NJ looking for Shop to do my 6speed swap

**pietern740il** · 10-16-2020, 08:16 AM

Anyone in the Central NJ / New York City know of a shop they could recommend.

We are doing manual swap on two cars, E39 540 Touring and E60 530XI Sedan.

Thanks in advance

Nigel

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**edjack** · 10-16-2020, 01:38 PM

www.bimrs.org. Pick a few here and talk to them.

**MotorMouth93** · 10-16-2020, 02:03 PM

I can't imagine paying a shop for a job like that. Good luck, with any luck they won't screw it up/screw you over too badly.

**pietern740il** · 10-16-2020, 10:15 PM

Thanks, I am encouraged to do this swap myself, one shop told us $5k to complete the installation, although I'm providing all the parts.

Not sure how high I need to elevate the cars to complete removal and installation. Next what special tools will I need, my garage is not big enough to complete this job.

Maybe I can purchase an hydraulic vehicle ramps. It may still come out cheaper.

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**MotorMouth93** · 10-16-2020, 10:39 PM

You can get the trans in and out on jack stands no problem. Get a harbor freight transmission jack and you’re golden.

**pietern740il** · 10-16-2020, 10:48 PM

Sounds like a plan, i always feel better doing certain repairs on my car myself. Guess just needed some encouragement.

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**demetk** · 10-17-2020, 10:33 AM

You need to lift the car pretty high to clear the bellhousing even with a low profile tranny jack. That auto is very heavy so be very careful when you're underneath.

**pietern740il** · 10-17-2020, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by demetk

You need to lift the car pretty high to clear the bellhousing even with a low profile tranny jack. That auto is very heavy so be very careful when you're underneath.

Thanks, I plan to get the transmission jack. Is it difficult to remove the top bell housing bolts? Do I need to lower the engine?

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**topaz540i** · 10-18-2020, 10:12 PM

I would ask Ziggy’s Bimmer Center in Somerville, Nj

**MotorMouth93** · 10-18-2020, 11:34 PM

The top bell housing bolts are surprisingly easy to remove on a 540i, at least in my opinion. You can get to them from the top pretty easily once you take the acoustic cover off. You shouldn't need to move the engine around much to get the trans in or out.

The transmission isn't that tall. I got mine out using the medium harbor freight jack stands, the car wasn't particularly high up.

Consider replacing the gasket behind that coolant cover plate on the back of the engine. Also be careful, I'd recommend using a light duty impact to try to break the bolts free as they can get stuck.

**pietern740il** · 10-19-2020, 02:48 PM

Thanks, I had my rear main seal and the water jacket gasket behind the engine replaced four months ago. I don't plan to touch those two areas. But will replace the pilot bearing.

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**pietern740il** · 10-20-2020, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by topaz540i

I would ask Ziggy’s Bimmer Center in Somerville, Nj

I had called these guys, they are all booked up for the month or so.

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**waters17** · 10-21-2020, 03:17 PM

I was able to remove my transmission from under my car with jack stands and the harbor freight transmission jack. I had bottle jack stands up front and regular jack stands in the back. I think I was able to get the car about 23" in the air, which was plenty of room.

Here are the bottle jack stands I used. Jimlev has these too. They're pretty awesome.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ULZGFU/

Socket extensions to remove the bolts from the top of the transmission. It was pretty easy. Removing the guibo was probably more difficult.

**JimLev** · 10-21-2020, 06:31 PM

I pulled my tranny the same way. Wow that price has really gone up, they were $25 each when I bought them. Got mine from All Trade in NJ.
I removed the right front tire which made it easy to get the tranny out from under the car.

**waters17** · 10-22-2020, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by JimLev

Wow that price has really gone up, they were $25 each when I bought them.

Whoa! Yeah it has. I didn't notice that. I remember wincing at the price I paid in 2017, which was $39 each.

**pietern740il** · 10-22-2020, 11:12 PM

I plan to use four jack stands, just waiting for delivery of clutch kit and flywheel.

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**RyansBMW** · 10-23-2020, 11:18 AM

Call Bill at Bimmer Clinic

**pietern740il** · 10-23-2020, 09:17 PM

I wondered if it's the same Bill from around the Clark area. Plan to complete swap myself, I did have some fears about doing it myself, so I will give it my best attempt.

My Subframe bushings are in really bad shape, rear end jumps left and right whenever I hit a bump.

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**BlKdOuT** · 10-24-2020, 09:07 PM

I have all my parts for the 6 speed swap.
The mechanical side is the easy part for me and should be straight forward if your mechanically inclined and have the tools.

The reason why I havnt got to it yet is the coding side of the computers. That is the part that scares me away.If I could find someone to help through that part 👍

**pietern740il** · 10-24-2020, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by BlKdOuT

I have all my parts for the 6 speed swap.
The mechanical side is the easy part for me and should be straight forward if your mechanically inclined and have the tools.

The reason why I havnt got to it yet is the coding side of the computers. That is the part that scares me away.If I could find someone to help through that part

Where are you located, I have the computer to help with coding. I don't mind helping, when do you want to start? More importantly, do you live within the tri states of NJ?

I am mechanically inclined, we can get both cars completed before Thanksgiving

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**BlKdOuT** · 10-24-2020, 09:25 PM

Im in the midwest,so not even close to nj unfortunately. I have a laptop and am able to access inpa just fine and have all the other software.

**pietern740il** · 10-24-2020, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by BlKdOuT

Im in the midwest,so not even close to nj unfortunately. I have a laptop and am able to access inpa just fine and have all the other software.

I have PA Soft 1.4, with I will use to code IKE and the other module, as for the other coding if it becomes too much for I will shut for help. My concerns are the following, how to install the clutch, pressure place and flywheel? How to install the slave?
Do I need this part for the job? https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...46-61116911072
Tomorrow my plan is to remove the glove box, Cluster, and console under the steering wheel, will run wires from cluster to EWS. I need to reread instructions, I would like to complete coding before I start installation.

**pietern740il** · 11-07-2020, 01:12 PM

I have started 6speed swap, car is elevated, exhaust and drive shaft shield are removed.

First problem, clutch came with no release bearing, discovered this yesterday. I'm wondering if I can use the old release bearing.

I purchased transmission jack https://www.harborfreight.com/automo...ack-60234.html

It's too warm out today, will continue working tonight.

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**JimLev** · 11-07-2020, 08:47 PM

Make sure you put the flywheel on indexed correctly or it won’t start.

**pietern740il** · 11-08-2020, 09:19 AM

May if this year I paid a lot of money to have my rear main seal installed. As I was removing the drive shaft, I noticed grease was not packed into joint at the diff, bolts are missing on the bell housing

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