Manual to Automatic Transmission Swap

BenGutke · 10-29-2024, 04:15 PM

Hey everyone,

I know this situation is a bit unconventional, but I'm hoping for some guidance. A friend of mine has an N55-powered E93 with a manual transmission. He's not set on sticking with the manual transmission and finds it more of a hassle, whereas I love driving stick and would like to make the swap.

He’s open to trading transmissions with me, but I haven’t been able to find any resources for converting a manual car to an automatic. There’s plenty out there for automatic-to-manual swaps, which seem pretty straightforward, so I'm considering doing the manual swap on my E92 first and then essentially "reversing" the process on his car to get it installed and coded to work with the automatic.

Any advice or resources you can share on a manual-to-auto swap would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Edit: I am not passing up on a free manual transmission for the sake of being a purist on my friend's behalf. Neither of us wants to sell our cars and I don't want his car. Besides, I have found the info I needed on Reddit.

Efthreeoh · 10-29-2024, 04:19 PM

Blasphemy.

BenGutke · 10-29-2024, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Blasphemy.

Win for me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Brandoch · 10-29-2024, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenGutke

Hey everyone,

I know this situation is a bit unconventional, but I'm hoping for some guidance. A friend of mine has an N55-powered E93 with a manual transmission. He's not set on sticking with the manual transmission and finds it more of a hassle, whereas I love driving stick and would like to make the swap.

He’s open to trading transmissions with me, but I haven’t been able to find any resources for converting a manual car to an automatic. There’s plenty out there for automatic-to-manual swaps, which seem pretty straightforward, so I'm considering doing the manual swap on my E92 first and then essentially "reversing" the process on his car to get it installed and coded to work with the automatic.

Any advice or resources you can share on a manual-to-auto swap would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

What year and model is your car?

BenGutke · 10-29-2024, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandoch

What year and model is your car?

It’s a 2012 e92 335i

Brandoch · 10-29-2024, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenGutke

It’s a 2012 e92 335i

Definitely doable. Search around, there has been lots of transmission swap threads.

BenGutke · 10-29-2024, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandoch

Definitely doable. Search around, there has been lots of transmission swap threads.

While I have found plenty for auto to manual the only ones I have found for the other way around are unanswered

StradaRedlands · 10-29-2024, 10:57 PM

Any E93 w/ MT is rare... he just needs to sell it and buy an AT version and pocket the proceeds. You can find a used MT conversion kit out there without ruining the E93. Seriously, don't let him destroy that car. He needs to pass it on to someone who wants it.

Speaking of, LMK if he wants to sell. I'd love to pick up a MT N55 E93!

3PedalJake · 10-29-2024, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Any E93 w/ MT is rare... he just needs to sell it and buy an AT version and pocket the proceeds. You can find a used MT conversion kit out there without ruining the E93. Seriously, don't let him destroy that car. He needs to pass it on to someone who wants it.

Speaking of, LMK if he wants to sell. I'd love to pick up a MT N55 E93!

Second this, yours is the best plan. I think Efthreeoh summed it up with one word, Blasphemy!

SAVE THE MANUALS!!!

3PedalJake · 10-29-2024, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenGutke

While I have found plenty for auto to manual the only ones I have found for the other way around are unanswered

It's probably because anyone who has actually done it is too embarrassed to post about it. Props to you for craving the joystick tho. but like StradaRedlands said It's easy to replace a E93 automatic, a 6MT not so much. He should be able to trade up to lower mileage or newer or walk away with some cash. I get that you lose out on the 6MT swap, so I guess the real question to you is is he really a friend.

POBEP · 10-29-2024, 11:35 PM

the AT->6MT is on my list for sure.
the GM is worst, especially earlier one with xDrive

I grew up with MT, did not knew that AT was even thing until 2000
Yes, I can go from stop with clutch uphill without burning it, in the winter too, on RWD.
Yes, I do use clutch with first and reverse gears only.

However, I do agree that in some (rare) cases AT could be a better choice.
Here, in SF, some streets are steep - I mean it - I have to pass some crests at an angle.
Taking kids to school through many of those 4-way intersections with steep grades on 6MT is not fun.

As soon as youngest one gets his license, my E91 goes into surgery

tcphoto · 10-29-2024, 11:40 PM

Sell it, don't do it. Let someone else that will appreciate it buy it and find an automatic.

Efthreeoh · 10-30-2024, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

Second this, yours is the best plan. I think Efthreeoh summed it up with one word, Blasphemy!

SAVE THE MANUALS!!!

I started typing WT... but played nice.

Efthreeoh · 10-30-2024, 09:55 AM

Just my opinion, but no BMW should be made with an automatic transmission. That's what Lexus is for.

Efthreeoh · 10-30-2024, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

It's probably because anyone who has actually done it is too embarrassed to post about it. Props to you for craving the joystick tho. but like StradaRedlands said It's easy to replace a E93 automatic, a 6MT not so much. He should be able to trade up to lower mileage or newer or walk away with some cash. I get that you lose out on the 6MT swap, so I guess the real question to you is is he really a friend.

^ this.

Brandoch · 10-30-2024, 10:32 AM

Just ignore the haters. If it's something that the 2 of you want to do, then do it.

3PedalJake · 10-30-2024, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandoch

Just ignore the haters. If it's something that the 2 of you want to do, then do it.

Tempting fellow bimmer bros into committing sacrilege? Be gone Satan!

BMW Guy · 10-30-2024, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

Tempting fellow bimmer bros into committing sacrilege? Be gone Satan!

AT owner here............. But I couldn't find a manual in my area Jesus. Please forgive me for committing sacrilege.

3PedalJake · 10-30-2024, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW Guy

AT owner here............. But I couldn't find a manual in my area Jesus. Please forgive me for committing sacrilege.

It's not Heresy to OWN a AT, to each their own and many like you have a AT simply because there's no MT available. What is sacrilege is taking a perfectly good MT car and mutilating it into being a slushpumper.

BMW Guy · 10-30-2024, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

It's not Heresy to OWN a AT, to each their own and many like you have a AT simply because there's no MT available. What is sacrilege is taking a perfectly good MT car and mutilating it into being a slushpumper.

Hey, I could just whip my little Steptronic transmission around and say, "I got a manual!"

3PedalJake · 10-30-2024, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW Guy

Hey, I could just whip my little Steptronic transmission around and say, "I got a manual!"

You could say that. At the risk of sounding impolitic one could also say that having a mangina makes one a real woman. I'll just leave it at that.

eljay · 10-30-2024, 01:37 PM

Plan A: You guys should just trade cars.

Plan B: Sell both your cars and buy the correct versions.

10-29-2024, 04:15 PM	#1
BenGutke Registered 2 Rep 4 Posts Drives: AW 2012 BMW E92 MSport AT Join Date: Oct 2024 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	Manual to Automatic Transmission Swap Hey everyone, I know this situation is a bit unconventional, but I'm hoping for some guidance. A friend of mine has an N55-powered E93 with a manual transmission. He's not set on sticking with the manual transmission and finds it more of a hassle, whereas I love driving stick and would like to make the swap. He’s open to trading transmissions with me, but I haven’t been able to find any resources for converting a manual car to an automatic. There’s plenty out there for automatic-to-manual swaps, which seem pretty straightforward, so I'm considering doing the manual swap on my E92 first and then essentially "reversing" the process on his car to get it installed and coded to work with the automatic. Any advice or resources you can share on a manual-to-auto swap would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! Edit: I am not passing up on a free manual transmission for the sake of being a purist on my friend's behalf. Neither of us wants to sell our cars and I don't want his car. Besides, I have found the info I needed on Reddit. Last edited by BenGutke; 10-30-2024 at 02:20 PM..
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10-29-2024, 04:19 PM	#2
Efthreeoh General 18990 Rep 19,613 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Blasphemy.
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10-29-2024, 10:57 PM	#8
StradaRedlands Brigadier General 6416 Rep 3,843 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i MT Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: SoCal iTrader: (3) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [8.45] 2009 BMW 328i Touri ... [8.00] 2013 BMW X5 35i [7.80] 2011 BMW 528i [8.70] 2006 Mazda3 [5.50]	Any E93 w/ MT is rare... he just needs to sell it and buy an AT version and pocket the proceeds. You can find a used MT conversion kit out there without ruining the E93. Seriously, don't let him destroy that car. He needs to pass it on to someone who wants it. Speaking of, LMK if he wants to sell. I'd love to pick up a MT N55 E93!
	Appreciate 4 3PedalJake3310.00 POBEP412.00 BMW Guy114.00 jsunma708.00 Quote

10-29-2024, 11:35 PM	#11
POBEP Lieutenant 412 Rep 583 Posts Drives: E70 E90 E91 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Christmas Valley, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E91 328ix [0.00] 2011 E90 335d [9.50] 2013 E70 xDrive35d [6.17] 2009 E91 328i [9.50] 2016 F25 xDrive28d [0.00]	the AT->6MT is on my list for sure. the GM is worst, especially earlier one with xDrive I grew up with MT, did not knew that AT was even thing until 2000 Yes, I can go from stop with clutch uphill without burning it, in the winter too, on RWD. Yes, I do use clutch with first and reverse gears only. However, I do agree that in some (rare) cases AT could be a better choice. Here, in SF, some streets are steep - I mean it - I have to pass some crests at an angle. Taking kids to school through many of those 4-way intersections with steep grades on 6MT is not fun. As soon as youngest one gets his license, my E91 goes into surgery __________________
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10-29-2024, 11:40 PM	#12
tcphoto Brigadier General 4110 Rep 3,230 Posts Drives: E92 335i 6MT Coupe Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (1)	Sell it, don't do it. Let someone else that will appreciate it buy it and find an automatic. __________________
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10-30-2024, 09:55 AM	#14
Efthreeoh General 18990 Rep 19,613 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Just my opinion, but no BMW should be made with an automatic transmission. That's what Lexus is for.
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10-30-2024, 10:32 AM	#16
Brandoch Lieutenant 816 Rep 753 Posts Drives: 2009 E93 M3 DCT Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: BC Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW E93 M3 [9.75] 2011 BMW F25 X3 28i [8.50]	Just ignore the haters. If it's something that the 2 of you want to do, then do it.
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10-30-2024, 01:37 PM	#22
eljay Colonel 1782 Rep 2,322 Posts Drives: ///M + E91 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: NS iTrader: (1)	Plan A: You guys should just trade cars. Plan B: Sell both your cars and buy the correct versions.
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