[335dM]

WOW!

[Grazy_87]

So had a bit of a nightmare over the weekend, after having removed the gearbox and trial fitted the Flywheel and clutch which fit perfectly I might add. We moved onto the gearbox, which turned out to be the wrong bloody one. In my hast in ordering a box, I have inadvertently ordered a later box for the N57 engined 330d which has the starter motor located in a different place. After a lot of swearing and walking around in circles I decided to give the race team Id bought the clutch, shifter and flywheel on the off chance they'd have a spare race box knocking around. Which they did! and they sold it to me for half the price Id payed for the other box which I managed to take back to breakers and get a refund. The new box had been serviced by saxon and also has a neat little breather on top which is an added bonus. The dash is now ready and my steering wheel arrived today (pics to follow).The only thing I am missing now is the brace which supports the box which I will order tomorrow then I can fit the prop and take it for a test drive.

[Grazy_87]

Originally Posted by Zugzwang

I'm munching on my popcorn and drinking my cola at a furious pace.

Test drive tomorrow?

Almost there buddy, but can't put everything back together until I get the brace for the box. I would hope by the weekend it will be in a position to start her up and try a test drive (I hope).

[shnaggs]

That was fast!!! Nice work my friend

[mob17]

Nicely played with the second gearbox. This is pioneering stuff!

[BB_cuda]

Thank you for those pictures. In first one, I see end of crankshaft.

Does the manual trans/clutch setup use a pilot bearing there? For old school American muscle cars, you have to be careful as to whether back end of crank is machined to accept pilot bearing I speak of (if you are doing a auto to manual trans conversion). thanks

[Grazy_87]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

Thank you for those pictures. In first one, I see end of crankshaft.

Does the manual trans/clutch setup use a pilot bearing there? For old school American muscle cars, you have to be careful as to whether back end of crank is machined to accept pilot bearing I speak of (if you are doing a auto to manual trans conversion). thanks

In essence yes, but because the M57 is used in manual cars you won't encounter the same problem. It is literally exactly the same as a manual 330d M57 crank set up. This box, clutch and flywheel took less than half an hour to get on. Even the shifter linkage location popped out in the correct place with no modification required.

I picked my flocked dash and M motorsport steering wheel today so I can finally put the car back together and fire her up.

[BB_cuda]

Originally Posted by Grazy_87

In essence yes, but because the M57 is used in manual cars you won't encounter the same problem. It is literally exactly the same as a manual 330d M57 crank set up. This box, clutch and flywheel took less than half an hour to get on. Even the shifter linkage location popped out in the correct place with no modification required.

I picked my flocked dash and M motorsport steering wheel today so I can finally put the car back together and fire her up.

So glad to hear this. Equally happy to hear that your friends helped you out with the correctly fitting M57 specific manual transmission. Bravo sir!

[GaryE30]

I'd like to hear more about the ECU / TCU situation and how its being handled now with a manual gearbox and lack of TCU present.

On my e36, this auto-to-manual swap was relatively easy and required unplugging of the TCU but I still had to send my DDE to my friend Dave (Markert Motorworks) to be coded.

[Grazy_87]

Originally Posted by GaryE30

I'd like to hear more about the ECU / TCU situation and how its being handled now with a manual gearbox and lack of TCU present.

On my e36, this auto-to-manual swap was relatively easy and required unplugging of the TCU but I still had to send my DDE to my friend Dave (Markert Motorworks) to be coded.

I have removed the TCU from the car and most of the loom for it, the car will have to be coded so it 'knows' its no longer an auto. However from speaking to some BMW techs and my mapper they all believe it should run and drive, although the dash will be lit up like a christmas tree lol. Obviously as this has not been done yet I am simply trying to cross each bridge as it comes. I will be happy if the car starts and I can drive it. Then I will trailer it to the Mapper and get it coded and mapped to suit the new drivetrain.

If I can get everything back together by the weekend I will try and do a POV video when driving the car, that is a big 'if' though as it may refuse to drive lol.

Also can someone photoshop some rota D154s onto an E91 please as I am thinking of using them on my car as I love the turbo fan look but not sure if it will work with the car. These are the wheels Im looking at:

[Grazy_87]

Originally Posted by Zugzwang

I would hope to see a group buy after a successful test drive. If a swap is relatively simple and not too pricy. Maybe in 2017 sometime?

If this works, then I can source gearboxes, diffs and props for anyone and also get the flywheel, and clutch at reasonable prices. The real test of the car will be in a couple of weeks when I intend to do a track day as a shake down. If nothing breaks then we know its a good strong reliable set up.

[DWR]

Originally Posted by Grazy_87

If this works, then I can source gearboxes, diffs and props for anyone and also get the flywheel, and clutch at reasonable prices. The real test of the car will be in a couple of weeks when I intend to do a track day as a shake down. If nothing breaks then we know its a good strong reliable set up.

This is a fantastic service you are providing the community. We are all wishing you great success.

[335dlci]

Only if that transmission was easy to find

[Grazy_87]

So today has been a good day on the whole, everything bar the passenger seat is back in the car. Propshaft mated to the diff and box perfectly, exhaust is not on. The flocked dash and new steering wheel really set the car out now IMO. The CAE shifter has such a nice short throw. We had a go at starting the car earlier but, frustratingly it wouldn't start. Gearbox error light flashed up. So its definitely a coding stopping it. Mapper is coming to have a play tomorrow afternoon so fingers crossed I will be driving it come Monday-Tuesday as there are a few little things to finish before its steerable.

Enjoy the Pics (and andy smiling as we got the exhaust on, top bloke!! lol):

[mob17]

I love that shifter, this will be an awesome car once all done. I would love to see this in the flesh one day. To all the people that say diesels aren't for track, check this one out! I think we are all glad someone is willing to experiment and truly modify their 335D on a very tasteful level.

Fingers crossed for you bud!

[mob17]

Oh, and those seats

[Basketcase]

Amazing and inspiring work!!! Excited for more details as you figure out the bugs! Congrats again

[DWR]

Love what I am seeing here.

Got to say I am also digging the backgrounds. Older Porsche, Mercedes ...
Can you get a Ferrari 275 in the background for the next set?

[Mik325tds]

Nice work. Can't wait to see your next video on the track.
As for the coding it really shouldn't be that hard. Just remove option
S205A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
and add option
S207A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION
in the vehicle order with NCSexper and then recode complete car. Be sure to have a good power supply (60A) connected while you do that. Let me know if you have trouble with the coding. Maybe we can do a remote session.

[Grazy_87]

Originally Posted by Mik325tds

Nice work. Can't wait to see your next video on the track.
As for the coding it really shouldn't be that hard. Just remove option
S205A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
and add option
S207A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION
in the vehicle order with NCSexper and then recode complete car. Be sure to have a good power supply (60A) connected while you do that. Let me know if you have trouble with the coding. Maybe we can do a remote session.

Thanks for that buddy! Will let you know how it goes, hopefully this evening I will be able to upload a vid of it running.

[GaryE30]

Question about starting the car without coding done yet. The ECU needs to know the car is either in park or neutral to crank so isnt that handled via the TCU or a position sensor on the auto shifter?

When I did my e36 auto-to-manual conversion, I had to cut a harness plug and solder some wires together to make the car think it was not in gear in order to crank.

Maybe Mik325tds can chime in

[Mik325tds]

Originally Posted by GaryE30

Question about starting the car without coding done yet. The ECU needs to know the car is either in park or neutral to crank so isnt that handled via the TCU or a position sensor on the auto shifter?

When I did my e36 auto-to-manual conversion, I had to cut a harness plug and solder some wires together to make the car think it was not in gear in order to crank.

Maybe Mik325tds can chime in

Good point GaryE30, I think for the manual it is looking for the clutch to be depressed. So there must be a wire connection from the clutch switch to the DDE (or CAS?). But that is only if the car knows it is a manual. For the automatics you're right, it looks for P or N. Let me see if I can find a wiring diagram for that.