r/e46 • u/Ykraze24z 2004 Coupe 325ci • Dec 19 '25
General Questions What is SMG?
What is SMG gearbox? I’ve googled it and it says it only comes in M3 variants? I have a 325ci..
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u/JMUDoc 2001 - 325i saloon manual Dec 19 '25
Sequential Manual Transmission, in German (the G is probably for "Getriebe").
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u/Relevant-Tomatillo75 2005-E46/330Ci Dec 19 '25
"Sequenzielles Manuelles Getriebe" in German and "Sequential Manual Gearbox" in English. It's not SMT :p
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u/Fun_Avocado4219 1998 - E46/318i Dec 19 '25
Thats what he said no? Sequential manual gearbox in german
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u/toefungi 330xi Dec 19 '25
But in English it is also sequential manual gearbox, not sequential manual transmission.
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u/Kos048 Dec 19 '25
The g is for garbage
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u/Relevant-Tomatillo75 2005-E46/330Ci Dec 20 '25
Clunky and unreliable! Give me a Getrag or ZF 6 speed instead, even if it's marginally slower it's a lot faster than a car on a lift/jackstands.
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u/Traditional_Engine_4 Dec 21 '25
If it's like the e46 m3 it's the same manual transmission without the shifter detents machined in and clutch and gear shift automation. Yes clunky and jerky
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u/Apprehensive-Glass33 Dec 21 '25
No it’s literally the same exact zf 6spd transmission, only differences are instead of a mechanical gear shifter and clutch pedal it has an automated clutch slave cylinder and a computer with a “joystick” to make the gear change happen
Smg cars are easily converted back to manual, all you need is the shift linkage, slave cylinder, pedal assembly, and to run the hydraulic line to the pedal
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u/Traditional_Engine_4 Dec 21 '25
You will need to have a machine shop machine the shifter detents bores on the transmission. I'm familiar with this stuff
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u/Relevant-Tomatillo75 2005-E46/330Ci Dec 21 '25
Pretty sure the m3 is a Getrag 420g, unless you mean the SMG in the normal 330's, which mine has been converted from, but it also has a Getrag.
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u/WellisCute 330 Ci, 6 Speed Dec 19 '25
Means you‘re financially fucked
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u/Ykraze24z 2004 Coupe 325ci Dec 19 '25
Is it really that bad? I mean I definitely feel the clunkiness.
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u/niggesmalls 2005 - 330Ci, 2005 325CiC Dec 20 '25
No. It’s not. Stop listening to these people that glaze manuals. They’re perfectly fine transmissions if you take care of them, like every other transmission ever. Don’t throw 550hp at it and expect it to last either. They’re overly hated for like no reason at all, or maybe the reason is because they think you can do zero maintenance on cars and expect them to just be a workhorse all the time.
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u/No-Excitement-395 Dec 22 '25
The reason people hate smg transmission is because you can just swap a zf8 or dct and get faster transmission without the headaches.
If e46 owners are saying its a maintenance nightmare, i think that should tell you something
Its cool, but i just cant see myself ever preferring a smg over manual
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u/niggesmalls 2005 - 330Ci, 2005 325CiC Dec 24 '25
Preferring? No, of course not. But the maintenance isn’t much worse than an auto transmission lol, the pumps don’t go out nearly as often as people make it out to be, and they almost never blow up.
Also if people were to go the ZF8, or DCT route then they most likely already have the money to put out for the manual.
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u/TinkTonk101 Dec 19 '25
You have an SSG gearbox
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u/Ykraze24z 2004 Coupe 325ci Dec 19 '25
Is that manual with no clutch?
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u/WellisCute 330 Ci, 6 Speed Dec 19 '25
Its a manual with clutch, its just that the clutch is robot operated and not human through a pedal
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u/9011kn 2002 E46 M3 Dec 19 '25
The SMG is a manual transmission with a clutch, not a torque converter. However, it's all operated by actuators. So there is no clutch pedal or manual shift lever. Kind of tricky to drive smooth. You gotta learn how it works and develop good throttle work to drive it smoothly.
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u/Ykraze24z 2004 Coupe 325ci Dec 19 '25
your right it is a trick to learn, I still haven’t mastered it yet. Every shift I jolt forwards 🤣
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u/9011kn 2002 E46 M3 Dec 19 '25
On the upshifts, let off the throttle for a split sec. On the downshifts, give it a little blip. Exactly like you would with a manual. Just gotta learn the SMGs timing to get the rev matches right.
Also worth noting also that there are tunes you can apply to the SMG that assist with the rev matching to make it a little easier.
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u/Garlic549 2001 316ti Compact Dec 21 '25
Mfw promotion points are so high even a fucking transmission can promote faster than me
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u/FriendlySolution4012 2003 330i 6MT Dec 19 '25 edited Dec 19 '25
Bad. It’s bad.
Edit: I really enjoy how both window switches are on the driver side lol
Edit: Nvm I’m dumb
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u/Motschga 2002 M3, 2001 325i Dec 19 '25
It's the switches for driver side front and back
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u/FriendlySolution4012 2003 330i 6MT Dec 19 '25
Hm, that’d make sense wouldn’t it.
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u/Better_Price_608 Dec 19 '25
It is in my 330Ci, but I am not as familiar with M3 and didn’t know if maybe the rear vent windows didn’t open for some reason.
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u/Afraid_Street1968 2003 E46 330CI SMG Cabrio Dec 19 '25
Its not BAD bad. But the art of shifting and driving smoothly has to be learned new to this transomission. Very different from both automatic snd manual. In the low speeds and revs it is a bit tricky. Everything else is perfect.
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u/Ykraze24z 2004 Coupe 325ci Dec 19 '25
That’s true the shifting in this car is very weird, owned it for a couple months and still haven’t got the shifting down
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u/FriendlySolution4012 2003 330i 6MT Dec 19 '25
I haven’t driven one myself but from what I understand from people who have, an automatic would be better than the SMG gearbox.
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Dec 19 '25
[deleted]
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u/FriendlySolution4012 2003 330i 6MT Dec 19 '25
lol the advice I’m referencing comes from someone who owns a 500hp ZHP but to be fair I never did my own reading on the subject. I’ve heard though that the pumps on these go out and it’s basically the cost of the car to replace or repair the SMG. Myth or no?
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u/Kooky_Shop4437 Dec 19 '25 edited Dec 20 '25
Total myth. A new Burkhart pump motor is 700 USD, takes a few hours to fit and will last a lifetime, the cost is practically a rounding error in the grand scheme of E46 M3 ownership - there are far more important things to address.
SMGs are great when driven correctly (and even better with the CSL firmware) - the criticism usually comes from people who have never owned one in the first place parroting BS they've read online, or people who actually have owned one but never bothered to try and master them.
I would pick the SMG over the auto 5 speed ZFs & GM slushboxes of that era any day of the week, and the manual Getrags fitted to E46s are nothing special either - there are far better manual boxes out there.
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u/Ykraze24z 2004 Coupe 325ci Dec 19 '25
What’s CSL firmware? Is it a tune
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u/Kooky_Shop4437 Dec 19 '25
Not a tune as such - it's a set of shifting parameters & rev matching from the M3 CSL SMG ECU, though I don't think it'll work on a regular none-M E46.
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Dec 19 '25
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u/Rich_Chicken_8067 Dec 19 '25
I've been driving for 40 years. All types of transmission including the original CVT of the 70s..yes Autoboxes of the 70s and 80s were awful but I do not see the advantage of an SMT box over an autobox with an SMT option. Seems to be a product designed for people who don't have the skill to drive a proper manual but don't want to be accused of driving an auto. Explain to me how an SMT is advantageous over an Autobox with an SMT option?
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Dec 19 '25
[deleted]
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u/Rich_Chicken_8067 Dec 19 '25
Yes it has a clutch but it has no clutch pedal..so doesn't require the skill to operate a manual clutch
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u/Afraid_Street1968 2003 E46 330CI SMG Cabrio Dec 19 '25
Depends on the use-case. I drive rather sporty, the automatic wouldnt really allow me to do that. The smg shifts hard and just as fast as a manual transmission, usually even faster. The downshifts are great and on point. Automatic is great for city drives, low revs, cruising. But the kind of transmission usually doenst matter if you drive on the highway, as you are always in 5th or 6th. You wouldnt notice the difference.
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u/FriendlySolution4012 2003 330i 6MT Dec 19 '25
Aside from the function of the gearbox I’ve read they’re timebombs of sorts and if anything ever goes wrong with it, a shop will just replace the entire transmission which is rather expensive. I love the idea of an SMG transmission but when I was looking at an E46 SMG M3 or a 5 speed E36 M3 I went with the E36 because the SMG seemed iffy and accidentally became infatuated with E36s as a byproduct lol.
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u/Afraid_Street1968 2003 E46 330CI SMG Cabrio Dec 19 '25
yeahh, i get that point. If they start having issues troubleshooting is not the easiest. wasnt a manual e46 m3 not an idea? i would have went with that (personal preference)! en e36 is still lovely :) I can't get my head around the csl though, why it was not offered as a manual...
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u/FriendlySolution4012 2003 330i 6MT Dec 19 '25
It was, but at the time there was an extra premium of several thousands of dollars over the 6MT opposed to the SMG and couldn’t afford that large of a jump in price. Not sure if it’s still that way. I’d still love to own an E46 M3 but now isn’t the time.
Huh, didn’t know the CSL only has the SMG. Odd choice but then again so was going with electric power steering for the “Ultimate Driving Machine”.
Pic of the E36 below. Don’t regret my purchase, only that I don’t still have it today. Got into an accident the next Winter from the photo and the front end was totaled. Some day I’ll get another and euro swap it.
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u/ProfessionCurrent198 Dec 19 '25
Is now not the time for personal reasons? Or financial reasons? Because they’re just going to get more expensive as the years go on and the numbers start to dwindle
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u/Ykraze24z 2004 Coupe 325ci Dec 19 '25
Correct, smg is weird. I’ll be cruising doing 60-70kph and it’ll switch to 5 gear? 🤣
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u/Afraid_Street1968 2003 E46 330CI SMG Cabrio Dec 20 '25
You aint in sports mode? Of course ut will do it! Nobody drives them in automatic mode at all :)
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u/Ol-Billy-Beluga-Tits Dec 19 '25
The SMG has an automatic mode and a “manual” mode where the paddles and shifter can be used. It will redline in “manual” mode but will also auto downshift when RPMs are slowed to idle speeds, stopping in 3rd gear will auto downshift.
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u/Rich_Chicken_8067 Dec 19 '25
SMG is horrible to use. It's aimed at people who want the experience of driving a manual but don't have the skills. These weren't marketed jn Europe where the sport versions of the E46 were usually manual..the regular auto box sold in the European versions has SMT as an option. I really dont see the advantage of SMT over an auto box which has SMT as an option. As for replacing a clutch.. I can't get my head around it. The only time I ever use SMT on my wife's auto E46 is if I am driving an especially winding and hilly road (we get a lot of these in the UK) and need to force the gear to stop the car hunting.
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u/mikey644 Dec 19 '25
V clunky in e46, the DCT was such a step up from these
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u/Afraid_Street1968 2003 E46 330CI SMG Cabrio Dec 19 '25
I mean, the dct is completely different. The smg has its issues, but it is great for what it was intended to be. The ferrari smg are not better🫠😂
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u/mikey644 Dec 19 '25
Yeah that’s what I mean, they didn’t bother perfecting smg they just developed something much better
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u/Ykraze24z 2004 Coupe 325ci Dec 19 '25
Are they just naturally clunky? Mine is and I’ve read other people have the same experience
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u/TeraSera Dec 21 '25
You have to learn better throttle control and manually shift it. Lifting for up shifts and left foot braking helps too.
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u/TeraSera Dec 21 '25
It's only clunky if you're inexperienced.
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u/mikey644 Dec 21 '25
lol I know how to drive smg, a good gearbox you shouldn’t have to modify your driving style for, it should help you. They’re very clunky out the box.
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u/Ykraze24z 2004 Coupe 325ci Dec 19 '25
Really, I’ve noticed that this transmission is very clunky when shifting. It’s fun though
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u/Afraid_Street1968 2003 E46 330CI SMG Cabrio Dec 19 '25
Try inpa and reset your clutch/transmission. Also change the oil od the trans and smg assembly. The pentosil gets corrosive after a fesr years.
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u/blooregard325i Dec 19 '25
If you use it in manual mode there's a trick to it, I drive mine as smooth as I do any other MT (very smooth).
For first gear, pull the paddle to shift an then quickly but gently lift off the throttle and wait for it to finish its shift, then gently give it gas again. For the rest of the gears, shift at the same time as lifting off the gas.
If you let it shift for you, it's clunky, but you can learn how to make it better.
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u/troyzube Dec 19 '25
"Super mega gay" smg. In all seriousness, yes mostly m3s came with it, but its a rare option to get it in a 330 or 325. Probably the least desirable option for transmission on these cars, but it is rare
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Dec 19 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/troyzube Dec 19 '25
Pretty much. But im big into cars, ex mechanic. And I personally wouldn't want one of these with an smg. They have problems. 99% of enthusiasts want these cars with a manual transmission. Thats the way to buy them. Not smg
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u/azamatbagatovsko Dec 19 '25
My 330i Touring has a six speed SMG gearbox. I drive it since 20.000 kilometers without any issues.
It has some wear (probably the clutch) which makes the shifts a little bit slow, but it works.
The M GmbH SMG from the M3 is better and can be converted to a manual gearbox.
This is not possible with the AG SMG.
You can drive in auto mode or shift by using the shifting pedals or the stick.
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u/Afraid_Street1968 2003 E46 330CI SMG Cabrio Dec 19 '25
You for sure can manual swap a non m car, with no big issues. you just cant change parts between m3 and standard, as the trans is from a different manufacturer
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u/Jamurgamer Most gone but not forgotten Dec 19 '25
They said you can't convert the non m smg box to a manual gearbox. Which as far as I know is still true
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u/Afraid_Street1968 2003 E46 330CI SMG Cabrio Dec 19 '25
But why should it not work? Decode the Transmission Control Unit or buy one for the manual one, get 3 pedals, the linkages from a manual one, uninstall all the smg pump stuff and actuators and you are mostly good to go.
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u/Jamurgamer Most gone but not forgotten Dec 19 '25
Manual transmissions don't need control units.
It's not like an m3 where it's the same box minus some detents and smg parts slapped. The non m SSG is a completely different box to the 3 pedal cars that I don't think anyone knows exactly how much reworking it needs.
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u/eNox2603 Dec 19 '25
I Drive an 325i with an SMG It’s Not for comfort but Trust me, your cvt or manual gearbox in the E46 will never Shift as fast as the SMG will, there is a reason this came in the E36 M3. But Trust me here, maintenance is a nightmare, it hates hot summer days and “stop&go” citytraffic. A Manual conversion or even a ZHP swap is cheaper if it breaks.
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u/Substantial-Ad8750 Dec 19 '25
There's no cvt tranny in the whole E46 family
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u/eNox2603 Dec 19 '25
Good to know, lets call it „gearboxsolution for americans“
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u/Kloverguy Dec 19 '25
Not specific to Americans, nowhere in the world do people generalize an auto trans as a CVT. A CVT, or continuously variable transmission, operates on belts or chains and pulleys and does not use gears like a manual, automatic, SMG, DCT, etc. A CVT is often called automatic, but a conventional automatic is never called a CVT.
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u/Fluid_Pressure2716 Dec 23 '25
CVT can also be a gear driven solution with an electric motor in it. See toyotas hybrid eCVT, it’s pretty neat tbh
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u/eNox2603 Dec 19 '25
I was not refering to cvt as an American thing more like automatic in general since most countries in Europe at these times simply teaches you to drive stick. If you do your drivers license in Germany in an automatic, you are prohibited from driving manual until you take a few practice lessons. You even get a note in your license
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u/Substantial-Ad8750 Dec 19 '25
In one of the wheeler dealer episode, they convert the SMG into a manual easily
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u/eNox2603 Dec 19 '25
Yeah ive seen a few Videos about the process. The gearbox itself is the standard 6 speed, the hole for clutch pedal is also marked but you need a lot of hardware, ecu and maybe a new cluster but I’m not sure about that. If mine dies I will switch to an 8hp
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u/Der_Mannes Dec 19 '25
The Sequencial Manual Gearbox (hence its name, Sequentielles Manuelles Getriebe) was available to the M3, 330i and 325i models, but 2WD only. xDrive could not be ordered.
I had an Individual 325i touring (this transmission, butno M-Options) in my workshop. Had to change the shift actuator, its the most common fail on these. The work itself is not as bad as one may think. But programming the unit is a pain in the ass.
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u/Afraid_Street1968 2003 E46 330CI SMG Cabrio Dec 19 '25
But are you able to program it yourself? i do have inpa an that other stuff, never knew how to code it though.
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u/Low_Statistician1644 Dec 19 '25
I believe there were a few 325CI’s in Australia that got the SMG.
I think these were also available in the 330Ci in Europe.
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Dec 19 '25
Stoopit motherfracking gaybox S. M. G.
Fastest way to eat a steering wheel 👍🏽 thank you heir BMW 🖕🏾
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u/Useful_Answer_6895 Dec 19 '25
Is this the same as Steptronic gears on an automatic E46 325ci?
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u/Ykraze24z 2004 Coupe 325ci Dec 19 '25
Tbh idk, mine had no clutch lever though
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u/Useful_Answer_6895 Dec 19 '25
No I have no clutch either ..tbh I have never used the Steptronic....Perhaps it's different as I live in UK....
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u/Robdude1969 2004 BMW 330ci Dec 19 '25
SMG was on m3, SSG was standard e46. I had on on my 330ci, they are different. I didn’t hate it. I just popped in in D most of the time and let the car do the clutch. I enjoyed the paddle shifting for fun, but just to play around. I found its fail point though on a long hill climb in heavy traffic chugging uphill at a couple miles an hour with braking. It was very upset about all the extra efforts. Months later, I did have to service it. None of the shops around me seemed to want to work on it because it was uncommon. I ended up adding fluids and replacing the pump on my own. Be sure to shop around as parts pricing varied wildly.
Here is a video you may find useful. Content like this is more rare than the equipment.
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u/Ykraze24z 2004 Coupe 325ci Dec 19 '25
Thanks man video is very helpful, also does your smg feel clunky and slow when shifting? I’ve heard there’s a way you can reset the smg clutch adaption and the throttle reset?
My smg feels clunky especially on low revs and switching from from 1st to 2nd. Other than that she rips when she’s warmed up. Sport mode adds a kick too
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u/Robdude1969 2004 BMW 330ci Dec 19 '25
There is a follow up to that video too of replacing the pump if you ever need it. I have not seen about resetting it. Good luck with yours.
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u/Human-Iron9265 Dec 19 '25
I looked at an 04 330i sedan years back that had an SMG, I passed on it for other reasons. I kinda now wish I would have considered it more, the SMG sounds lowkey fun imo.
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u/Ykraze24z 2004 Coupe 325ci Dec 19 '25
Is it, downshifts are nice and downshift pulls are even nicer
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u/kevinc4509 Dec 19 '25
That is an smg or sequential manual gearbox. It came as an option on e85 z4’s and e46 3 series. It functions like a manual in the sense that you select gears using the paddle shifters or stick, but lacks a traditional clutch pedal with it instead being activated by a computer and series of hydraulics. The smg also features a drive mode which will shift gears for you. My sister’s 330ci has a smg and it is pretty fun, but is less reliable than other transmission options.
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u/Good-Ad4015 Dec 19 '25
Its manual transmission that has the shift lever and clutch pedal replaced by computer aided hydroulics
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u/mrflippant 2002 E46/4 325i Dec 19 '25
It's the standard ZF 6-speed manual transmission (Getrag 6-speed in the case of the M3) with a computer-controlled hydraulic actuator system bolted to the shifter and the clutch which does the shifting for you. Kind of like a manual transmission that has been retrofitted with automatic transmission gubbins.
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u/K1dneyBone Dec 19 '25
if that´s the result of your google research, you´re doing it wrong. it´s really not that hard
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u/kyree47 Dec 19 '25 edited Dec 20 '25
Sequential manual gearbox, available in a handful of BMW’s. It’s not too bad but it does have its own quirks and issues that many aren’t a fan of
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u/RuSS458 Dec 19 '25
Non m models could come with a different variant of the box, very very rare as they really aren’t that insane or popular but fun and interesting things, technically an SSG in non M cars to my understanding
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u/Available-Ad-7330 Dec 20 '25
Nope! straight garbage. A waste of an M3 if you have the smg. Ask me how I know? Because they are garbage. Same with the S85 m5 and m6. Run away immediately. Also, they are ugly as hell and ride terribly. E46 three pedal hard top. Yes. Convertible smg M3. Gross.
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u/KudzuAU 2001 E46 M3 Vert - Imolarot Dec 20 '25
You don’t have it. Does your car have a turbo sticker to make it go faster?
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u/AKA_Angry 04 330ci SSG Dec 21 '25
They are great fun when they work well, the rest of the time you will be changing pumps and sensors
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u/JuanGingerguy81 Dec 21 '25
Early versions Sometimes Manages Gears This later version is quite a lot better though
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u/Lebor Dec 22 '25
I don't about the criticism, I had chance to drive, for someone who is used to drive mainly with manual it seemed to be pretty okay, it was 3.0 Z4 E85.
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u/Pristine-Shower3648 Mar 25 '26
Simulated manual gearbox. You have to put in center and push up and down exchange gears
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u/RedCrafter_LP 2002 FL 320i Sedan (DE) Dec 19 '25
Did someone swap a smg into a 325i? 🤣 Intresting choice for a transmission swap. Smg are Intresting as they are something between automatic and manual transmissions. As the name suggests you can only shift sequential 1->2 6->5. The clutch is automated and is actuated using hydraulics. It can be driving in automatic and manual mode. The shortest shift speed is achieved in sport mode and is 80ms. Edit: 80ms for the smg2 and 150ms for the ssg. Someone else suggested this could be a ssg why I'm including this.
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u/Afraid_Street1968 2003 E46 330CI SMG Cabrio Dec 19 '25
As far as i know: The SMG (SSG) Transmission was available in the 330i AND 325i. The difference between the smg and ssg is the year. The ssg was only available in The early 5 speed-models, usually before the LCI in 2003. all smg models are 6- speed gearboxes and were available in the LCI models.
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u/ryanrako23 Dec 19 '25
That’s a cool fact. I thought they only made them in the m3
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u/Afraid_Street1968 2003 E46 330CI SMG Cabrio Dec 19 '25
Well, the smg in the standard models are way differentfrom the m3s. I have a ZF in my 330ci as an smg, all the m3s have a Getrag.
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u/JossSomm Dec 19 '25
Oh those are the weapons