I'd like to make friends with an e30 whiz

[sLvr325i]

I have... ok well the name says it all. Its a 1990. I have to put a tranny in this car in the spring... the auto in it is done.
Don't get me wrong, I like reading forum posts and things like that, but I'd rather get to know somebody real who has done the swap from auto to manual in an e30. My automotive experience is... well I work as a mechanic, for about 7 years now. Can't say i've done much in the way of anything custom you know? So i'd like to use email to get some info together on my best course of action.

Performance wise (anyone can chime in here i guess), is it worth it for me to put a mantrans in it? I dont really plan on doing anything to the 2.5, I can only imagine that the auto would be a bit of a dog and worse for economy.
Thanks a lot guys

ian

[BigD]

PM Axxe, he's done this in his garage.

[Vrbovsky]

Where in Southern Ontario are you? I know just the guy you're looking for.

[T.Dot_E30]

It's been done many times, hardest part is getting all the parts together.

Once you have all the parts it's just a tranny swap and pedal install with a few lines and wires thrown in there. Pretty much the best mod I did to my e30 n afterwards everything was stock like it came from the factory. Do some searching, reading on here, r3vlimited.com, e30tech.com and I'm sure you'll get alot of info.

[Axxe]

It's like a clutch job only with added pedals, wiring and plumbing. Just finished my second 5 spd swap (on an e36 this time)

[nonlocal]

As for whether it is worth doing... uh...

HELL YES

[sLvr325i]

well i found myself a parts car. its an 89 manual trans 325i with 245k on the clock. its a four door, mines a coupe... far as logic tells me, everything would be fine....am i right?
I have done some searching, had a member of a forum give me a link to a really good article and I feel totally fine about this swap now... as long as there isnt anything about the four door e30 thats different other than the shell i'll grab it up.

[Vrbovsky]

you can swap the trany and almost everything else... except the doors.

[nonlocal]

Why don't you post the link to your really good article here? That way somebody who searches here with the same problem can find the solution...

It's how the internet works, and stuff.

[sLvr325i]

Originally Posted by nonlocal

Why don't you post the link to your really good article here? That way somebody who searches here with the same problem can find the solution...

It's how the internet works, and stuff.

http://www.rtsauto.com/bmw-e30-trans...tic-to-manual/

Vrbovsky: thank you, you just answered my last question

[nonlocal]

Heh, I was about to post that exact same article from a different site...

Since I am an official officer of the Department of Redundancy Department, here's another URL:

http://e30performance.info/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=231

[Vrbovsky]

one thing you might want to check when you do the swap is the diff. I don't know much about 4doors but I'm assuming it has and oped diff, while your auto box also has an open 4.10 diff. look into getting an Limited slip or LSD. more fun. run about 200-300$

[noid]

Originally Posted by sLvr325i

http://www.rtsauto.com/bmw-e30-trans...tic-to-manual/

Vrbovsky: thank you, you just answered my last question

Glad you found my website useful

Heres the other one on there also:

http://www.rtsauto.com/bmw-e30-trans...wap-version-2/

[sLvr325i]

Originally Posted by Vrbovsky

one thing you might want to check when you do the swap is the diff. I don't know much about 4doors but I'm assuming it has and oped diff, while your auto box also has an open 4.10 diff. look into getting an Limited slip or LSD. more fun. run about 200-300$

Vrbovsky both my 90' and this 89' are outfitting with an LSD, so i'll have a spare I guess, amoung other things.

Thanks for that last link Noid.. that article was a really good one.

[Yamahammer]

I just finished my swap. It is a four door. I did not change the dif, but I am going to. Having the 5spd is so much more enjoyable over my haggard old automatic that came out.