FYI: Smg motor

vollosso · Tue, Jul-17-2018, 04:12:48 AM

For those of you contemplating a smg motor replacement, here is what happened to me.

Test your base pressure and leakdown if these are good but your still getting codes 53/56. Check your time to max pressure, for me it took about 1 minute to build up from 50-85bar.

When I would shift a couple times pressure would drop below 50 and it would drop to neutral.

Temperature had no effect on the cars ability to build pressure, but instead how long it took to build it. Probably the drop in viscosity. This would result in more neutral drops more often.

Today I pulled the smg motor and checked the “consumables.” Ie brushes and commutator.

The commutator was totally worn out. Wear like this will drop motor power and would lead to slow pressure buildup. I ordered a replacement motor and will post the results but this is as much of a smoking gun as I ever get.

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Texaz3 · Tue, Jul-17-2018, 04:48:42 AM

Brushes look fine to me. Still plenty of life left. Its very dirty and that might affect its performance.
But motor, and pressure accumulator, are components that fail faster than a pump would, and are much cheaper to replace than entire unit.

vollosso · Tue, Jul-17-2018, 04:49:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texaz3

Brushes look fine to me. Still plenty of life left.
But motor, and pressure accumulator, are components that fail faster than a pup would, and are much cheaper to replace than entire unit.

Brushes fine commutator very not fine

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RedM3/4 · Tue, Jul-17-2018, 05:07:47 AM

agreed, it's toast.

Here's an updated link to a company that sells new OE motors with temp sensor (I expect the sensor is normally not needed).

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...04641&_sacat=0

I've communicated with the seller this week, and I'd save this off as actual sale links go stale.
Ebay seller Userid is: egcmpgrp

ADS

Texaz3 · Tue, Jul-17-2018, 01:49:24 PM

Interesting. Might be a good option for those with failed/failing motors.
I have not researched, but I assume motors are not available separately from BMW?

vollosso · Tue, Jul-17-2018, 02:08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texaz3

Interesting. Might be a good option for those with failed/failing motors.
I have not researched, but I assume motors are not available separately from BMW?

Not available separately but any dc motor shop should be able to fix you up. Or there’s a few companies offering rebuilt/new motors.

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Texaz3 · Tue, Jul-17-2018, 02:30:29 PM

I'm yet to have any problems with my SMG on my M3, but I had a hell of a time with my M6, where I replaced pretty much everything, including SMG pump motor, so very familiar with the situation. M6 SMG motor is available as a separate part from BMW, though.

zivagolee · Tue, Jul-17-2018, 02:42:50 PM

Just did the pump relocation to the drug bin on mine (did it during a pump rebuild) and hopefully by moving it away from the headers, heat won't continue killing the motor. There are lots of good sources out there for all sorts of SMG parts:

http://www.smgsociety.com/
https://mlreng.com/
https://blunttech.com/ (burkhart engineering US distributor)

Texaz3 · Tue, Jul-17-2018, 03:28:18 PM

Didn't know Burkhart had US distributor. Cool, thanks.

whips333 · Tue, Jul-17-2018, 03:41:59 PM

Sub'd

Tue, Jul-17-2018, 04:12:48 AM	#1
vollosso Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 121 In the garage: '04 BMW M3 E46 '98 BMW M3 Reputation: 0	Smg motor For those of you contemplating a smg motor replacement, here is what happened to me. Test your base pressure and leakdown if these are good but your still getting codes 53/56. Check your time to max pressure, for me it took about 1 minute to build up from 50-85bar. When I would shift a couple times pressure would drop below 50 and it would drop to neutral. Temperature had no effect on the cars ability to build pressure, but instead how long it took to build it. Probably the drop in viscosity. This would result in more neutral drops more often. Today I pulled the smg motor and checked the “consumables.” Ie brushes and commutator. The commutator was totally worn out. Wear like this will drop motor power and would lead to slow pressure buildup. I ordered a replacement motor and will post the results but this is as much of a smoking gun as I ever get. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Last edited by vollosso; Tue, Jul-17-2018 at 02:32:12 PM.

Tue, Jul-17-2018, 04:48:42 AM	#2
Texaz3 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 745 Reputation: 0	Re: Smg motor Brushes look fine to me. Still plenty of life left. Its very dirty and that might affect its performance. But motor, and pressure accumulator, are components that fail faster than a pump would, and are much cheaper to replace than entire unit.

Tue, Jul-17-2018, 05:07:47 AM	#4
RedM3/4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 7,932 Reputation: 0	Re: Smg motor agreed, it's toast. Here's an updated link to a company that sells new OE motors with temp sensor (I expect the sensor is normally not needed). https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...04641&_sacat=0 I've communicated with the seller this week, and I'd save this off as actual sale links go stale. Ebay seller Userid is: egcmpgrp ADS __________________ 98 M3/4, Supersprint catback, UUC red tranny mounts, Rogue SS w/UUC dual selector rod, wired V1. Sold to my son, still in the family! 06 SMG/ZCP - April 09, Dinan over Konis, RAC RG63, homelink with off-delay (working), multifunction steering wheel buttons, RacingBrake Front kit.

Tue, Jul-17-2018, 01:49:24 PM	#5
Texaz3 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 745 Reputation: 0	Re: Smg motor Interesting. Might be a good option for those with failed/failing motors. I have not researched, but I assume motors are not available separately from BMW?

Tue, Jul-17-2018, 02:30:29 PM	#7
Texaz3 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 745 Reputation: 0	Re: Smg motor I'm yet to have any problems with my SMG on my M3, but I had a hell of a time with my M6, where I replaced pretty much everything, including SMG pump motor, so very familiar with the situation. M6 SMG motor is available as a separate part from BMW, though.

Tue, Jul-17-2018, 02:42:50 PM	#8
zivagolee Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 256 Reputation: 0 Location: San Francisco	Re: Smg motor Just did the pump relocation to the drug bin on mine (did it during a pump rebuild) and hopefully by moving it away from the headers, heat won't continue killing the motor. There are lots of good sources out there for all sorts of SMG parts: http://www.smgsociety.com/ https://mlreng.com/ https://blunttech.com/ (burkhart engineering US distributor) __________________ 2003 Orient Blue M3 https://www.instagram.com/zivagolee

Tue, Jul-17-2018, 03:28:18 PM	#9
Texaz3 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 745 Reputation: 0	Re: Smg motor Didn't know Burkhart had US distributor. Cool, thanks.

Tue, Jul-17-2018, 03:41:59 PM	#10
whips333 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 815 In the garage: '04 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: New Britain	Re: Smg motor Sub'd

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