Automatic to Manual

[juser]

I was just wondering if anyone had done this before and whether it is worth it?

What implications are there, surely it's not just as straight forward as swapping it round and roughly how much does it cost to do?

Longer term, does the fact that the car is now a manual conversion have an adverse effect on desirability?

[shadrack]

I was just wondering if anyone had done this before and whether it is worth it?

What implications are there, surely it's not just as straight forward as swapping it round and roughly how much does it cost to do?

Longer term, does the fact that the car is now a manual conversion have an adverse effect on desirability?

Just done my 88 325i 2 weeks age, easily done in a weekend! If your ok with the spanners, I collected all the parts up for about £200, what engine is yours as I have 90% of all the parts for a 318i facelift, if not I have 2 spare manual pedal boxes, and various universal parts,

You will need a propshaft, box,flywheel, flywheel bolts, spigot bearing, clutch assembly, release bearing bit, gearbox mount, pedalbox, slave and master cluctch cylinders, the hydralic pipes for cluch(or make one up)

I got told starter but there the same I kept my auto starer as I was new sounds a lot but it takes as long to strip the old stuff as fit the new, I also did my pedal box while it was an auto and just had a spare clutch, I also ran the hydralic pipe and mounted the reservwar for clutch first

[Grrrmachine]

E30s are driver's cars, and therefore manuals are more desirable. However, a well-equipped top model with an auto box can also command a higher price since they're rarer, and there are some odd individuals out there who like auto boxes.

The actual swap is well documented, with an example here:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... _To_Manual

[shadrack]

^^totally agree, there was nothing wrong with the auto if you were a slow driver, but now there is so much more power available, and more economical

[juser]

In answer to both your questions, I have a 325i in 2 door in automatic. I've for ones for sale in that spec but manual and struggle to find one (unless they're in red).

I'm not that bad with tools, but to be honest, I wouldn't feel comfortable doing this on my own. How many hours would this take to do as I know a handy mechanic who wouldn't charge too much labour an hour!

[Quaser]

be sure to notify your insurance - as its not original, its a modification and some companies put the price up for it!

When i had my accident back in the day, they noted that the car should be an auto. I just told them, well, its been a manual since the day it left the factory as far as im aware! Luckily, they didnt check and put it down to dvla getting it wrong!

[Topblag]

Remember to notify your insurance and the DVLA of the change.

Don't understand why there is more power available. You've got one more gear than an auto and don't forget an auto has a kickdown switch, which will get you to 6500 revs in no time.

Fuel consumption is higher with an auto that's it.

[juser]

Remember to notify your insurance and the DVLA of the change.

Don't understand why there is more power available. You've got one more gear than an auto and don't forget an auto has a kickdown switch, which will get you to 6500 revs in no time.

Fuel consumption is higher with an auto that's it.

I think more power is the wrong terminology! Manuals, have 5 gears therefore shorter ratios which enable the car to accelerate faster.

In terms of the kickdown switch... I'm not sure I like that... It's not very responsive, you're better off shifting through the gears yourself through 1,2,3 and D as the 4th gear! Even then, you don't get the same driving sensation as you would in a manual...

[juser]

be sure to notify your insurance - as its not original, its a modification and some companies put the price up for it!

When i had my accident back in the day, they noted that the car should be an auto. I just told them, well, its been a manual since the day it left the factory as far as im aware! Luckily, they didnt check and put it down to dvla getting it wrong!

I've already spoken to them about it and the premiums wouldn't go up!

[shadrack]

Remember to notify your insurance and the DVLA of the change.

Don't understand why there is more power available. You've got one more gear than an auto and don't forget an auto has a kickdown switch, which will get you to 6500 revs in no time.

Fuel consumption is higher with an auto that's it.

That's what I meant more responsive, far better gear ratios, faster acceleration, which makes it feel a lot more powerful, the auto no mater how driven feels underpowered and restrictive, I'd previously had a 325 manual before so could notice the difference with the auto, my auto did 125 in 3rd so what does that say about the gear ratios, if it were a 5speed auto it would probly be ok!

[SGP]

E30s are driver's cars, and therefore manuals are more desirable. However, a well-equipped top model with an auto box can also command a higher price since they're rarer, and there are some odd individuals out there who like auto boxes.

The actual swap is well documented, with an example here:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... _To_Manual

If you are stuck in stop-start traffic for a couple of hours every day, the automatic is the one to have