Auto to manual conversion

[Bristol_Jer]

Hi all, hope this is in the right section...

I was wondering how much of a job it is to convert an auto 325 to a manual box? Seen a few nice autos for sale, but I want a manual really.

Cheers

[paulie30]

I'm just doing this at the moment. Apart from the obvious, gearbox, gear linkage, pedal box, prop, flywheel, clutch, clutch hydraulics and possibly diff there are one or two brackets etc. needed. I bought a full donor car. That way I've got all the bits I need and I've sold off some parts to get some money back. In fact I bought it with my Dad and a mate. My Dad had the engine for his 320 and my mate the BBS wheels and uprated suspension/brakes. After flogging some parts the cost is down to £65 each for the donor car. Not bad considering buying all the parts seperately would run to several hundred quid. Fitting the box is mainly a nuts and bolts job, with a small bit of wiring. If you've ever swapped an engine then its certainly do-able. Anyway thats my advice, hope it helps.

[daimlerman]

Not done an auto/manual swap myself...yet....but I have done a LHD to RHD swap!
Above comments regarding a donor car are very true,if you have the room to stand it whilst doing the job.
Swapping the pedal box and mounting the clutch fluid holder will probably be the trickyest bits,Iwould remove the front seats and get the carpet out to deal with the pedal box,also gives you an oppotunity to shampoo the carpet out of the car!

[Brianmoooore]

One new part you will need is a bearing to fit into the centre of your existing engine crankshaft, to support the input shaft of the gearbox.
Check that the bearing you get fits your gearbox before you fit it, as there are two sizes around.

[Bristol_Jer]

Thanks guys

I'm sure I could manage the conversion if need be, I've done plenty of engine swaps and wiring changes before.

A bit OT, but is the auto 325's performance reasonably close to the manual car's, or does the auto box slow it down a fair bit?

[Brianmoooore]

Auto is about 1.5 seconds slower to 60 MPH. Auto box doesn't do the fuel consumption any favours either!

[essexe30]

for the wiring if it is similar to the 318i the reverse lights should just plug on and work but the start inhibitor relay will not let the car start unless the car is in park, to simply fix this all u need is to replace the start inhibitor relay with a jumper relay from BMW and then the car with start, it is simple to do the conversion as i have done it to my 318i and it has been running for over a yr now since the conversion was done with no problems

[Brianmoooore]

the start inhibitor relay will not let the car start unless the car is in park, to simply fix this all u need is to replace the start inhibitor relay with a jumper relay from BMW and then the car with start,

No need for jumper relays!
Just unplug the complete starter inhibitor relay loom and discard it. This will leave two black/yellow wires hanging down from the top of the glovebox, with connectors on them that will plug together.

[essexe30]

well i did it with the jumper relay because then it all look original

[Brianmoooore]

well i did it with the jumper relay because then it all look original

As I described above is exactly how the wiring is on manual cars when they left the factory!

[essexe30]

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