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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Powertrain and Drivetrain Discussions > NA Engine (non-turbo) / Drivetrain / Exhaust Modifications > Bmw E90 Manual Transmission Conversion



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      04-10-2016, 04:57 PM   #67
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Originally Posted by Rollen View Post
DONT DO IT
Every project is different and looks like the OP is doing a great job.

Trans swaps in the BMW world are not so rare...amongst differing generations, size cars and auto/mt. The rwd/front engine layout is more forgiving for parts designs.
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      04-11-2016, 08:54 AM   #68
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I'm doing a 6MT swap into my E91 later this year. It's not a very involved process, and I'm going to working with two friends who have already done multiple 6MT swaps not to mention this weekend finishing up converting an E46 325iT auto to a complete E46 M3T. Manual swaps are pieces of cake for these guys at this point.
Hey I'm in Raleigh, interested in helping out a fellow North Carolinian with a swap? I went from a Sport package/6MT/RWD E90 to an xDrive/auto/nonsport and my soul hurts from the lack of left leg usage.
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      04-11-2016, 09:09 AM   #69
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Originally Posted by rothwem View Post
Hey I'm in Raleigh, interested in helping out a fellow North Carolinian with a swap? I went from a Sport package/6MT/RWD E90 to an xDrive/auto/nonsport and my soul hurts from the lack of left leg usage.
Give us until later this year and sure. I'm not sure how xDrive does or doesn't effect things however (i.e. final drive ratios may be an issue between auto and 6MT versions). I do realize I'm going to need to swap the differential on my RWD E91 given the final drive ratio is so much different between auto and 6MT, so I'm probably going to buy a simple 2-plate 45/45 LSD diff with the right ratio from diffsonline. I'm planning on doing the suspension at the same time -- M3 control arms front and rear, Koni struts/shocks, and I suppose E93 M3 front and rear sway bars.

Unfortunately, there are lots of projects tying up lift time over the following months including doing a clutch job on my M5 -- that's 1st priority for me. As soon as the E46 M3T build gets off the lift in goes an E39 525iT for a manual swap. Hopefully the clutch job on the M5 can fit in after that.

We have a coding expert in the group (blackknight530i), so hopefully the swap will go smooth on the E91. I'll post back here later this year, but in the meantime you can follow the other build threads on bimmerforums and m3fourm.net by Redshift and blackknight530i if interested.
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      04-11-2016, 09:29 AM   #70
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Originally Posted by CSBM5 View Post
Give us until later this year and sure. I'm not sure how xDrive does or doesn't effect things however (i.e. final drive ratios may be an issue between auto and 6MT versions). I do realize I'm going to need to swap the differential on my RWD E91 given the final drive ratio is so much different between auto and 6MT, so I'm probably going to buy a simple 2-plate 45/45 LSD diff with the right ratio from diffsonline. I'm planning on doing the suspension at the same time -- M3 control arms front and rear, Koni struts/shocks, and I suppose E93 M3 front and rear sway bars.

Unfortunately, there are lots of projects tying up lift time over the following months including doing a clutch job on my M5 -- that's 1st priority for me. As soon as the E46 M3T build gets off the lift in goes an E39 525iT for a manual swap. Hopefully the clutch job on the M5 can fit in after that.

We have a coding expert in the group (blackknight530i), so hopefully the swap will go smooth on the E91. I'll post back here later this year, but in the meantime you can follow the other build threads on bimmerforums and m3fourm.net by Redshift and blackknight530i if interested.
Awesome! I'll probably hit you up later this year sometime, probably around the fall.

About the diffs--yea, the xdrive wagons come with a 3.91 final drive, which is truly nuts. It always starts in second gear, its like I've only got a 5 speed, not 6 speed automatic.

I think that probably the best way to do the swap would be with a donor car, find a wrecked car (or maybe a flood car?) and do the swap with that. I'd love to swap from Xdrive to RWD too, but that's going to involve a subframe swap, which might require an oil pan swap...and I really don't want to touch the motor if I don't have to.
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      04-11-2016, 09:39 AM   #71
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there's no reason you have to swap the differentials. yes, the ratio is shorter, but lots of guys go for shorter ratios on their 6mt's anyway. It just depends if you want to live with the higher freeway RPMs or not.
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      04-11-2016, 09:48 AM   #72
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there's no reason you have to swap the differentials. yes, the ratio is shorter, but lots of guys go for shorter ratios on their 6mt's anyway. It just depends if you want to live with the higher freeway RPMs or not.
hey, now, don't allow me to ruin my plan for an LSD in this thing! Seriously though, the ratio difference is a tad over 15% for the 6MT which is just a bit too much for what I'm interested in having...the other option of course is just to pick up a used open diff which is easy and cheap (~$200-400 range).
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      04-11-2016, 10:01 AM   #73
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how about converting the auto diff to LSD?

I agree these cars need LSD. I think I would at least try it with the auto diff for a while to see what you think though. It's not like it has to be done immediately, you can always swap in a taller ratio in later.
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      04-11-2016, 10:32 AM   #74
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Originally Posted by hassmaschine View Post
there's no reason you have to swap the differentials. yes, the ratio is shorter, but lots of guys go for shorter ratios on their 6mt's anyway. It just depends if you want to live with the higher freeway RPMs or not.
I realize that, but I do mind the increased freeway RPMs, and a super low first gear is a pain in the ass. My Tacoma 6MT had a really short 1st and it drove me nuts to shift before the end of an intersection. The Tacoma only revved to 5500 though.

I'm also thinking that I might be able to get some resale value out of the diffs since they're fairly rare. I'm thinking that some 335xi guys might jump at the chance for a super-low final drive gear.
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      04-24-2016, 06:47 PM   #75
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mt

Really dont understand why the price tag for this swap is over 5k when parts can be had for at most 2.5k if not cheaper from a donner car. Dropping a tranny doesnt take that long and putting one up either. so where does the other 2.5k go? labor really? If the was reasonable say 4k there would be alot more people doing it.
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      04-27-2016, 01:45 AM   #76
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Finished up my N54 Manual transmission swap couple weeks ago.

here is thread with parts list
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1255017
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      12-12-2017, 01:56 PM   #77
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The auto trans in the 325 isn't bad. I'd just save the money and trade in for a 335i or 335is. Save yourself the headache.
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      12-12-2017, 02:24 PM   #78
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way to bump a 2 year old thread to tell somebody to buy a 335i...
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      07-16-2018, 07:01 PM   #79
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What if you had an e92 with low miles and you loved it. Really good condition in and out, zero dents.

Also lets say you put thousands in technology upgrades into it already which you would have to swap into the new manual car you'd replace it with. (nbd just personal effort and time).

And what if your auto tranny is on the way out because you ride your car hard and should have gotten a manual in the first place?

What would the cost difference be to repair/replace your existing auto, for a manual with all the extra pieces and labour that would be required for the swap?

If it's a few thousand on top, I feel like under the conditions I laid out it might be a considerable option. What do you think?

I was considering replacing my car with basically the same car in manual but I'd end up paying $3000 in tax anyway because Ontario charges sales tax on used cars which is insane.
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      07-16-2018, 09:36 PM   #80
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hassmaschine View Post
way to bump a 2 year old thread to tell somebody to buy a 335i...
If there's one thing 335i guys are good at..

Quote:
Originally Posted by ssshake View Post
What if you had an e92 with low miles and you loved it. Really good condition in and out, zero dents.

Also lets say you put thousands in technology upgrades into it already which you would have to swap into the new manual car you'd replace it with. (nbd just personal effort and time).

And what if your auto tranny is on the way out because you ride your car hard and should have gotten a manual in the first place?

What would the cost difference be to repair/replace your existing auto, for a manual with all the extra pieces and labour that would be required for the swap?

If it's a few thousand on top, I feel like under the conditions I laid out it might be a considerable option. What do you think?

I was considering replacing my car with basically the same car in manual but I'd end up paying $3000 in tax anyway because Ontario charges sales tax on used cars which is insane.
These are the 'costs' that no one actually considers when they blindly suggest selling your current car to buy a 335i, or a manual 328i. Taxes, titling, tag transfer. Lots of time finding a suitable replacement car, negotiating with a salesmen, getting cars sold from under you, unknown service history, less than ideal options, etc.
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      05-07-2021, 05:16 AM   #81
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Hey guys, I have a 6MT 2007 328i and I bought a AT 2011 328i for a really good price. I was thinking about just swapping over the parts from my existing car. My car has 175k miles and the 2011 only has 130k and is in nicer condition. My 2007 has idle issues and when I replaced the vanos solenoids the car acted like crap so I think I need new cam bearing ledge seals too.

Has anyone else been in my position where they already had a manual donor car?

It doesn’t sound that hard tbh, the only problem I would have is aligning the clutch to the flywheel and aligning the ews which I would just send the car to a shop to get that done.
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      05-07-2021, 08:33 AM   #82
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That seems like waaaaay more work than just fixing your engine. Does the 2007 N52 even have cam bearing ledge seal issues?
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