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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Powertrain and Drivetrain Discussions > N55 Turbo Engine Tuning and Exhaust Modifications - 335i Tuning > 2011 N55 Auto X Drive to Manual Rwd swap questions.



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      01-20-2025, 10:09 AM   #1
aspodaboss
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2011 N55 Auto X Drive to Manual Rwd swap questions.

2011 N55 Auto X Drive to Manual Rwd swap questions.

Hey, how are you guys. I recently traded my fully built e90 330i drift car for an 2011 M Sport 335i x drive in auto . The eventual plan was to manual swap it using the N54 rwd transmission and delete all the front x drive components. My question is How compatible is the swap and what would work and what would not.

I am very fabrication handily with previously owning and LS swapping a handful of cars including 2 e46 m3 and 2 e36 and so on so fabrication is not an issue.


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      01-21-2025, 01:16 PM   #2
RoarinForeign
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I don’t know a ton on this topic, but you’ll still have to use the xi front suspension pieces as far as I know. Specifically the coilovers. The strut towers are different from awd / rwd. Oil pan.

There’s also x-delete, I’m not sure if you’ve heard of that. Add a Rear LSD and you’d be in good shape with a awd 6psd. I find that there are more manual awd cars than rwd when I look at 335s.

Best of luck, make a post of what you end up going with. I’m sure there’s others who have tried or thought of trying this.
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      01-21-2025, 08:11 PM   #3
TheGoodTheBadTheUgly
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aspodaboss View Post
2011 N55 Auto X Drive to Manual Rwd swap questions.

Hey, how are you guys. I recently traded my fully built e90 330i drift car for an 2011 M Sport 335i x drive in auto . The eventual plan was to manual swap it using the N54 rwd transmission and delete all the front x drive components. My question is How compatible is the swap and what would work and what would not.

I am very fabrication handily with previously owning and LS swapping a handful of cars including 2 e46 m3 and 2 e36 and so on so fabrication is not an issue.


Picture below of the newly acquired E90
Why do you want to remove xDrive? If it is to make the car RWD, do as the previous post, use X Delete and then you can change your diff, put an LSD or whatever you want to do.

If it's for weight reduction or other purpose well it gets quite a bit complicated. The suspension and axle components of a xDrive and RWD are not the same for the front of the car.

I compared quickly part numbers on RealOEM for a 2011 N55 335i xDrive VS RWD and here some parts that I saw different for suspension only:
-Sway bar
-End links
-Front subframe
-All axle support suspension components
-Wheel carrier

Ok not much point going further sine it will go on for pretty much everything and this without even stepping out of the suspension realm... basically it's a totally different front setup than a RWD.

As far as it goes for the transmission swap, it's doable to go from AT to MT, I have also seen N54 MT transmission swapped on a N55 but there is somethings to change or account for with flywheel and driveshaft if I recall. I don't remember if this type of information was also available for xDrive, I imagine not but highly encourage you to try to find out.
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Last edited by TheGoodTheBadTheUgly; 01-21-2025 at 08:19 PM..
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      01-22-2025, 07:24 AM   #4
aspodaboss
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGoodTheBadTheUgly View Post
Why do you want to remove xDrive? If it is to make the car RWD, do as the previous post, use X Delete and then you can change your diff, put an LSD or whatever you want to do.

If it's for weight reduction or other purpose well it gets quite a bit complicated. The suspension and axle components of a xDrive and RWD are not the same for the front of the car.

I compared quickly part numbers on RealOEM for a 2011 N55 335i xDrive VS RWD and here some parts that I saw different for suspension only:
-Sway bar
-End links
-Front subframe
-All axle support suspension components
-Wheel carrier

Ok not much point going further sine it will go on for pretty much everything and this without even stepping out of the suspension realm... basically it's a totally different front setup than a RWD.

As far as it goes for the transmission swap, it's doable to go from AT to MT, I have also seen N54 MT transmission swapped on a N55 but there is somethings to change or account for with flywheel and driveshaft if I recall. I don't remember if this type of information was also available for xDrive, I imagine not but highly encourage you to try to find out.
I want to turn it into my new drift chassis. I wanted something with a bit more power so I opted in for 335. So far what I’m getting out of it is a new subframe, new oil pan, ecu as well as all of the front steering components which are a breeze since I’m gonna be running a full angle Kit and will replace a lot of those anyway.
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      01-22-2025, 09:06 AM   #5
wheela
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I like those headlights! Sounds like a cool project, I'm interested in seeing how it turns out.

I'm curious, why are you looking to use an n54 transmission instead of an n55 transmission? Sorry if it should be obvious, I'm 6AT so never really paid attention to manual transmission details on this platform.
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      01-22-2025, 09:20 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wheela View Post
I like those headlights! Sounds like a cool project, I'm interested in seeing how it turns out.

I'm curious, why are you looking to use an n54 transmission instead of an n55 transmission? Sorry if it should be obvious, I'm 6AT so never really paid attention to manual transmission details on this platform.
The n54 transmission is more robust and more common and thanx by the way .
I’m just gathering the last few bits of info and parts I need and then I’m yanking the engine and beginning the swap
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