There are 2 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2006 BMW M3in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE SMG TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY COMES OUT OF GEAR IN ANY SITUATION AND IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND/OR ON A HIGHWAY AND LOOSE ALL POWER. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALL ACCIDENTS AT HIGH SPEEDS. I HAVE READ MANY ARTICLES STATING THE SAME ISSUE WITH MANY OWNERS FOR THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION WITH A POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE HEAT SENSOR ON THE HYDRAULIC PUMP. BMW REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND FORCING OWNERS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET $3000 TO $4000 FOR A PUMP REPLACEMENT WITHOUT A GUARANTEE OF FIXING THE ISSUE. I AM STUCK WITH AN UNSAFE CAR AND CANNOT SELL IT THIS WAY.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW M3 WITH AN SMG TRANSMISSION. HE STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN EITHER FIRST OR SECOND GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD EXCESSIVELY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. UPON ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AND WOULD MOVE FORWARD AT A VERY SLOW PACE. HE STATED THAT IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE, HE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE HIS FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THEN RE-ACCELERATE BEFORE IT WOULD PICK UP POWER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE FAILURE. REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE CLUTCH DISC AND THE SLAVE CYLINDER. THE OUTPUT CYLINDER CLUTCH, THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT AND THE ACTUATOR WERE ALSO REPLACED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 28,000. UPDATED 2/17/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD BUCK WHEN ACCELERATING. THE CLUTCH AND SALVE CYLINDER WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 02/22/10
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026