Auto to manual conversion - What's required?

[DaveP]

Can I preface this by saying that, unless you've scoped or attempted this yourself, I'm not looking for the standard "cheaper to sell it and buy a manual, mate" replies. Ta.

The cheap, stopgap auto 3.0i I bought just before Christmas has turned out to be in really good condition (according to RBM). And, having lived its life as an auto, it's had a pretty easy life too. It's also got all the options I need (everything except Nav).

I had planned to sell it, and buy a 'sports car' I can use for occasional trackdays and roadtrips. Something reliable and not too compromised. I'd given serious thought to just getting another Z4.

Given that the manual equivalent of my car appears to be £1-1.2k more than mine is worth, it got me thinking about how my life might be significantly easier if I just got someone to swap the gearbox. Even if it cost £1800 all-in to do the swap, that £600 difference is basically the time/energy/travel I'd spend on selling, buying and then fixing any faults or adding options in a replacement.

Has anyone done this successfully? I can find a few E46 guides out there, but nothing for the E85/86.

Has anyone scoped out the required parts? As far as I can see, major stuff looks like:
- Gearbox (I think the E46 330 box fits, but was the same unit fitted to the 125/130? What about the E9x?)
- Clutch kit (LUK kits seem fine)
- Clutch/Brake pedalbox set (I think the E46 one fits, but is it just the 330 or do all E46 ones fit?)
- Propshaft (Looks like a broken Z4 is the only source for this - are the 6spd 2.5si and 3.0si the same part?)

I know the ECUs need programming. Could any specialist do this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[poss]

Can I preface this by saying that, unless you've scoped or attempted this yourself, I'm not looking for the standard "cheaper to sell it and buy a manual, mate" replies. Ta.

Damn!

 

[DaveP]

Damn!

The number of replies I had on the Z4 Facebook group saying this, from people who had no idea how complicated it was or how much it cost, was absolutely hilarious.

Everyone's an 'expert', I guess...

Unlike a lot of previous discussions, I don't need this to be financially viable in the traditional sense. If it saves me the headache of buying/selling/fixing another car, then I'll consider the cash well spent.

 

[Umfaan]

*What year is the car?
I’m stripping a preface ad would probably have all the parts you need ….as not touched engine,gearbox..drive shaft yet.

Also maybe swop the ECU ?

Will pm you

 

[Sidewaze Samm]

Propshaft (Looks like a broken Z4 is the only source for this - are the 6spd 2.5si and 3.0si the same part?)

Have a look on RealOEM, it's your friend here.
I don't know myself, but I was looking at changing a pre-facelift 2.5 from a 5-speed box to a 6-speed and even with that there were lots of questions nobody actually knew the answers to But there were financial constraints too to be fair, so I couldn't just try it and see...
Don't forget it's probably a different ratio in the diff as well.

 

[mr.tourette]

Surely Ross at Rbm is your best source here as he services your car anyway..if anyone will know its him..good luck with it all

 

[DaveP]

Propshaft (Looks like a broken Z4 is the only source for this - are the 6spd 2.5si and 3.0si the same part?)

Have a look on RealOEM, it's your friend here.
I don't know myself, but I was looking at changing a pre-facelift 2.5 from a 5-speed box to a 6-speed and even with that there were lots of questions nobody actually knew the answers to But there were financial constraints too to be fair, so I couldn't just try it and see...
Don't forget it's probably a different ratio in the diff as well.

I read somewhere that the auto diff is preferable from an acceleration perspective, but I'd have to do some reading on that.

 

[DaveP]

Surely Ross at Rbm is your best source here as he services your car anyway..if anyone will know its him..good luck with it all

I'm sure RBM would be grand, but I wanted to get some wider input before I asked them.

 

[B21]

Sorry can't help but the good news is that from an electronics side its going to be a lot easier than going the other way..

 

[Special Kay]

Best of luck with the swop, please keep us updated. It would be great if you did a 'How to do a auto to manual conversion'. Not only would it be an interesting read, but a great instruction manual for any member wishing to follow in your footsteps.

 

[DaveP]

Best of luck with the swop, please keep us updated. It would be great if you did a 'How to do a auto to manual conversion'. Not only would it be an interesting read, but a great instruction manual for any member wishing to follow in your footsteps.

I'm absolutely not going to be doing any of the work myself. I don't have the talent, time, tools or patience.

 

[enuff_zed]

Best of luck with the swop, please keep us updated. It would be great if you did a 'How to do a auto to manual conversion'. Not only would it be an interesting read, but a great instruction manual for any member wishing to follow in your footsteps.

I'm absolutely not going to be doing any of the work myself. I don't have the talent, time, tools or patience.

Not done the job myself, so not really that qualified to comment but...............I will anyway. :wink:
If you're not going to do the work yourself then I can see no way that it will come anywhere near as cheap as selling and buying a manual.
Labour costs will hit you hard, plus no garage is going to give you much in the way of a warranty if you source second-hand parts. Some may even refuse to take it on as if anything went wrong later on, who could say if it was a duff part, or something they did when they fitted it?
Secondly, if you're not doing to do it yourself then Ross at RBM would seem the ideal person to ask. Although he's a forum member I feel he may be a little put out if you quoted 'amateur' opinions to him.

If you can indeed find someone who's done it then you're onto a winner, but the fact you've asked on fb and on here and got nothing back would suggest it's either not been done due to cost differences, or the person who did it is not one for much social media.

I wish you luck but I do have a horrible feeling you may look back and wish you'd bought a manual.

 

[skelters]

- Gearbox (I think the E46 330 box fits, but was the same unit fitted to the 125/130? What about the E9x?)
- Clutch kit (LUK kits seem fine)
- Clutch/Brake pedalbox set (I think the E46 one fits, but is it just the 330 or do all E46 ones fit?)
- Propshaft (Looks like a broken Z4 is the only source for this - are the 6spd 2.5si and 3.0si the same part?)

By the scientific method of eBay prices...

M54 6 speed Gearbox - £400
LUK Clutch Kit - £126.86
Pedal Box - £38.39
Propshaft - £120
Diff £295.00
All Pre Owned with zero guarantee!
Total.... £980.25

Then there's the reprogramming that needs to be done.

Reconditioned gearbox.... you might want to be sitting down....
https://www.automatic-gearbox.co.uk/bmw-gearboxes/

Model Engine Transmission Type Gearbox Price Torque Converter Price Remove & Refit Labour Fluids Total Price
BMW Z4 ROADSTER L6 3.0L (2007-) GM 6L50E (6SPEED) £1395.00 £390.00 £310.00 £200.00 £2,295.00 (exc VAT) £2,754.00 (inc VAT)
BMW Z4 ROADSTER L6 2.5L/3.0L (2003-2006) GM 5L40E £995.00 £350.00 £310.00 £150.00 £1,805.00 (exc VAT) £2,166.00 (inc VAT)
BMW Z4 ROADSTER L6 2.5L/3.0L (2002-2003) ZF 5HP19 £995.00 £350.00 £310.00 £150.00 £1,805.00 (exc VAT) £2,116.00 (inc VAT)


An interesting idea but you need your fucking head looked at as the car will be worth less when it comes to selling it as nobody will want to touch it.

More info....
https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/z4-manual-swap.1130617/

e46 Manual swap...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqJG4ZyPIF6MNLKk9Wj4ck57YAtZND0iF

Good luck but go and see a doctor ffs!

 

[Mr Tidy]

*What year is the car?
I’m stripping a preface ad would probably have all the parts you need ….as not touched engine,gearbox..drive shaft yet.

Also maybe swop the ECU ?

Will pm you

That looks like a good option for the parts, and I'm sure Ross could do the work for you.

As to what it would end up costing, who knows? :roll:

But good luck if you go for it.

 

[ThePocketGT]

There is a company called Spartan automotive who specialise in SMG and auto conversion on e46s using oem parts. I enquired about my coupe and it is something he can do. He is based 10 minutes from the M3 near Odiham.
This is Tom's no. 07540 655557

 

[DaveP]

- Gearbox (I think the E46 330 box fits, but was the same unit fitted to the 125/130? What about the E9x?)
- Clutch kit (LUK kits seem fine)
- Clutch/Brake pedalbox set (I think the E46 one fits, but is it just the 330 or do all E46 ones fit?)
- Propshaft (Looks like a broken Z4 is the only source for this - are the 6spd 2.5si and 3.0si the same part?)

By the scientific method of eBay prices...

M54 6 speed Gearbox - £400
LUK Clutch Kit - £126.86
Pedal Box - £38.39
Propshaft - £120
Diff £295.00
All Pre Owned with zero guarantee!
Total.... £980.25

Then there's the reprogramming that needs to be done.

Reconditioned gearbox.... you might want to be sitting down....
https://www.automatic-gearbox.co.uk/bmw-gearboxes/

Model Engine Transmission Type Gearbox Price Torque Converter Price Remove & Refit Labour Fluids Total Price
BMW Z4 ROADSTER L6 3.0L (2007-) GM 6L50E (6SPEED) £1395.00 £390.00 £310.00 £200.00 £2,295.00 (exc VAT) £2,754.00 (inc VAT)
BMW Z4 ROADSTER L6 2.5L/3.0L (2003-2006) GM 5L40E £995.00 £350.00 £310.00 £150.00 £1,805.00 (exc VAT) £2,166.00 (inc VAT)
BMW Z4 ROADSTER L6 2.5L/3.0L (2002-2003) ZF 5HP19 £995.00 £350.00 £310.00 £150.00 £1,805.00 (exc VAT) £2,116.00 (inc VAT)


An interesting idea but you need your f***ing head looked at as the car will be worth less when it comes to selling it as nobody will want to touch it.

More info....
https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/z4-manual-swap.1130617/

e46 Manual swap...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqJG4ZyPIF6MNLKk9Wj4ck57YAtZND0iF

Good luck but go and see a doctor ffs!

I'm not really exploring this as a pure exercise in doing it as cost-effectively as possible. I just want to know what a realistic cost would be.

My time is important and valuable. I'm happy to spend money to save myself time and hassle.

Selling a car, finding and buying another car, and then fixing/improving another car is a bad use of my time if the alternative is spending a few hundred quid.

I appreciate not everyone will understand this.

 

[Ollie118]

Looking at carrying out this swap on my 2.5 aswell but no useful Information is really at hand, just people giving there two pence

 

[enuff_zed]

Looking at carrying out this swap on my 2.5 aswell but no useful Information is really at hand, just people giving there two pence

Welcome to the forum.
I reckon as it's been quiet for a year it turned out to be not so easy.
However, if you wanted to go ahead then my suggestion would be to manual breaker, swap all the bits you need over and sell the rest to assist in financing it.

Of course you then hit the dilemma of would it be easier to swap your bits into the manual car.

 

[brillomaster]

Also everythingm3s do auto to manual swaps, and as you say the e46 is pretty similar to the e85 so im sure theyd offer advice, might even quote you for the job.