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What are the difference's between a auto and manual transfer case

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    What are the difference's between a auto and manual transfer case

    Hey guys sorry for the newb questions in advance but this is my first iX so im doing a bit of learning, definitely not new to BMWs, just the awd ones lol. The question i have is what are the differences between the auto and manual transfer cases? I have a chance to get my hands on a transfer case from a auto iX and with really low miles on it for a really good price, so therefore i was wondering what the differences are and if its possible to use the auto transfer case in the a manual car with parts off the one currently in my car since its a manual, my tcase works awesome but i figure its not a bad idea to have a spare one on hand.
    Current:1995 :540i--m60+6speed+bunch of other goodies(supercharged) hehe
    1995 525i-5, new winterbeater/DD
    In the past
    1987 300sdl(winterbeater/DD)
    1990 325iS caged and m50ed plus a whole bunch of other stuff!
    1995 540i-6 speed oxford over parchemnt
    1990 BMW 325i(s)Brillantrot with black int
    1995 Audi A6 5speed
    1991BMW750il

    #2
    At the risk of being painfully obvious, one is for an automatic transmission and one is for a manual transmission. No, they are not interchangeable. The internals are the same but the cases are different to mate up to the specific transmission. If the VC (viscous coupling) is good in the auto one, hang on to it. Good VC's are hard to come by and are NLA from the factory.

    Comment


      #3
      At the risk of being painfully obvious, one is for an automatic transmission and one is for a manual transmission. No, they are not interchangeable. The internals are the same but the cases are different to mate up to the specific transmission. If the VC (viscous coupling) is good in the auto one, hang on to it. Good VC's are hard to come by and are NLA from the factory.

      This much i figured but thanks for ur input i was more curious as to what are the specific differences between the two
      Current:1995 :540i--m60+6speed+bunch of other goodies(supercharged) hehe
      1995 525i-5, new winterbeater/DD
      In the past
      1987 300sdl(winterbeater/DD)
      1990 325iS caged and m50ed plus a whole bunch of other stuff!
      1995 540i-6 speed oxford over parchemnt
      1990 BMW 325i(s)Brillantrot with black int
      1995 Audi A6 5speed
      1991BMW750il

      Comment


        #4
        The front case half and the input shaft. The manual has a seperae shaft, the auto is built into the tranny. Internally, they are the same, and you can build a manual one using parts from an automatic.
        Build thread

        Bimmerlabs

        Comment


          #5
          The front case half and the input shaft. The manual has a seperae shaft, the auto is built into the tranny. Internally, they are the same, and you can build a manual one using parts from an automatic

          I see so could you just unbolt the front half of a auto transfer case and bolt it on to a manual transfer case or vice verse?
          Current:1995 :540i--m60+6speed+bunch of other goodies(supercharged) hehe
          1995 525i-5, new winterbeater/DD
          In the past
          1987 300sdl(winterbeater/DD)
          1990 325iS caged and m50ed plus a whole bunch of other stuff!
          1995 540i-6 speed oxford over parchemnt
          1990 BMW 325i(s)Brillantrot with black int
          1995 Audi A6 5speed
          1991BMW750il

          Comment


            #6
            "just unbolt the front half of a auto transfer case and bolt it on to a manual transfer case or vice verse"

            not quite that easy as components stay attached to the front half of the case and will need to be removed and installed into the other front case half and there is a shim that has to be set up properly if case halves are changed, good time to change seals also

            see group 27 (forward button) Transfer Box page 12 in this TIS for disassembly/reassembly
            Last edited by spdracrm3; 12-27-2014, 07:58 PM.
            Angus
            88 E30M3 X2
            89 325IX
            92 R100GS/PD
            :)

            Comment


              #7
              "just unbolt the front half of a auto transfer case and bolt it on to a manual transfer case or vice verse"

              not quite that easy as components stay attached to the front half of the case and will need to be removed and installed into the other front case half and there is a shim that has to be set up properly if case halves are changed, good time to change seals also

              see group 27 (forward button) Transfer Box page 12 in this TIS for disassembly/reassembly
              https://www.bmwtechinfo.com/repair/m...1en/index.htm]
              Thanks man do you think its worth it to pick up the extra transfer case for the VC incase i ever have issues with mine, the VCs is interchangeable correct?
              Current:1995 :540i--m60+6speed+bunch of other goodies(supercharged) hehe
              1995 525i-5, new winterbeater/DD
              In the past
              1987 300sdl(winterbeater/DD)
              1990 325iS caged and m50ed plus a whole bunch of other stuff!
              1995 540i-6 speed oxford over parchemnt
              1990 BMW 325i(s)Brillantrot with black int
              1995 Audi A6 5speed
              1991BMW750il

              Comment


                #8
                absolutely if you can get it cheap , you can tear it apart an learn how it works (i just got an Auto T-case for free ,just paid shipping, has bad VC but new chain/gears NLA, will rebuild VC ) especially if the VC is good which you can test off the car by locking one output and attempting to turn the other output it should be very hard if not impossible to turn if the VC is good. i have two spares now 1 man 1 auto

                VC are the same Manual to Auto as are about 90% of internals

                lots of good info on E30tech IX digest (not very active anymore) like this VC rebuild post
                Last edited by spdracrm3; 12-27-2014, 08:18 PM.
                Angus
                88 E30M3 X2
                89 325IX
                92 R100GS/PD
                :)

                Comment


                  #9
                  absolutely if you can get it cheap , you can tear it apart an learn how it works (i just got an Auto T-case for free ,just paid shipping, has bad VC but new chain/gears NLA, will rebuild VC ) especially if the VC is good which you can test off the car by locking one output and attempting to turn the other output it should be very hard if not impossible to turn if the VC is good. i have two spares now 1 man 1 auto

                  VC are the same Manual to Auto as are about 90% of internals

                  lots of good info on E30tech IX digest (not very active anymore) like this VC rebuild post
                  http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthr...ghlight=euroix
                  thanks man i apperciate it do you know of anyone that has a good transfer case for a manual e30 just in case there are issues with the one i have my eyes on
                  Last edited by BMWE30iS; 01-01-2015, 11:48 PM.
                  Current:1995 :540i--m60+6speed+bunch of other goodies(supercharged) hehe
                  1995 525i-5, new winterbeater/DD
                  In the past
                  1987 300sdl(winterbeater/DD)
                  1990 325iS caged and m50ed plus a whole bunch of other stuff!
                  1995 540i-6 speed oxford over parchemnt
                  1990 BMW 325i(s)Brillantrot with black int
                  1995 Audi A6 5speed
                  1991BMW750il

                  Comment


                    #10
                    you and a bunch of fellow IX'er would like to know where there are good used working manual T-case's so your not alone in that search, unfortunately...(bit like unicorns now)

                    just keep your eye out in parts sources like craigslist ,wrecking yards , bmw digests like this . they come up for sale from time to time ,but unless you can actually drive/test the car its came out of there's no gaurantee it a working unit . you can bench test them too as i said
                    Angus
                    88 E30M3 X2
                    89 325IX
                    92 R100GS/PD
                    :)

                    Comment


                      #11
                      you and a bunch of fellow IX'er would like to know where there are good used working manual T-case's so your not alone in that search, unfortunately...(bit like unicorns now)

                      just keep your eye out in parts sources like craigslist ,wrecking yards , bmw digests like this . they come up for sale from time to time ,but unless you can actually drive/test the car its came out of there's no gaurantee it a working unit . you can bench test them too as i said


                      Thanks man ive been looking on clist
                      Current:1995 :540i--m60+6speed+bunch of other goodies(supercharged) hehe
                      1995 525i-5, new winterbeater/DD
                      In the past
                      1987 300sdl(winterbeater/DD)
                      1990 325iS caged and m50ed plus a whole bunch of other stuff!
                      1995 540i-6 speed oxford over parchemnt
                      1990 BMW 325i(s)Brillantrot with black int
                      1995 Audi A6 5speed
                      1991BMW750il

                      Comment

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