E36 328i gearbox swap?
Discussion
Been having a look at E36's recently and I am seriously considering one. However the decent 328's seem to command a massive premium over the other models, that is unless it is an automatic version. I have been seeing auto boxed cars that are around £1000 less.
So question is, how difficult is it to change the boxes and how expensive would it be? I am capable of changing brake pads or an exhaust say but this is well beyond my mechanical know how on cars so it would have be done by a garage.
Interested to hear if anyone has any experience.
So question is, how difficult is it to change the boxes and how expensive would it be? I am capable of changing brake pads or an exhaust say but this is well beyond my mechanical know how on cars so it would have be done by a garage.
Interested to hear if anyone has any experience.
Not too bad......
You'll need a gearbox, propshaft, flywheel and a new clutch kit, pedal box (you only swap the actual pedals), clutch master and slave cylinders and the clutch pipework. The autos often had a slightly lower final drive, 3.07 versus 2.93 but that works in your favour. Disconnect the gearbox ECU and remove the transmission warning light bulb from the cluster. Some minor wiring around the gear selector area to disable the inhibitor switch and remove the auto trans cooler pipes - the outlets in the rad can be left open or filled with Araldite. 328i Autos will almost all have the steering to selector locking cable - just cut with with big side cutters at the steering lock end. If you just remove it by unscrewing it,. the ignition lock won't work.
2 days work on a ramp with the loose ends tidied up will cover it. Approximately £6-700 in bits, around the same again in labour depending on who does it. I've done one in the past, plus two E28's and an E24 6 Series.
You'll need a gearbox, propshaft, flywheel and a new clutch kit, pedal box (you only swap the actual pedals), clutch master and slave cylinders and the clutch pipework. The autos often had a slightly lower final drive, 3.07 versus 2.93 but that works in your favour. Disconnect the gearbox ECU and remove the transmission warning light bulb from the cluster. Some minor wiring around the gear selector area to disable the inhibitor switch and remove the auto trans cooler pipes - the outlets in the rad can be left open or filled with Araldite. 328i Autos will almost all have the steering to selector locking cable - just cut with with big side cutters at the steering lock end. If you just remove it by unscrewing it,. the ignition lock won't work.
2 days work on a ramp with the loose ends tidied up will cover it. Approximately £6-700 in bits, around the same again in labour depending on who does it. I've done one in the past, plus two E28's and an E24 6 Series.
helix402 said:
Good advice, not sure about the E36 but on my E46 I reprogrammed the EWS for a manual (to bypass the inhibitor switch) and also reprogrammed the IKE to manual to sort the warning light.
I know the E46 DDE has different software for the manual too, not sure about the 36.
You've got me there; E36's are old school pre canbus and it simple knife and fork engineering in comparison.I know the E46 DDE has different software for the manual too, not sure about the 36.
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