325ix Manual Swap - Worth It?

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  • BMWnKTM
    Noobie
    • Mar 2011
    • 2
    #1

    325ix Manual Swap - Worth It?

    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!
    Tags: None
    • AWDBOB
      R3V Elite
      • Aug 2013
      • 4377
      #2
      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!
      1989 Hooptie 325iS Build Thread
      1989 Zinnoberrot M3 Build Thread

        Comment

        • mr2peak
          R3VLimited
          • Aug 2008
          • 2388
          #3
          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.
          Drive it hard. Maintain it well.


          Convertible Technical & Discussion
          A Topless Memorandum

            Comment

            • audiquattrot
              No R3VLimiter
              • May 2008
              • 3836
              #4
              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
              www.instagram.com/snwmble
              #snwmble

              Current:
              '05 BMW M3 - Silver Grey/Imola Red
              '90 BMW 325iX - Sterling Silver/Houndstooth sport(5-speed converted)
              '15 Mini Countryman - Blazing Red/Carbon Black

              Past:
              '01 Audi Allroad - Light Silver/Platinum Saber Black
              '88 BMW 325iX - Diamond Schwarz/Silver sport *Sold*
              '01.5 1.8TQ - Brilliant Black/Nogaro Alcantara ...after 8.5yrs, *Sold* =(
              '90 BMW 325i - Schwarz/Tan sport *Sold*
              '89 BMW 325ix - Diamond Schwarz/Black sport *Sold*

                Comment

                • Kershaw
                  R3V OG
                  • Feb 2010
                  • 11822
                  #5
                  my auto ix (RIP) was the nicest e30 I've owned. +1 to them being easier to come by and not abused.
                  AWD > RWD

                    Comment

                    • DrJosh
                      R3VLimited
                      • May 2009
                      • 2011
                      #6
                      If it is that 1990 on CL, be careful. I have heard worldmotorsports is pretty shady.
                      Originally posted by Sonny
                      I am a meme for our community.

                        Comment

                        • flyboyx
                          R3V OG
                          • Sep 2008
                          • 8371
                          #7
                          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.
                          sigpic
                          Gigitty Gigitty!!!!

                          88 cabrio becoming alpina b6 3.5s transplanted s62
                          92 Mtech 2 cabrio alpinweiss 770 code
                          88 325ix coupe manual lachsilber/cardinal
                          88 325ix coupe manual diamondschwartz/natur
                          87 e30 m3 for parts lachsilber/cardinal(serial number 7)
                          12 135i M sport cabrio grey/black

                            Comment

                            • BMWnKTM
                              Noobie
                              • Mar 2011
                              • 2
                              #8
                              Thanks for all of the replies everyone.

                              Originally posted by DrJosh
                              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!

                                Comment

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