GTS manual conversion?

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by HELROTM3

Can we bring this back to the OP's original question? Anyone with an experienced opinion weigh in. I've been in touch with Kaiv. Making some progress.

There’s not much out there yet because it’s new to the f8x. It took even longer for the e9x before the first DCT to MT swap was done. It’s still not widely done either on the e9x.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by WhiskerBuilt

Holy brain rot no way we have someone saying a DCT doesn't belong on a S55. The $1500 coil overs with $8000 wheels tells me all I need to know. Enjoy the park and chills.

I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed that. I intentionally left out the Status Gruppe $1450-$2100 coilovers (with a F/R 400/560 lbf/in spring rate option!!! ) in my responses. Also, even with adding camber plates and the Swift spring upgrade, you don’t reach the $2100 price ($1825 max). I can’t imagine what the ride quality must be like…not great but I bet you can slam the car to the ground.

[undermine]

Originally Posted by Jbonly21

Nice, sounds like a great project so far. Any pictures?

I would have more to share, instead sitting at my computer catching up on here. I guess I will share a little bit, I bought my Azurite Black M4 in 2015, stalked in as it was being shipped wishing I took delivery in Europe instead, the mistakes I made when I could have made them.

I tracked in pretty often, no accidents ...... until, it floated away literally in Hurricane IDA, insurance sucks, they never want to give you what of course you think it's worth.

Literally a month or so prior I put ohlins on and ditched my EDC, I coded out the button and left it, I have been getting lazier, it seems only money motivates me now but everthing I do has to yield quality.

It's how many years later, through covid, parts shortages and I am still building this car, thankfully the body has always been mint, I did respray it though from when I didn't put PPF on everything I own, rock chips drive me crazy.

I botched up ordering replacement parts, after a large chunk went to the full leather dashboard and the mistakenly ordered competition seats I asked my self why didn't I just make this into a racecar. Too late right, much cheaper to buy after market, oh not to mention I accidentally ordered Amaro Brown instead of Golden Brown/Braun, nice either way.

I went a little nuts buying up blocks, I powdercoated mine and another, I plan to sell the other builds when mine is fully tuned with dyno numbers on paper. The DCT I am pulling has Deka Stage 3, for all the DCT people here I do love the DCT, however I had an issue with crank case pressure and I think my rear main is toast, so there are only 8 bolts left of the 12 holding in onto the block, drive shaft is already off or really out of the way.

Having a lean at idle conditions makes clutch adaptation on a DCT near impossible and I am in the process of tuning as is so I looked at this like an opportunity to swap to a manual, if I didn't have to replace the rear main I would keep the DCT.

However my issue will be when this car is done, will I want to let it go for another build.

It's nothing too crazy as these cars come with a good amount of power especially if you just flash or use a JB4. Either way, I went nuts with powdercoating, block, head, oil filter housing, many other parts on the car.

Everything was upgraded, Carillo rods, CP pistons, stock CR, Shrick Cams, Supertech valvetrain, Pure Stage2+, Nostrum DI Stage 3, proper clearances are not stock, oh and the block is sleeved, no more LDS.

My PCV setup was part of my issue, so the gold VC is not being used, may be later, OEM VC is fine for me, everything is still in flux. I guess I should share some photos instead of just talk, I have quite a bit, I will upload more when I have some time.

I still have to remove my EGS, run the hydraulic lines, install my pedals, I use to think of this like it's a lot of work but now it's really not. I cannot stand working on a dirty car, when it's clean it's easy. Shop space would be ideal.

[undermine]

Long road a lot of work, hope to be done in the next month for some track time.

[undermine]

Originally Posted by undermine

I would have more to share, instead sitting at my computer catching up on here. I guess I will share a little bit, I bought my Azurite Black M4 in 2015, stalked in as it was being shipped wishing I took delivery in Europe instead, the mistakes I made when I could have made them.

I tracked in pretty often, no accidents ...... until, it floated away literally in Hurricane IDA, insurance sucks, they never want to give you what of course you think it's worth.

Literally a month or so prior I put ohlins on and ditched my EDC, I coded out the button and left it, I have been getting lazier, it seems only money motivates me now but everthing I do has to yield quality.

It's how many years later, through covid, parts shortages and I am still building this car, thankfully the body has always been mint, I did respray it though from when I didn't put PPF on everything I own, rock chips drive me crazy.

I botched up ordering replacement parts, after a large chunk went to the full leather dashboard and the mistakenly ordered competition seats I asked my self why didn't I just make this into a racecar. Too late right, much cheaper to buy after market, oh not to mention I accidentally ordered Amaro Brown instead of Golden Brown/Braun, nice either way.

I went a little nuts buying up blocks, I powdercoated mine and another, I plan to sell the other builds when mine is fully tuned with dyno numbers on paper. The DCT I am pulling has Deka Stage 3, for all the DCT people here I do love the DCT, however I had an issue with crank case pressure and I think my rear main is toast, so there are only 8 bolts left of the 12 holding in onto the block, drive shaft is already off or really out of the way.

Having a lean at idle conditions makes clutch adaptation on a DCT near impossible and I am in the process of tuning as is so I looked at this like an opportunity to swap to a manual, if I didn't have to replace the rear main I would keep the DCT.

However my issue will be when this car is done, will I want to let it go for another build.

It's nothing too crazy as these cars come with a good amount of power especially if you just flash or use a JB4. Either way, I went nuts with powdercoating, block, head, oil filter housing, many other parts on the car.

Everything was upgraded, Carillo rods, CP pistons, stock CR, Shrick Cams, Supertech valvetrain, Pure Stage2+, Nostrum DI Stage 3, proper clearances are not stock, oh and the block is sleeved, no more LDS.

My PCV setup was part of my issue, so the gold VC is not being used, may be later, OEM VC is fine for me, everything is still in flux. I guess I should share some photos instead of just talk, I have quite a bit, I will upload more when I have some time.

I still have to remove my EGS, run the hydraulic lines, install my pedals, I use to think of this like it's a lot of work but now it's really not. I cannot stand working on a dirty car, when it's clean it's easy. Shop space would be ideal.

Ok so DCT is out and so is my power, I replaced the harness already, flywheel is installed clutch set and pressure plate, looks like I may need to drop the subframe a little so I don’t destroy the clutch assembly. The egs was easy just remove the trim, 4 screws and 2 plugs. The electronic park cable, pry bar against the carpet and on one of the tabs while pushing down with anything, my case an extension. So again no power, I think that was 2 hours for me with out the luxury of a lift. Prior day exhaust being 3 sections was easy, no need to remove down pipes just one of the hanger bolts and nuts. What’s left, pedals tomorrow, hydraulic line, unless of course I need to drop the subframe, I hope I don’t lose time there… let’s see. Here’s some photos, they’d look better with the car on a lift.

[HELROTM3]

Amazing! I'd have no clue how to pull this off. Ha!

[M 4 FUN]

Is it possible to get a car that is registered as automatic and converted to manual through inspection in US? I wonder as exhaust emissions and the car identity will be wrong.

[IB M]

Originally Posted by M 4 FUN

Is it possible to get a car that is registered as automatic and converted to manual through inspection in US? I wonder as exhaust emissions and the car identity will be wrong.

I’d say basically yes not a problem as long as there are no check engine lights or “not ready” codes - but keep in mind 50 states with different laws and in some states emissions laws vary by county ie city vs rural. Some states and counties don’t have any inspections at all.

[undermine]

Originally Posted by IB M

I’d say basically yes not a problem as long as there are no check engine lights or “not ready” codes - but keep in mind 50 states with different laws and in some states emissions laws vary by county ie city vs rural. Some states and counties don’t have any inspections at all.

Well another factor for a BMW with a DCT is even in ISTA they're listed as a manual, which is kind of true except for the fact that mechatronics handles clutch and shifts. Emissions would be more of a concern.

[undermine]

Originally Posted by undermine

Ok so DCT is out and so is my power, I replaced the harness already, flywheel is installed clutch set and pressure plate, looks like I may need to drop the subframe a little so I don’t destroy the clutch assembly. The egs was easy just remove the trim, 4 screws and 2 plugs. The electronic park cable, pry bar against the carpet and on one of the tabs while pushing down with anything, my case an extension. So again no power, I think that was 2 hours for me with out the luxury of a lift. Prior day exhaust being 3 sections was easy, no need to remove down pipes just one of the hanger bolts and nuts. What’s left, pedals tomorrow, hydraulic line, unless of course I need to drop the subframe, I hope I don’t lose time there… let’s see. Here’s some photos, they’d look better with the car on a lift.

So, I have made a significant amount of progress and can definitely complete this. I could have modified my harness but chose to buy one and realized I need one more if I want to make things a little smoother. Generally two harnesses would either need to be purchased or modification of the originals. Regarding EWS when the DCT Harness is removed you will lose EWS/EKPS and your fuel pump will run non stop. This is because CAN PT_CAN_L and H Bus is lost, I am beyond this point, I have flashed my DME back to stock, losing all my tuning for this, I had to contact BM3 to ask them to reset my account because my coding for my DME is for a DCT so any updates will screw things up, at least I assume. I VO coded out 2MK so no more DCT, motor will no longer start until I install the clutch module which involves at least for me, removing my dash so I can get better access to the wiring, brake switch ground is shared with the clutch module, I will have to run I believe 2 lines to the FEM and one to the DME, total of 4 with the ground which will be spliced, I want things to look as OEM as possible, ghetto work arounds for me are not acceptable otherwise I would have just ran a wire under my dash so it can melt on my heater core.

So, here's what's already been installed generally.

Hydraulic line from the Master to the Slave,
Pedals,
Flywheel, clutch,
Transmission,
OEM shifter, I might upgrade later, I don't like the look of most after market.
OEM Harness for 6MT to DME, and ISM
I will likely buy or make the modifications to my existing harness.
I still have to remove my paddles but again dash is coming out so no big deal.

Biggest issue for me is BM3 and tuning, I have Shrick Cams, Nostrum Stage 3 so right there I have issues getting back to where I was, otherwise if I had a stock motor, or JB4 this would be cake.

Deka Stage 3 DCT with Fall-line pan, Mishimoto DCT Cooler anyone? Make an offer.

[SYT_Shadow]

Super cool, thank you for documenting this!

[undermine]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Super cool, thank you for documenting this!

Yeah totally, I have walked myself through a number of conversions/retrofit, these cars specifically I do not mind working on. This clutch I installed requried me to drop the subframe a little, I only had to unbolt the 4 towards the rear of the front subframe which required fender wells to be moved slightly but I didn't have to remove them. Then loosened the 4 bolts holding the center section of the front subframe the 2 that join the rad support in the front I left. Just enough clearance to lift the trans and bolt it up.

I bled the clutch, it's been a while since I stood on one, I removed the clutch delay when it was on the bench, super easy. Also the bushing that the clutch arm rests on was upgraded to stainless, took me minutes to install.

When this is complete I will finalize everything I find on this so if anyone really is interested I can likely make this really easy. I decided on buying a used manual DME that I plan on cloning for future swaps, with that I will flash my ISN and VO code.

Mothers day I wasn't doing much, so current status.

DME and another harness arrives tomorrow.

Clutch, Trans, shift linkage all installed.

Master / Slave with hardline, connected to brake booster, installed and bled.

One of the trans mounts I am going to drop off to have blasted and cleared with Powder and I have an after market cross brace to blast and powdercoat as well, small stuff that matter if weight isn't a thing.

As for the actual project, if all goes well with the DME which I believe will be likely, I will have to remove my dash to get better access to connect some pins to the Front Electronics Module, DME and to the clutch master module, that should complete the swap so I am pretty close I just need some free time.

Kind of wish I could work with racecars daily, fun for me, that and setting some nice lap times.