Putting an SMG in an Z4MCoupe

NFDoms2k1 · 12-31-2009, 08:47 PM

Gents,

I currently drive an E93 M3, but looking to get rid of her to create a more track oriented vehicle. Among a number of options, I am looking at picking up a Z4M Coupe - in fact my previous car was a non-M Z4 roadster and to be honest as far as driving around town that was much more fun than my M (however on the track or open road, there really is no contest - M hadns down).

Unfortunately, one of the issues I have now in buying cars, due to an injury, is that I cannot drive a manual transmission. Hopefully its not permanent, and maybe I should find a new (and cheaper!) hobby if it is. Anyway is it possible without extensive modification and ridiculous cost to throw an SMG II (or SMG III or DCT) into the car? I know the issue it wasn't an option in the first place was space, but I was hoping maybe there was a way to cram it in there without messing with the chassis.

Thanks for any help in this!

GP20 · 12-31-2009, 09:17 PM

Depending on your budget. Anything is possible. A friend of mine retrofitted the SMG-2 on his E46 330Ci for about $12K (parts and install and a lot of programming). But then again it was a project/show car and he dropped $150K into that car over time.

The SMG 2 is said to not physically fit the Z4/Z4M due to size. The SSG, perhaps.

Or maybe just get the E89 Z4 35iS with DCT.

O-cha · 12-31-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GP20

The SMG 2 is said to not physically fit the Z4/Z4M due to size. The SSG, perhaps.

Whoever keeps saying that needs to stop, it's BS.

First you have to find a place for the pump/accumulator to fit. Then you will need custom hard lines.

The biggest part to tackle will be the inputs and outputs from the SMG to the ECU. The SMG ECU gets inputs from the car ECU as well as outputs to it.

The car ECU need to respond during gear shifts depending on the clutch location... this is going to be the tough part. Hardwares easy.

NFDoms2k1 · 01-06-2010, 10:13 PM

Thanks guys, looks like I might as well just have a hand clutch slapped on there...or get a late 996tt tiptronic which is what I am likely gonna do. Yes, having an auto is gonna suck...but having a 30k mile turbo and cash in pocket in exchange for my M makes it a bit more bearable (market has really bottomed out on those)

epbrown · 01-07-2010, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-cha

Whoever keeps saying that needs to stop, it's BS.

That would be BMW GmBH - they claimed neither of the M3 transmissions would fit in the Z4M - it's why we got the 6-speed from the 3.0si.

trsbmw · 01-09-2010, 03:40 PM

No offense, but why should we believe you? Please provide something more than hear-say, otherwise, my bet is that oCha is right on this.

epbrown · 01-09-2010, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trsbmw

No offense, but why should we believe you? Please provide something more than hear-say, otherwise, my bet is that oCha is right on this.

No reason you should, and to be honest I didn't get that from BMW, the press did. In pretty much every review at the launch of the Z4MR/C, it's mentioned that the M3's transmissions wouldn't fit. I wouldn't want SMG if it was offered, but if someone wants to make the attempt, I say go for it. If they do it, I get to be impressed. If they fail, I get to say I told you so. It's win-win.

trsbmw · 01-09-2010, 11:24 PM

Can you give a link to the press article?

b0bab0i · 01-10-2010, 03:05 PM

You can buy an 03-05 Z4 3.0i with SMG and add an ESS supercharger onto it & just do suspension upgrades, and it will be faster than a stock Z4M.

But they never came in coupe form.

psygnosis · 01-10-2010, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benmoooon

You can buy an 03-05 Z4 3.0i with SMG and add an ESS supercharger onto it & just do suspension upgrades, and it will be faster than a stock Z4M.

But they never came in coupe form.

You'll probably also want a quaife lsd

MVF4Rrider · 01-10-2010, 08:55 PM

The racing Z4 M uses a Xtrac 545 sequential gearbox. Yeah, I'm sure that's pricy!

O-cha · 01-10-2010, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epbrown

That would be BMW GmBH - they claimed neither of the M3 transmissions would fit in the Z4M - it's why we got the 6-speed from the 3.0si.

Source please, doesn't matter either way because they lied if so, asking because that is probably just a rumor as well. They may have said it, but I have both an e46 smg and an M coupe, and I am under both cars on a lift multiple times a week.

It's well known that the Ms were built on a budget, otherwise they wouldn't have been allowed to build them.

Next time I'm under there I'm taking more specific measurements, lol.

epbrown · 01-10-2010, 11:51 PM

I don't have links - the articles were in Car, Evo, and Roundel, iirc. I think the explanation was that the driveshaft was a bit shorter on the Z4Ms. As I said before, if you think it will work, go for it. I'd say there might be a reason Manhart Racing, AC Schnitzer, and Hartge were all able to fit a V10 engine into a Z4M, and yet not one has used an SMG trans or offered it as an option, which you think they would at their prices.

ianbiz · 01-11-2010, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-cha

Source please, doesn't matter either way because they lied if so, asking because that is probably just a rumor as well. They may have said it, but I have both an e46 smg and an M coupe, and I am under both cars on a lift multiple times a week.

It's well known that the Ms were built on a budget, otherwise they wouldn't have been allowed to build them.

Next time I'm under there I'm taking more specific measurements, lol.

You can be the first SMG swapped Z4M

O-cha · 01-11-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epbrown

I don't have links - the articles were in Car, Evo, and Roundel, iirc. I think the explanation was that the driveshaft was a bit shorter on the Z4Ms. As I said before, if you think it will work, go for it. I'd say there might be a reason Manhart Racing, AC Schnitzer, and Hartge were all able to fit a V10 engine into a Z4M, and yet not one has used an SMG trans or offered it as an option, which you think they would at their prices.

Driveshaft has nothing to do with it, it may be shorter or longer, but lengthening and shortening a driveshaft is cake to a tuner, let alone BMW. Again, budget, so they probably didn't want to bother.

Those tuners didn't offer SMG trans in other cars either, like I said before it's not about making it fit, that's easy. It's about getting the ecu to work with it. They are not independent by a long shot. SMG brain controls the dme and vise versa.

12-31-2009, 08:47 PM	#1
NFDoms2k1 Private First Class 9 Rep 167 Posts Drives: Cute Little Convertible Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: New York iTrader: (3)	Putting an SMG in an Z4MCoupe Gents, I currently drive an E93 M3, but looking to get rid of her to create a more track oriented vehicle. Among a number of options, I am looking at picking up a Z4M Coupe - in fact my previous car was a non-M Z4 roadster and to be honest as far as driving around town that was much more fun than my M (however on the track or open road, there really is no contest - M hadns down). Unfortunately, one of the issues I have now in buying cars, due to an injury, is that I cannot drive a manual transmission. Hopefully its not permanent, and maybe I should find a new (and cheaper!) hobby if it is. Anyway is it possible without extensive modification and ridiculous cost to throw an SMG II (or SMG III or DCT) into the car? I know the issue it wasn't an option in the first place was space, but I was hoping maybe there was a way to cram it in there without messing with the chassis. Thanks for any help in this! __________________ '09 E93 M3, AW, M-DCT, Fully Loaded Bunch of mods, why such limited signature space M3post ?
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12-31-2009, 09:17 PM	#2
GP20 Major 95 Rep 1,269 Posts Drives: Z4M, F80 M3, 991.2 GTS Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Canada iTrader: (5)	Depending on your budget. Anything is possible. A friend of mine retrofitted the SMG-2 on his E46 330Ci for about $12K (parts and install and a lot of programming). But then again it was a project/show car and he dropped $150K into that car over time. The SMG 2 is said to not physically fit the Z4/Z4M due to size. The SSG, perhaps. Or maybe just get the E89 Z4 35iS with DCT. __________________ 2019 Porsche 911 4 GTS 2016 BMW M3 2008 BMW Z4M coupe
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01-06-2010, 10:13 PM	#4
NFDoms2k1 Private First Class 9 Rep 167 Posts Drives: Cute Little Convertible Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: New York iTrader: (3)	Thanks guys, looks like I might as well just have a hand clutch slapped on there...or get a late 996tt tiptronic which is what I am likely gonna do. Yes, having an auto is gonna suck...but having a 30k mile turbo and cash in pocket in exchange for my M makes it a bit more bearable (market has really bottomed out on those) __________________ '09 E93 M3, AW, M-DCT, Fully Loaded Bunch of mods, why such limited signature space M3post ?
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01-09-2010, 03:40 PM	#6
trsbmw deft danish devil 5 Rep 114 Posts Drives: BSM E86 M-Cp, LMB 335d M-Sport Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fredericksburg, VA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 Z4 M Coupe [0.00]	No offense, but why should we believe you? Please provide something more than hear-say, otherwise, my bet is that oCha is right on this.
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01-09-2010, 11:24 PM	#8
trsbmw deft danish devil 5 Rep 114 Posts Drives: BSM E86 M-Cp, LMB 335d M-Sport Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fredericksburg, VA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 Z4 M Coupe [0.00]	Can you give a link to the press article?
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01-10-2010, 03:05 PM	#9
b0bab0i Major 24 Rep 1,033 Posts Drives: 03 TiAG z4 3.0i w/ hardtop Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	You can buy an 03-05 Z4 3.0i with SMG and add an ESS supercharger onto it & just do suspension upgrades, and it will be faster than a stock Z4M. But they never came in coupe form.
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01-10-2010, 08:55 PM	#11
MVF4Rrider PCA, BMWCCA 102 Rep 2,058 Posts Drives: 997S, MV Agusta F4, E46 M3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV iTrader: (0)	The racing Z4 M uses a Xtrac 545 sequential gearbox. Yeah, I'm sure that's pricy! __________________ '08 Carrera S 6MT Guards Red/Black ext leather, Carbon fiber pkg, sport exh, sport chrono +, PASM, Nav, Bose, 19" forged turbos, red tranny tunnel '07 MV Agusta F4 1000 R 1+1, Corse Red/Silver, RG3 race pipes and factory race ECU
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01-10-2010, 11:51 PM	#13
epbrown Colonel 60 Rep 2,128 Posts Drives: BMW M Coupe, Porsche Boxster S Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	I don't have links - the articles were in Car, Evo, and Roundel, iirc. I think the explanation was that the driveshaft was a bit shorter on the Z4Ms. As I said before, if you think it will work, go for it. I'd say there might be a reason Manhart Racing, AC Schnitzer, and Hartge were all able to fit a V10 engine into a Z4M, and yet not one has used an SMG trans or offered it as an option, which you think they would at their prices. Last edited by epbrown; 01-11-2010 at 04:35 AM..
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