6MT to DCT swap

2226cc · 11-14-2023, 12:22 PM

So its gonna happen, just got my DCT trans in.

Going to do the swap myself, think it will be pretty straight forward but was just wondering if someone already did it? Especially wondering if the 6MT driveshaft fits? I know the DCT shaft is a little shorter.

wyatth · 11-14-2023, 01:27 PM

I haven't seen this done before.
You know the DCT shaft is shorter, so of course the 6MT shaft won't fit. You'll also need a new diff, console/shifter, etc. This is a very complicated job, are you sure you're ready for it? Unless your car had a transmission failure and needs a lot of refreshing anyway, it would be far simpler and cheaper to just sell a 6MT car and buy a comparable DCT car.

e46IX · 11-14-2023, 02:23 PM

I did your swap the other way around, I did DCT to 6MT.

Driveshaft is different length, you will need to change it.

Transmission harness is different, engine harness is same.

You will need cluster and shifter, additional coolers and lines of course.

I remember I had to drill out some rivets on the console that mounted the DCT shifter.

Some of the coolant hoses are different also.

Best to go on RealOEM and compare all the differences between the two so you know exactly what's different.

amg6975 · 11-14-2023, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e46IX

I did your swap the other way around, I did DCT to 6MT.

Driveshaft is different length, you will need to change it.

Transmission harness is different, engine harness is same.

You will need cluster and shifter, additional coolers and lines of course.

I remember I had to drill out some rivets on the console that mounted the DCT shifter.

Some of the coolant hoses are different also.

Best to go on RealOEM and compare all the differences between the two so you know exactly what's different.

Cluster is the same, just needs to be coded.

There's additional wiring needed for the GWS (shifter) including PT-CAN
Steering wheel is different
SZL (clock spring) is different
Extra wires from the SZL to JBBF
Extra wires from the JBBF to the DME box
Don't forget about the front cooler and those lines/heatshields/chassis studs, scoop, cooler bracket and hardware...

OP, this is a huge project. Are you sure you don't want to just sell your manual and buy a DCT car? The manual car should theoretically be worth more.

Brandoch · 11-14-2023, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amg6975

Cluster is the same, just needs to be coded.

There's additional wiring needed for the GWS (shifter) including PT-CAN
Steering wheel is different
SZL (clock spring) is different
Extra wires from the SZL to JBBF
Extra wires from the JBBF to the DME box
Don't forget about the front cooler and those lines/heatshields/chassis studs, scoop, cooler bracket and hardware...

OP, this is a huge project. Are you sure you don't want to just sell your manual and buy a DCT car? The manual car should theoretically be worth more.

Cluster is different, the DCT has shift lights.

omgzirra_exe · 11-14-2023, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amg6975

Cluster is the same, just needs to be coded.

damn you got shift lights on a 6mt?

charliev68 · 11-14-2023, 06:00 PM

You can do it!

2226cc · 11-15-2023, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyatth

I haven't seen this done before.
You know the DCT shaft is shorter, so of course the 6MT shaft won't fit. You'll also need a new diff, console/shifter, etc. This is a very complicated job, are you sure you're ready for it? Unless your car had a transmission failure and needs a lot of refreshing anyway, it would be far simpler and cheaper to just sell a 6MT car and buy a comparable DCT car.

Sorry I meant to say the dct driveshaft is a little longer, driveshaft usually have a sliding part and I ment to remember I read somewhere that someone got it to fit just fine hence I’m asking.

A single hump DCT car is really hard to find

2226cc · 11-15-2023, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amg6975

Cluster is the same, just needs to be coded.

There's additional wiring needed for the GWS (shifter) including PT-CAN
Steering wheel is different
SZL (clock spring) is different
Extra wires from the SZL to JBBF
Extra wires from the JBBF to the DME box
Don't forget about the front cooler and those lines/heatshields/chassis studs, scoop, cooler bracket and hardware...

OP, this is a huge project. Are you sure you don't want to just sell your manual and buy a DCT car? The manual car should theoretically be worth more.

You sure the SZL is different? I can find 4 available and the difference between them is rainsensor and M drive. Nothing about the S2MKA

Manual also comes with oil cooler so just need different lines to connect them.

I’m not from America, prices don’t really differ, also finding a single hump DCT is really hard.

2226cc · 11-15-2023, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandoch

Cluster is different, the DCT has shift lights.

It’s different but the manual cluster can be coded so the gears and shift program show, just no shift lights

amg6975 · 11-15-2023, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandoch

Cluster is different, the DCT has shift lights.

Oh yeah, forgot about that. If you don't care about that, they're the same. The drive modes and gear selection and etc will still show up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2226cc

You sure the SZL is different? I can find 4 available and the difference between them is rainsensor and M drive. Nothing about the S2MKA

Manual also comes with oil cooler so just need different lines to connect them.

I’m not from America, prices don’t really differ, also finding a single hump DCT is really hard.

Um, not totally I guess, but there are two extra wires for paddles that the DCT has that the manual doesn't have. Not 100% sure if they're routed through all SZLs or not.

e92dud · 11-16-2023, 12:57 PM

Never seen anyone do so much work to lower the value of their car.

2226cc · 11-16-2023, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e92dud

Never seen anyone do so much work to lower the value of their car.

Life’s too short to worry about that buddy 😂

Also don’t forget there’s more then America, believe it or not but at some places the DCT is actually more expensive

crowtrobot · 11-16-2023, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2226cc

You sure the SZL is different? I can find 4 available and the difference between them is rainsensor and M drive. Nothing about the S2MKA

Manual also comes with oil cooler so just need different lines to connect them.

I’m not from America, prices don’t really differ, also finding a single hump DCT is really hard.

If you're hung up on the single hump, it still seems like it would be easier to sell the 6MT, buy a DCT and swap the dash. A lot less to go wrong...

e46IX · 11-16-2023, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crowtrobot

If you're hung up on the single hump, it still seems like it would be easier to sell the 6MT, buy a DCT and swap the dash. A lot less to go wrong...

I agree, especially when that dash is the same as any base spec e9x 318D in Europe. Would take a few hours to swap out, no big deal.

Only reason I went through the hassle on mine is because I have a Individual colour.

2226cc · 11-16-2023, 03:03 PM

Doing the DCT swap is like 5% of the mods and maintenance I already done to this car, just getting a different car and swap the dash would never give me the car I already have.

e92dud · 11-16-2023, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2226cc

Doing the DCT swap is like 5% of the mods and maintenance I already done to this car, just getting a different car and swap the dash would never give me the car I already have.

What’s the problem with the manual?

amrazM · 11-18-2023, 04:43 AM

you need a dct shaft, what are you doing for the wiring? if I could interject here, i did this conversion but the other way around, if you have the ability purchase a DCT engine harness and replace it, repinning it would be alot of guessing. this will be the only difficult part.

2226cc · 11-18-2023, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e92dud

What’s the problem with the manual?

Nothing wrong with the manual but after 4 years I want something different and DCT with short rear differential seems nice. Have been thinking about getting a M2 but this engine is just way to good

2226cc · 11-18-2023, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amrazM

you need a dct shaft, what are you doing for the wiring? if I could interject here, i did this conversion but the other way around, if you have the ability purchase a DCT engine harness and replace it, repinning it would be alot of guessing. this will be the only difficult part.

I’ll get a shaft, might even go one piece but will try to get a used original one first.

I’m good at wiring and reading schematics so I’m not too worried, might even make a little adapter harnesse if possible still have to look into it.

What did you had to change in the engine harness when swapping in the 6 speed?

nickauger · 11-18-2023, 12:11 PM

Lets do it ! I'm thinking about that too !

amrazM · 11-18-2023, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2226cc

I’ll get a shaft, might even go one piece but will try to get a used original one first.

I’m good at wiring and reading schematics so I’m not too worried, might even make a little adapter harnesse if possible still have to look into it.

What did you had to change in the engine harness when swapping in the 6 speed?

there was repinning on the DME side to make the engine run properly, I cant recall exactly what it was but maybe 15 wires. the dct has a seperate harness that runs into the bin

11-14-2023, 12:22 PM	#1
2226cc Enlisted Member 65 Rep 33 Posts Drives: M3 E92 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: The Netherlands iTrader: (0)	6MT to DCT swap So its gonna happen, just got my DCT trans in. Going to do the swap myself, think it will be pretty straight forward but was just wondering if someone already did it? Especially wondering if the 6MT driveshaft fits? I know the DCT shaft is a little shorter. Attached Images
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11-14-2023, 01:27 PM	#2
wyatth Brigadier General 3968 Rep 3,018 Posts Drives: E90 M3, G05 X5 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	I haven't seen this done before. You know the DCT shaft is shorter, so of course the 6MT shaft won't fit. You'll also need a new diff, console/shifter, etc. This is a very complicated job, are you sure you're ready for it? Unless your car had a transmission failure and needs a lot of refreshing anyway, it would be far simpler and cheaper to just sell a 6MT car and buy a comparable DCT car.
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11-14-2023, 02:23 PM	#3
e46IX Second Lieutenant 140 Rep 247 Posts Drives: Z4MC, E92 M3, F83 M4, F85 X5M Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	I did your swap the other way around, I did DCT to 6MT. Driveshaft is different length, you will need to change it. Transmission harness is different, engine harness is same. You will need cluster and shifter, additional coolers and lines of course. I remember I had to drill out some rivets on the console that mounted the DCT shifter. Some of the coolant hoses are different also. Best to go on RealOEM and compare all the differences between the two so you know exactly what's different.
	Appreciate 1 DrFerry10035.50 Quote

11-14-2023, 06:00 PM	#7
charliev68 Second Lieutenant 370 Rep 366 Posts Drives: bmw m3 Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: CA iTrader: (1)	You can do it!
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11-16-2023, 12:57 PM	#12
e92dud Private 167 Rep 128 Posts Drives: e92 m3 Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: Chattanooga tn iTrader: (0)	Never seen anyone do so much work to lower the value of their car.
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11-16-2023, 03:03 PM	#16
2226cc Enlisted Member 65 Rep 33 Posts Drives: M3 E92 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: The Netherlands iTrader: (0)	Doing the DCT swap is like 5% of the mods and maintenance I already done to this car, just getting a different car and swap the dash would never give me the car I already have.
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11-18-2023, 04:43 AM	#18
amrazM mTekMods 2478 Rep 3,150 Posts Drives: like a granny. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Manhatan iTrader: (1)	you need a dct shaft, what are you doing for the wiring? if I could interject here, i did this conversion but the other way around, if you have the ability purchase a DCT engine harness and replace it, repinning it would be alot of guessing. this will be the only difficult part. __________________ E90M3 - Satin Black F97 X3M - Brooklyn Grey E39 M5 - Silverstone
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11-18-2023, 12:11 PM	#21
nickauger Private 47 Rep 92 Posts Drives: m3 e90 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Quebec iTrader: (1)	Lets do it ! I'm thinking about that too !
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