From auto trany to 5speed or 6 speed!?

[03E40sick]

Hey guys, I have 2003 325ci with AA SC on it and am planning on swapping my transmission to manual but I was wondering 5 speed or 6 speed and which is easier and what problems I might face during the swap !? Thanks for your help

[aggieE46]

6 speed, but it'll be a tad more expensive.

[bluejeansonfire]

Hey guys, I have 2003 325ci with AA SC on it and am planning on swapping my transmission to manual but I was wondering 5 speed or 6 speed and which is easier and what problems I might face during the swap !? Thanks for your help

5 speed is easier only in cost and lifting effort

6 speed driveshafts will also require a new snout on your diff- which is no biggie, just something more to do, or you can have a custom driveshaft or other custom work to replace guibo with a u-joint.

6 speed is also a lot cooler

[bmw_chuzo]

5 speed is easier only in cost and lifting effort

6 speed driveshafts will also require a new snout on your diff- which is no biggie, just something more to do, or you can have a custom driveshaft or other custom work to replace guibo with a u-joint.

6 speed is also a lot cooler

will that "snout" apply if using a 3.38 diff from a 330?

[neil1138]

:hi:

[bluejeansonfire]

will that "snout" apply if using a 3.38 diff from a 330?

what im saying is that if you're using a non330 e46 diff, you'll need to change to the 330 snout as it's the only diff that was also coupled with a 6-speed driveshaft in a nonM

So if you already have the 330 diff, you're one step ahead of the game

[bmw_chuzo]

what im saying is that if you're using a non330 e46 diff, you'll need to change to the 330 snout as it's the only diff that was also coupled with a 6-speed driveshaft in a nonM

So if you already have the 330 diff, you're one step ahead of the game

thanks man, now i'm clear :)

[03E40sick]

how much a 6speed might cost me...ofcourse used...

[dpgrand]

search ebay... call parts yards....

[mcr_driver]

depends on the 6 speed, the m3 6 speed might be the easiest to find but might cost more then the non-6speed and probably the best overall 6 speed the ZHP (deisgn is a 2 piece vs the 3 piece of the m3 6 speed) would cost as much if not more then the m3 tranny. overall most people do either the ZHP or m3 swap for a 6 speed it requires more work then just doing a 5 speed swap but imo is worth the extra effort in the long run

[BMWPersian]

6 speed, is it impossible to couple our nonMs to a SMG m3 trans?

[mcr_driver]

not sure i understand you but i think your asking if we can put the m3 smg tranny onto a non-m engine? the short answer is no, the long answer is yes but there is more modification then it's worth

[performancenut]

Anyone know a shop that does this swap regularly and has it perfected on the east coast?

[SPDu4ea]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbVKWCpNFhY

[Penn]

Check out this thread... http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=659314