HOW A BMW M3 SHOULD BE! SMG TO MANUAL CONVERSION

I convert a 2006 competition package BMW M3 SMG to manual transmission. Check out my main channel (ShopLifeTV) for the tutorial on how to do it! I also installed a aux cable in a BMW e46 and fix the sunroof!
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Ankur: @ShopLifeTV
/ shoplifetv
Selena: @BMWselena
/ bmwselena
Our Merchandise: www.shoplifetv.com
Selena's Main Channel: / bmwselena
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Ankur aka Jason's Car: BMW E46 Alpine White S54 Swapped Sedan
Selena's Car: BMW E46 Alpine White LS3 Swapped Sedan
Fluffy's Car aka Our Daily: BMW E46 Alpine White Wagon
Hello! Our names are Ankur aka Jason and Selena! We own Alpha Motorwerks in Alhambra, CA. APPOINTMENT ONLY. We recently moved from North Carolina so we are enjoying the Cali lifestyle and working on cars!

[@JO-qz2ke]

back at it again with the quality shots

[@arnaldohijuelo9802]

hello there from canada am a great fun of both of your vlog channels keep up the amazing work

[@vevensundraj9621]

Watching from south Africa 🌍.. Your guys are awesome..

[@aa240sx]

hey did you put that DIY together for your shoplifetv channel? I'm ready to follow sensei!

[@SilverWolfM200LDH]

Great video, I watched an episode of Wheeler Dealer and Mike and Ant did the same thing. It was expensive-over 2k American-just for the conversion, but I was surprised that all the provisions for the conversion were in place from BMW, from the exact same transmission that just needed the bell housing modified and a slave cylinder sensor threaded in, all the way down to the mounting for a clutch pedal and the floor pan scribed for the pedal's clearance. The bell housing needed to be machined and the ECU also needed to be reflashed so the computer would know it was a manual now along with the SMG pump being removed from the transmission. My question is, are all newer BMWs with automatics/SMGs/Dual clutches equipped with these provisions to make the conversion with the stock transmission or was it just the E46s? Thanks.

[@luissandoval1515]

Great video man! Do you have a list of all the parts needed?

[@morantb]

Does anyone know if there is a video that shows the step by step process of taking out the SMG Transmission ?

[@ropehitch]

Excellent video, great work. Liked and sub'd. I think this conversion is the future for my '05 competition package. In the city in Canada where I live, there is nobody offering this service so I have to do it myself. So, obviously, I'm really looking forward to your DIY on the conversion. Thanks in advance for saving my ass! So glad to have found this - going to check out your other videos now.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

especially when SMG dies and costs a lot to replace.

[@titogame5718]

Hello, suoer video, how did you turn off the digital screen on the meter? thank you

[@dfrankenbach1]

Did this M have the shifter bushing holder installed? or did you have to add that in as well? my 330 had it installed from factory when I swapped auto-manual. I heard that the shifter plate that you remove to make room for the manual shifter in the floor board is in the way and that's why you have to add it in

[@kevinb1782]

I haven't even finished watching the video!! BEST VIDEO for the E46 EVER!!! Super informative. Two question that remain is: what about the wiring, is there anyway that we can do the wiring in a super clean OEM manner? Also, can you please post a video of the installation of the shifter bracket in the transmission tunnel?

[@JoeAkhom]

I'm also interested in knowing about the wiring

[@fujisan5781]

Can you guys PLEASE show a diagram of the drilling points for the bellhousing?

[@frontspring1]

how much does it cost to machine the bell housing and where can I get it done

[@JuanLega]

What about the car's computer? Do you have to reprogram or install jumpers somewhere to fool the computer into thinking it still has the SMG on it?

[@akeemtaylor2356]

Which is better machine the holes or get a Self center shifter. Which is more likely to last longer?

[@codyweber444]

Big question: can I get a pedal assembly out of a e46 328i 5sp. And put it in a 6 sp manual m3??

[@s.m.whiteII]

Can you recommend an independent BMW guy in the Tallahassee Florida area? Thanks

[@PhethiK]

Sorry,I'm a newb. Down here in RSA. 1.How long does this process usually take? 2. Can is there a full conversion kit that can be shipped ? 3. Why didn't you cut and remove all the smg wiring? 4. The ecu, was it changed/recoded for manual? Great vid. Looking at getting one asap then diy.

[@bobwhite7949]

so u dont need a different ecu? also im doing a s54 engine swap on mi 330i ZHP, will it be better if i get the msss54hp? and does it matter if it comes from a smg car? sorry lots of questions hahaha thanks

[@TitaniumBMWGarage]

Se están popularizando en vuestro país más los cambios manuales que automáticos? Se buscan más ? En España siempre se ha huido del automático, ahora parece que se está metiendo poco a poco... yo siempre he sido de manuales.

[@patriaperdida3826]

Hey bro, where are you located and how much for 2004 msg to standard 5 or 6 speed car is in Los Angeles

[@robertortega32]

Great videos brother Were are you located

[@briansalinas5024]

I have a 04 E46 330ci smg 6 speed. I'm going to be doing all the mechanical work. I'm in Ohio and I'm looking for a machine shop and reprogramming to convert the car from smg to manual. Don't know where to start looking that won't charge me thousands and thousands of money.

[@jimmerriman6920]

How hard is it to convert a E60 550i with a SMG tranny to a 6 speed manual tranny? Can the bellhousing for the SMG transmission be modified for a 6 speed manual application? And what clutch would you recommend for a 550i application? Thx

[@tinprak7804]

Just wondering has then been done to a E60 M5?

[@RyanMCase]

Can anyone recommend a good shop and price in Texas or mail for the bellhousing machining? The rest is quite easy it appears.

[@SweatySantana]

How much would it cost to swap from SMG to Manual?

[@xsbgtr]

Can you do that to any "ordinary" E46 SMG 3 series???

[@bushmanaseh1773]

Do you think i can easily find an e46 m3 sedan?

[@thevduber]

would this be simaler on a 335d with 335d/330d parts

[@TecKnowTech]

Plz post link for M3 smg self centering shifter kit

[@matthewbittenbender9191]

What is the cost for a manual swap for an e46 and e90 diesel?

[@dboucher26]

Getting mine swapped right now for a great deal. Plus a few repairs, and a Dinan short shifter.

[@PabsEscobar]

How much is a reasonable price to pay for this, I didn’t even know that they used the same trans

[@bryanromo5506]

How much do you guys charge to make the transmission manual?

[@dareatob4970]

Can you convert Audi S5 V8 automatic to manual transmission?

[@mjnajr]

I have an e28 which I am planning on doing a manual swap I have the parts just a little confused on how to proceed.

[@dodimolina]

Totally different than this bro this only applies to smg

[@moonpigeon]

So what all do you need if you run a self centering

[@gerardwalsh4724]

BOOM!

[@g47soria]

I have an 02 bmw m3 with SMG trans and I'm curious to see how hard and to see if even the computers would be compatible when the swap is done from the SMG to a 6 speed manual? I'm questioning if it's even worth doing?

[@floridaheat305]

It just has to be coded, your car will go into limp mode untill you code it, Frank Smith has a one button Conversion tune.

[@hdigbokw]

Is the process the same on an E63 645ci?

[@arisgod2749]

it would always help when you post approximate cost for each job. This is awesome like to know how much it costs.

[@MoreShopLife]

I will start doing that but just know it will vary depending on location and part availability. Around 4000 with parts and labor and with some maintenance items

[@hojatshirazi2672]

I have done SMG to manual conversion on my E46 330ci, since then my cruise control is been deactivated. also it kicks so badly when l release the clutch no matter how slowly l do so. can you please advise me on those?

[@octaviangeorge5455]

330i have smg? are you sure? i tought is a torque convertor

[@RyanMCase]

@@octaviangeorge5455 there were an extremely low number of SMG cars in non m. If you search there is a red touring , apparently like 1 in the world sold in US? No clue why. I believe they are late model facelift starting as an option in 03.

[@salvadoralejandre4057]

hello good night I have the problem of the SMG hydraulic pump and I want to convert it to manual

[@miawallace2785]

Hello goodbye

[@6wroberts]

Hey man have you done any 5 speed smg boxes

[@6wroberts]

F

[@jasondoe5741]

At this point wouldn't it be a good idea to replace the clutch?

[@mauriceshaker8667]

Where can I get a swap done?

[@kalashnikov6930]

hi brooo bmw askinmi to change my ruf bmw x5 2004 for 4900dollar is normal

[@MrWtovar]

I want my steptronic 645 to be smg! Can it be done? Is it a straight swap? Or is there some tuning to be done??

[@floridaheat305]

It would be more difficult because your changing a auto to a manual so you would have to change the driveshaft and probably the differential too, if you went through that I would just keep it a manual and not add the extra SMG parts

[@arnaldohijuelo9802]

please need some help regarding a 2006 bmw 750 with zf6hp26 tranny recently did a transmission filter and fluid change and also changed the seals in the mechatronic after resetting the adaptations with ista d now vehicle is going into limp mode with code 4f89 gear ratio monitoring 3-4 tested the alternator and am getting a spike in voltage could the alternator cause issues in this transmission please any help would be greatly appreciated

[@s5q376]

Arnaldo Hijuelo how many miles when you changed it?

[@arnaldohijuelo9802]

193000km when it was done I am only getting this code 4f89 gear ratio monitoring 3-4 nothing else coming up in ista d, thank you for the reply

[@betitoroks]

How much did you charge to do this?

[@DaytonCarCare]

How much did it all cost the customer?

[@ricardomarquez5405]

Please I need help. My E46 318i is manual transmission but I have the SMG light on all the time, being a manual 5 speed manual transmission how can that light goes on? Thank you

[@jerairkilla]

Ricardo Marquez i have this issue on my m3 and i dont know how to get rid of it

[@DragonMan45100]

Recode?

[@northernmaten7676]

hello im having a problem with my e46 i know my problem is not related with the video but im asking your help i have a 325ci the car runs great but i have a p1347 code misfire cyl3 with fuel cut off but i have no sign of misfiring on the engine i have fixed every vaccum leak and ccv and cleaned throttle and idle control vanos seal changed coil injector spark plug head gasket is 10k miles ago and the head was in great shape almost everything and still have this code which is been showing on obd since 2 year now im thinking that i have an electrical problem with the wires harnesses of the engine or with the ecu itself do you know anything about this ?

[@jcbaxter1975]

Go search on e46fanatics.com. Wealth of information there.

[@mokesmister85]

Where can I find you guys!!

Are you able to convert the SMG in the 2010 m6 to a six speed MANUAL ?...

[@MoreShopLife]

No :(

[@TheFreshPrince909]

I have a 04 my SMG pump is starting to go bad what would be the cost of parts to do a full manual conversion?

[@Tyler_Mattson]

TheFreshPrince909 last time I looked it was $1200

[@mehic66]

Hi what's your cost on the SMG to Manuel swap after all done I'm considering bring in my car to you let me know on the price car is a 2006 m3

[@MoreShopLife]

Approximately 4000 with parts and labor. This is with mostly new parts, bellhousing mods, genuine short shifter, bunch of maintenance items and all wiring coding. There are cheaper ways to get it done, but then you will be cutting corners or overlooking certain items.

[@ashkaneftekharimofrad3195]

How much does it cost?

[@mr.valentino2824]

I'm thinking of getting an E60 M5. Would this work for these type of cars since that's all I can find, the ones with the smg???

[@buca9696]

Won't work like this. The 7 speed in the E60 was always meant to be smg, unlike this one which had only the clutch assembly modified for smg.

[@MIKEK3NT]

The ZF trans in the E92 M3 works. Swap that in and it Bolts in, hard part is coding it

[@jimmerriman6920]

@@MIKEK3NT Is that the same answer for an E60 550i SMG? I asked this question above, but haven't heard the answer from Ankur. What are your thoughts? I would think that the ZF tranny out of a E92 V8 M3 tranny should handle the power from the 550i engine. If I not mistaken, the manual tranny for the 550i is a 6 speed tranny. Thx. Jim

[@anthonydeposito1877]

hello, I just convert my box smg manual, my I always saw speeds that is lit, would you be what fuse removed to turn off this dial ?? Thank you

[@avd1697]

Is he selling the SMG gps sensor?

[@bsouza1675]

How much for you to do this?

[@hemnauthsingh1137]

where is your Shop?

[@andresolvera2243]

when it comes to this swap....aprox. how much do you charge a customer for this swap (parts and labor)?

[@mdrojas146]

Clutch pedal?

[@NoahComfort]

Why is it that the SMG trans fails? Is it faulty sensors or mainly internal components?

[@JuanLega]

Usually is the pump that fails. It's a very pricey item.

[@mauriceshaker8667]

Where is this shop?

[@mokesmister85]

How much would you do this job for bro including machinery. I fear my basically brand new pump is taking a big ol dump on me 😡😡😡

[@MustafaKhan-ph5hl]

hey i have a question ? on my E90 the Freon were really low and my ac stooped working so i tried to recharge it but compressor wont come on? i used a mainafold gauge set so i know it was almost empty .i have checked pressure and its holding well any idea why it wont come on ?? and by the way epic channel my dude

[@joegallardo9784]

I like the t-shirt Brah! where can I get one?

[@MoreShopLife]

thanks man! You can purchase it through my website www.shoplifetv.com

[@AnilPatel-ch2sf]

You Guys are amazing, you know more that a BMW Certified Tech, keep it up. im so impressed.

[@MoreShopLife]

Thank you so much Anil !

[@victorsnip6734]

Website doesn’t work. How do I get that cool t-shirt???

[@MoreShopLife]

really? try this link www.shoplifetv.com

[@camdenkerndavis]

I actually really like my SMG, but my left foot is very lonely. Is it easy to put it all back if I miss my SMG?

[@floridaheat305]

How much does this normally cost thinking about doing thisOn my car?

[@MoreShopLife]

Around 4000 with parts and labor and with some maintenance items

[@floridaheat305]

Thanks man my smg is acting up I’m thinking about doing this. I wish I was local so I could bring it to you

[@carat79]

I made a swap a year ago and it did cost me 3.400 Euro all inc.

[@DarthChiropractus]

@@MoreShopLife hi! I'm assuming this is the conversion price as in you used the same transmission that's why they went to a machine shop? What would a manual swap cost?

[@ChannelAsh100]

Did it myself with a friend for 1800

[@omarharmoush7834]

Could you provide us with a parts list for the swap?

[@aa240sx]

here you go! this is if you don't want to machine the bell housing! you'll also need someone to code RTD Shifter and DSSR clutch slave cylinder shift rubber boot and misc clutch pedal assembly leather shift gator transmission mount semi solid, metal or poly foam shift pad noise deadening bmw pipe 21526774274 bmw pipe 21522229675 bmw clutch stop 35316750569 bmw hydraulic hose 21521163714 bmw self locking hex nuts x6 clutch switch bmw m3 61319122700 bmw adapter lead 61116911072 FTE clutch master cylinder 21526773670

[@nick_kilgore]

I dislike the Bmw stock manual, after spending time in both and owning an smg for over a year as well as a manual (both perfect examples with 30k and 40k miles, I can confidently say in my opinion the smg is more fun. I’m just not a huge fan of the stock manual it’s spongey with long throws and the clutch feels like it’s a rubber band connected to the pedal. The smg is a little clunky but it just takes learning to rev match and let up on the ups, a little practice and it’s every bit as smooth as the manual. And it just feels faster because it gives such a kick into gears (and it is faster)

[@dubvalver]

i have CSL update on my smg, the rev matching is perfect.

[@georgesmbyd6603]

U must be crazy if u think smg is more fun than manual...u can install a short throw shifter ...and aftermarket clutcj and that will fix the problem...but never ever say smg is more fun than manual lmfaooo

[@danielexpertyoyo]

Smg is for people that have no driver mod and have no understanding how a car works

[@GeekyGamer167]

Yeah... Having owned my SMG M3 for a month I've already started manual swapping it. The horrible delay between shifting as well as the really clunky driving feel overall was too much for me. The hill assist and launch control are pretty neat (that's about it).

[@demoskunk]

@@GeekyGamer167 after your swap, I recommend putting in the shift kit from an E60 M5. I have one in my competition package E46 M3 and it feels perfect with just the right throw (not too short or long) and it's inexpensive. Oh, and I went back to the stock illuminated shifter. The height gives you better shift leverage.

[@BplexOnline]

how much in total would it cost to convert mine to manual? lets say i bring you the car i leave and come back and boom its manual! how much do i have to give you? im really interrestred

[@floridaheat305]

These normally cost 3k to 4k

[@Claudio130381]

how did you code out the smg info from the ecu and does cruise control work?

[@Gustavo-mt4jm]

Can you do this with a 330i smg?

[@boostedandbolted6890]

Gustavo yes

[@sofias1439]

Boosted And Bolted how much in total $ project cost ?

[@jb8142]

What is the total cost of E46 SMG to Manual conversion?

[@floridaheat305]

3500 at a shop , 1200 if you do it yourself

[@jackzdroneandphotos8398]

Why convert Smg to manual? Does smg not good at all? Doesnt it cost much to convert smg to manual rather than buying manual from the start

[@MIKEK3NT]

Jay Ortega If you’re not careful SMG repairs are more expensive. SMG lunos are very expensive so the manual Swap is worth every penny.

[@daviddivers155]

where can i buy that shirt?

[@MoreShopLife]

Www.shoplifetv.com

[@makoanders1180]

Best option on ANY BMW : manual gearbox.

[@tt-hd6oz]

Mako Anders Yeah and why the m3 csl don’t have the manual option !?

[@ataorkunoguz5451]

@@tt-hd6oz the same reason that Challenge Stradale is not manual

[@billymania11]

Future collectors may ignore and not purchase these conversions. Originality is key for those folks.

[@ilmelangolo]

SMG is good; who says it's not has never driven one...

[@miyagimotorsport5529]

Haha. He need two hands to put reverse gear ...

[@rudyaroki1071]

How much is it cost?

[@MoreShopLife]

Around 4000 with parts and labor and with some maintenance items

[@brandonherc562brown2]

Quick question, why did the customer want to do the conversion? Did something go wrong with the SMG??

[@MoreShopLife]

Nothing wrong with the SMG he just wanted it to be manual

[@brandonherc562brown2]

Are the SMG M3's more difficult to work on in your opinion?

[@specialboye4910]

SMG, more like SMH amirite. It's a terrible gearbox.

[@burrofilemon1823]

How much dose it cost and where are you located at??

[@MoreShopLife]

Around 4000 with parts and labor and with some maintenance items. I am located in Alhambra, CA

[@burrofilemon1823]

Okay thanks for the reply i will look into it

[@burrofilemon1823]

And how much for a smg clutch replacement?

[@mrpoopybutthole6314]

No way SMG is the way to go, paddles for the win! Now i'm no manual hater, i love manuals. But paddles are so much more engaging and fun to use. Let the debate begin.

[@MIKEK3NT]

Bayerische Motoren Werke Motorsport-Abteilung How? All you have to do is pull one of them and something happens. Sure they are faster but IMO boring

[@jimmerriman6920]

@@MIKEK3NT I'll make the comment that SMG sure makes city driving a lot easier, but it's also probably hard on the SMG pump as well. Most of my driving is on the open highway, but it's great when I'm in city driving.

[@mauriceshaker8667]

How much to do the swap?

[@MoreShopLife]

Around 4000 with parts and labor and with some maintenance items

[@mauriceshaker8667]

ShopLifeVlogs dope bro trying to get an e46 m3 are they reliable ?

[@paperchasin4053]

maurice shaker reliable if you take care of them

[@floridaheat305]

As long as you do valve adjustments and keep oil in them it will be, just inspect the car for common issues ; subframe, rod bearings oil leaks etc

[@morantb]

Why don't people like the SMG Transmission ?

[@philspaghet]

It's slow, unreliable, and clunky

[@floridaheat305]

It shifts great at high rpms but at low rpms it shifts like a kid learning manual even when you let off the gas, definitely accelerates wear on the drivetrain

[@theitalianstallion1557]

How about converting a manual to smg

[@alexnunez8336]

"Why dont you just buy an M3?"

[@godly8320]

Do you have 20k to lend him

[@manishoker3484]

Ermmm.. smg way better than notchy manual

[@l34052]

The best m3 is a manual m3😊

[@MoreShopLife]

yesss!

[@VikingFitness00]

Why is the smg so bad???

[@5times146]

SMG well better as it's not the 80s

[@specialboye4910]

5 TIMES it's a trash gearbox

[@nick_kilgore]

You have to own/drive both for a length of time to have a valid opinion on them, personally I have and I prefer the smg, the stock manual is clunky a short throw could fix this a little but it still isn’t even close to something like an s2000. Bmw manuals are meadocre and honestly make a quick car feel less fast and exciting

[@makoanders1180]

BMW's were actually better in the 80's. I guess you were not even born in the 80's, right ?

[@5times146]

@@specialboye4910 It's what makes it a perfect car my work van is a manual

[@5times146]

@@makoanders1180 hahaha I wish I had a e30 325i sport with manual it was fantastic but not a patch on the e46 with smg

[@boostedeuroguy]

This is not how it should be! I thought your channel was about education why are you spreading lies? Smg is a good transmission you don’t need to swap it you can just fix it it something goes wrong

[@MoreShopLife]

This is my vlog channel where I post my personal opinions. My main channel "shoplifetv" is informational.