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Thread: 99' 528i 5spMT into 01' 530i auto?

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    99' 528i & 03' 530i

    99' 528i 5spMT into 01' 530i auto?

    Hello Bimmer Brothers & Sisters,
    Here is my delima/ thought process, I have a 01' 530i automatic that is giving me Trans. Failsafe Prog. error message I am trying to resolve that issue with out swapping the tranny. If I do ultimately need to perform a tranny swap on the 530i I'm thinking of putting the 5spMT from my 99' 528i the even though the 528i runs and is my daily driver it has some issues and the 530i is in better shape all around and has lower miles. The question here is are the 2 compatible? Can a tranny swap of theae 2 vehicles be done with out major issue? Please let me know thoughts, feeling & feed back on this and if there is anyone that has done it, how did it work out for you?

  2. #2
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    99 528i/5, 05 ZHP conv
    Just completed a manual swap on an ‘03 530i. I also own a ‘99 528i MT.

    please check realoem for both of your cars, but I believe the ‘99 528i trans (ZF 320Z) is the same used in the 530i.
    There might be minor differences in clutch switches on the pedals, but I think even they will work.
    Be sure to take the driveshaft and rear differential ( and the many other man swap parts ) from the ‘99. If you source an ‘01 diff, the input flanges may not mate up with your ‘99 drive shaft. Using the ‘99 diff might be the way to go. P

  3. #3
    geargrinder's Avatar
    geargrinder is offline Having No Trouble Here BMW CCA Member
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    EDIT DERP I swapped 'clutch' and 'brake' when I posted this... Olde Braine Faile.

    Yeah should work. Mostly just swap all the obvious bits plus a little wiring and coding.

    The pedals will require some sorting out. The M52TU car will have the 4bolt bracket with top hung cable throttle. The M54 will have floor mounted DBW. They will have different brake lever shafts which will prevent you from just swapping the brake lever over. Some wiring will needto be added though not much.

    As Effer says, the switches could be an issue. There are some odd permutations of pedal switch setups so without seeing each car i cant say exactly what the deal is. At some point the facelift cars went to sleeker smaller switches including the clutch switches (there are two) going solid state on the master cylinder, and that means dfferent switch bracketry and connectors although not different wires. At any rate your main options are:

    Option 1 - Pull the '99 pedal bracket fully loaded, delete the accel pedal from it, then install otherwise as-is into the '01, leaving the DBW pedal on the floor. Depending on what the '01 wiring looks like this might mean swapping the car side pedal switch wiring connectors too.

    Option 2 - Swap just the '99 brake pedal over to the '01. Source a facelift manual brake pedal (with the small bushings / clip bits etc required). Depending on what the '01 pedal switch bracketry looks like, either (they match) swap the clutch switches over from the '99 , or, (they don't) source the late-facelift clutch master cylinder and hall-sensor switch and matching connector.

    Note to use the late single piece hall sensor switch you need the late master cylinder. Some guys will say you should use all new hydraulics (master and slave) in the build anyway, but that maybe depends on how nice the 530 is and/or how ratty the 528 is.
    Last edited by geargrinder; 01-15-2019 at 01:12 PM. Reason: because I was stupid and swapping clutch/brake in my head
    2003 M3CicM6 TiAg
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    2008 Audi A3 2.0T DSG (the daily beater)
    2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i (wifemobile)

    Former:

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  4. #4
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    So at least according to realoem, the driveshaft is the same between a 528i and 530i manual. So you shouldn’t have to mess around with diffs unless you want the longer ratio (which would probably be advisable honestly). Shifting linkage is also the same. As are mounts, etc. Flywheel is the same, but clutch is different (530i gets a larger disc). The 528i clutch would work fine, but if you’re getting a new one, probably makes sense to just get the 530i piece. So from a mechanical stand point you’re good to go

    Really it’s just the pedal box and switches that are where there might be some incompatibility. But you can probably source the necessary pieces there separately for not too much money. Auto and manual pedal box are the same for a given year - so you’d just want to get a 2001+(ish) manual pedal, and the corresponding slave cylinder and switches.

  5. #5
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    Protip: most of the "new" connectors BMW adopted past 3/99 are all VAG connectors. Happens even with windshield washer pumps, you can take the pump out of a '04 jetta or golf and it will work on your post 3/99 bimmers. also TBs, and many electronic connectors and components are borrowed from VAG. Good way to save money and or hassles.
    Diehard E39 driver.
    I'd rather die or take a walk before driving an E60 or any BMW made after Y2K.
    ​"Your momma's so ugly she makes Bangle cars look nice"

  6. #6
    geargrinder's Avatar
    geargrinder is offline Having No Trouble Here BMW CCA Member
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    Good Protip.

    Tho' to be fair, they aren't exactly VAG connectors. You'll find they are industry-standard connectors that happen to be shared with VAG products. Like a 5-pin MAF connector is an "AMP MCP AM705" (I mean don't go order that without confirming but its something like that...). I wish there was a better x-ref for automaker-to-AMP/Tyco/etc. part numbers when you need a connector or a pin because ALL of it is cheap industry standard stuff that I'd FAR rather order from Mouser for $.75 a part than $5.87 from BMW...

    However your point remains valid that raiding the VW parts bin (either in the junkyard or new) is a good option to know about.
    2003 M3CicM6 TiAg
    2002 540iT Sport Vortech S/C 6MT LSD TiAg
    2008 Audi A3 2.0T DSG (the daily beater)
    2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i (wifemobile)

    Former:

    1985 MB Euro graymarket 300SL
    1995.5 Audi S6 Avant (utility/winter billetturbobattlewagen)


  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by geargrinder View Post
    Good Protip.

    Tho' to be fair, they aren't exactly VAG connectors. You'll find they are industry-standard connectors that happen to be shared with VAG products. Like a 5-pin MAF connector is an "AMP MCP AM705" (I mean don't go order that without confirming but its something like that...). I wish there was a better x-ref for automaker-to-AMP/Tyco/etc. part numbers when you need a connector or a pin because ALL of it is cheap industry standard stuff that I'd FAR rather order from Mouser for $.75 a part than $5.87 from BMW...

    However your point remains valid that raiding the VW parts bin (either in the junkyard or new) is a good option to know about.
    Yeah, shared connectors, but in a pinch you can use them from VAG parts dealers, they're far more common down here (and I believe this holds true up there) than BMW parts dealers, not to mention the same piece costs like a fifth of what a BMW part would. Just replaced my windshield washer pump in the middle of a road trip. BMW part was $40 and "had to be ordered". VW part was $6 and they had 30 in stock. Not to mention I got the connector and made a pigtail adapter on the fly (the 523i has the old style round pins washer pump which wasn't available at any BMW dealer down here, nor at BMW of Argentina) with an auxiliary lights repair pigtail that cost me $1.
    Diehard E39 driver.
    I'd rather die or take a walk before driving an E60 or any BMW made after Y2K.
    ​"Your momma's so ugly she makes Bangle cars look nice"

  8. #8
    geargrinder's Avatar
    geargrinder is offline Having No Trouble Here BMW CCA Member
    Join Date
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    E46M3Cic E39.540iT E84X1
    2003 M3CicM6 TiAg
    2002 540iT Sport Vortech S/C 6MT LSD TiAg
    2008 Audi A3 2.0T DSG (the daily beater)
    2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i (wifemobile)

    Former:

    1985 MB Euro graymarket 300SL
    1995.5 Audi S6 Avant (utility/winter billetturbobattlewagen)


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