[FISHY422]

Got the G87 earlier this month on a trade in for my FL5. Kinda regretting not getting another manual now even though it’s arguably worse for performance on new gen bmws. I just miss the feeling of a manual trans. If I somehow manage to blow the trans some time in the future it should be possible to swap it out for the manual version right? With the added cost and labour of swapping it it should be no problem? I assume so since the car has a manual version and parts should be widely available?

[two_three_two]

do yourself a favor and trade the car in now for a manual one. its going to be too late to do it without taking a bath on it soon.

[spurcap]

If you want a manual, you should be able to sell your car and buy a manual car in the same year/spec for a comparable price. This is by far your best option. The longer you wait, the more "difference" begins to emerge in the used vehicle market. Buying a 1-2 year old car, unless they have lots of mods or have been tracked or some fringe case scenario they are effectively all the same. No time for any real wear and tear and if things break you are still under warranty. 5+ years down the road, its hard to trade in the car you meticulously maintained for a comparability priced car that is a bit of a question mark.

A transmission swap is technically possible but its really a question on how many parts you need to swap along with the transmission. In addition to the obvious (pedal box for 3 pedals, the transmission/clutch itself, related linkage) there are a lot of less obvious but necessary pieces.... center console, the electronics that disable start when clutch isn't engaged vs requiring brake pedal to be pressed). Then there is presumably a question of coding so the car knows its a manual .... whether this is just software or requires hardware, I have no clue.

In reality by the time "the transmission blows" the cost of buying parts to swap to a manual from BMW will be substantially in excess of the value of the car if you are buying all the required parts, I expect. The only real option is to buy a manual as a parts car (e.g. one in a collision not impacting powertrain) and figuring out what is different and what needs to go providing there are no limitations in the software preventing this.

So... yes if you want a manual trade your car for a manual!

[techwhiz1]

Originally Posted by two_three_two

do yourself a favor and trade the car in now for a manual one. its going to be too late to do it without taking a bath on it soon.

For the added cost, I agree.

If OP is thinking of swapping the ZF for a manual if the ZF blows; youight not ever have a condition where the ZF takes a dump.

The ZF is a very reliable transmission that in some form or another has been around first as a 6 speed now an 8nspeed for almost 20 years. Even abused they are hard to break.

[ednir98]

I have so many questions...

154k mi on my ZF daily that I beat the absolute crap out of, never serviced, even does some towing, 0 issues. You should actually win an award if you manage to blow yours even if you tune it.

[Tag]

I always find these questions amusing. Even with a blown trans if you do a simple thought analysis on sourcing a MT, having it retrofitted and coded for MT, it's a pricing and lengthy undertaking. Unless you're a DIYr, the labor alone would make it cost prohibitive.

[Driium]

I would have kept the FL5 and bought an M2 sometime later after saving a bit for one. Other than trading your M2 in for a manual one, if it fits in with your budget / life situation maybe consider keeping your current M2 and adding a manual car to your stable so you can still have the M2 and adding a different manual car to scratch the shifting itch.

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by FISHY422

Got the G87 earlier this month on a trade in for my FL5. Kinda regretting not getting another manual now even though it’s arguably worse for performance on new gen bmws. I just miss the feeling of a manual trans. If I somehow manage to blow the trans some time in the future it should be possible to swap it out for the manual version right? With the added cost and labour of swapping it it should be no problem? I assume so since the car has a manual version and parts should be widely available?

It will take s whole lot to blow that ZF8. It is rock solid.

[Ronin76]

I have to be doing something wrong in life.

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by FISHY422

Got the G87 earlier this month on a trade in for my FL5. Kinda regretting not getting another manual now even though it’s arguably worse for performance on new gen bmws. I just miss the feeling of a manual trans. If I somehow manage to blow the trans some time in the future it should be possible to swap it out for the manual version right? With the added cost and labour of swapping it it should be no problem? I assume so since the car has a manual version and parts should be widely available?

This is exactly why I bought the manual. To be frank to the OP, you would be better off selling the auto and buy a manual.

[techwhiz1]

Originally Posted by M_Power Rob

It will take s whole lot to blow that ZF8. It is rock solid.

I haven't heard any stories of it blowing. The ZF8 in all its derivatives are in everything from BMW (All) to Land Rover, etc...

It is fairly ubiquitous and sold.