Auto to manual conversion for a 530i?

[han]

Hi, I've had my e34 530i for a few months now and really like it except for the auto gear box, I really wanted a manual and didnt find one until after i bought this one. I've done a conversion like this before on my e30 with an m20. The problem I'm having is finding a manual gearbox for this particular engine unlike the e30 which are being broken up left right and center, e34 530i manuals seem pretty rare.

Does anyone know of any other bmw gearboxes which might fit this particular engine (M60). Also the engine does smoke a little on start up so i fear it may be on its way out, are there any decent engines I could swap with similar power and weight and size? one which doesnt have nicalsil problems.

ALso I live in England so anyone from UK know some good places to get parts from apart from ebay?

Thanks.

[shogun]

These chaps might be able to help you in the U.K.
http://the7seriesregister.co.uk/forums/

[Bubble]

Hey Han, I've got a 530 v8 manual, and apart from it being a little low geared in fifth, it's great.
I don't know how you would get around some of the electronics bits but something I would be aware of is the dual mass flywheel/clutch assembly. It's really expensive and difficult to get hold of IMHO. I'd love to be proved wrong tho'.
I live in the UK and, over the last couple of days, I've spoken to Quarry Motors and they have just had delivery of two almost identical 530 V8s. I'll be getting up to them for some bits before too long!
The gearbox for this car is fairly specific to the V8 being a ZF unit, as most of the 6 cylinder cars have Getrag units
I enquired about a 530 V8 gearbox a couple of months back and they said they had one in stock.
To get in touch, go to www.quarrymotors.co.uk or call them on 0114 2769076.
Good luck, Bubble. :)

[Interceptor]

Hi, I've had my e34 530i for a few months now and really like it except for the auto gear box, I really wanted a manual and didnt find one until after i bought this one. I've done a conversion like this before on my e30 with an m20. The problem I'm having is finding a manual gearbox for this particular engine unlike the e30 which are being broken up left right and center, e34 530i manuals seem pretty rare.

Does anyone know of any other bmw gearboxes which might fit this particular engine (M60). Also the engine does smoke a little on start up so i fear it may be on its way out, are there any decent engines I could swap with similar power and weight and size? one which doesnt have nicalsil problems.

ALso I live in England so anyone from UK know some good places to get parts from apart from ebay?

Thanks.
As far as smoke is concerned, try switching to Mobil 1 0w40 with a bottle of LiquiMoly CeraTec additive. It did miracles to my M50. It feels like new, after 250000 km.

[han]

Thanks for the links. The electronics should be ok I've just done a Electronic engineering degree so i should be able to sort something out.
Have you driven an auto 530 bubble? Apart from fifth how do the other gears compare?

[han]

the car needs a service so i'll try some Mobil 1 0w40 oil and the LiquiMoly CeraTec.

[Bubble]

No, sorry Han, I haven't driven an auto but I imagine the auto to be more relaxing overall but IMHO you can't beat a manual for involvement.
Bubble

[grave77]

smoking engine at start means the oil rings r done !! ... I think you would have a bad idle too ... if your looking to convert it I would prefere you fix the engine first seems to me it needs an overhole ... or engine swap. then you think about the manual.
I think the 540i 6 speeds gear box would fit ... Regal would know better since he has a 530i ... but I think the housing is the same since the enige is the same ..only auto 540 doesnt work on auto 530. but since your dumping the auto system then I would say that the 540i 6 speeds gear box would work fine. good luck

[motuman]

Here is the list, from another message board (not mine). Sounds like it could be less expensive to sell your car, buy a 540/6, and get the 540 engine upgrade for free..

Since someone asked ( and I know I looked for this all over the place before I did it! ), here is what I can come up with for all of the parts used in converting my 94 540ia to a 540i/6:

6-speed transmission (msrp ~$5k)
clutch master and slave cylinders
flywheel ( msrp ~700 )
driveshaft ( msrp ~$700-800 )
pedal cluster
shifter and linkage

This is everything I "got" from a donor car via the internet.
In addition, I was invoiced for this from the mechanic:

21 52 1 159 350 fluid hose ( $37.50 )
11 14 1 729 836 gasket ( $5.90 )
11 14 1 710 247 crankshaft seal ($52.25 )
25 11 1 221 822 (2) shift bushing ( $12.40 )
23 70 1 092 201 cross member ( $37.11 )
23 70 1 141 614 (2) trans mount ( $34.20 )
11 21 1 720 310 pilot bearing ( $18.06 )
18 21 1 178 340 (2) exhaust hanger ( $17.00 )
26 12 1 226 657 center support ( $100.20)
25 11 1 222 651 mounting ( $19.37 )
25 11 1 222 365 shift a ( $23.26 )
MTL redline ynth mtl ( $18 )

Labor for me would have been $930, which includes reprogramming the reverse lights and the passenger mirror tilt-down stuff. Alas, the tranny I bought was bad, so I had to pay another $600 for diagnosis, removal and installation of a brand new 6-speed.

I still need a shift knob and boot, too.

[infinity5]

www.theeurodepot.com (http://www.theeurodepot.com) sells AT to MT conversion kits. Just e-mail them. they quoted me $2.3kUSD for a complete kit that would include everyting i needed to do the swap. That was with a 5spd though.

[632 Regal]

either buy a 540 OR replace your engine and trans with a 540 and manual 6 speed, a bolt in swap with the only difference being the electronics for the trans and the airbox intake is slightly smaller inlet on the 3 litre car. everything else is simply plug n play.

[han]

If i was gonna do an engine swap at the same time would there be a better engine than an M60 that i could put in? I dont like the whole idea of Nicalsil. I would want one that it similar so I dont have to do too much custom work.

[632 Regal]

its Nikasil...I have one and so do a lot of others. If you look for another engine then check the numbers on the block and choose an Alusil one if Nikies scare you.

[grave77]

since you changed to manual .. may you tell me what are the speed range for each speed? as the 1st max speed is and second ... etc