Need opinions, What would you do?

I have the option to buy a full 5 speed swap kit. This includes 131k: differential, driveshaft, trans (w/internals), entire shifter assembly, entire clutch assembly, entire pedal assembly, every nut and bolt, basically everything for a 5 speed swap minus a shift knob for 1100 (+200 for shipping)... I really wish I lived closer to the kit. My question is should I buy the whole kit for this price or are there certain items I should steer away from and buy somewhere else? Do you think this is a good deal, and like the title says: "What would you do?" Open to all feedback. Thanks boys.

Ha. You came to the right place for opinions. I would trade for a manual. Much less stress.

Honestly I'm all ears. I'm not really worried about the swap per-say. I just want to know whether this sounds like a decent deal and also things I may have not thought about yet. I'd like to add that I am already planning on replacing clutch, flywheel, TO bearing, pilot bearing, rear main seal, shifter refresh, driveshaft guibo, and trans mount bushings. So I don't necessarily mean the generic response regarding replacing these items.

Originally Posted by Teddy7

Thanks boys.

I was going to reply until I got to the "boys" comment.

OK why the hell did you buy an auto car if you want manual? Sell your car, start over with something you want.

Originally Posted by dknightd

I was going to reply until I got to the "boys" comment.

OK why the hell did you buy an auto car if you want manual? Sell your car, start over with something you want.

You must not know me. I've had the car for 6 years now. It was my first car and even though I wanted a manual and was paying for it myself. I wanted to respect my parents, and buy the auto. They were worried about me having a manual, for various reasons. (i.e. first car, unnecessary trouble, faster driving in their minds). So that's what I did. I have always loved e46s so it was an auto or something else entirely. I compromised. Make sense?

if you know what your getting yourself into i say go for it... and good luck with the project! just remember you also have to reprogram some stuff on the ECU so it doesnt throw codes.

dont swap until the auto trans bites the dust.
otherwise it's a waste of effort and time

buy a 5 speed car with a blown engine... part out what you don't need and break even...

Originally Posted by MercForHire

dont swap until the auto trans bites the dust.
otherwise it's a waste of effort and time

Holy Crap! That actually made sense!

Originally Posted by hacksawmark

Holy Crap! That actually made sense!

I assumed that is why you were doing it. If the auto still works, then don't mess with it. BUT, you can do what I am doing, which is: I scan the classifieds for part outs, and make seriously lowball offers for various pieces. I have an entire set of part numbers I am working from. I just buy a part here and there for very low prices, and I am slowly collecting the things I need, at bargain basement prices. Keep an eye on Craigslist too. I have about 40% of the parts I need, and I have only spent about $250.

If you are really serious about keeping the car for a long time, you can use the same process to get parts that you may not need for a long time, if ever. For example, I have a replacement DME, TCM, LCM, and DSC module/pump. I paid $100 for all of the electronics, and $80 for the DSC module/pump assembly. The electronics came from a car with my exact trans, engine, and Xenon lights. I have talked to someone local about getting them all coded for my car. They are all in my "Oh Sh!t" box, for when something major fails. I have some other various electronics and switches and things in there as well, plus a set of factory Xenons that are 100% functional, including the bulbs, that I got from a kid that works in a body shop. He fished them out of the dumpster at work. They came from an 04' M3 that had hit a telephone pole. They were perfect, down to the lenses. The only problem was that every single mounting tab was broken. He could not sell them to anyone who wanted to upgrade, because of all of the broken tabs. I bought them for $100.

Originally Posted by MercForHire

dont swap until the auto trans bites the dust.
otherwise it's a waste of effort and time

What if that never happens? Hmmm? I'm up to 230K.

Originally Posted by dknightd

I was going to reply until I got to the "boys" comment.

OK why the hell did you buy an auto car if you want manual? Sell your car, start over with something you want.

I'm with him. Whatever attachment you have to the car, sever it. Then again, I see you've spray painted your hood, raped your exahust and made it obvious the car was owned by an adolescent so your resale value is poo... probably best to go with the swap then if that's what you want.

Originally Posted by Teddy7

It was my first car and even though I wanted a manual and was paying for it myself. I wanted to respect my parents, and buy the auto. They were worried about me having a manual, for various reasons. (i.e. first car, unnecessary trouble, faster driving in their minds). So that's what I did. I have always loved e46s so it was an auto or something else entirely. I compromised. Make sense?

You were paying for it yourself but you wanted to "respect your parents and buy the auto" for reasons that don't quite make any sense?

Dude, your parents bought you an auto and now you want a stick. It's cool, just don't front lol

As for the swap, I'm with the 'sell the car and start over' crowd. Why spend $1k+ to put in a tranny that has 130k? Just doesn't seem logical

Originally Posted by WheyArea

You were paying for it yourself but you wanted to "respect your parents and buy the auto" for reasons that don't quite make any sense?

Dude, your parents bought you an auto and now you want a stick. It's cool, just don't front lol

As for the swap, I'm with the 'sell the car and start over' crowd. Why spend $1k+ to put in a tranny that has 130k? Just doesn't seem logical

I don't have to front, that's what happened. They make perfect sense in my mind. We are very close, and making them happy or comfortable at the time was okay with me. I never said I was completely against the auto at that time either.

Originally Posted by EverydayGetaway

I'm with him. Whatever attachment you have to the car, sever it. Then again, I see you've spray painted your hood, raped your exahust and made it obvious the car was owned by an adolescent so your resale value is poo... probably best to go with the swap then if that's what you want.

You'd be surprised how quickly the exhaust noise alone would sell the car to this day and age adolescent.... just messin. Honestly though, how hard do you think it would be for me to return my car to essentially stock look? I still have my style 45s $0, weld the stock muffler back in $20, repaint hood $couple hundred, or just replace with another one from craigslist $50-$100, remove roof rack (4 hex bolts). Such a daunting task. Nevertheless, this is why I made the thread. I'll probably pass on the kit and make a decision about swapping if/when the time comes.

Part out, sell your car, take that money that you would put towards the swap into a car with less miles.

The swap makes no financial sense unless you just dumped a load of money completely refreshing your current car's maintenance and even then it's questionable. If you just want to do it for the experience then go for it. If you plan on keeping this car for quite a few more years then go for it. Personally I'd just sell it.

Originally Posted by choxor

Part out, sell your car, take that money that you would put towards the swap into a car with less miles.

The swap makes no financial sense unless you just dumped a load of money completely refreshing your current car's maintenance and even then it's questionable. If you just want to do it for the experience then go for it. If you plan on keeping this car for quite a few more years then go for it. Personally I'd just sell it.

My car has been maintained pretty well, but I'm trying to avoid using this as my decision maker in the swap. I'll probably just keep the car how it is until the trans blows or at least a couple more years and then sell it. I'm sure I'll regret saying this, but this trans has always felt so strong to me when compared to other vehicles. It surprises me how much actually end up failing. I wish there were signs prior to failure. I hope I just get lucky with this one and have it last all the way to 230k like the user earlier in this thread.

Originally Posted by RKiepper

What if that never happens? Hmmm? I'm up to 230K.

I'm at 200K, but I had my trans swapped by PO. the moron went from 5 speed to steptronic

^that suckkkks

Originally Posted by aahmed2016

I'm at 200K, but I had my trans swapped by PO. the moron went from 5 speed to steptronic

And you (or your parents) bought it, so who's the moron?

(Please pardon my auto-correct)