convert to manual or engine change

[tylerma]

right i have a 318i auto
and i have been toying with either sourcing 325i running gear and doing a transplant (but insurance would be a killer) so i will prob leave that one for now.
or converting it to a manual
now what would be my best option
to buy the parts from various sources and chance installing them myself
or would it be a better option to source another car and transplant the goods straight over

also would a 316i m40 have the parts i need i.e. would it take the same gear box and other bits needed to change mine over
or would i have to get a 318i manual for the parts
i am open to suggestions (serious ones please no m5 conversions yet)

[Guest]

Hi mate. Unless you're a dab hand with serious mechanics and have all the tools - hoist, ramps etc I'd think it would be cheaper to sell your car and buy a manual version. Lots of hours' labour to do the conversion so unless you do it yourself I'd say it ain't worth doing - in my humble of course.

[Brianmoooore]

It's not a difficult job to convert from auto to manual, just that there's a lot more involved than you think at first.
Complete donor car is the way to go, and, although I'm not familiar with 316 M40s, I can't think of any reason why one shouldn't do the job as a donor.
I would remove the engine and box completely from your car and change the box over on the ground. You can fit the clutch pipes and cylinder then from inside the engine bay.
Don't forget to fit a spigot bearing in the end of the crank.

[Toby_Unna]

it makes a lot of sense to do the lot in one go using a rusty 325i manual donor.

although if you want to do just the manual swap i personally would not remove the engine, it's a lot more work and you'll need a hoist. i swapped my m535i to manual with just axle stands and a trolley jack.

[mrLEE30]

I was also interested in converting my 320 auto to a manual but i was under the impression that it was a bit more invloved than swapping the box, spigot bearing and whackin a clutch in, what about the auto ECU, is it not different to the manual???, what about the prop shaft, and rear diff those also need changing i think, then the interior ie pedal set (although i believe you can simply add a clutch pedal), and the centre consul around the gear stick etc. So you would need a fairly complete donor car. I found that it would be cheaper to buy a 325manual, swap the engine to my 320 auto cab, and put the auto cab engine/box into the 325 and sell it as a 320, and as you can see it is a lot of work! I would probably go the route of buying a manual 318 mate as they are plentyful in the u.k. unless you have a specially nice auto, i.e. my 320 is a cab in good nick so an engine swap is a good option, but if yours is a fairly standard 318 then sell and buy a manual.

any one with a good site for a manual conversion please post it for me!!

mr lee

[tylerma]

unless you have a specially nice auto, i.e. my 320 is a cab in good nick so an engine swap is a good option, but if yours is a fairly standard 318 then sell and buy a manual.

well thats the thing if it was a normal 318i saloon then i would sell it and buy another but its a pretty decent cab with quite low mileage so i would prefer to keep it and do the conversion

[Brianmoooore]

Engine ECU doesn't need changing, centre console is the same, propshaft is different, and diff, though usually a different ratio, can be retained for acceleration at the expense of relaxed cruising and fuel economy. Clutch bits are easy to add on,or change the whole pedal box.
There is the starter inhibit circuitry to remove, and the reverse light wiring to sort.