auto to manual swap starter question?

[REVHARD05]

hello,

I bought a 91 325i with a burt out auto so i started on the swap and i get to the part where i start th car up and drive it around. I turn over the key to hear the starter makeing a noise. I didnt change the starter because i didnt read it anywhere. So any advise???

[White325is]

You need a 5 speed starter. Did you use a dual or single mass flywheel? Ppl say it matters but I never had a problem.
PM me if you want to buy one. I have two "I" starters FS..

[MR 325]

You do NOT need a 5 speed starter, they are the same.

[REVHARD05]

the sound is more of a ziping sound... sounds like the starter gear is just hitting the flywheel and spinning.

[REVHARD05]

could the starter be bad?

[Atreus]

pull it out and grab some battery cables.......

[REVHARD05]

pull it out and grab some battery cables.......

good idea i never thought of that1

[tastic]

Had this problem - did you put the locating dowels in before you put the box on?

[REVHARD05]

i didnt move any dowels, before i bolted in new trans. However i did notice that the bottom engine bolt holes had the tubes for the al plate. it seems as if everything is in place, the top two bolts are in as well as the corners.


and i did take the starter out for a test, worked like a charm.

soo she is still grinding.

[REVHARD05]

bump? Anyone have any ideas besides

[95///M3]

Any update to this situation?

I just swapped a manual into my 89 325 and the starter is not engaging the flywheel - just spinning freely. I used the original starter from the auto, single mass flywheel. I do not recollect installing the auto 'spacer'.

Thoughts?

[Inline Sex]

I'm having related issues. I had a motor from a 5 speed car put into an auto car, and the starter is not disengaging right away. I didn't do the work and the starter wasn't changed. I can't find any info on a "spacer" or anything like that. Can someone with experience with this chime in? I don't know if I just have a bad starter or if there's some kind of compatibility issue.

Thanks!

[Atreus]

we need some comparisons btwn the 325iA and 325iM guys.... since we KNOW the starter is fine. lol.

i didn't know anything about a spacer. if the starters are the same then wtf..... maybe its flywheel related? single VS dual mass? somehow... bigger... lol.

yeah.

[sticksdaman]

You do NOT need a 5 speed starter, they are the same.

this,

I used the same starter when i did my swap. Is the starter from the same car? Is the flywheel obstructed in some way? I vaguely remember there being a spacer of some sort between the engine and the flywheel that wasnt there on the auto car but is needed for the manual tranny. I'd check to see if the engine can turn at all. If the flywheel is bolted in properly and functioning, then i'd cross the starter off the list of potential causes.

[jlevie]

Unless the starter bendix isn't moving out to engage the flywheel, I'd suspect that the problem lies inside of the bell housing. If the right flywheel was used incorrect assembly found be the problem. In particular, there is a circular metal plate that goes under the bolts (it is a load spreader) that is used on a manual transmission flywheel. If that plate is between the flywheel and engine rather than under the bolts it will space the flywheel away from the starter.