[jbash87]

My goal is to see if I can replicate the stock manual DME-side wiring and ideally come up with a solution that involves only wire repinning and rerouting with no splicing.

I see what you're getting at now. You can put that intermediary (x6021) connector in there, but you'll have to splice at least 2 pins on the DME. No real way around this as those locations on the DME are populated already.

 

[tshirt]

I did this a few months ago for my manual swapped 06. I hooked the manual harness to the old SMG harness. Required 1 re-pin on the SMG harness side, as one of the pins to hook to the manual was blank.

Then, I traced all the wires in the SMG harness I was using back to the DME box, using a continuity tester (negative clipped to SMG harness under the car via a jumper, positive in the DME box - where I found the wire in the old SMG harness.)

Once I had all the wires traced down to the DME box, I repinned / spliced into the DME harness (as described in e39source video). Then I spliced one wire (reverse sensor) into an abandoned SMG wire into the cabin (previously used for the DME shifter). That wire (now reverse sensor inside center console) was un-pinned from the SMG shifter harness and spliced under the dash to the LMA (lighting module). In the LMA, you pin the wire for reverse sensing via switch (as opposed to via CAN-BUS as it is for SMG). This is needed to get reverse lights working for the manual.

I also made my own wiring harness diagram based on my re-pinning and testing. If I had to do it all over again, I would note what wires are in the SMG harness and re-pin the manual harness to the easiest wires to deal with in the DME box. Someone could do a diagram and instructions for replicating this process, and the re-pinning. Would be nice to have on paper.

One last thing - you cannot easily buy the manual --> DME harness to simplify this process. It is part of the main engine harness. I think it is easier to just use the abandoned SMG plug and trace it down in the DME box under the hood.
e39source's video on this is the best resource - just go slow and verify everything he says. Especially the correct pin shape for the DME harness on the one new pin you have to insert!!

Happy to try and answer anywhere you get stuck or have questions!

@jbash87 here's another post I wrote (closer to the time when I did the wiring!!) https://www.m5board.com/threads/my-smg-→-6-speed-manual-conversion.614913/post-7704263

one other thought - there are several wires which trace back to the SMG harness in the DME box, but are bundled together (I think to ground). I separated those from other wires they were connected to, and spliced on jumpers to get them over to the DME harness..

That's the last of what I remember from the wiring!! 🤣

 

[mjoconnor]

one other thought - there are several wires which trace back to the SMG harness in the DME box, but are bundled together (I think to ground). I separated those from other wires they were connected to, and spliced on jumpers to get them over to the DME harness..

Yup - while the E39Source videos are invaluable, they gloss over a lot of details.

I bought a used SMG harness to experiment with (they are cheap and readily available on eBay). It revealed a lot of those details.

There are two terminated wire bundles that need to be pulled apart on that harness.

As you mentioned, there is a terminated ground wire bundle on the DME side of the SMG harness with 5 yellow/brown wires. These need to be pulled apart because some of the wires will be carrying non-ground signals from the transmission harness in the manual rewiring. This bundle must be reassembled with the remaining ground wires afterwards.

There is also a similar terminated wire bundle on the SMG harness with 4 green/red wires that must pulled apart so that the individual wires can be used.

The real problem for someone attempting this conversion is that there is no distilled information (a single wiring schematic, for example) and the knowledge is spread out over hours of videos and many board postings. And, while nicely detailed, the way the wiring and connector information is spread over a multitude of diagrams in the ISTA software can also be infuriating.

 

[mjoconnor]

To clarify: By terminated wire bundles, I mean the wires going into the yellow and green caps pictured below. The wires are crimped together inside these caps.

In SMG cars, three red/green wires enter the yellow cap from the SMG harness and one red/green wire exits to position #33 of SMG connector X70014.

Four yellow/brown wires enter the green cap from the SMG harness and one yellow/brown wire exits to position #4 of SMG connector X70014.

When a manual transmission harness is plugged into the SMG harness some of the wires in both of these bundles will carry signals from the transmission sensors.

So these bundles must be pulled apart and the wires repurposed when doing a manual rewiring.

 

[jbash87]

The real problem for someone attempting this conversion is that there is no distilled information (a single wiring schematic, for example) and the knowledge is spread out over hours of videos and many board postings. And, while nicely detailed, the way the wiring and connector information is spread over a multitude of diagrams in the ISTA software can also be infuriating.

PM me.

 

[jakkuh]

PM me.

Can't PM you for some reason but would love a copy of the wiring diagram. Currently in the process of swapping my car and am on the wiring stage (once I'm over this sickness anyways). The E39Source video wasn't very easy to follow for wiring :/

 

[jakkuh]

Decided to document the wiring process in a spreadsheet with links to newtis diagrams/connectors/devices to make this swap easier for other folks in the future given how much time it required to double check everything and navigate through the absolute mess of documentation spewn across the internet. I'll probably make a discrete thread with all the info from the process (including parts list, 3D print models for custom stuff I made, order of operations, etc), but I'm sharing this for now.

I'm actively filling the sheet as I go through newtis planning so it's still a work in progress. I will edit this post once it is complete.

 

[BaltimoreBrian]

I am installing the new EDC button tray and the piece that it supposed to snap into in the the center console doesn't fit. My original piece with the sliding compartment is different shape and the piece underneath matches it. So right now the whole panel is not secured up front and a bit loose, I have 2 screws and the clip in the back and i could possibly leave it like that, but how is it supposed to be?

View attachment 960935


This is my original piece that was the trim snaps into. It won't fit the new tray. Is there a new part number for it?

View attachment 960936

What is the Part Number for the EDC Button Tray that you found? I need to find that part for my 06 M5. Thank you!

 

[Fiftytwoeighty]

What is the Part Number for the EDC Button Tray that you found? I need to find that part for my 06 M5. Thank you!

Good to see you here Brian!

~Woody

 

[BaltimoreBrian]

Good to see you here Brian!

~Woody

Thanks for the welcome Woody!

 

[ZiMMie]

What is the Part Number for the EDC Button Tray that you found? I need to find that part for my 06 M5. Thank you!

51168037213 not available anymore.

 

[jakkuh]

What is the Part Number for the EDC Button Tray that you found? I need to find that part for my 06 M5. Thank you!

Im working on a custom 3D printed button tray since the factory ones are NLA. Just on a work trip at the moment, but I’ll be home tomorrow and hope to finalize the design. Will post it publicly but would love to print some off for other members!

plan will be to fill and sand out any texture and then paint with SEM color coat. Their flat black is damn near factory soft touch coating.

 

[jbash87]

Im working on a custom 3D printed button tray since the factory ones are NLA. Just on a work trip at the moment, but I’ll be home tomorrow and hope to finalize the design. Will post it publicly but would love to print some off for other members!

plan will be to fill and sand out any texture and then paint with SEM color coat. Their flat black is damn near factory soft touch coating.

View attachment 984332

Good solution! Also retaining the Power Button is such a nice feature.
Here is what I ended up using. It takes more fitting because it fits within the current ashtray, but it retains the cigarette lighter and hides under the sliding door for a cleaner look IMO.
Let me know if you're interested in the file.

https://www.m5board.com/threads/6mt-conversion-notes-and-fun-facts.617618/post-7694688

 

[jakkuh]

Good solution! Also retaining the Power Button is such a nice feature.
Here is what I ended up using. It takes more fitting because it fits within the current ashtray, but it remains the cigarette lighter and hides under the sliding door for a cleaner look IMO.
Let me know if you're interested in the file.

https://www.m5board.com/threads/6mt-conversion-notes-and-fun-facts.617618/post-7694688

Haha thanks! I’m going to do a second version that keeps the cigarette lighter… just want something there for now ahah.

 

[BaltimoreBrian]

Im working on a custom 3D printed button tray since the factory ones are NLA. Just on a work trip at the moment, but I’ll be home tomorrow and hope to finalize the design. Will post it publicly but would love to print some off for other members!

plan will be to fill and sand out any texture and then paint with SEM color coat. Their flat black is damn near factory soft touch coating.

View attachment 984332

oh man, that is awesome!!!!!!!!!! I was going to have to figure out the same thing. I would definitely be one of those owners who need this part for the Pre-Lci. For what it's worth, i would also need the cigarette lighter for charging purposes, if you do a version like the OEM. And the what was the POWER button, become the MDM button, correct?

 

[jbash87]

And the what was the POWER button, become the MDM button, correct?

MDM=/=Power Button.
MDM is a traction control setting.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand it the factory manual cars could only be put into p500 or p500s by using the (M) button on the steering wheel.
SMG cars could use the Power Button to access the higher power output without the (M) button.

 

[jakkuh]

oh man, that is awesome!!!!!!!!!! I was going to have to figure out the same thing. I would definitely be one of those owners who need this part for the Pre-Lci. For what it's worth, i would also need the cigarette lighter for charging purposes, if you do a version like the OEM. And the what was the POWER button, become the MDM button, correct?

power button toggles between P400 and P500.
No MDM button, the TPM button in center console becomes MDM button on pre lci cars after manual swap (or via steering wheel button). Third button on SMG cars was a DSC button… which is no longer needed haha.

I’ll do up a 2 button, 1 cigarette lighter version with no tray.

 

[jakkuh]

oh man, that is awesome!!!!!!!!!! I was going to have to figure out the same thing. I would definitely be one of those owners who need this part for the Pre-Lci. For what it's worth, i would also need the cigarette lighter for charging purposes, if you do a version like the OEM. And the what was the POWER button, become the MDM button, correct?

V1 printing now!

 

[BaltimoreBrian]

V1 printing now!

View attachment 984419
[/QUOTE

MDM=/=Power Button.
MDM is a traction control setting.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand it the factory manual cars could only be put into p500 or p500s by using the (M) button on the steering wheel.
SMG cars could use the Power Button to access the higher power output without the (M) button.

Ahhhhhh, i see. Thank you

 

[BaltimoreBrian]

power button toggles between P400 and P500.
No MDM button, the TPM button in center console becomes MDM button on pre lci cars after manual swap (or via steering wheel button). Third button on SMG cars was a DSC button… which is no longer needed haha.

I’ll do up a 2 button, 1 cigarette lighter version with no tray.

Thank you for the explanation. I get it. So if we go OEM Manual, the tray would have cigarette lighter and EDC. But you are creating a 2nd version of the tray with the EDC and POWER button and no cigarette lighter. I love that option, but i need the cigarette lighter for phone charger, etc. (Or maybe i reroute the lighter someplace else) Either way, appreciate you creating these, so awesome. Were you able to find an original part and scanned it?