The Official Auto-to-Manual Transmission Swap Thread

[spyderg0d]

Shouldn't be a check engine light. Obd1 will adjust afr withing range. Let it idle for extended times, multiple times, and the cel should eliminate itself. Also, reading live data from a tool will help diagnose any problems.

[VLBimmers]

Hello I am new here and to owning Bmw have some questions maybe someone can help I recently purchased a 1999 E36 vert that was once automatic and converted to manual. How do I get the check engine light stay off and pass inspection? I was told that if I remove a chip in the transmission computer it will help with the idle control, but dose it clear the check engine light?

[Soniic]

Will I be able to use 4 cylinder manual parts in my 323i with a zf 5 speed?

[E36 zoooom]

Hi all, i've got a 328i e36 auto 1995.

I want to swap to manual but wondering which car I should get as a donor vehicle. Does it matter which gearbox it comes out of? I assume all 6pot e36 will fit my 328i but is there a difference?

I see some people get gearbox from ZF, what is the advantage?

In the UK how much should I expect to be paying?

[Sh00bs]

Hi all, just finished a ZF swap on my 97 328i. it ran great and fine before the swap....
the car starts up for a second, maybe 2 seconds then dies. any idea why? im not running a clutch switch, i did however jump wires #5 and #7, i also pulled out the PROM memory card from the TCU.

Any ideas...???? im throwing codes for 02 sensors, which it was throwing before the swap too. im also getting P0600 (ecu communication)
this is beyond frustrating, im not sure what to check. i have a brand new battery pushing 840 cold cranking amps and for piece of mind i did a fuel pump as well.

[cmybimmer]

So I’ve tried finding a definitive answer to my question, but couldn’t find anything (at least in the first 30 pages).

Ive done 4 of these swaps in the past (over 10 years ago), but now i just finished my 5th on my 95 325i with acs.

This is the first time a transmission light came on. I already shorted the 5&7 pin like i always did. So now I’m not sure what exactly to do. Do i need to disconnect the transmission computer? Or only the bulb? Or both? I never had to do any of those.

Any help would be appreciated.

[cmybimmer]

No one? I mean I've been driving it all week and it drives fantastic (other than a control arm wobble at turns). I just need to know if I have to pull that chip in the tcu, or just pull the bulb.

[Sam Skovgaard]

From what I've read/researched (never done one myself) you need to both remove the transmission chip AND remove the transmission alert bulb.

I'm surprised you've done so many swaps and never had this problem before

[cmybimmer]

Ended up just taking out the bulb and forgot about it. Been driving great, and the asc is confirmed to work after trying my first clutch dump loll

[Jesme]

I want to swap my 99 Z3 coupe to an automatic. However, I can't do the work but it maybe a nightmare finding a shop willing to do it. Is this a difficult project to undergo?

[George Hill]

Does anyone know the part number for the wiring terminal at the cruise control module?

I'm trying to wire straight to the module and need a new terminal. Its a small rectangle and near fully open on the inside, I think this might be it but can't tell for sure. AND I would need it to not have the wiring pigtail, just looking for the terminal itself.

61130005201

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...130005201~oem/

[chimpanzee]

WOW, they made it look so straightforward..

[GregBBall123]

realoem's site shows 3 #11 options, haha

i assumed but that because i am 09/1991 i should get part number 21521162149 which were the links i posted before. Should i rely on when the production date of my car is or the year of the transmission? The guy i got it off said it came off a 95.

11

screw pipe

1

10/1994

21521162149

11	plug-in pipe		1	10/1994	05/1997	21521160291	$54.33
11	plug-in pipe		1	05/1997		21521164394	$49.70

this post, thank the lord. I couldnt find that part # anywhere

[kar2k]

Hi, I got a 320i euro spec with an M50

will an american gearbox conversion kit (full kit), driveshaft, gearbox, shifters, mounts, etc) work?

[WhiteE36318]

Gday,
I have a 1997 E36 318i with an m43b18, I am looking at purchasing a complete manual 1994 318i which I suspect has an m42b18. Will I have everything I need for a manual conversion on my m43?

[kar2k]

IMG_9763.jpgIMG_9764.jpg

Anyone ever seen this transmission ECU?

I do you have to do something to it for a manual swap?

[DeobandiPrince]

Did no one read my post on just hooking the park/nuetral wire to the blk/yel ingiton wire? it provides 12vdc while cranking any never else therefore you are never excercising that big yellow AT relay everytime you push your clutch in.


thats what fixed my problem

Hi there,

I bought a 1997 E36 M3 that was manual swapped. I'm trying to get cruise control working and am trying to find guidance on how to perform the alteration mentioned above
Here it is copy pasted incase the link doesn't work

edit: I found a better solution. instead of going to the brake wire, go to the blk/yllow starter wire at the ignition. it gives 12v while cranking and nothing while not cranking, the exact setup you want while car is on. now car starts as suppose to and cruise works as suppose to. no more annoying rev up and down with the brake or clutch pressed.

I believe I found the black/yellow ignition wire and I've already cut it and soldered in a 14 gauge wire that runs off it into the transmission tunnel area.

My question is when he says to take the wire to the neutral safety wire (which is wire 7 brown/black,) what does he mean? The previous owner jumped wires 5 and 7 from the auto trans connector. So would I have to unpair them and connect the yellow/black wire to the end of the brown/black wire? If so what would I do with wire 5 (Green/grey.)

Or is he saying to just connect the yellow/black wire into the wire 5 and 7 joint making it a threeway?

Pictures attached for reference.

Back of the auto trans connector

Capture.PNG





Pic of wires 5 and 7 jumped together
PXL_20240913_024222657.jpg


I also saw some posts of people saying that if you jump pins 5 and 7, you can snip pin 25 to get cruise control back. Problem is I have a 97 car and in the schematic another poster posted here (link) there is no pin 25. What pin would I need to cut? If I just cut pin 5 at the cruise control module, will it work? Do I need to do the rest of what he says if I don't care about the clutch pedal operating cruise control?

[GregBBall123]

Hi there,

I bought a 1997 E36 M3 that was manual swapped. I'm trying to get cruise control working and am trying to find guidance on how to perform the alteration mentioned above
Here it is copy pasted incase the link doesn't work



I believe I found the black/yellow ignition wire and I've already cut it and soldered in a 14 gauge wire that runs off it into the transmission tunnel area.

My question is when he says to take the wire to the neutral safety wire (which is wire 7 brown/black,) what does he mean? The previous owner jumped wires 5 and 7 from the auto trans connector. So would I have to unpair them and connect the yellow/black wire to the end of the brown/black wire? If so what would I do with wire 5 (Green/grey.)

Or is he saying to just connect the yellow/black wire into the wire 5 and 7 joint making it a threeway?

Pictures attached for reference.

Back of the auto trans connector

Capture.PNG





Pic of wires 5 and 7 jumped together
PXL_20240913_024222657.jpg


I also saw some posts of people saying that if you jump pins 5 and 7, you can snip pin 25 to get cruise control back. Problem is I have a 97 car and in the schematic another poster posted here (link) there is no pin 25. What pin would I need to cut? If I just cut pin 5 at the cruise control module, will it work? Do I need to do the rest of what he says if I don't care about the clutch pedal operating cruise control?

Take a look at this link, it explains it well. Only 4 wires to play with, super easy to make it operate as is should.

https://mye36project5spdswap.weebly....-computer.html

I built a harness when I swapped my '97. took the plug side from the auto shifter and had a pigtail to the reverse light and another to the clutch switch

[DeobandiPrince]

Take a look at this link, it explains it well. Only 4 wires to play with, super easy to make it operate as is should.

https://mye36project5spdswap.weebly....-computer.html

I built a harness when I swapped my '97. took the plug side from the auto shifter and had a pigtail to the reverse light and another to the clutch switch

@GregBBall123 Is there a way I can get cruise control to work without connecting the brake pedal switch to pins 5 and 7 of the auto connector? I like the ability of not having to clutch in to start the car. I've seen some mention of cutting pin 25 at the cruise control module harness but from what I see, there is no pin 25 on my model year. It seems to be an OBD1 thing. Maybe I'm reading the wrong thing though?

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post10265251

There's this post going over steps but can I somehow wire it so I don't have to push in the clutch to start but still regain cruise control?

If not, could you please explain which wires from the new brake pedal switch that needs to be installed at the clutch pedal, would need to go which color wire? Blk/brn or green/grey. I see the link you sent said that you have to use either the top 2 or the bottom 2. Which one of the two would need to go to the blk/brn wire and which would need to go to the green/grey wire? Would I have to do anything else? The post I linked above said some stuff about splicing into the cruise control harness.

Sorry for all these questions. I'm a beginner when it comes to electrical stuff and have only recently gotten into working on cars. I appreciate your patience.

[bmwstephen]

bump, what are people doing with the kick down switch? I know some people leave it in, but has anyone taken it out and what did you replace it with?

[GregBBall123]

bump, what are people doing with the kick down switch? I know some people leave it in, but has anyone taken it out and what did you replace it with?

Replacing it with the OEM bolt from a stock manual car

[kbat11700]

Can anyone take a look at my parts list and let me know what I might be missing, what's unnecessary, or provide suggestions for alternatives? I am thinking of manual swapping my 98 M3 soon, and the total I came up with for parts alone felt high. I wanted to refresh everything while in there, but was still shocked at the total considering I already have a transmission.


Used Parts (estimated prices)
Transmission: $0 (already owned)
Pedal Box: $175
Transmission Brace: $50
Shifter linkage: $0 (already owned)




New Parts:
- Shift Pin Kit: $317 https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...mw-zfdetentkit
- Clutch Pivot Fork: $31 https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...mw-21511223302
- Clutch Installation Kit: $169 https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...kit-bmwhwdkit1
- Clutch and Flywheel kit: $800 https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part...048498la01kt1/
- Clutch Slave Cylinder: $65 https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...r-21526775924f
- Clutch Master Cylinder: $85 https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...46-21526758820
- Short Shifter, and overhaul: $500: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-assemble...25117527254kt/
- Driveshaft overhaul kit: $185 https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...26117511454kt2
- And more… (fluids, hardware, etc): $300

Total: $2677 (yikes)

[bmwstephen]

I am in the same boat (arguably I am spending probably another $1500 more than you) but that is the cost to do it right with no shortfalls. I was able to take advantage on a lot of special pricing between FCP Euro/ECS tuning on new parts during Black Friday

• I'd find a crappy used pedal box and order a rebuild kit from FCP Euro BMW Clutch Pedal Kit - 35311158659KT | FCP Euro
• for short shifter, I wouldn't get the Z3 one because it has a weird angle which to correct you have to bend. I am trying the new rogue engineering octane one with one of the best DSSR in the market so I'll keep you posted. That is about $500 in itself.
• For Driveshaft, you should order a brand new one from a guy in the FB Groups name Corey Ellis. His shope sells freshly built (not rebuilt) drive shafts that are e36 spec with reinforcements, balanced, and new bearings for $650 (might as well)

[kbat11700]

I am in the same boat (arguably I am spending probably another $1500 more than you) but that is the cost to do it right with no shortfalls. I was able to take advantage on a lot of special pricing between FCP Euro/ECS tuning on new parts during Black Friday

• I'd find a crappy used pedal box and order a rebuild kit from FCP Euro BMW Clutch Pedal Kit - 35311158659KT | FCP Euro
• for short shifter, I wouldn't get the Z3 one because it has a weird angle which to correct you have to bend. I am trying the new rogue engineering octane one with one of the best DSSR in the market so I'll keep you posted. That is about $500 in itself.
• For Driveshaft, you should order a brand new one from a guy in the FB Groups name Corey Ellis. His shope sells freshly built (not rebuilt) drive shafts that are e36 spec with reinforcements, balanced, and new bearings for $650 (might as well)

Yeah, I’ve been waffling around on if I am gonna do it or no, so I missed out on the Black Friday deals I built the parts list as a part of my decision making.

Good call on the z3 short shifter. Definitely keep me updated.

Torn on if I am gonna diy it or take it to my mechanic. I imagine having a reputable shop do it would help with value, but I don’t know if I really care to spend $4000+ with labor.