[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

Out of curiosity, what’s the reason for the swap?

Even after a full service (excluding zip kit) mine still enters limp mode at 2k-2.5k RPM on small inclines on the highway

*the 19TU has more tuning options
*faster shifts
*easier and cheaper to find a low mileage 19tu than a 19
*19tu is more robust

[e90yyc]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

Even after a full service (excluding zip kit) mine still enters limp mode at 2k-2.5k RPM on small inclines on the highway

*the 19TU has more tuning options
*faster shifts
*easier and cheaper to find a low mileage 19tu than a 19
*19tu is more robust

Right on!

Team AT baby .

Let us know how it goes. I feel like you could do this swap if you wanted? The bellhousing situation might be a tad tricky, but I bet you could figure it out. Regardless, best of luck!

[POBEP]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

Out of curiosity, what’s the reason for the swap?

I was gonna ask same question.
My 335d with ZF shifts faster than 328i with GM.
However, considering the effort, my (future) plan is 6MT for both (not another AT)

[e90yyc]

Originally Posted by POBEP

I was gonna ask same question.
My 335d with ZF shifts faster than 328i with GM.
However, considering the effort, my (future) plan is 6MT for both (not another AT)

Totally agree. Initially I had planned to replace my tranny, but when I considered the effort and expense involved, it didn't make sense to just put in another one of the same.

If my original GM wasn't performing so poorly, perhaps I would have been happy just keeping the AT.

Sounds like the ZF is quite a bit better?

[Hotter]

I am wondering how much ZF transmittion is better? And is it worth switching from GM which is working "normally"?

[POBEP]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

Sounds like the ZF is quite a bit better?

ZF 6HP
+ "feels" better when warm (butt-o-metter)
- maintenance parts are way more expensive.
+ some models handle insane d powertrain torque

GM
+ when cold, does considerably better job than ZF
- is slow-ish in shitting gears
+ indestructible for N52 application when fluid/filter changed every 50K
~ not rated for 335 family applications (d or i)

[rjahl]

Originally Posted by POBEP

ZF 6HP
+ "feels" better when warm (butt-o-metter)
- maintenance parts are way more expensive.
+ some models handle insane d powertrain torque

GM
+ when cold, does considerably better job than ZF
- is slow-ish in shitting gears
+ indestructible for N52 application when fluid/filter changed every 50K
~ not rated for 335 family applications (d or i)

The major difference being the ability to tune the ZF box. Factory gearbox tuning just sucks , ZF or GM but a custom tunes are a game changer.

[cheerio]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

Out of curiosity, what’s the reason for the swap?

If you’re asking me: I feel that the mediocre shift performance of the GM box (particularly my well-used 2008 example) really lets down the overall experience of the car. As far as I can tell, the 6HP21 is much faster shifting, especially so once tuned (and the GM box can’t be tuned).

I still do want to try the 8HP swap, but it’s proving impossible to buy one for under A$1k, and the added cost of the software tools (another ~A$800), as well as the need for an E84 donor for cloning the firmware from, just pushes the cost much higher than I can justify right now.

E-shift 6HP21 still gets me a step closer to the 8HP, and I may consider that swap if costs come down in future.

[cheerio]

OK, I know I said I’d settled on a 6HP21 swap, but those aren’t that much cheaper than an 8HP, and are just as much of a pain in the ass to buy.

Will be picking up an E70 8HP70X tomorrow, to have a play around with and figure out the electrical / flashing / coding side with. If all goes well, I’ll be buying an 8HP45 from N52 F10 - that seems like a perfect fit, with bell housing and torque converter designed for N52, and no stop/start compatibility to worry about.

This is starting to get expensive :// hopefully it’ll be worth it!

[cheerio]

I've got the 8HP now. Bought a Yanhua ACDP tool to make a backup of the TCU contents; supposedly it's also able to reset the transmission ISN.

Next step is to hook the transmission up to the car and see if it communicates. Other than power and PT-CAN bus, it has LIN bus to the shifter; and from the CAS, 15WUP wake-up signal, shift lock, and PA bus (which also goes to the steering lock).

It'd be nice if there were some convenient way to tap into the CAS connector, but I think I might just splice some wires and leave them loose for now while I still have the original transmission in the car.

Once everything is hooked up, plan is to figure out what module coding is required to get the CAS talking to the EGS. Hopefully it won't involve changing the VO to an E70...

[colorado.e9x]

Ooo its getting closer

[Raimund]

I will be swapping a Gen2 ZF6hp19 from a 528i into my 2006 330i eventually. Here is some information from XHP regarding it. Hopefully useful to someone else

[colorado.e9x]

Looking into it I don't think they made a gen 2 330 with the N52/HP19TU(HP21). I believe they started using the N53 by then. Either that or the N52 w/ GM

[cheerio]

colorado.e9x I looked through RealOEM a while ago and found that around mid-2007, E92/E93 were being built with 6HP19TU and N52. 6HP19TU is also listed as an option for E9x from 2010 onwards. Not sure if this applies to US cars though.

Anyway, some progress on the 8HP project.



Spent all day making cables, but now the transmission and shifter are hooked up outside the car

Can't say too much about it for now, except that the transmission makes some clicking noises when I turn the car on and off, and the shifter is locked into park.

Unfortunately the ACDP tool can't find the new transmission, only the original one... maybe they share the same address on the bus. Guess I'll have to scoot under the car to unplug it.

[colorado.e9x]

Awesome progress could you by chance find a vin of an E90/92 with the N52/6HP19TU? They never made them here in the US and I don't know what sites (like copart) to go to to find one. Would be much appreciated

Maybe the pinning for the connector is different between the 8HP and whatever is in your car right now? Have you tried using BMW standard tools?

[cheerio]

Wouldn't be able to find a VIN sorry, it was just based on checking different build dates on RealOEM. Was EUR N52 325i, and when following it up, I didn't manage to find anything around those production dates with a ZF transmission anyway. I'd look at late build dates (2011+) for a chance at the right gearbox.

The pinout is absolutely different for the 8HP, that's why I've got the custom wiring harness. It's 1am here now so I'll try ISTA/Standard Tools tomorrow.

[colorado.e9x]

No worries, I'll do some more hunting. The 2010+ EUR E9X with the N52 either had GM transmissions with the N52 or an N53 with the 19TU it seemed like. But I'm sure like you said theres some years they had the right combo. More digging!

Also good luck on this next part!

[MOD.Works]

The 135i and 335i also use the 6HP19 automatic transmission. It is stronger than the other NA engine used by the 6HP19 Not quite a bolt is, just a little top bolt fit. As well as the drive shaft fit.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...&q=24007572071

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by MOD.Works

The 135i and 335i also use the 6HP19 automatic transmission. It is stronger than the other NA engine used by the 6HP19 Not quite a bolt is, just a little top bolt fit. As well as the drive shaft fit.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...;q=24007572071

I've heard about that. I'm hoping the driveshaft fit won't be an issue with an auto, I know it is with the manual 335s

Edit. Comparing part #s for a 330xi & 335xi, the 330xi driveshaft is shorter by 6mm. Messaging a guy about making a spacer for it to sit at the giubo

[cheerio]

Update on the E70 8HP software:

I've tried just about all the software I could possibly throw at it (INPA, Tool32, WinKFP, NCS, ISTA), and I still can't get any of it to communicate with the EGS... I don't think the EGS is defective, because I can talk to it directly with the ACDP tool, and read out a reasonable-looking memory dump. Connecting the ACDP to the car, it can't find the gearbox either when running the program for ISN reset.

All things considered, I'm not sure why it's not working. E70 uses essentially the same CAN bus architecture as the E90. I know that everything on the PT-CAN (EGS, DME, DSC etc) is bridged to the K-CAN via the JBBF... maybe I'll try making up another cable to connect the ACDP directly to the transmission without the JBBF in the middle.

If I can get WinKFP to talk to the 8HP, it might be easier to flash E84 software to it, seeing as that's closer to the E90...

[Hotter]

Originally Posted by cheerio

I've tried just about all the software I could possibly throw at it (INPA, Tool32, WinKFP, NCS, ISTA), and I still can't get any of it to communicate with the EGS...

Did you disconnect stock gearbox? As their CAN Ids might be the same. I guess you could pull out its fuse if such exists.

[cheerio]

Originally Posted by Hotter

Did you disconnect stock gearbox? As their CAN Ids might be the same. I guess you could pull out its fuse if such exists.

Yes, I went under the car and just unplugged the connector.