e30 auto-manual conversion

[shadrack]

Just collecting parts to do this conversion, but I suddenly thaught if you had an x5 with a poorly auto box and rebuild prices ranging from £1000-£3000 could this not be done with an x5 or has anyone done it? Mine is fine but surely this could be done far cheaper than an autobox rebuild, obviously it won't be as cheap as the e30 conversion as I've got 75% of the parts and only spent £50 so far (the joys of ebay) but just a thort!

[X5Sport]

Now there's a challenge for someone good with spanners.....First find your manual box of course.........

It ought to be 'technically' possible as long as you can find the parts, including a changed flywheel, to sit between then back of the crankcase and the transfer box, although that may just be flywheel, bell housing, clutch assembly, gearbox, bolts, gaskets etc.  Possibly might need a different rear casing to mate with the transfer box if the donor box isn't of an X5?  Not seen the manual version so don't know the differences in dimensions, bolt holes etc.

The question I suppose is how will the on board electronics cope?  Probably needs some major messing about inside the ECU and other modules to turn off the 'Auto' codes and enable the 'Manual' codes.

An interesting project though....and as a manual version exists, must be possible. 

[shadrack]

It was just a thaught as the auto rebuilds are so expensive, even the e30 has the hole pre stamped (if that's the term) to just tap out in the bulkhead as well as all fixing holes etc pre done for the manual clutch pipes mounts etc? So I would think it would be possible, I'm also thinking e53 shares e39 running gear and they are old and plentyful in the breakers so pedal sets, clutch master and slave cylinder, flywheel etc may be the same on 530d and even 330d, might not be possible but you would have a hell of a budget to sourcs the parts given the cost of an auto rebuild!