Converting My E46 M3 From SMG to MANUAL WITHOUT Dropping The Transmission. 10/10 Difficulty...

[@elijaah81]

This is a great idea for all the budget M3 guys. I appreciate the info

[@cpho]

Thanks I had the same issue with the smg studs and it’s such a pain drilling them out

[@jinendow]

so sick to see a video done on how to do it without dropping the transmission!! I ended up dropping mine but glad yours worked out

[@CanyonTuned]

If I were to do it again it would have been far easier to just drop the transmission, but It's done now and no more unreliable SMG!

[@CanyonTuned]

Your videos were also EXTREMELY helpful before I even started the job to see what I was getting myself into. After the SMG parts were removed the rest of the process was fairly easy

[@jinendow]

@@CanyonTuned awesome man, glad to hear. there are definitely a lot of things that you learn after getting it done that you’d do differently next time

[@sicksuperm]

Good video

[@aa240sx]

@ 6:00m - you said it brotha. I applaud you for the short cut attempt, but dropping the tranny isn't impossible. Yes, I did do this job myself and have been rocking the RTD shifter with lockout for over 3 trouble free years. The really awesome shortcut and $$ saver tip here is do this job with a self centering shifter with reverse lockout and you don't have to do any machining of the bell housing. Do you get to use sloppy OEM shifting this way? NO Do you get a much better shifter this way? YES

[@CanyonTuned]

It's not an attempt if it works haha

[@vernecole5729]

Great video, I have a 3.0 Z4 and I hate the SMG. I had a z4m manual before i left the USA that I loved....I just hate this SMG

[@AnthonyGall0YT]

I went the same rout to convert my m3 to manual. I used a IRP reverse lockout chassis mount shifter. Best and most cost effective method in my opinion. I didn’t cut the smg shift actuator off but it definitely was very frustrating getting it off in one piece. I remember getting pretty annoyed with its removal ahaha

[@CanyonTuned]

Yeah unfortunately the top through bolt was completely stuck not allowing me to take the actuator out. The double pinned shift joint was not fun either. Never again lol

[@manueliglesias4212]

How did you like the IRP shifter I’m still debating between that and the CAE

[@AnthonyGall0YT]

@@manueliglesias4212 the manufacturing quality is 10/10 with the IRP. Shifts were precise and insanely fast when pushing the car. I’ve tried other shifters and the IRP v3 is by far the better choice.

[@matthewhenry8627]

With the IRP reverse lockout shifter, did you have to trim the interior trim? What did you end up using for linkage?

[@AnthonyGall0YT]

@@matthewhenry8627 I had to cut out the internals of the lower cigarette tray for the shifter to fit, wasn’t noticeable though when the tray was closed. The only linkage you need for the IRP V3 is the lower oem shifter arm.

[@oktanskioktan9372]

After seeing all those swap videos I'm glad I bought six manual in 2016. I was considering SMG and even told myself - "You can always swap it, it can't be hard." It is not that easy 😂 Since then I bet I would already sell this car or get tired of it.

[@CanyonTuned]

Yeah...it's definitely not an easy job. I sold the car after I did the swap anyway

[@911marcus]

cool trick

[@Str8UpSalty]

commenting for the algorithm

[@Spargo]

Do you have a parts list you could share? I'm trying to confirm I'm not missing anything in my list to minimize down time.

[@CanyonTuned]

There was a forum post I used, doing a quick Google search you should be able to find it easily. I don't have it off hand

[@NateorDean]

Can you list the link of where you purchased the kit from?

[@CanyonTuned]

There's no "kit" available, just start reading some of the existing forums. You'll find may parts lists. RealOEM.com is your friend too. Get very familiar with it

[@Ineed2fabb]

Did you use the same clutch and pressure plate that was on the smg and did the slave cyl fit on smg trans thanks for recommending to drop the trans great job...thanks...

[@CanyonTuned]

Yup I never touched the clutch or pressure plate, you can even reuse the smg slave but mine was leaking so I got a new manual one

[@LoveLife-ph6ls]

​@@CanyonTuned parts list please

[@MightyHeidi]

What you do to make it sound like that? Sounds good

[@CanyonTuned]

Dinan cat back 👍

[@MightyHeidi]

@@CanyonTuned thank you!

[@shawnhampton9686]

How much money do you think you have in the swap?

[@CanyonTuned]

I would say it was less then $1000, I used all OEM parts, got the pedal box off ebay, etc. I think the most expensive part was the self centering shifter. If I were to do it again I would have spent a little more to get the CAE shifter. I'm still fighting to adjust the center position with the Coolerworx shifter

[@Tyreakmcgregor]

Is that a cool works shifter?

[@CanyonTuned]

It is yeah, the pro one that has the adjustable lockouts

[@Tyreakmcgregor]

@@CanyonTuned thanks

[@315streetscene8]

What’s the link for the kit?

[@CanyonTuned]

There is no swap kit, I went on the forums and found all the part numbers

[@PRAGEETHKARUNADHEERA]

Can it be done keeping the OEM look? Is there any conversion that does not need bell housing changes that keeps the OEM shifter?

[@CanyonTuned]

You need the detent pins in the transmission to run the oem shifter, there's no other way

[@levon8262]

Why not buy a complete manual transmission?

[@CanyonTuned]

Because it's literally the same transmission minus the detent pins. Plus a manual transmission for these cars are $3k in unknown condition

[@JordanRocksWell]

You know anything about doing this thing to a m5/m6 smg?

[@CanyonTuned]

I would assume the mechanical process would be similar, but no idea on the coding. There's some coding gurus out there that I'm sure can get it done for you though.

[@Spargo]

the M5/M6 SMG was never a manual transmission - it was designed from the ground up as it is. The SMG on the E46 though is the exact same transmission as the manual but with hydraulics adapted to control the clutch and shifting. From what I've read the answer is effectively no - I've heard of people converting to use the manual transmission from the V8 non-m 5 and 6 series though.

[@lyubomirpadalski4645]

I have smg and manual m3

[@kacydiamon7694]

so which one do you like prefer driving? I have an SMG and always thought I was going to change it to the manual but I have gotten better with the SMG and now I am not sure if I would like the car any better as a manual. The SMG is a quick shifter when the adjuster is set high enough and can be smooth when you get better at adjusting throttle slightly during shifts. The thing I don't love are the "lazy downshifts". Turning a corner I want 2nd gear and I want it right when I need it. I am getting better at manually downshifting so it is there when I want it. What are your thoughts? Thanks.

[@lyubomirpadalski4645]

@@kacydiamon7694 hmm I love both when I go to work I use the SMG as it's soo nice and smooth to drive, the manual is nice for a clutch kick or some fun haha both completely different but for everyday I live in London so the SMG is the one!

[@sinamardani8771]

but your SMG light is on!!! thats not cool

[@CanyonTuned]

I coded it out a few days later