Nzrooney 5 Report post Posted July 16, 2021 I've recently sold my e30s for silly prices and decided to pick up a very tidy e46 330ci. Only downside of the car is the gearbox. My questions are, how much am I expected to pay to have it converted to manual? ( My skill set probably won't meet the criteria and I have zero spare time for this type of project) second question would be, who in the wellington region would you recommend for this conversion? Appreciate any help. Very curious at this stage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2542 Report post Posted July 16, 2021 Funny, I have a manual 330ci and am looking to get an E30 325i 2 door sometime. Finding a complete manual conversion is the hard part these days - I would expect to pay $2,000+ easy for a ZF Conversion - add a new clutch and flywheel and bits for another $1,000. Cert add $750. Workshop labour and coding, no idea - but I would factor on $5K plus to do it right. Make sure you also use an unmodified factory manual driveshaft too or you could need to add driveshaft hoops (like me 😭) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
balancerider 752 Report post Posted July 16, 2021 @Nzrooney Jon @Auto38 in Newtown should be able to advise you 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nzrooney 5 Report post Posted July 17, 2021 Thank you fellas, appreciate it. I'll give Jon a call when I get a chance. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1661 Report post Posted July 17, 2021 ZF boxes go for $2000 just by themselves these days so a properly done conversion with new components would be easy 5k just in parts Cert is technically required by if using all OE drive line parts its not likely to be picked up or non issue Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E28E30 335 Report post Posted July 17, 2021 29 minutes ago, Eagle said: ZF boxes go for $2000 just by themselves these days so a properly done conversion with new components would be easy 5k just in parts Cert is technically required by if using all OE drive line parts its not likely to be picked up or non issue I asked Jon about the same thing for an E30 325i and he reckoned the gearbox for that is $2800 if the price the last one sold for was a guide, plus all the rest. Without fully pricing up it was feeling like a 6-7k job Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nzrooney 5 Report post Posted July 17, 2021 Wow at those sort of prices I may have to give it a miss. Might be time to just enjoy it for what it is. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E28E30 335 Report post Posted July 17, 2021 1 hour ago, Nzrooney said: Wow at those sort of prices I may have to give it a miss. Might be time to just enjoy it for what it is. It is worth finding out for sure though Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Contrails 316 Report post Posted July 17, 2021 On 7/16/2021 at 7:58 PM, Nzrooney said: I've recently sold my e30s for silly prices and decided to pick up a very tidy e46 330ci. Only downside of the car is the gearbox. My questions are, how much am I expected to pay to have it converted to manual? ( My skill set probably won't meet the criteria and I have zero spare time for this type of project) second question would be, who in the wellington region would you recommend for this conversion? Appreciate any help. Very curious at this stage. I think it would be worth it. It’s a brilliant car. The gearbox prices will slowly keep increasing so might as get it done now than say in 4-5 years when the parts will be more difficult to find and labour costs will go up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blackie 510 Report post Posted July 17, 2021 Maybe haggle down something reasonably undesirable like this - https://www.trademe.co.nz/3180144031 The clutch might even be ok, otherwise another 1200 for something HD you will stall all the time. Sell off what you don't need. I could help you through the labour side of things. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiddy 76 Report post Posted July 18, 2021 Can't get a grip on the value, either in money or drivability terms, of such an expensive manual conversion of a 240 ish crank HP car. Poor dollars spent in my view and I have owned two of them. Good luck with your mod, great car. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1661 Report post Posted July 18, 2021 23 hours ago, E28E30 said: I asked Jon about the same thing for an E30 325i and he reckoned the gearbox for that is $2800 if the price the last one sold for was a guide, plus all the rest. Without fully pricing up it was feeling like a 6-7k job Just about everything on this planet has gone up considerably in these last few years. 23 hours ago, Nzrooney said: Wow at those sort of prices I may have to give it a miss. Might be time to just enjoy it for what it is. Probably cheaper to just buy a manual E46 manual given you have to pay some one to convert. They are still semi affordable atm. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
viskop 99 Report post Posted July 20, 2021 On 7/17/2021 at 7:29 PM, Nzrooney said: Wow at those sort of prices I may have to give it a miss. Might be time to just enjoy it for what it is. Jon is a great guy, he did the manual conversion on my BMW E36 about 5 years ago, and back then all in all cost me more than $7k! Never again 😟 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blackie 510 Report post Posted July 20, 2021 On 7/18/2021 at 6:34 PM, Eagle said: Probably cheaper to just buy a manual E46 manual given you have to pay some one to convert. They are still semi affordable atm. This is usually my advice to people too. The 'premium' to get a manual car isn't 4-5k. I guess it just depends on how attached you are to what you currently have. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2542 Report post Posted July 20, 2021 26 minutes ago, Blackie said: This is usually my advice to people too. The 'premium' to get a manual car isn't 4-5k. I guess it just depends on how attached you are to what you currently have. It probably is a $5k premium these days TBH (Coupe's any way) I track any *decent* manual 330ci's listed in case I have an insurance issue and they try to tell me my car is worth $7k... In last 6 months or so (yes, these are just asking prices but so is any price): $16,500 (dreamer but it appeared to sell) $13,500 (Beautiful car I've driven) $11,500 (High km average non Msport) $13,000 $15,000 (Imola 6 speed with heaps of work done) $13,000 (Nothing special car that sat on TM for a month) $13,000 (sold in a day or two) Most decent Msport autos list for $6-8k. But I agree, spending $7K plus on a manual swap isn't value for money, unless its a special example. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nzrooney 5 Report post Posted July 21, 2021 I appreciate everyone's input. I love the car but I don't think I love it enough to spend that sort of money on a manual conversion. Who knows one day the prices might go stupid like the E30 market but I feel it may be a little while away. I'll stick with the auto coupe ( until something better comes along anyway) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites