Automatic To Manual Conversion?

[bunter007]

ok well ive found a project e30 sport thats going for a half decent priec etc etc but the only downside is that its an automatic. i was wondering if it is possible to convert it to a manual box?

thanks. chris

[jon_pure_british]

yes i reckon its possible.

i dont know how to do it though

[bunter007]

im by no means a mechanic but surely it would just be a case of fitting the manual box in place of the auto one?

[maxfield]

Its definatly possible search

[ad318i]

its gonna cost a LOT of money and a lot to do...

i dont think it would be worth it..

there's been threads on this before so if you do a search more info will be revealed

[alan325i]

would need, gearbox, foot pedals, prop shaft, clutch, flyweel, hydrolics for the clutch might need an ECU as well.

Cheaper to go out and buy a Manual unless ur gonna do all the work urself if not its gonna cost u a min of a grand for all the parts and labour.

[bunter007]

bloody hell!! sounds like a lot more hassle than its worth!! thanks for the info, i will keep looking

[eko]

or buy a breaker for a couple hundred quid and DIY

[bunter007]

another good point. i have a friend who could do the work for minimal cost. i know he has previously converted an e36 from auto to manual at the garage where he works. after thinking about it its starting to sound viable. you can pick up good condition sportsautos etc for low cost and, as you say, i could get a breaker for a few hundred quid. all in all it could work out a cheap way to get a good condition e30

[eko]

doubt you`d get a close ratio box for that amount but standard box should work fine!
Purists will say NO though i think?

[Dan318-is]

if its a proper sport it will only be manual; so in other words its not

didnt ian temple do this conversion?

[eko]

Dan,didnt they do auto sports?

[bunter007]

ive seen a lot of auto sports for sale, you sure they never made them?

[Theo]

They did.

[Dan318-is]

a 325 i sport; genuine sport, automatic?

are you sure?

[Theo]

Yeah, god knows why you'd want a gaybox in a sport though.

[Dan318-is]

phase 2 sports; of which only about 2000 were imported correct? and some are automatics? i could swear by my life there are none!

maybe there are tec 1 auto sports but are you sure its not an SE?

[Theo]

I never thought you could get an SE in early cars? Pretty sure i've seen auto tech 2 sports, not sure about tech 1's. No ideas on numbers either!

[bunter007]

all the ones i have seen for sale are tech2`s which suits me fine as i hate tech1`s!!

[pnd]

There were autos for tec1 and 2 sports and it is well worth the conversion to manual i have owned two converted to manual and they were among the best e30's Ive driven as the engine and drive train had been much less stressed than on most manual cars. Dont worry about using a sports box the standard ones are cheaper and tougher and believe me the ones i had would leave most tired standard sports for standing especially with the sport auto ecu which definitely has a different chip in it to a standard auto 325i. cost parts + £400.

[mrLEE30]

i had an auto sport mk1, and yes technically the sport really should be manual as biggest difference between sport and non sport was the different gear ratios on 1,2,3 on manuals, auto sports did not have a different ratio. but mine did have the LSD,cosmetic sport mods, Blistens etc etc.

and no a sport does not have a different ECU, and a auto ECU will work fine in a manual conversion. you will need to short out the inhibitor switch but this easy, do search for yellow/black wire or inhibitot switch. only difference between auto and manual ECU is the idle speed.

the only really viable way to do this project is to have a complete donor car and then find a very good auto and do the swap yourself, heard of zoners doing it in a afternoon.

all explained here...
http://www.bmwe30.net/cgi-bin/datacgi/d ... Section=11

mrlee