2002 BMW M3 - SMG Light

Ask your question on http://www.bimmerforums.com/

Those people know everything.

Here's one thread that might apply:

I bought an '04 M3 with SMG last year from a dealer that was 200 miles from my home. I got the round yellow SMG light on the drive home and needless to say I wasn't too happy either. I pulled off the high way and called the dealership, they told me to open and close the hood. That was a pretty frustrating explanation for the problem but guess what? It worked. FYI - you probably can't put your car in reverse with the hood open either. I

P.S: the car is fixed, they changed the SMG hydraulic pump , and so far so good (knock on wood) ... Driving it is a pure joy P.S: the car is fixed, they changed the SMG hydraulic pump , and so far so good (knock on wood) ... Driving it is a pure joy

************** They should have changed the relay too. I think there's a bulletin about replacing the relay with an updated part when the hydraulic pump is changed. But, they may have been only able to make one "repair" at a time, whereas the pump and the relay would classify as two repairs, unless the bulletin specifically states to replace both.

I 2nd the BMW forums. They are extremely technical with many very detailed write ups with pictures. Someone who wants an M3 in the first place is someone who wants the best "all around" car ever built period. Of course these people will not stop at that, many tear down their cars to make them "better."

The best "all around" car ever built was the 1970s-era Datsun 510. A poor man's BMW, it was absolutely bulletproof. We had a 1972, and ran it in Pro Rallies for years without ever breaking it. Even rolled it once in the stripmines of Southern Ohio--we changed a tire and drove it home.

I road-raced a 3000GT VR4 and a turbo AWD Eclipse for several years before learning the error of my ways and I, too, have an M3 now. It's a "rich man's 510." I have a cold air intake waiting to go on, to make it "better."

Certainly there is nothing negative to say about a 3rd gen M3 besides that maybe the 4th gen is better. Personally I like the 3rd gen in the aspect of how easy the inline six is to work on and how clutches can be swapped out in under an hour (granted the exhaust hardware isn't rusty.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M3

I like the availability in both coupe and sedan versions. The sedan makes for a nice 12 second family transport. I wouldn't mind seeing a wagon for the perfect balance of performance and utility.

Dear Slow,

Thank you for the reply the information was VERY helpful in isolating the problem.

Cormac46