auto to manual-

[jurassicwadey]

Just how hard is it to change from auto to manual, 2.5 lump?

[Grrrmachine]

This hard:

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

[daimlerman]

Just how hard is it to change from auto to manual, 2.5 lump?

Depends on your skill levels and available equipment!

I find removing and re-fitting a gearbox whilst laid on my back under a car on axle stands/drive on ramps a really difficult task,to the point where I would sooner pull the engine/box out as lump and swap 'boxes on the garage floor.
Now if I had a vehicle lift and a transmission jack available....

All the bits you will need are readily available s/h and would include pedal box and complete clutch operating parts.

There's a natty little start inhibit circuit on auto's that will need disabling,remove the glovebox and it's liner and search out a black/yellow wire,at the point where it is interupted by a pair of plain black wires,remove the plain blacks and trace them back and remove the entire sub-harness,then re-join the two ends of the black/yellow.(it's the starter signal wire,BTW)

[B7]

I have a complete kit of parts available if you want to give it a go.

[jurassicwadey]

was just going to transfer from one to another, was just thinking that ive never pulled an engine out of these before, seems quite daunting, would it be a 2 man job, or is it manageable by yourself?

I looked at the wiki, and it was for a m42, just wondered if the guide is pretty much the same, or if there are key differences with the engines/ looms etc etc

[Grrrmachine]

There's nothing fundamentally different, but in case you need reassuring here's how to remove and install and M20 engine:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... Swap_-_M20

And here's how to fit a clutch:

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

And here's how to fit a gear shifter:

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

The Wiki really does have a lot of info in it if you snoop around. But you will need a mate to help, even if it's just the girlfriend. Engines are heavy beasts, and lifting 120kg out on your own can be quite daunting.

[daimlerman]

I have done engine swaps on my own,just takes time and thought.
You need a decent engine crane,and with the six cylinder engines it helps to raise the back of the car,drive on ramps with a lump of 4+2 under the back of them is about right,this helps with the 'dangle angle' of the engine as it comes up over the slam panel.
Un-plug the engine loom at C101 on the bulkhead,remove the engine ECU from under the dash and remove it's plug,then feed the plug through the bulkhead into the engine bay,that takes care of the wiring around the engine.

Lift the six cylinder motor using the lifting point by the front of the cam cover and a cunningly concealed hole in the block casting just over the starter motor.

Other stuff is pretty much as usual.

[moggie]

i did my auto to manual swap in the day without pulling the engine,on axle stands laid on my back ,not difficult at all but you will need a lot of extensions for your ratchet to get to the gearbox/starter bolts a couple of them are in lovely places