bmwe21.net forums

Hi everyone.

How easy is it to get all the parts to swap a 316 from auto to manual?
There's a few autos around.

Cheers

Jamie

If you're sticking with an otherwise standard M10 you will need the gearbox, clutch pedal, different brake pedal and a different prop shaft plus some common sense and some wire to jump the start inhibitor relay under the dash.

NAS will be along shortly to say you should put an M52 in which means you need a lot more bits!

Thanks Jim,

I've actually just spent the last 2 days reading Nas's build thread & I'm contemplating doing a M42 swap with pedal box (Although unsure how to do this) to keep it light, 140-160bhp & 35+ mpg appeals to me. Now I'm married with a 1yr old it's harder to justify big builds lol

I have a small garage so should be able to do most of it.

I wish I'd have kept your old blue one & not given up at the 1st problem.

M42 might need subframe mods, M20 gearbox/linkage (or use the one that came with the M42 and a different speedo system), new fuel lines pump filter etc, exhaust manifold/downpipe making, plus propshaft and pedals.

You didn't give up at the first problem, we replaced the engine OK. You just decided to do something else.

Yeah, I know. The engine wasn't the problem it was the lack of storage space & no garage to work on it in.

It's going to cost a damn site more now to get one to the spec the blue one was/is now though.

I'm thinking of buying a complete 318ti compact & using the engine, box, wiring loom & as many bits as I can. Then getting a floor mounted pedal box & doing the brakes/clutch from there. The only thing that's confusing me is the accelerator, is it seperate on the E21? Could I leave that & just get the clutch/brake pedal box or would the full 3 pedal box be better with throttle cable made up?

How's the Slug holding up?

It's all in one piece for the three pedals but there are many options.

Slug - lives in my Dads garage and gets out about twice a year at the moment.

Baur - got restored and lives in my garage and gets used a bit more but still not enough.

My garage is too small to work in so it's a good job I have 3 kids now and don't have time to rebuild old cars!

I only have one child & I'll struggle for time!

My garage is probably too small & I've still got to break it to my wife that I'm after another old car (just scrapped 2 mk3 Golfs due to rust & electrical problems)
She hates BMW's & pretty much all RWD cars so that conversation should be fun.

The last time I saw the baur it was looking very sorry for itself so I'm glad you finally got it back on the road

I have a massive double garage and a six month old. problem is its already full of arshads car / 5 bmw engines and a classic '78 mini (don't ask)

Doing the auto to manual swap on a 316 is an absolute piece of cake so as long as you get all the bits Jim mentioned..

The m42 engine is ok and should be fun, but you still end up needing to get most of the parts you would have needed for a m52 so you may as well stick that engine in and have 230hp straight off the bat with no problems. Anyway to fit the m42 you need to be clever and fabricate a tensioning pulley if you don't have powersteering (most autos came with powersteering though)

pedal boxes are a frigging nightmare job, even floor mounted ones,

you issue is mostly cost and therefore how much your wife loves you.,

Yeah, Nas. My wife has already said my budget can be slim to none lol
Looks like it might be cheaper to wait for a 316 manual to come up at a decent price & build a 2lt M10 on twin 45's....

How much in your opinion would a basic M52 swap cost? Keeping the standard pedal box and stuff? ( starting with a manual car)

if you do it yourself its about 3k ish

Cool, looks like I'll have to save up a bit more & start with a 6cyl Manual car unless I find a 1981 316 Manual then I'll have that lol

Look at my build in the 4 cylinder part it will explain

I read your car build yesterday Lee & thats what got me thinking I could accept an auto for a bit....

It all depends on what cars are about, there's a '78 320 on ebay at the moment but I think it will go for silly money.

Personally I'd get a manual but if your willing to wait and willing to get your hands dirty it's worth it it's not nearly as hard as I though

I'm in no real rush for one at the moment. So I can watch to see what turns up