viskop

Sorry Matt, I cannot help with advise, but I do wish you all the best in your project. I'm just very glad that my BMW's manual conversion is completed.

...............................................................sorry, I first had to wipe the drool from my mouth! Welcome Peter, I hope to buy one of these one day when I'm a grown-up.

For those who don't yet know....the manual conversion on my 1996 E36 328i has been completed about 3 weeks ago.

Even though I don't go on facebook that much, I have sent my request, Matt. And yes, welcome Matt. I still need to meet 99.999999999% of folks that are on bimmersport, in person. The only other member I have met, and know, is my son!

A year ago my 2005 NZ New E46 330i with 111k on the clock, went for $8500. $9500 for this BMW is way to much. But then again, someone might buy this for that price.

Yes it was.

Hey guys......it has been a week since the manual conversion was completed by Jon at auto38 on my '96 328i......and I feel like I'm in heaven!! Love the difference and this car makes me feel like I'm driving my 1998 328i manual that I had back in South Africa. And even though I loved my (sold) 2005 E46 330i here in Wellington....my 1998 E36 328i (back in SA) was still the best Beemer I have ever driven. So this converted 1996 328i comes in equal 1st place. Life is good . Now I need to save up so that the mods can start. Well, maybe later this year, so will keep this BMW stock (for now).

Oh yes! That is so me too!! My wife only found out yesterday that I'm converting my auto E36 328 to a manual!!

Nope, life does not come first in my industry...WORK comes first. Anyhow...good news is that I'm sorted for a gearbox (ZF). Just waiting for the competition clutch to arrive. So hopefully by the end of March I'll be driving my manual Beemer. And Jono at auto38 is going to do the job for me. :-)

All good, lucky Brent. Thanks though for your time and reply, Warren.

Hi Warren, I have basically zero knowledge/understanding of all the information you mentioned above, so I will ask a few questions, if you don't mind answering in layman's terms. :-) First my update: I bought a 1996 E36 328i auto and plan to convert to manual, so I believe my BMW is an M52. My questions: 1. I assume this is a full clutch kit? If not, what else will I need to buy (excluding your item) to get a full clutch kit? 2. Does this clutch still work? 3. Shipping to Wellington (if all above is positively answered)? PS - I'll only see your reply late tomorrow evening (Friday evening), due to my working hours. Appreciate your time. Charl

Thanks gents! Kelvin, my heart is torn...I am devastated, but I basically have 2 options (choices): 1) Withdraw this auction on trademe and continue to drive this awesome BMW and just accept the fact that I will never (or not in the next 24 months at least) be able to convert it to manual, or 2) Sell this awesome BMW and then use some of that money to convert the not-so-nice-looking-newer BMW to manual.

Very sad day - selling my awesome BMW E36 328i. Here is the link: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1270566129 If any bimmersport member is interested, I am willing to let it go $4500. Message me directly if you have any questions. Due to my long work hours I may not always reply immediately or even the same day. Thanks for understanding.

Thanks Kelvin. I have been in touch with Jono from auto38 (thanks to Olaf's suggestion) and he has no parts. Once I have all the parts, I will use him to do the job for me. My long chat with him yesterday gave me an indication that he knows what he's talking about. Unless you know of someone else?

Thanks Olaf. Will see what the future holds for this Beemer. If the '96 328 was the same colour as the '95 328, then I might have been tempted to swap the Motorsport body kit and wheels. But I'm in no rush (except wanting to convert the '96 to manual) to do any mods at this point in time. (Need to try and get the bank balance back in the green 1st - after conversion) :-)

Hi William, just so I know....how much would you like/want for your "spare pair of 328/M3 half shafts"? Thanks.

Hi Olaf, 2 pics added to my profile. Actually, let me add them here as well.

The "new" 1996 328i that I bought 2 days ago, and I hope I can do a manual conversion on it in the very near future. Been talking with Jono from auto 38 in Newtown...very helpful, but he did say that it's hard to get hold of a ZF gearbox. So fingers crossed...

William, give me a week or so please. I just need to hear back from Auto 38 (Jono) and make final arrangements. Cheers.

I'll most likely only get around to taking pics this coming weekend Olaf. I'm on-call this week and work many late nights, and back in the office at 7am and leave the office at 4:30pm, no matter if I worked until 3 or 4am. (Can't say here for which company I work). But I do promise, I'll take a few pics soon and add it. :-)

Thanks William, I will surely be in touch should there be a need. Thanks again.

And I forgot to mention, I am on the lookout for a ZF gearbox including all parts to do the conversion. Both auctions above are for the ZF gearboxes, which I believe are for the 328's.

You mean, the steering is on the right side, it is the Chinese whose steering wheels are on the wrong side.

Thanks Olaf and William. You are both helpful. Olaf, yes, I did say that I may have to sell my 1995 E36 328i (the current one on my profile pics), but that is only because I bought a cheaper 1996 E36 328i yesterday with 127000km on the clock. The "new" 1996 BMW does not even in looks, come close to my 1995 BMW, but the 1996 BMW I want to convert to manual, which means I may possibly (most likely will have to) have to sell my 1995 BMW. (If/when I have to sell the 1995, then I hope to get a lot more than what I paid for the 1996) I just want a manual as I've been driving manual cars from when I started driving the 1st time back in the 1980's. For now I will see if I can get in touch with Auto 38 (Jono). Cheers guys.

Bugger, would have loved to buy your 330, but I just bought a 1996 328i yesterday. I sold my 2005 NZ New E46 330i nearly a year ago, and at 111000km and all in top notch condition, I could only get $8500 for my 330. I'm still upset that I had to sell it. Good luck.