2003 Z4 3.0i SMG Relay location?

LJB2020 · 08-05-2022, 01:52 PM

Hi all, first time posting here. I have a 2003 Z4 3.0i with 51,000 miles. The past year or so sometimes when I go to start the car in the morning, it throws up the yellow gear warning light and goes into limp mode but if I were to turn the engine off and on, it would usually clear and its good to go. This week though has been getting worse and worse. Just this morning I had to restart the car about 10 times before the yellow gear icon finally cleared and I was able to get to work. From what I am reading, a lot of places say change the SMG gear relay first which I went and purchased one from BMW, however the picture online from RealOEM bmw site, pulled up with my vin # , the picture they have doesn't match what's on my car. On the picture it's showing the relay above the other 3 bottom relays, but that is just not there on this car for some reason. Even the picture is showing between the 3 relays, there's some fuses right there, but my car doesn't have those either. The car definitely has the SMG as i've used it a couple of times but not much. Does anyone have an idea where this SMG relay could be on my car? My last 7 of the vin # is LU00879. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Link to the webpage

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=61_4209

wdb · 08-08-2022, 10:43 AM

No idea, sorry. Just wanted to post up to be sure you knew we could see the post. Hopefully someone will have information for you.

GuidoK · 08-08-2022, 11:06 AM

BMW WDS (wiring diagram system) also says that is the location, and that relay is only used for SMG.

What do you mean with " The car definitely has the SMG as i've used it a couple of times but not much. "
Can you post a picture of your gear lever? Just to check. Or post your complete VIN. So that we know what we have.

Normal procedure of diagnosing is when the engine goes into limp mode, it throws a code.
Read that code with a code reader and start from there.

LJB2020 · 08-09-2022, 08:39 AM

Hey there, thanks for the reply. Here is the whole vin # 4USBT53483LU00879

Here is a picture of the gear shifter

By SMG, I was assuming that means the car can be shifted with the gear shifter even though its an automatic transmission correct? When I put it into drive, then press left towards me with the shifter, it goes into a manual shift mode where then I can shift up / down manually. I could be wrong, sorry if that's not what the SMG is.

So far it hasn't thrown the code again since last friday, but if it does again, I will use my dads scanner to see what its saying. I will also go home for lunch today and unscrew the relay compartment and get a good picture of it and will upload that so you can see what I mean.

Edit, hmmm seems the link I post for the picture isn't coming up for some reason. Here is the actual link to ImgBB

https://ibb.co/PGpfSrG

Steeler · 08-09-2022, 09:08 AM

Do you have shift paddles on the steering wheel?

GuidoK · 08-09-2022, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LJB2020

Hey there, thanks for the reply. Here is the whole vin # 4USBT53483LU00879

Here is a picture of the gear shifter

https://ibb.co/PGpfSrG

That's an automatic, not a SMG.
So completely understandable that you don't have that relais

For your specific problem: I can't help you.
Get a codereader. start from there.

LJB2020 · 08-09-2022, 10:11 AM

Ah ok. Then that makes sense. Thank you. Will just have to wait for when the light pops back up again to scan and see what it could be.

Clearancediver · 08-09-2022, 11:46 PM

The code should be present in the error memory…..as not active

BMW_5733 · 08-11-2022, 01:53 PM

Yes it should be

LJB2020 · 08-22-2022, 08:40 AM

Ok after a few weeks of no problem, the light has returned. I have scanned it and getting these 2 error codes, P0709 & P0700. Doing some searching around right now, anyone familiar with these 2 codes?

08-05-2022, 01:52 PM	#1
LJB2020 Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Louisiana iTrader: (0)	2003 Z4 3.0i SMG Relay location? Hi all, first time posting here. I have a 2003 Z4 3.0i with 51,000 miles. The past year or so sometimes when I go to start the car in the morning, it throws up the yellow gear warning light and goes into limp mode but if I were to turn the engine off and on, it would usually clear and its good to go. This week though has been getting worse and worse. Just this morning I had to restart the car about 10 times before the yellow gear icon finally cleared and I was able to get to work. From what I am reading, a lot of places say change the SMG gear relay first which I went and purchased one from BMW, however the picture online from RealOEM bmw site, pulled up with my vin # , the picture they have doesn't match what's on my car. On the picture it's showing the relay above the other 3 bottom relays, but that is just not there on this car for some reason. Even the picture is showing between the 3 relays, there's some fuses right there, but my car doesn't have those either. The car definitely has the SMG as i've used it a couple of times but not much. Does anyone have an idea where this SMG relay could be on my car? My last 7 of the vin # is LU00879. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Link to the webpage https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=61_4209
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08-08-2022, 10:43 AM	#2
wdb dances with roads 4717 Rep 4,094 Posts Drives: '07 E86, '02 996, '95 Seven Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: the perimeter iTrader: (4)	No idea, sorry. Just wanted to post up to be sure you knew we could see the post. Hopefully someone will have information for you.
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08-08-2022, 11:06 AM	#3
GuidoK #buildnotbought 10628 Rep 4,849 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i ESS TS2+ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tinkering in the garage iTrader: (0)	BMW WDS (wiring diagram system) also says that is the location, and that relay is only used for SMG. What do you mean with " The car definitely has the SMG as i've used it a couple of times but not much. " Can you post a picture of your gear lever? Just to check. Or post your complete VIN. So that we know what we have. Normal procedure of diagnosing is when the engine goes into limp mode, it throws a code. Read that code with a code reader and start from there. __________________ Z4 3.0i \| ESS TS2+ supercharger \| Quaife ATB LSD \| Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear \| Schrick FI cams \| Schmiedmann headers+cats \| Powerflex/strongflex PU bushings \| Vibra-technics engine mounts \| H&R anti rollbars \| KW V3 coilovers/KW camber plates \| Sachs race engineering clutch \| tons of custom sh#t
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08-09-2022, 08:39 AM	#4
LJB2020 Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Louisiana iTrader: (0)	Hey there, thanks for the reply. Here is the whole vin # 4USBT53483LU00879 Here is a picture of the gear shifter By SMG, I was assuming that means the car can be shifted with the gear shifter even though its an automatic transmission correct? When I put it into drive, then press left towards me with the shifter, it goes into a manual shift mode where then I can shift up / down manually. I could be wrong, sorry if that's not what the SMG is. So far it hasn't thrown the code again since last friday, but if it does again, I will use my dads scanner to see what its saying. I will also go home for lunch today and unscrew the relay compartment and get a good picture of it and will upload that so you can see what I mean. Edit, hmmm seems the link I post for the picture isn't coming up for some reason. Here is the actual link to ImgBB https://ibb.co/PGpfSrG
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08-09-2022, 09:08 AM	#5
Steeler Colonel 2428 Rep 2,702 Posts Drives: Built not Bought 04 Z4 VF Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Kitchener Ontario Canada iTrader: (2)	Do you have shift paddles on the steering wheel? __________________ W2A Intercooled Vortech V3Si, custom ducting, Alpha N, 60# Bosch,2.62 pulley, multi port WMI, Severn Tuning(pokeybritches), Tial, magnaflow,SS race muffler, 42 design,3.91LSD, H&R, Hotchkis,ST coils,Konis, Megan camber arms, AKG SS, Nylon mounts, Poly bushings, Carbon interior, CF Aero.APEX
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08-09-2022, 10:11 AM	#7
LJB2020 Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Louisiana iTrader: (0)	Ah ok. Then that makes sense. Thank you. Will just have to wait for when the light pops back up again to scan and see what it could be.
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08-09-2022, 11:46 PM	#8
Clearancediver Lieutenant 86 Rep 406 Posts Drives: 2004 Z4 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Victoria, BC Canada iTrader: (0)	The code should be present in the error memory…..as not active __________________ Sent from my smart phone...
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08-11-2022, 01:53 PM	#9
BMW_5733 Banned 0 Rep 12 Posts Drives: M8 Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Yes it should be
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08-22-2022, 08:40 AM	#10
LJB2020 Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Louisiana iTrader: (0)	Ok after a few weeks of no problem, the light has returned. I have scanned it and getting these 2 error codes, P0709 & P0700. Doing some searching around right now, anyone familiar with these 2 codes?
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