325ix Manual Swap - Worth It?

[BMWnKTM]

I've always wanted a 325ix, and now that my neighbor has offered me his 89 325ix for $3000 I am very tempted. The only issue is, however, the car has an automatic… I test drove it and boy is the car a dog with that auto tranny :( If I'm going to keep the car it will have to be a manual.

The question is, how much work and money will it take to convert the car to a manual (remember, it's an ix)? Should I go for it or wait for a manual ix to come along?

Thanks in advanced!

[AWDBOB]

Best thing you could do for that car! A manual swap can be had for $600-$1200, and will take you a couple of days.

If it's a clean car, $3K isn't a bad price at all. Do it!

[mr2peak]

Look around for a manual IX. Keep in mind a manual swap will cost you $500-$1000 and your time. Much easier to start with a manual car if that's what you want.

If it's still a great deal @$4000 and your time invested, go for it. For $1000 you can fly and drive home a car from almost anywhere in the country.

[audiquattrot]

I did a swap on my current one after selling a 5speed one that wasn't as clean. I would totally do it again since from my experience auto ones are easier to come by and less abused from what I've seen

[Kershaw]

my auto ix (RIP) was the nicest e30 I've owned. +1 to them being easier to come by and not abused.

[DrJosh]

If it is that 1990 on CL, be careful. I have heard worldmotorsports is pretty shady.

[flyboyx]

well, 5 speed parts are getting to be almost impossible to come by. yes, the prices for manual drivetrain parts listed above are pretty accurate as long as you are not changing the diffs too.

its another story trying to find them though. its 5x harder to find a transfer case that actually works.

on the car you are looking at: jack up one of the front wheels and try to spin it. if it spins free, the viscous coupling in your xfer case is fucked.

[BMWnKTM]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone.

If it is that 1990 on CL, be careful. I have heard worldmotorsports is pretty shady.

It's not 1990, nor is it on craigslist. Like I said, it's my neighbors and it's not officially for sale (yet anyways). I appreciate the warning, though!