auto to manual swap questions

[tiFreak]

couple questions, I know I've read the answers on here before, but I searched and couldn't find the answers and I can't remember

1. will the clutch and brake pedal from any E36 work in a ti? I'm thinking it will but I just want to make sure

2. will the driveshaft from a standard transmission 318is work in the ti in all one piece? or do I have to use the front section of one and the rear section of another?

[Bluebimma]

pedals are the same, use their complete shaft assembly or mix their front with your rear. Risk is vibration due to imbalance.

[tiFreak]

thanks, that's what I thought

[bimmerboy16]

arent you already standard?

[tiFreak]

yeah, but the other ti I'm thinking of picking up isn't ;)

[THAT318]

damnnnn think you gon have enough bimmers?? oh wait theres no such thing as too much!

[tiFreak]

if the deal works out I'll be getting rid of the E46

[THAT318]

werd? that was quick hah

[tiFreak]

yeah it was lol, it was sort of a chance thing, a friend of a friend of my dad owns the ti and wanted my E46 so my dad asked me half-joking if I was interested in making the trade and I really surprised him when I said yes :lol: it's either going to be a track rat or winter beater, and right now I'm leaning more towards track rat

[tiFreak]

ok, one more question, about how much would the swap cost? the guy I was talking to about said it would be about $2k, that's kind of a dealbreaker for me

[PrimeTimeSlime]

ok, one more question, about how much would the swap cost? the guy I was talking to about said it would be about $2k, that's kind of a dealbreaker for me

Hey TiFreak,
I just bought all the stuff for a swap for about $500. If you keep your eyes open, you can find the parts for pretty cheap. If you are going to be in GA, we can do them at the same time.

[tiFreak]

I'm in the town of Georgia, don't think that helps :| I guess I'll just hope some deal pops up within the next few days

[PrimeTimeSlime]

Not sure if it will fit but..
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/pts/1741486448.html

[PrimeTimeSlime]

Check out this one too, he's been trying to sell it for a while
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/pts/1740945759.html

[tiFreak]

transmissions are heavy though, shipping it that far would probably be way too expensive :(

[PrimeTimeSlime]

Oh, I get it, you are in a town called Georgia in VT. I thought you meant you were down south. Doh!

[tiFreak]

lol, yeah, it's confused a couple people :lol:

[THAT318]

you have been PM'd sir.

[MFEnthusiast]

When swapping from an automatic to a manual, what are the issues to deal with? I understand the driveshaft swap issue, but what about the wiring harness? Should I use the wiring harness from the manual car, or is there some way to rig the auto harness to account for the reverse indicator switch? What other issues are there?
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Mark

[Bluebimma]

I just sent a getrag to the east coast for 50$ at 70lbs. Auto to manual requires a slave install, clutch lines, master resevoir tap, pedal mount, reverse light, driveshaft, and rear end change for ratio.

[kuleinc]

I got a 96 318ti for $700...

I hate the Auto in it, I've driven a 95 with a 5 speed and it just felt more responsive, and I prefer stick. I live in CA so I need to know if anyone has converted to stick and gotten the CEL to not come on and pass smog?

Its easy enough for me to get a 6 cylinder transmission and just reuse my auto dif with its low gears. There might need to be drive shaft length changes though? couldn't one just use the six cylinder manual from a Z3 and corresponding drive shaft? or is the Z3 too different from a Ti? It looked like they were very close under neath the bodies?

I've read and read threads, but have not seen anyone just swapping a manual tranny from a six cylinder Z3 into an auto Ti and leaving the stock diff and M44 engine alone?

[Marv17]

well if you leave the stock auto diff you will be reving high and quick throughout the gears. when i did my swap i used my auto diff for a week or so and i went thru gears like butter. i was in 5th gear just trying to cruise around town and it was at 4k rpm's. Thats why you haven't heard ppl keeping their auto diff on when they do a manual swap.
THERFORE, you need to get a drive shaft from the manual car, ie. manual Z3, ti, coupe, sedan, then get your hands on a diff with a ratio of either 2.93 - 3.73, depending on your liking and goal of your outcome. Lower numbers mean lower rpm's at high speeds and vis versa. and yes you will get a CEL light when you do a swap unless you reset the ECU or something. Tony knows more about it.

[kuleinc]

I'm talking about using a 6 Cylinder Manual trans with my auto diff, to keep the ratios correct, the auto is basically a 6 cyl geared tranny with a super low rear end because its mated to a 4 cyl engine...

Do you have Tony's email address or someway to contact him? I don't know him personally...

[PrimeTimeSlime]

I'm talking about using a 6 Cylinder Manual trans with my auto diff, to keep the ratios correct, the auto is basically a 6 cyl geared tranny with a super low rear end because its mated to a 4 cyl engine...

Do you have Tony's email address or someway to contact him? I don't know him personally...



The number of cylinders doesn't make a difference as all 318tis are 4 cyl. The transmissions are the same as other e36 tranny's as far as I know.
You need either a diff from a 318ti or a e30. Other e36 diffs wont fit.

[Bluebimma]

All you need is the front half of a manual driveshaft, or purchase a full driveshaft that will or will not be in balance anyways. Any drive shop can balance a drive shaft for you. Reuse your rear half of the shaft, then the front of a manual. Rear end is pure preference. IMO, 3.73-4.10 is the perfect ratio for the M50, havent had any problems and get pretty damned good gas mileage, 25mpg city and i dont drive like a grandma. On the highway, i easily catch 31-33mpg 4.5k at 80mph. Ive had the 3.25lsd and it was too harsh on city mpg and only yielded a mere 2 more mpg on the highway. 4.44 IS too much for a manual 6 though. I ran that for every bit of 4 days. The car was undeniably quick through the gears and out the hole, but way too much goin on. 4.10 puts torque when you need it, always. Whether its off the line, or passing, you dont have to drop gears just to pass someone.

3.25 gearing
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o305/bluebimma/th_DSCN1225.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o305/bluebimma/?action=view&current=DSCN1225.flv)


4.10 gearing
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/Tnichols/1996%20Sport%20Ti/Videos/th_DSCN2729.jpg (http://s685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/Tnichols/1996%20Sport%20Ti/Videos/?action=view&current=DSCN2729.flv)

4.44 gearing
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/Tnichols/1996%20Sport%20Ti/th_DSCN2578.jpg (http://s685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/Tnichols/1996%20Sport%20Ti/?action=view&current=DSCN2578.flv)

Even though taken with a 6 cyl, you get the idea. The 4 cyl would respond slightly differently than the 6. From my trip to new hampshire, we drove at about 85-90mph the whole way back in my 325ti and the clusbport 1.8, the clubsport managed almost 500 miles to the tank while the 325 made very close to 400...3.45 vs 4.10, 4 vs 6. The manaul swap isnt too complicated, just tedious.

[kuleinc]

How do you do the manual swap and get the check engine light to not come on? I was under the impression that because the computer expects to be hooked up to the auto and isn't that it throws three or four codes on the CEL...

So the 6 cylinder manual trannies are not geared differently then the 4 cylinder manuals?

[kuleinc]

Just to be clear, which I don't think I have been, I want to use:

-M44 Engine
-Manual transmission from a car with a 6 Cylinder
-M44 AUTO Rear End

Would it still be geared too low?

[Bluebimma]

Like i said, i posted with my 6 cyls, it translates exactly the same for a 4cyl.

[kuleinc]

you have a six cylinder engine and a transmission out of a 6 cylinder car?

So wouldn't the four cylinder engine need a bit lower rear end gearing with the same transmission that your six has or am I like missing something? I feel really dumb...

[Bluebimma]

No, i use my stock 4 cyl transmission, its the SAME transmission. I use a 6 cyl engine with a 4.10 rear limited slip.

[kuleinc]

so the M44 car with a manual from factory got the same transmission as a 325 or whatever with a manual transmission? Same gear ratios?

[Bluebimma]

yes, there is nothing different, look it up.

[kuleinc]

Would you recommend the 4.1 rear end for duty behind an M44 and the 5 speed or just if you have a 6 cylinder?

[Bluebimma]

use it for either, its all your preference and how you like the car to perform. The 4.10 i have is the medium case which is a good 20-30lbs heavier than the stock unit. The cars characteristics will change quite a bit.

[kuleinc]

sorry for all the newb questions, I manage a BMW shop since January, and I bought a 318ti from the owner for $700, car had no front end on it, now does. I prefer stick. the car is auto. Everyone at the shop is telling me its a nightmare to convert, I don't think its that hard, but I'm pretty new to BMWs. I'm pretty sure my 92 GTi with the small 8V 1.8L 105HP engine could easily outrun my 318ti M44 auto car... I'm probably going to also buy a 95 M3 for like $4500, and then give my wife the 318ti, she also prefers stick...

[Bluebimma]

it took me 3 hours to do the conversion, its not that difficult. i didnt use air tools, no friendly help, and was my first time.

[PrimeTimeSlime]

it took me 3 hours to do the conversion, its not that difficult. i didnt use air tools, no friendly help, and was my first time.

:eek::eek: 3 hours! you're a mad man! That's encouraging, I'm starting mine as soon as I can find a place to do it.

[kuleinc]

Does the CEL come on now that the auto tranny is missing?

[kuleinc]

I just found Jim's Manual, I didn't know it existed, I get paid Friday and will buy it. Sorry for the newb questions, I think it will answer everything I have questions for...