Tranny Conversion - United Bimmer Community

**estorilm3** · 06-15-2006, 12:08 PM

Anyone have any exp with this? I have a 98 M3 Sedan automatic with 114K miles on it. Well it died Monday and the mechanic I goto said they would have to order one from Germany since they are hard to find and no one rebuild them. He said it would cost around 5 grand for a new auto tranny. I did check with BMW if they have a swap program to get a rebuilt one and it costs also 5 grand.

I was toying with the idea of turning into a manual anyway so I guess what better way than now right. I checked with a local person that sells a manual kit for around 2 grand. They did mention to me that my ASC would not work since they would have to reprogram my car to think its a manual anyone ever get around this?

One last question anyone know of someone who wants a auto tranny that needs rebuild

Should I sell it on ebay I'm sure I can get something out of it?

**celsdogg** · 06-15-2006, 12:16 PM

if ure tranny is made by ZF i know for a fact that they rebuild their trannys all the time.

in any case, i have heard that a swap is not such as easy thing and that your probably better off just getting one that is already a manual.

**estorilm3** · 06-15-2006, 12:22 PM

Yes its a ZF 5HP18. They have performed this on several cars so I have faith in them. I'm leaning more towards going down the manual route.

**xsperf** · 06-15-2006, 02:04 PM

i know for a fact jrhaile has done it, i think it cost him around 2500, but that doesnt include labor because he did it himself(i believe).. theres 1 other website with a DIY, 94bmw325 has it, i guess you(or me) can PM him, he may have the link, now the way i see it, if you are willing to do it urself, the hardest part would be dropping the tranny, but if you have done anything like htat before, dropping the tranny isnt that hard, especially the 2nd time around, if i would do it, i would be worried about the installation of the clutch pedal

**estorilm3** · 06-15-2006, 02:22 PM

I will be having the shop perform the installation. All the parts are going to run 2k so with labor probably total 3k. The shop said that my traction control would not work because they would have to reprogram the computer to recognize it as a manual instead of a auto. They were going to look into how to do this but were not sure how. Wonder if jrhaile or 94bmw325 knows how to do that piece?

**jrhaile** · 06-16-2006, 04:53 PM

I didn't have traction control so I didn't have to worry about it. Your solution is simple though: One, remove traction control because it's the devil. You won't have to reprogram anything for this just pull a few bulbs from your gauge cluster.

If you want traction control, buy a used OBD2 stock DME unit from a manual M3 (easily available now) and have it realigned and it'll work.

I wouldn't spend the time, nor money to have DSC.

Also, I was able to get all of my parts for under 1500 total. I got a used M3 tranny but brand new clutch/flywheel. This wouldn't be a bad time to upgrade your clutch and flywheel while you're in there for a few hundred more.

**estorilm3** · 06-20-2006, 07:12 AM

I plan on buying the shark injector and if I do after the conversion do I treat my car like a Auto or a Manual since it will have a manual tranny but a auto computer? If i go the route and get a new DME then my car will be a "true" manual correct and I would treat it as such?

**jrhaile** · 06-21-2006, 12:06 PM

If you get a manual DME, then yes trear it like it's a manual. Even so, I would still get a shark for a manual.

**estorilm3** · 06-30-2006, 01:38 PM

Well got the car back and its a TOTALLY NEW car. Holy crap does it feel faster. Well it probably is since they told me they kept the auto diff. I have to shift a lot more but its ok for city driving. I dont drive on the highway a lot anyway but Im going to take it out on the highway to see what its like. I hope the rpms dont get to loud to at least go 70-80.

**dinan540** · 06-30-2006, 02:42 PM

Congrats on getting your ride back. Did you get a 5 speed manuat transmission? Is it new or rebuilt? Did you get the shark injector? Upgrade the clutch and flywheel?

**estorilm3** · 06-30-2006, 02:49 PM

I got a 5 spd manual in it. It was a rebuilt ZF tranny. I didnt upgrade anything else but will later. Dont have the cash right now. I'm just happy I got it back and it runs

I justify it by saying I spent 3grand total to buy a new m3