E46 328i manual conversion part question

[bikerz]

1) do i need to change my rear differential?2) if yes, what is the ratio good to my car?3) do i need to change meter and ECU?Because I get alot of conflict info, some say need to change, others say no need. I really need this info before i do my conversion because i really hope my conversion doesnt be my nightmare.If anyone who had been through this process, please do share your experience and knowledge.

 

[ramsing]

hehehe. good to ask,but dont get confused.

you dont have to change your rear diff. what is the current number? if its 3.46 or 3.64, you can still use it, although ur car will be screaming on the highways. best to go lower, either 3.15 or 3.23.

you can change the ecu and meter if you want, but its not necessary. personal preference. going manual is not difficult, but dont get confused with too much info

 

[bikerz]

about rear diff, i read 328 manual stock is 2.93, isn't 3.15 is also considered high? yes, i do not want my car to scream while cruising, it makes my car feel cheaper

I heard if doesnt change the ecu and meter my car wont start due to conflict between ECU and gearbox. If i dont change, how would it solve?

 

[ramsing]

2.93 and 3.15 wont be much difference. doubt u can feel it. will give u a bit more of a pickup.

hehe wont start? that means the other cars which used back the ecu and meter must have hantu inside, coz it started with no problems.

 

[bikerz]

haha.. i should find a hantu by now coz i dont want to change my meter..

so when we convert manual, what happen to the gear indicator at the meter? no gearbox sign?

 

[aidilj]

I haven't gone through the process but have been reading on this lately. No need to change ECU and meter just reflashing is necessary to tell the car that it is manual. Without the autobox you'll need to connect the clutch switch to DME pin in order to start the car. Without reprogramming your car will still start and run but with all the warning lights on dash since the autobox is missing. You cannot remove the autobox control unit until the car has been recoded for manual.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. Cheers.

 

[aidilj]

so when we convert manual, what happen to the gear indicator at the meter? no gearbox sign?

That part would be empty, nothing. On a manual tranny, the only wire out of it is the reverse switch

 

[bikerz]

ok, i've test a manual 328 with 3.07 rear diff and feel the response is about the same with my autobox. If change to 3.15, does it give a huge difference? or better stay with the 3.46 diff?

 

[fabianyee]

ok, i've test a manual 328 with 3.07 rear diff and feel the response is about the same with my autobox. If change to 3.15, does it give a huge difference? or better stay with the 3.46 diff?

the autobox and manual box have different sets of ratio...

anyway, for ur info, my 318i(s) is running with E36 5 speed gearbox and is using 3.15 rear diff...

 

[bikerz]

the autobox and manual box have different sets of ratio...

anyway, for ur info, my 318i(s) is running with E36 5 speed gearbox and is using 3.15 rear diff...

so if i change to manual and want to feel more torque and g force, what diff is sufficient? right now my comment for 3.07 = my auto right now. I suppose 3.15 will not be much different with 3.07, and 3.46 will make my car scream if cruising at 140?

 

[klise0501]

Heloo...
I'm still confuse with the step to change it to manual.
What can i do, to change it to manual?
What reprogramming tools that u use?

Then, i see your picture, the manual transmission that u use. Like e36 transmission.
Do you use e36 transmission?

 

[aidilj]

Heloo...
I'm still confuse with the step to change it to manual.
What can i do, to change it to manual?
What reprogramming tools that u use?

Then, i see your picture, the manual transmission that u use. Like e36 transmission.
Do you use e36 transmission?

Hey Kevin,

As it turn out, 318i e36 and e46 uses the same manual transmission

http://realoem.com/bmw/partxref.do?part=23007505600&showus=on&showeur=on

 

[klise0501]

That's for 318...
My car is 325i.
Is that same with 323i e36?

 

[klise0501]

About the instrument light.
Like asc, abs, and a gear symbol.
How to erase the light?

And, if i don't erase the light.
Can the car work normal?

 

[aidilj]

That's for 318...
My car is 325i.
Is that same with 323i e36?

I'm not sure at all about this. You can have a look for the part no in realoem and cross check.

About the instrument light.
Like asc, abs, and a gear symbol.
How to erase the light?

And, if i don't erase the light.
Can the car work normal?

In my case, the ASC and ABS is a different problem, not because of the swap. The gear symbol is there because the EGS was cheated to say the gearbox is there so it found lots of sensor malfunctioning. It was cleared when cluster is reprogrammed to manual. Even with the warning for gearbox the car runs fine..

 

[klise0501]

Can you give me the way, how to reprogrammed to manual?
What reprogrammed tools are needed?
And the step to reprogrammed it?
Hehe...

 

[aidilj]

Can you give me the way, how to reprogrammed to manual?
What reprogrammed tools are needed?
And the step to reprogrammed it?
Hehe...

You don't have to reprogram to get the car running. Even mine is not fully reprogrammed yet.

Tools needed I think would be NCS Expert and SSS Progman. Steps not sure yet as I'm also figuring out, you can have a look here http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=659314 at step 12

 

[klise0501]

I just want to make the indicator light is clean.
So disturbing, when the light come out.
Hahaha...