1998 Steptronic Retrofit

[tylamb19]

Hi all,

I've been looking more and more into retrofitting Steptronic to my car, an 07/98 build 740iL. It seems like it's harder on the pre-facelift cars as I need to change the ZCS numbers in the EGS computer. Does anyone happen to know what I need to change in those numbers or how to retrofit the steptronic shifter into my car? I found a few writeups on the old BimmerBoard but most have to do with 1999 and up cars. There was one person offering to sell the "numbers" for the pre-facelift EGS computer but it seems like they might be long gone, so that might not be an option anymore. If anyone has a definitive parts list already made up that would be helpful as well.

Any direction would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

[007008]

I'm not sure if pre-face can run step. Really has nothing to do with the zcs. The cluster can be changed with NCS but for the EGS on a 99+ you swap in the steptronic module and wire the shifter.

[CPHES]

This maybe the one you found. E38.org - and it goes to the board - http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/576808

It IS doable. Euro cars have it in pre facelift. E31 840ci’s have it ( seen it in a 96 ). You need to get a bunch of hard parts, and there will be some trial and error

[CPHES]

This for a pre facelift M73. (V12).

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/894355

[CPHES]

And....

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...-9-97-98-740il

[Timm]

All E31's with the M62 engine have Steptronic boxes - they were never facelifted!

[tylamb19]

This is all fantastic info - thank you everyone!

Timm, it seems like a few of the EGS computers from the E31 interchange with the E38 (see part number 24601423044) but they're a bit older. If I remember correctly the E38 740 switched transmissions from the 5HP-30 to the 5HP-24 sometime in the mid days of the pre-facelift (I have the 5HP-24 in my 1998). If I were to find an EGS computer from a Euro E31 840Ci (which if I understand what you said correctly, all had steptronic?) and use NCS to initialize to the E38 chassis, would that work? Or were the E31s all equipped with the 5HP-30? It seems like the computer with steptronic will probably be the hardest part to find for this swap.

Thanks!

[Timm]

A '97 E31 from the USA will have had the 5HP-24 - so do all post '96 Euro E31's

[tylamb19]

Just popped my E-box open tonight to take a look at the EGS computer and found something interesting. My EGS computer has the blue plugs (like a post facelift car, see the attached picture as an example) not the black plugs like the other pre-facelift EGS computers I am seeing on eBay and other sites. Does this mean I can use a blue plug (facelift) EGS w/ step on my car instead of having to find a euro market pre-facelift EGS w/ step (which all seem to have black plugs)? If so that would be awesome.

Thanks for any input!
blueplugs.jpg

[tylamb19]

So I've done a lot more internet sleuthing on this. As it turns out, it looks like I have a transmission computer with the same software version (GS 8.60.2) as the facelift cars. The pre-facelift (black plug) EGS computers have a listed software revision of GS 8.55.

Also, I believe the correct WinKFP flashing "numbers" for the steptronic transmission in a 1998 is 7505276 for S204A (sport diff) and 7505274 (without S204A) but don't quote me on that as I don't know if all Euro cars had steptronic. Same goes for the pre-facelift black plugs with researched flashing numbers of 1423169 (S204A=yes) or 1423155 (S204A=no). Again, this only applies if all of the Euro cars have steptronic which I seem to have gotten conflicting info from multiple different places. If a Euro E38 master can chime in and let me know, that would be great!

With all of those details down, I think I'm going to order the steptronic part numbers as listed on RealOEM for a 1998 Euro car, and see what I can do once they get here. Might try and flash my EGS computer over to the Euro coding (or maybe I can try the facelift USA code of 7508398 as it seems the computers have the same software version) if it comes to that I can't find a good EGS in a decent time period.

Thanks all!

[alexisonfire]

Just popped my E-box open tonight to take a look at the EGS computer and found something interesting. My EGS computer has the blue plugs (like a post facelift car, see the attached picture as an example) not the black plugs like the other pre-facelift EGS computers I am seeing on eBay and other sites. Does this mean I can use a blue plug (facelift) EGS w/ step on my car instead of having to find a euro market pre-facelift EGS w/ step (which all seem to have black plugs)? If so that would be awesome.

Thanks for any input!
blueplugs.jpg

i believe theyre all blue. dme is black. ppl listing black trans computers are prob actually dme's

[Timm]

Not on my '99 it isn't!

24-DSCF0433.JPG

[tylamb19]

Here’s my E-Box and EGS. Definitely a different connector setup than the other pre-facelift EGS computers I’ve seen or yours, Timm.
32781DA8-E10E-4F71-8E3C-75B1F8E4B164.jpg

[alexisonfire]

Here’s my E-Box and EGS. Definitely a different connector setup than the other pre-facelift EGS computers I’ve seen or yours, Timm.
32781DA8-E10E-4F71-8E3C-75B1F8E4B164.jpg

Some one correct me if im wrong-all us ones are blue, i've parted 20 of these, have like 15 trans modules still sitting around..never ever seen a black connection trans computer in a us model e38.

[tylamb19]

Some one correct me if im wrong-all us ones are blue, i've parted 20 of these, have like 15 trans modules still sitting around..never ever seen a black connection trans computer in a us model e38.

Have any steptronic trans modules?

[Sabreslight]

i've seen black EGS's before I think in the US at least are early models. I have a blue in my 01/98 build 740. With that being said I did a steptronic swap on my 98 but used a 735 EGS. and everything worked fine.

[tylamb19]

Success!!!

I just finished up the full steptronic retrofit. I got all the parts from US cars and then coded my EGS to 7505276 with WinKFP and it is all working! Also coded the IKE with the steptronic coding using PASoft.
936E1E99-C4AE-4C41-8814-8CCD128EEAD4.jpeg

Everything came out and went in without a hitch except for taking off the shift linkage which actually took up the majority of the project. The captive bolt part was totally rusted to the flange that comes off the transmission. I actually had to remove the flange from the transmission and push the shifter cable out with a press. Once that was done I hammered out the bolt after hitting it with a ton of PB Blaster.
48325CC1-15E3-4D07-989A-3F6CB2CC73C7.jpeg

I also took the time with the center console out to install wireless charging using Apple’s new MagSafe charger puck thing. It goes right into the tray with a bit of dremeling. I also wired up a traditional cable for more “classic” phones (which I still have).
602D4EEB-2F95-4B91-B8BA-3C6E63E55741.jpeg

Here are a few more pictures from the install.
9CB782AB-CD2B-4E75-AE69-E116BD819753.jpeg
2D123F5D-9193-43C7-8613-E59BDE12C462.jpeg

I currently am facing two problems though. The first is that the leather shift boot that I got was not correct in that it wouldn’t allow the shifter to go into park. It was like it was too small almost. I think I’ve now got the right part number but it’s hard to see which ones are correct when you’re buying used... The other issue is that the shift knob just spins around in the tube that it connects to. As you can see in the last picture it isn’t straight. It can spin 360 degrees. I know this isn’t right but I can’t seem to find a separate part number for a gear lever handle for steptronic cars vs non steptronic.

Thanks again everyone and any help you can provide on the last two things would be immensely appreciated.

[CPHES]

Yeah buying used is difficult - this is the realoem link - https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=25_0012 - it is for the 540i - but if you click on the link, the e38 Steptronic uses the same part #.

[tylamb19]

Yeah buying used is difficult - this is the realoem link - https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=25_0012 - it is for the 540i - but if you click on the link, the e38 Steptronic uses the same part #.

Thanks, I ordered one of that part number from my dealer so I know I have the right one. Honestly for me it’s worth the ~$45 price difference to have it correct on the first time instead of ordering 15 different used boots. For now I’ve just put the old leather boot on top of it.

In regards to the shift knob, it turns out that the original wood knob actually must have broken when I removed it from the old shifter. The plastic bits that hold the shifter on to the tower are cracked or missing. I’ll be going to the local You Pull It tomorrow to get another one as the dealer cannot order them anymore. As far as I can tell, the knobs are identical between non step and step.

Thanks!

[Sabreslight]

Thanks, I ordered one of that part number from my dealer so I know I have the right one. Honestly for me it’s worth the ~$45 price difference to have it correct on the first time instead of ordering 15 different used boots. For now I’ve just put the old leather boot on top of it.

In regards to the shift knob, it turns out that the original wood knob actually must have broken when I removed it from the old shifter. The plastic bits that hold the shifter on to the tower are cracked or missing. I’ll be going to the local You Pull It tomorrow to get another one as the dealer cannot order them anymore. As far as I can tell, the knobs are identical between non step and step.

Thanks!

Yes they are the same across the board, I've swapped mine a few times.

Although I'm a bit lost as to why your boot isn't fitting, as I do believe it goes on one way and should fit right...unless its out of alignment a bit?

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

[tylamb19]

Yes they are the same across the board, I've swapped mine a few times.

Although I'm a bit lost as to why your boot isn't fitting, as I do believe it goes on one way and should fit right...unless its out of alignment a bit?

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

The boot I got seems way, way too small. When I put the shifter into park, it tears the back of the boot out from the shift plate. That’s my problem. It only fits in one way, but that is the way that park doesn’t work in. Hope that makes sense.

[Sabreslight]

The boot I got seems way, way too small. When I put the shifter into park, it tears the back of the boot out from the shift plate. That’s my problem. It only fits in one way, but that is the way that park doesn’t work in. Hope that makes sense.

Interesting...I'll have to check mine to see whats up. I know I swapped my 98 I had something similar but its not doing it now.

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[tylamb19]

After a trip to the local pull and pay yard, I have a new shift knob, and it went on and works totally fine. Now waiting for the shift boot to come from Germany.

[alexisonfire]

After a trip to the local pull and pay yard, I have a new shift knob, and it went on and works totally fine. Now waiting for the shift boot to come from Germany.

U might be waiting forever.

[tylamb19]

U might be waiting forever.

Dealer told me 14-28 days for delivery. Hoping for that. If I can find one I know will work with my shifter sooner, I might buy that. For now, I’ve cut down and stitched then glued the old shift boot leather to the frame for the steptronic boot and it works well enough for now.
7A978BC0-CD09-49DA-835C-B34AD81F9AFA.jpeg