B10 V8: Converting to manual?

Olly · Post by **Olly** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:46 am

Three months into B10 V8 ownership and I am still really enjoying the car. However I have always preferred a manual, and can't help feeling that a good old fashioned 5 speeder would suit the B10 (and me) better than the switchtronic.

What would fit in terms of gearbox, flywheel, clutch etc, and what sort of work would be involved? Early thoughts of a damaged manual 540i donor car (if such a car exists) seem logical.

Post by D4 » Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:08 pm

the 540 is a 6speed box - like the idea and imagine that the car woudl take it interms of it fitting - just not sure just how complicated it would be - presumably the ecu is linked to the autobox too.

Crombers · Post by **Crombers** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:42 pm

I did this to an Omega V6 a couple of years ago and regretted it shortly afterwards. It might work if all the parts were brand new or from a known source, but I was never happy with the gearboxes performance although admittedly the conversion itself was basically a success.

The job was around Â£2000 for used parts and labour but in hindsight it would have made far more sense to sell the car and buy a manual.

Moreover, to do this sort of butchery to an Alpina is wrong on so many levels

Dunk · Post by **Dunk** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:49 pm

the main problem I think you'll have is that Alpina don't appear to have made a v8 Manual.

So there's no Alpina specific Diff, prop, ECU, and other subtleties normally seen between transmission types

It'd probably be easier and cheaper to sell the B10, buy a 540i manual, and modify that to give B10 performance.

Crombers · Post by **Crombers** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:03 pm

An M5? That's what I'd opt for if I wanted a manual.

Petrolhead · Post by **Petrolhead** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:40 pm

Dunk wrote:the main problem I think you'll have is that Alpina don't appear to have made a v8 Manual...

B8? But they haven't made any E39 manual V8s, if that's what you mean.

If you were going to do it, you may have trouble finding a donor 540i in the first place as, IIRC, there are only a very new number of manual ones about. And if you were going to try and source one from an M5, even if it was a scrap one, you'd still have to pay a fair bit for it.

Post by D4 » Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:02 pm

i think i 'd go with crombers suggestion.. if you want the B10 performance but with a manual - go for the M5.

I suppose many woudl argue the same wit hthe current models.

Auto go for the ALPINA B3

f you want a manual - go for the M3

KevinB10 · Post by **KevinB10** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:39 pm

D4 wrote:i think i 'd go with crombers suggestion.. if you want the B10 performance but with a manual - go for the M5.

I suppose many woudl argue the same wit hthe current models.

Auto go for the ALPINA B3

f you want a manual - go for the M3

The big plus in an ALPINA's favour is the car tax cost in March 09 and subsequent years. An M5 will be Â£410 in March 2010.

Olly · Post by **Olly** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:50 pm

Agree with the M5 solution, except that I would have to pay another Â£6-7K for an equivalent (albeit newer) car to mine, and have to put up with vanos issues and the like.

Spotted this, http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/547828.htm ,perfect for the job, if the bits were interchangable.

To be honest, my car is a split mint low miler, and yes it would be a shame to carve it up: I have been inclined to sell a car just because it needs 2 new tyres, so a full on conversion is not exactly on my list of priorities. But I have noticed the B8 Touring on Pistonheads for sale, and while it is older, with nearly double the miles, steering on the wrong side, and Â£5k more expensive, I can't help feeling that the 4.6 with manual might suit me a little better..

Duncan · Post by **Duncan** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:52 pm

except that car appears to have a spanish gearbox called "Manuel"

I've got the opposite dilemna to you at the moment, my hip is knackered and i may need to switch to an automatic

thomas v8 · Post by **thomas v8** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:25 pm

Want a manual V8 bmw, get the M5. For shear RAW power you cant beat the old e39 m5, but the clucth can get heavy around town and you have to master each gear shift. What a car i have to say, but at the end of the day the B10 v8 is a much smoother car with the ride quality of nothing i've ever experienced. I love the the switch-tronic shift option, thats the main reason I went for the Alpina.

simon13 · Post by **simon13** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:35 pm

you will beed a smashed E39 540 manual as this is what the B10 v8's are based on?

gearbox,clutch,flywheel

pedal box

all interior bits around the manual lever

Engine should run fine as the autobox ECU will plug into the Engine loom probably* only so the box can tell RPMs and double kickdown's etc

I'm sure it can be done but it won't come cheap thats for sure.

thomas v8 · Post by **thomas v8** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:55 pm

simon13 wrote:you will beed a smashed E39 540 manual as this is what the B10 v8's are based on?

gearbox,clutch,flywheel

pedal box

all interior bits around the manual lever

Engine should run fine as the autobox ECU will plug into the Engine loom probably* only so the box can tell RPMs and double kickdown's etc

I'm sure it can be done but it won't come cheap thats for sure.

Would be cheaper to supercharge a 540i manual, and not ruin A B10.

blacky · Post by **blacky** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:12 pm

buy a 3.2 or 3.3 B10 & stick a charger on it job done

simon13 · Post by **simon13** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:14 pm

I know it's cheaper to go E39 M5 but this isn't answering the question!

I think a manual B10 V8S would be a cool chariot or even the 4.6