auto to manual swap

[verde]

whats involved? theres a few E30s/34s that are really really clean in budget but theyr autos. Would it just be a case of sticking a pedal through, bolting the manual box on and putting a clutch master cylinder on?

[Rich320I]

not really quite that simple verde, have a llok in the wiki it gives a good description of what to do, is not rocket science but its abit more involved and costly, especially if you need to pay someone to do the work.

still having no luck finding something suitable?

i remember passing my test, luckily i had an old mini waiting, but if i didn't have a car id be itching the same as yourself to get one and get driving .

[Topblag]

You need a pedal box, clutch, flywheel, clutch cylinder, prop (front half), gear selector mechanism, gearbox and the carpet up. Not to mention some fluids.

I always advise just buy a car with the gearbox you want, don't mess around with that stuff. Nowt wrong with autos, engines tend to have an easier life than most manuals.

[Rtaylor2208]

Verde have you tried driving an auto yet? I was really scepticle about having an auto but now I have one I love it. Lazy driving and as Colin says they tend to have had an easier life.

[Chris_B86]

Verde have you tried driving an auto yet? I was really scepticle about having an auto but now I have one I love it. Lazy driving and as Colin says they tend to have had an easier life.

I'll vouch, my E36 is an auto, don't think I'd go back to a manual for a daily, it's so comfy for commuting

[gooner1]

Another plus for an auto.
But would I have wanted one at verde,s age? Almost certainly not,
and definitely not if it was my only car.

[Chris_B86]

Thing is though, he only wants it as a temporary car till his project is finished. Surely you could put up with it for a bit, it is only £500

[verde]

Autos bore the absolute fuck out of me. I fell asleep driving mums subaru because it was so bland. Its horrible. I dont know what to do with my left foot, plus theres apparently an old airfield round here id like to go and play round on, id also like to go to a track day at some point ( I want to learn to drive properly ) and an auto is not what I want. Plus they chew fuel and brakes.

I think il just do as topblag says and buy the box I want....pity, theres an E34 auto in aberdeen with MOT and tax, very clean for 500 quid, but its an auto.

[verde]

Thing is though, he only wants it as a temporary car till his project is finished. Surely you could put up with it for a bit, it is only £500

I then do need to take into account i might not get insured on the E30 for a year. So it could be longer than expected

[Chris_B86]

Fair play. I'll be honest though, you'll be hard pressed to find a decent manual 34. Plus if you're planning on having fun, anything less than a 525 Sport is a waste of time. Stick to a 3 series if thats the kind of driving you want to do. Suppose it all depends on how long it will be before yours is finished as to what you can settle for

[FinalD]

Fair play. I'll be honest though, you'll be hard pressed to find a decent manual 34. Plus if you're planning on having fun, anything less than a 525 Sport is a waste of time. Stick to a 3 series if thats the kind of driving you want to do. Suppose it all depends on how long it will be before yours is finished as to what you can settle for

E30 and E36 will both be a nightmare for him to insure to be honest, I had issues insuring an E36 318iS (granted the 318iS has more power than the normal 318i) with a few years on my license and some NCB. I got lucky with Admiral and then Swiftcover but most insurers (including specialists) wanted to charge me £1500+ which I refused to pay...mostly as a couple years prior I'd insured an E36 328i for £700!

Insurers will likely look at age, length of license and then see 'BMW' and refuse or give utterly stupid prices.

verde you'd be best of just getting a normal hatch or something for the first year or so to be honest fella, gets experience in and FWD hatches can be great fun once you learn how to push them (do this on track please ).

[verde]

Im not even replying to that because im sick of saying it. FWD hatches are death traps that kill the local chavs. They are TOO MUCH TO INSURE. Tesco insurance are going to insure me for between 5-800 a year on a 518/20 or a 316/8 Its just finding one that isnt auto. Theres a 316 il go buy tomorrow if its not a raft but id way prefer an E30 cos i think E36s are miserable shit boxes

[FinalD]

Calm yo tits young one.

To be fair to the cars, it's the drivers that are the problem...I know from experience. My first car was a FWD 1.1l Renault 5 which I drove too fast and flipped onto it's roof nearly killing myself. When I drove it slower and sensibly it was fine and didn't try to kill me.
My first RWD car tried to put me in a hedge on the way from picking it up and I'd learnt from before by that point. It had REALLY shit tyres on the back though and the road was greasy due to rain, corrected it and carried on fine.

I've put both RWD and FWD cars sideways (without losing it) and pressed on hard on twisty roads in both, the FWD cars are easier to push quickly around roads. RWD cars are more rewarding as they require being more sensible and controlled with throttle and brake input.

I prefer RWD but there are a lot of FWD cars I'd buy if I wanted a more sensible car.

[verde]

Sorry im just sick of saying it.I dont want something hooliganish but at the same time i do want something fun, im a 20 year old not 40 y/o housewife. TBH il probably buy that e36 316 tomorrow. It just needs to not be rotten or making strange noises. If i can get it for 600 bucks il grab it. Its black, its clean...itl do

[FinalD]

I'm not a housewife either. Mind you, the FWD cars I'd buy thesedays housewives wouldn't.

Yeah, make sure it is clean and straight, doesn't make odd noises (listen for clunks/knocks when going over bumps), check the arches for rust (if there is minor bubbling, ignore it, it'll last ages ), make sure all electrics work etc. Generally speaking, E36s are fairly sound but I'm not clued up on the 316's engine to help on that.

To be fair, insurance at that price is a steal for someone with a brand new license on a BMW.

I'd probably want to spend a max of £700 on the 316 if it is clean and straight etc. otherwise I'd want it for pittance.

[verde]

I shall do man, 700 will be my limit, that way i can buy a new steering wheel ( the one is foul and I have OCD anyway ) and maybe lower it. Insure it and have money for gas

[Topblag]

you haven't even driven the car and you're looking at lowering it already. Everything you do which takes it away from standard will increase the insurance premiums. Save the changes for your E30 and drive it standard.

[verde]

I can keep the standard springs for when I sell it. Standard ride height fucking sucks

[snakebrain]

Slam it and stick a sub in the boot...

[verde]

You get what am sayin bruv

[polsta]

Slam it and stick a sub in the boot...

Verde, the ali G of scottish bad lands innit, west siiiiiiide

[verde]

West siiiiide cos lak, we is on tha west side of aberdeen...which is east but...ya get meh

[Bladerider]

Was searching for something else when I found this thread.

Gotta laugh at the lad - just like I was at that age !!

What he dont know yet and I still miss sometimes, is that in the real world the one litre FWD fagbox he despises would murder the 316/8/520 etc round most the roads where he lives, especially once he has "improved" the suspension with a set of unmatched springs !!

Bimmer looks cooler going slow though !!

lol

Oh and edited to add: Im sure you already have, but just in case you havent - get along to Driftland and ask Jeek nicely to teach you how to drift and balance a car and Im sure your driving will improve immensely. Good Luck fella.

[aimlessrock]

Verde, have you given any thought to a Merc 190?.. they are cheap to insure and reasonably cheap to pick up and fif your bill (German and RWD)??

the 2.6 is quick!

[billgatese30]

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