want to convert to manual 94 540i

[mrbmw1]

what parts are needed for the manual conversion on the 94 540i

[DaCan23]

In maybe 18 months I am going to consider the same conversion and an approach I've considered is buyin a 5 speed donor car and swapping the trannies & parts, then reselling the donor car as an automatic. Of course I would rebuild the manual before dropping it in.

[Phatty5BMW]

In maybe 18 months I am going to consider the same conversion and an approach I've considered is buyin a 5 speed donor car and swapping the trannies & parts, then reselling the donor car as an automatic. Of course I would rebuild the manual before dropping it in.

540's are 6 speeds n 530's are 5 speeds if im correct.

[Kalevera]

I actually have a 6 speed from a 540 for sale.

http://216.144.3.217/ebay/getrag6speed1.jpg

http://216.144.3.217/ebay/getrag6speed2.jpg

This trans has about 40,000 miles on it and was removed from an E39. It will fit all E39 540s and all E34 540/530s. It was pulled by a dealer -- they misdiagnosed it and replaced it with a new unit, only to discover that the problem was shifter related. Shifts and turns fine, but hasn't been in a car while we've owned it.

These cost $4000 from the dealer. I'm looking for $1000. It's heavy and should be shipped via freight. Or, it can be picked up at the shop (Cleveland, Ohio). The rest of the parts are readily available, and we can provide a Beyer reman driveshaft and most, if not all, other items.

Call me or Brett. 440.564.7574.

best, whit

[Johntee540]

And Lowell - I am trying to schedule with Brett a date at the end of March to install my 6-speed out there!

I hear you need to have the instrument cluster from the Donor car as well as the transmission; Clutch kit; drive shaft; Pedal Cluster; Hydraulic Lines; shifter - for this conversion - JT

[Paul in NZ]

apparently the 540 six speed tranny is about twice as beefy as a 5 spd from a 535,so have some lifting gear ready

[tncbass]

I just did this conversion although I took a slightly different approach. Rather than using the 540i 6spd I took the tranny (5spd) from a 94 530i, pedals, console cover plate, shifter, clutch hydraulics, and other bits and peices all came from the same car. Luckily it had the same interior colors as mine:D My drive shaft had to be modified due to the fact that the manual tranny is a little over half the length of the auto gearbox. This also has tremendous weight savings. Anyone who has ever seen the auto gearbox will know exactly what I mean. That gearbox is the largest I have ever seen outside bus/truck applications. Anyway, back to the subject. Everything bolted up just fine. Had to do a little extra wiring to get the reverse lights to work and I taped up and stowed the auto gearbox wiring harness. I left the auto trans computer connected and have no issues other than a "getriebeprogramm" message at startup, but once I clear out that message it never comes back until the next engine start. The only problem I have had so far is that I used the clutch slave from the donor car rather than using a new one. Don't do it. I couldn't get it in gear at all with the engine running and when I was able to drive it I had to match revs to downshift. Save yourself the trouble and get a new clutch slave when you are collecting all the parts. Also change the fluid in the tranny (ATF). Hope this helps. Can't wait to get her on the Ring this weekend:D :D :D