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Thread: E46 LS swap with 4L60E Auto trans

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Location
    Hamilton Ohio
    Posts
    44
    My Cars
    1999 BMW 540it

    E46 LS swap with 4L60E Auto trans

    I am wanting to use a 4L60E automatic transmission in my 2003 E46 NA 5.3LS swap.
    I am looking for anyone that can link me to anyone else who has gone the automatic transmission route with this swap.
    Specifically I am looking for information or pictures of the auto trans in the BMW trans tunnel, I am wondering if any mods have to be made to the tunnel before I can slide the engine trans combo in place. I also anticipate having to make my own headers so they will work with the BMW steering shaft and auto trans pan.
    I have on order the Holly 302-1 oil pan from Summit and TDR engine mounts from www.v8schassis.com
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Kansas City
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    18
    My Cars
    2001 bmw 740il
    I think the 4l80e is a better more durable AT. Fits in my e38 no problem, not sure about the e46


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Location
    Hamilton Ohio
    Posts
    44
    My Cars
    1999 BMW 540it
    The 4L80e is a good bit heavier than the 60, and it is probably a better transmission, but the 4L60E can be built up plenty strong for my application. With the E46 I suspect I will need every fraction of an inch in physical size to make it fit with minimal mods to the trans tunnel.

    No mods necessary to the transmission wiring harness if I use the 60.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    PNW
    Posts
    935
    My Cars
    LS E46
    A 4L60 is perfectly fine. Stop reading the muscle car forums. The 4L60 is the stock transmission in full size 6,000lb SUV’s, you don’t need a 4L80 in your 3,000lb car.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Location
    Hamilton Ohio
    Posts
    44
    My Cars
    1999 BMW 540it
    I picked up a 4L60E off Craigslist earlier this week. Has just been rebuilt April 2019, according to the seller, and was in his van for just a few days before a recent tornado in Dayton blew a tree down on his van. Came with a torque convertor with about a 2000 rpm stall speed for $500. seller said he spent $1500 on the rebuild.

    I am waiting for the TDR engine mounts to arrive and I will make a jig out of wood to basically simulate the exact location of the back of the block. This will let me jack the trans into position and see what sort of tunnel mods are needed.

    I called a local Daanco Transmission shop to see if they could bench test the transmission for me, because even though I have no reason to doubt the word of the seller, I have no reason to believe him either, other than the transmission housing looks like it has been sand blasted recently. Daanco said they have no way to test it and would basically have to charge for a rebuild to pull it apart and check it out. So for that kind of money I guess I will install it and hope for the best.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    PNW
    Posts
    935
    My Cars
    LS E46
    Good deal

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Location
    Hamilton Ohio
    Posts
    44
    My Cars
    1999 BMW 540it
    For me, not for him....

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Location
    Hamilton Ohio
    Posts
    44
    My Cars
    1999 BMW 540it
    Anyone here used TDR engine mouts? I orderd a set May 28 but have yet to recieve them, 2 weeks ago I called and they were waitng on the aluminum block part from an outside supplier.

    What was your experience with the mounts?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2022
    Location
    TX - Texas
    Posts
    1
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    1
    So did the 4l60e fit and and what did you have to do modify

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Star City, AR, USA
    Posts
    18
    My Cars
    2000 BMW 328i Sedan
    Here's his other thread. I'm currently working on the same swap and I have a few pics of what all I had to modify. Let me know if I can help you.

    https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...o-transmission

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