Auto -> Manual Swap ? (Yes, it's that thread again!)

[Alpha]

Before you ask, yes, I've searched, but haven't quite found the answer I'm looking for. Maybe you guys can help.

I've been looking for an E30 for over half a year now and still haven't found the one. Sometimes the only thing standing in the way is the dreaded slushbox. I really, really, really don't want an autotragic, but I am getting tired of waiting. I am at the point where I am okay with buying an automatic, but only if I can swap in a 5 speed somewhere down the line. So...

1. How difficult is it to do the swap? Keep in mind that I don't have the mechanical experience, nor do I know anyone who does. Also, I don't have access to a garage with lifts, etc. I am willing to take the time, but don't want to majorly screw something up.
2. How expensive can it get?
3. Should I just forget all this and keep on waiting?

Be honest. Brutally, if you have to.

If it makes any difference, the swap will likely be on a 88-91 325i Sedan, if I find one.


Bonus Question!
How long did it take you guys to find your (first) E30?

[dashboardmonkey]

Well, it can be difficult if you have never done it before (I have done 7 in the last two years) the last one took me 6 hours flat with no lift but i am an experienced tech. Cost should only be a couple three hundred bucks depending on mileage/condition of parts. The starter bolts and the hydralic lines for the clutch give me the most trouble. My first E30 was given to me.

[F34R]

Don't forget buying pedals too. I would say wait if you don't think you can do it. It takes around 6 hours roughly knowing what your doing. MUCH MUCH longer if you don't know how things go in place. It could turn into a nightmare, so I think you should wait.

Or buy a really nice e30 and live with the auto till you do a good amount of reading and get a better understanding of how things work.

I have pulled countless transmissions on the ground in a junk yard without my impacts. It was not a treat ONE BIT.

[blck325is]

Honestly, I've had 2 e30's and if I had waited with the first one instead of pulling the trigger I woulda been happier because it had alot of things I could have avoided by waiting for a while longer and getting a better e30. Overall I think if you waited this long just wait a little longer and find one with a manual transmission. I've pulled a couple engines and transmissions out (with a lift and friends) it wasn't hard but we had all the tools, plenty of help and a place to work. If ur doing it alone with no knowlege, tools, friends and place to work it will be a PITA! You'll learn alot tho..

[u3b3rg33k]

I don't think it was all that difficult. A pain in the ass, sure. Did I want to drop my transmission in February? not particularly. Did it suck working on it in an unheated barn? Definitely. But it was much easier putting in the G260 than it was taking out the ZF4HP22.

[PУCCKAЯ_e30ka]

1. How difficult is it to do the swap? Keep in mind that I don't have the mechanical experience, nor do I know anyone who does. Also, I don't have access to a garage with lifts, etc. I am willing to take the time, but don't want to majorly screw something up.

-the whole weekend, maybe even longer, depending on you getting all the right parts from the start.

2. How expensive can it get?

~$1000 - getting all the right parts (new clutch hydro/kit/, resurf fly, tranny seal, rebuilt driveshaft, short shift etc)

3. Should I just forget all this and keep on waiting?

-its your money and your time

[LivingLegend06]

Bonus Question!
How long did it take you guys to find your (first) E30?

First E30 took about 3 or 4 weeks to find, I then spent the next six months trying to find my second E30, the one I wish I had bought from the start.

[McGyver]

it took me an afternoon to find my first e30 on ebay and then went to the ford dealership that was selling it. that was back when all i knew was that it was a cool old BMW and i could afford it. after owning it for a while i found r3v and realized i over payed and had plenty of work to do.

i stumbled upon my second and bought it roughly 3 hours after i found it on CL.

The first has been great for learning on and has made me feel comfortable that i am capable of saving the second.


for your question about buying an auto, if you find a clean auto i would buy it. the transmission isnt the best, but it does drive smoothly. then either keep looking for your dream car and flip the auto or start the manual swap.

[Huff]

-the whole weekend, maybe even longer, depending on you getting all the right parts from the start.

~$1000 - getting all the right parts (new clutch hydro/kit/, resurf fly, tranny seal, rebuilt driveshaft, short shift etc)


-its your money and your time

What he said. Buy a new clutch, master cylinder/ slave, etc. So, around $1k to do it right is about right. Nothing worse that trouble shooting why some junk yard stuff you've scrounged together isn't working. I've done a few of these swaps and new parts are a must in my opinion.

[TS323]

i say wait it out till you find what you want. nothing is worse then rushing into buying a car and having buyers remorse right away and regret everything. unless u find a bad ass deal on a auto that u cant pass up.

both my e30's kinda fell in my lap.

[davem]

I bought my auto because the timing was good, and I was kind of sick of looking for them. Most of the five speeds have the shit beaten out of them. I don't really regret it, an E30 with a slushbox is still better than most cars. Would love to swap it but I can't do it myself and think that I might hold off and perhaps get 24valves with the getrag.

[CabbE30]

I bought my '91 325i auto unabused with 94,000 miles.
The next summer after saving up some money, I bought a used getrag 260 from a '89 325is. Bought a new clutch and pressure plate as well as bearings mounts, slave cyl, tools, misc etc. ~$250. The trans came with the driveshaft, flywheel, master cyl. and pedals for $300 (craigslist).

Did all the work with the car up on ramps and jackstands. Used wretches, extensions, sockets, a dremel and an impact gun.

Major PITA!!! But definately worth it. Took way longer just becuase i had work, vacation, girlfriend, stripped torx bolts, etc. But it mainly took 3-5 days of solid after-work working.

[JunkyardFiend]

1. Its not all that difficult. It took me a few days but only cause I didn't have the right drive shaft. I found out early eta's used a different version/model of the Getrag 260 Not cool... :(

2. I don't think I can help you out on this one. I work at a junkyard...'nuff said.

3. Your time, your money! Well worth it in my opinion though.

And as for the bonus question, it took me a few weeks before I found my first e30 on craigslist. A black '87 325e. It took a year before I found my second one. A white '89 325i, I bought this one at the yard I work at ;)

Hope this helped somewhat :)

[sticksdaman]

Took me 13 days working on it after work. The majority of my time was spent waiting on parts to arrive that either broke or had to replace from my "complete 5 speed swap kit".

Moral of the story: buy any wear item new from the start and save the headache. Those 5 speed swap kits are a waste of money for the most part.

The work really wasn't difficult, but nothing I would recommend to a first timer with no help or access to the proper tools.

[Conrad311]

My first e30 was my ex gfs, and was an auto and i still loved driving it, so i got it for next to nothing when daddy bought her an e60 (WTF?!) and beat the piss out out it till the slushbox sh*t the bed, and since i was going to school and needed my car back asap, i bought a rotted out 325i coupe from a freinds grampa and took a sawz-all to the floor and had the 5 speed out in no time, and then used a shop to put it in, with out a tranny jack and it wasnt too bad, except that i forgot to get an alignment tool for the clutch:crazy:. i did it all in a day tho..