. The problem is, the main reservoir is now under the pump, which just lets air entering the system again ... I'll try to mount my hydrau unit upside down (regarding current position), understand accumulator up and motor down. As such, air will be trapped on the top of the reservoir and I should slowly get rid of my remaining air.

Anyway, enough for today ! I'll keep you up to date on my success rate at getting rid of all this air in my SMG system.

Have a nice sunday.

PS: I use Burkhart SMG holder/tray.

[YulCmr]

Try what eacmen suggested first if you haven't already. You can raise either end of the car, really just trying to shift any air bubbles around to perhaps aid in their escaping. If you do both and still have progressively worse buzzing then air is getting in your system somehow. The O-rings where the reservoir hose connects to the pump unit could be the cause and what I would suspect, but you also have O-rings at the solenoids, temp sensor, and pressure sensor. Plus the seal around the reservoir that is attached to the unit itself. Could also be the hydraulic line connection at the extension harness.

Yeah I always bleed with the pump in its original position + the reservoir higher to be sure air goes away.
I had a discussion with my mechanic this morning who told me that it's not uncommon for aging E46 slave cylinders (even on manual) to start getting air vacuumed inside due to internal seal failure. I ordered a replacement refurbished slave cylinder (new internal seals) and will replace it shortly. I'll give my feedback in few days 👍

Thanks guys 👌

EDIT: o-rings are all brand new on my hydro unit. My only unknown is the accumulator. I need to test it, but anyway ... it would only lead to more frequent pump motor activations. Slave cylinder first, then .... if I'm still stuck in my basement .... accumulator !

[oceansize]

oceansize I relocated my SMG unit back in August 21, and had a clutch change around last Christmas. I've had a growing loud buzzing sound over the last months, then, all of a sudden ... Stuck in neutral ! I've proceed to few clutch slave cylinder bleed and it solved my issue for few days. I still had some buzzing at first, then ... More and more until it failed once more....

I will try to bleed again this weekend. I have one question for you though: why jacking up the rear can help bleeding ? I mean... It sounds counter intuitive. I would rather think that lifting the front could help. Can you explain why the rear ?
I've seen that the slave cylinder has 2 pistons to be able to bleed without a bleeding screw. If you have infos on how it works... I'm interested too !

Thank you !

Try what eacmen suggested first if you haven't already. You can raise either end of the car, really just trying to shift any air bubbles around to perhaps aid in their escaping. If you do both and still have progressively worse buzzing then air is getting in your system somehow. The O-rings where the reservoir hose connects to the pump unit could be the cause and what I would suspect, but you also have O-rings at the solenoids, temp sensor, and pressure sensor. Plus the seal around the reservoir that is attached to the unit itself. Could also be the hydraulic line connection at the extension harness.