e92 m3 mt from China,but I have lots question

[daiweilin]

Hi, this is David from Xiamen, China.
I bought a 2011 e92 m3 MT, which is a manual transmission.
But I am curious about the origin and history of this car.
She has three car owners, and the third one is a car dealer.
I suspect that he is a 1M modified gearbox.
So I came here for help.
Is there an official manual transmission in North America or Europe?

[daiweilin]

[r8ders]

Manual transmission were available for the e9X M3 in most if not all countries

[drwankel]

Another data point is nobody that I have seen has successfully done a DCT to manual conversion. So if the car has a manual, you can pretty much guarantee that it came from the factory that way.

You can also use a BMW VIN decoder tool to see all the options the car was ordered with.

[nrubenstein]

It's highly unlikely to be a 1M conversion as that would require modifying the transmission to work.

[nrubenstein]

Originally Posted by drwankel

Another data point is nobody that I have seen has successfully done a DCT to manual conversion. So if the car has a manual, you can pretty much guarantee that it came from the factory that way.

You can also use a BMW VIN decoder tool to see all the options the car was ordered with.

I don't see why that would be an issue given all of the other conversions that people have done. I think it's much more that it's not really worth doing.

[drwankel]

Originally Posted by nrubenstein

I don't see why that would be an issue given all of the other conversions that people have done. I think it's much more that it's not really worth doing.

From what I understand, this isnt like a SMG to manual conversion. The electronics side of this is substantially more difficult to solve. The DME and DCT interact with eachother, and nobody has been able to convert the DME to run in manual mode.

[nrubenstein]

Originally Posted by drwankel

From what I understand, this isnt like a SMG to manual conversion. The electronics side of this is substantially more difficult to solve. The DME and DCT interact with eachother, and nobody has been able to convert the DME to run in manual mode.

I don't care enough to research whether or not your statement is true, but we've seen enough S65 swaps into other shells using stock engine management that it's clearly a possible swap. The only question is how much of the engine and chassis electronics you have to swap out?

I know for a fact that the main engine harnesses are compatible. I dropped a DCT donor engine into my 6MT car.

The point, though, is that either way, it's not worth it. 6MT cars are easy enough to find, and unlike E46 SMG to 6MT swaps, you need a lot more than a few cheap ancillary components and a drill to make it work.

[daiweilin]

At present, there are only three E92 m3 MT that I know in China, so I raise this question.

Now it is known that there are many MT models in the E92 m3 in North America, so I have no doubt.

But I also want to listen to your opinions on whether MT conversion is feasible.

thanks

[irokwrx]

Originally Posted by daiweilin

At present, there are only three E92 m3 MT that I know in China, so I raise this question.

Now it is known that there are many MT models in the E92 m3 in North America, so I have no doubt.

But I also want to listen to your opinions on whether MT conversion is feasible.

thanks

Share the VIN? This will set your mind at ease that way you can worry about something else. Or take a pic of the speedo along with the tachometer and post it. That would help

[Redd]

Would the gear ratios and rpm at certain speed be able to determine whether the 'box is an original M3 or a 1M donor?

[BimmerNugget]

Hi David,

Nice to hear about your new toy

I've been to Xiamen, China in 2013. Very beautiful place, reminds me a little bit of Miami. I stayed at the Lujiang harbourview hotel.

It is very likely your car came from the factory with manual transmission, I doubt anyone would go through the trouble to swap out a DCT to a manual. It is quite labor intensive and alot of electrical/coding work to make everything work properly. May I ask if your M3 is a Chinese market model or imported from North America?

[daiweilin]

Originally Posted by BimmerNugget

Hi David,

Nice to hear about your new toy

I've been to Xiamen, China in 2013. Very beautiful place, reminds me a little bit of Miami. I stayed at the Lujiang harbourview hotel.

It is very likely your car came from the factory with manual transmission, I doubt anyone would go through the trouble to swap out a DCT to a manual. It is quite labor intensive and alot of electrical/coding work to make everything work properly. May I ask if your M3 is a Chinese market model or imported from North America?

Small world with M-Power connection.

I'm glad to hear that you like my hometown.

My m3 is gray, it should be the Chinese market model.
I have about three evidences to support this judgment.

China also has a white e92m3mt which is a North American model,
and a red e92m3mt whose introduction status is unknown.

[timothy2001]

Have to ask........any lead in the paint? I apologize if you are offended by this but I think it's funny as hell and I am of course joking.

On a more serious note welcome to the forum!

[akkando]

Just use a vin lookup tool on the web and that will tell you.

[irokwrx]

PLEASE post a pick of your tach. Please!