Manual conversion costs

[osiris]

Hi guys,

I am tinkering with the idea of doing a manual conversion on my 2004 E46 330d, I have done a manual conversion before with a shit mechanic on an old e30, and it was a bit of a screw up in the end because the mechanic took allot of short cuts and I didn't have a clue back then so had no idea what was going on I just helped take things apart and put things in lol.

Is there anyone on this forum that is up for the job and what type of fees will be involved. I want a 6 speed manual gear box from a 330d, I have had a few quotes on the box itself and they were reasonable.

Please let me know, and please guys I don't really want to be told that its cheaper to just buy a manual because its really not and its bloody hard to find a manual that's in the same condition as my current car, These cars are few and far between.

I love this car in auto and I actually prefer it to the manual as a diesel has a short rev band which means kak loads of gear changes, but this autobox apparently can't handle the kind of power I want to get out of this car, so I need to go manual.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated :thumbs:

 

[Mike1]

What power do you want to achieve? Rolf can advise in terms of what the box can and cannot handle. :thumbs:

 

[zaleonardz]

10 to 15, and you can always sell your auto box again for like 6.

The trick is the recoding of the ECU, but its all possible, and fairly bolt on bolt off kind of work'

 

[osiris]

Are you able to do this conversion?

10 to 15, and you can always sell your auto box again for like 6.

The trick is the recoding of the ECU, but its all possible, and fairly bolt on bolt off kind of work'

---

I want 650+ nm and 180 +kw I would really like the same power you got out of the Miss Sophie Build, but I think that might be asking for a bit much lol

What power do you want to achieve? Rolf can advise in terms of what the box can and cannot handle. :thumbs:

 

[zaleonardz]

I have been known to do one or two manual conversion's for fun

 

[osiris]

Haha this sounds great, and how long do you think you would need the car to do this conversion? and with regards to the ECU, do you know how to take care of that?

I have been known to do one or two manual conversion's for fun

 

[zaleonardz]

Yea,

Have not recoded a diesel yet, but not much differant.

Helped clutchy with his E39 manual, and of course my 540 manual swap.

 

[netercol]

look.. i know you said you dont want to be told to just sell the auto and buy a manual..
but the point is this : trust me, i have done the auto to manual swop on a car that was not even close to being as electronically involved as an e46, and i promise you, there is a sh#tload of small things that you are not even thinking of now, thats gonna make your life hell..
9 of 10 times it is just easier to buy the freaking car the way you want it, there is a reason people always say this..

anyways, just my 2 cents, trying to make your life easier.. :rollsmile:

(zips up flameproof suit)

 

[Mike1]

I want 650+ nm and 180 +kw I would really like the same power you got out of the Miss Sophie Build, but I think that might be asking for a bit much lol

What power do you want to achieve? Rolf can advise in terms of what the box can and cannot handle. :thumbs:

You are asking for a lot, but never say never.

Most Manual boxes will struggle with that torque, hence Miss Sophie is an Auto and an E90 which is a much better box.

Rolf has more experience on a technical level, he can explain the way forward for you in terms of getting anywhere near Miss Sophie Power if this is even possible.

If I may dare suggest it, why not just get the best out of the car as it is and later go crazy on an E90?

Mike

 

[zaleonardz]

Mike,

I disagree with you fully on that one.

I believe that the manual boxes are for more suited for higher torque then the auto's.

 

[Rolf]

Look what I would suggest:

Your request for power is not utopic so its possible with yiour E46
Keep the auto box in your car as it suits the conversion much better than a manual box.

Should your auto box give way after some time.... then you can still do the manual conversion or replace the auto box.

• deDPF with full downpipe
• full exhaust mod for flow
• intercooler
• software

will bring you to 180kw and 700Nm+

Your torque converter will take the most strain.... Mike will advise on gearbox oil additives!

Thats what I recommend :idea:

---

Mike,

I disagree with you fully on that one.

I believe that the manual boxes are for more suited for higher torque then the auto's.

You are right but the auto box is more suitable for drivability...
I trust thats what Mike tried to express

 

[Mike1]

As Rolf mentioned, it obviously got lost in translation with my post.

Whilst the manual box cab handle more, it too has its limitations in reference to high levels of torque and of course as far as driveability goes not much provides a better driving experience than auto in a diesel.

 

[osiris]

That is a good suggestion, but my next car will be a 135i for definite and I will go very crazy on that car, you can be sure of that :rollsmile:

You are asking for a lot, but never say never.

Most Manual boxes will struggle with that torque, hence Miss Sophie is an Auto and an E90 which is a much better box.

Rolf has more experience on a technical level, he can explain the way forward for you in terms of getting anywhere near Miss Sophie Power if this is even possible.

If I may dare suggest it, why not just get the best out of the car as it is and later go crazy on an E90?

Mike

---

So far I have done a deDPF and a full 63mm Downpipe, I am looking into intercooler options at the moment.

Look what I would suggest:

Your request for power is not utopic so its possible with yiour E46
Keep the auto box in your car as it suits the conversion much better than a manual box.

Should your auto box give way after some time.... then you can still do the manual conversion or replace the auto box.

• deDPF with full downpipe
• full exhaust mod for flow
• intercooler
• software

will bring you to 180kw and 700Nm+

Your torque converter will take the most strain.... Mike will advise on gearbox oil additives!

Thats what I recommend :idea:

---

Mike,

I disagree with you fully on that one.

I believe that the manual boxes are for more suited for higher torque then the auto's.

You are right but the auto box is more suitable for drivability...
I trust thats what Mike tried to express

---

 

[zaleonardz]

Ok Cool

Fair enough...

I have to admit though, with my manual 530d, gearing is a bit of a bitch sometimes,

anything over 3500 is a waste, and it revs so quickly..

So I would agree with that..

 

[osiris]

As far as driveability goes I definitely prefer the feel of an auto on a 330d as I mentioned before the short rev band of the diesel makes gear changing tiresome! but from what I hear, when this autobox decides to explode its a good 25k to repair Im not to keen on spending that kind of money on a repair lol, so I need to avoid that as much as possible, so anything that we can do to avoid aiming a rocket launcher at my wallet will be awsome lol :rollsmile: on a petrol car I love manual all the way

As Rolf mentioned, it obviously got lost in translation with my post.

Whilst the manual box cab handle more, it too has its limitations in reference to high levels of torque and of course as far as driveability goes not much provides a better driving experience than auto in a diesel.

---

Back to previous question though, if I did decide to go with a manual swap, how much time would you need to do it? and as far as reliability after the conversion is performed is it something that could be problematic in the future or is it a pretty straightforward swap and nice and solid?

Ok Cool

Fair enough...

I have to admit though, with my manual 530d, gearing is a bit of a bitch sometimes,

anything over 3500 is a waste, and it revs so quickly..

So I would agree with that..

 

[Mike1]

I will drop you a PM with final info on what we can do to your car, your current mods along with the Performance Intercooler we discussed an software should see you making similar power to the BMW X5 3.0D Project we worked on.

Of course then we recommend you do the Full Exhaust too. :thumbs:

Thanks for clearing that up Rolf. :=):

 

[Karthik]

About time there was a mean E46 sedan raise: Goodluck with the job

 

[zaleonardz]

All the parts, doing it when I have a spare moment, prob bout a week or so.

 

[osiris]

As long as its not longer than two weeks, as I kinda need my car for getting to work and back....The bike is EXTREMELY cold in winter!! :rollsmile:

All the parts, doing it when I have a spare moment, prob bout a week or so.

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I agree, too many E90's out there that will kick my E46's butt lol, need to give them some competition! :fencelook:

About time there was a mean E46 sedan raise: Goodluck with the job

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Awesome Thanks for the feedback, busy reading through that thread as we speak. :thumbs:

I will drop you a PM with final info on what we can do to your car, your current mods along with the Performance Intercooler we discussed an software should see you making similar power to the BMW X5 3.0D Project we worked on.

Of course then we recommend you do the Full Exhaust too. :thumbs:

Thanks for clearing that up Rolf. :=):

---

OK MiniMike I am definately sold, full exhaust is what I will need! I can't believe how that X5 dumps!! Bloody hell! and the look of that 4 pipe exhaust is AWESOME!!!

 

[zaleonardz]

Fsck it...

I will do it, no problems,

Who is going to source parts... In a nutshell here is what you need.

Gearbox (doh)

Propshaft (do not engineer one, its just dumb)

You need to check the input flange on the rear diff, it may differ and probably does, if so, a new diff, see if you cant squeeze an LSD somewhere. Diffs can be had for like R1000 at a scrapyard, not an item that goes often.

Going to need new flywheel+clutch+pressure plate, or a used GOOD condition flywheel and a new clutch kit

Your going to need a peddle box

CLutch Master and slave Cylinder with associated piping, if memory serves, this taps into the brake master and is not seperate, so this will take a bit of research, but just buy them all complete with piping. I may even go and strip it for you so that I am sure how it comes out.

Going to need a shift lever, and a shifter bushings kit

2 hamburgers with extra bacon

You need to check the position of the crank sensor, if the gearbox that your getting has the crank sensor in the same place.

We will have to recode your DME, EWS, BCM,IKE modules which is pretty simple.

Oooh and the gearbox mounting plates are differant so you are going to need that.

There are 3 seals on the gearbox, need to get those while you are there.

Also a good posibility that your rear main seal is leaking.

a bottle of valium

Clutch pivot pin with clippy thingies.

Clutch Fork

Ooodles of prepsol/de greaser

Will need a bypass relay for the starter cut out.

You will need to give me the part number on your ABS pump to research if its compatable, it more then likley is, but just o be sure..

Some other grommets and bits for where it penetrates the firewall

Gear Knob

New flywheel and clutch bolts

a small furry kitten..

Yea... thats bout it.