Auto to manual is it possible?

[axletramp]

I am new to BMW's and have bought a 320i touring in immaculate condition with loads of history, it's only done 65k. I love the car, but not the auto trans! Has anyone converted one to manual? If so, how difficult is it (I'd probably have to work on the car in my driveway). Any help would be appreciated.

[Demlotcrew]

Easy!

But that big auto box is heavy work for one person, unless your built like Horna (davecambridges mate)

Andrew

[glenn]

like andrew said,
not too big a job.
source all your parts first.

[craigieeb]

i do belive E30adam was selling such a thing, not sure if it's gone tho, try droping him a p.m

[Brianmoooore]

It's not a difficult job, but there are lots of bits involved. Even involves a bit of welding.
Best way to do it is with a rusty or terminaly damaged donor car., preferably a 325.
Don't forget the spigot bearing in the crankshaft!

[mrLEE30]

just waiting for the weather to cool down then gonna do mine, was also gonna do a tech article on it but mr moooore please tell me what welding is needed??!!! (325 auto to man but i have a complete dodor car?)

[Brianmoooore]

just waiting for the weather to cool down then gonna do mine, was also gonna do a tech article on it but mr moooore please tell me what welding is needed??!!! (325 auto to man but i have a complete dodor car?)

Depends which side of the car you steering wheel is, mrLee.
Nothing major - just the little tab on the RH turret which the clutch fluid resevoir is bolted to on RH drive cars.
LH drive cars use a conection of the brake resevoir.

[mrLEE30]

nice mines left hander!! oh yeah mr moooore i haven't forgotten your check control panel with the overheat light, just not been down the scrappies for a while!!

it will arrive on yer doorstep one day (just dont get paranoid and think its a bomb when a large package arrives on yer doorstep for the middle east!!! )

mrlee

[axletramp]

Thanks for all the replies, I can lay my hands on a donor car which seems the best way to go. Just got to con a couple of mates into giving me a hand!!

[jonmsm]

If you speak to Toby Unna on the forum, he did the conversion in an M535 not so long ago so will be able to give you some pointers about thing like the pedal box etc. Also, the further off the ground you can get the car the better as its a pain to work on the gearbox if you only have little axel stands, what is also handy is (as meantioned) a couple of big burly blokes to help you lift the new box back into car as its a paint to hold in place and bolt up the mounts with one pair of hands and a jack as i well know!

Good luck with the conversion, and if you have any problems there is always peopel about on here who know a thing or two and can help out

Jon

[Brianmoooore]

Nothing about the conversion is complicated or particularly difficult. It's just that theres a fair bit more to it than just yanking out one gearbox and sticking in another.

[Martin323i]

Maybe this'll help:

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

[Brianmoooore]

Maybe this'll help:

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

Usefull guide, but not all relevent because its for a LH drive.
The starter inhibit removal is a right bodge.
Correct method is to find two single plugs above the glovebox with black/yellow wires. .disconnect the sub loom from both plugs, and push the two plugs together.

[30e30]

this is more of question ,new to all this e30 zone and have but a few bmws ,and two of them 1)325i tourer motorsport,changed complete engine and box from a donor rust bucket manual,after first removing the chewed up inerds of the 2.5sportamatic as the manual toys are for the boys,and to make things worse i have a m5 replica minta ,though wanted the manual box again and so decided to go for the same again on complete change over of auto to manual and repacing with a alredy mated engine /box from donor ,though after reassembling and resetting the obc the car just wont start ,on this change over no welding has been needed and i hope that you may be able to direct me on where i may be going wrong as this project is so close to finishing and yet so far ?or it feels that way ,i would be very grateful if anybody out there could hopefully steer me in the right direction as the starter doent turn on the key to which i am presuming that the inhibitor is making the car think it in drive still? and do you think that the ecu for the manuals should be used or the ones that were with the car?thx jon b

[Brianmoooore]

this is more of question ,new to all this e30 zone and have but a few bmws ,and two of them 1)325i tourer motorsport,changed complete engine and box from a donor rust bucket manual,after first removing the chewed up inerds of the 2.5sportamatic as the manual toys are for the boys,and to make things worse i have a m5 replica minta ,though wanted the manual box again and so decided to go for the same again on complete change over of auto to manual and repacing with a alredy mated engine /box from donor ,though after reassembling and resetting the obc the car just wont start ,on this change over no welding has been needed and i hope that you may be able to direct me on where i may be going wrong as this project is so close to finishing and yet so far ?or it feels that way ,i would be very grateful if anybody out there could hopefully steer me in the right direction as the starter doent turn on the key to which i am presuming that the inhibitor is making the car think it in drive still? and do you think that the ecu for the manuals should be used or the ones that were with the car?thx jon b

See my post above!

[axletramp]

Just had a look at the website recommended by Martin 323i. Yes, a lot of useful info here and the guys trial and error approach sounds very familiar to me! Not being built like the incredible hulk myself, I think I may have to scrounge a ramp somewhere when I'm ready to do the job.

[Toby_Unna]

Easy!

But that big auto box is heavy work for one person, unless your built like Horna (davecambridges mate)

Andrew

i did my 535 without assistance. and yep it is a heavy gearbox.

[glenn]

Easy!

But that big auto box is heavy work for one person, unless your built like Horna (davecambridges mate)

Andrew

i did my 535 without assistance. and yep it is a heavy gearbox.

me too!!