[Fritzer]

Found a salvage title, pre-LCI 325i with a 6 speed ZF transmission. I am considering purchasing it for cheap, swapping the transmission with the GM automatic in my car, then re-selling it.

I just want to make sure the bell housings and everything will fit up properly before I buy this car, anyone have any insight? Will the automatic GM transmission in a LCI N51 car fit onto a N52B25 pre-LCI car? And I believe it will, but the ZF 6 speed from the pre-LCI will fit on my LCI, correct?

[Tunafish]

I would be more concerned about software in these cars...

[Fritzer]

Originally Posted by Tunafish

I would be more concerned about software in these cars...

Software is a non-issue for manual swap in E90s. I've only ever worked with LCI transmissions so my question is in regards to the bell housings matching up with a LCI-only engine (N51), nothing to do with the software.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by Fritzer

Software is a non-issue for manual swap in E90s. I've only ever worked with LCI transmissions so my question is in regards to the bell housings matching up with a LCI-only engine (N51), nothing to do with the software.

So you are talking auto to manual swap? AFAIK, there is no difference between transmissions for an N51 vs an N52. The engine blocks are the same anyway.

Also, I don't think whether it is an N51 or an N52 has anything to do with the LCI, just where it was sold - N51 is the lower emissions version, mainly if not exclusively sold in CA emissions states. N51s go back to at least 2007, if not to the 2006s.

I have one of each too, my 328! wagon is an N52 (despite being sold in Maine, not sure if e91s ever got the N51), my 128i sold originally in CT is an N51.

[Fritzer]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

So you are talking auto to manual swap? AFAIK, there is no difference between transmissions for an N51 vs an N52. The engine blocks are the same anyway.

Swapping the manual into my car and my old auto into the doner car to resell. The blocks are more or less the same but between the facelifts alone there are some small details that I have noticed that are different in the actual blocks and heads. I am quite sure that the ZF 6 speed will fit on my LCI, however just want to make sure that the GM automatic will fit on the pre-LCI, that is the main point of concern for me as of right now. Because prior to the LCI transition, the automatic transmissions were ZF.

Originally Posted by krhodes1

Also, I don't think whether it is an N51 or an N52 has anything to do with the LCI, just where it was sold - N51 is the lower emissions version, mainly if not exclusively sold in CA emissions states. N51s go back to at least 2007, if not to the 2006s.

Are you sure? I am fairly certain that the N51 was never delivered in the states until the LCI transition for E90s.

Originally Posted by krhodes1

I have one of each too, my 328! wagon is an N52 (despite being sold in Maine, not sure if e91s ever got the N51), my 128i sold originally in CT is an N51.

A man fellow man of modern, naturally aspirated, inline 6 culture!

[hassmaschine]

No. The EWS is tied into the EGS/TCU. Even if you swapped it and got it wired up, it won't go into gear (and possibly won't start). also, there are differences in the DME as well, such as the CAN bus - they won't able to talk to each other. And all the shift points would be wrong anyway because the gear ratios and everything physically about the transmission are different.

[Fritzer]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

No. The EWS is tied into the EGS/TCU. Even if you swapped it and got it wired up, it won't go into gear (and possibly won't start). also, there are differences in the DME as well, such as the CAN bus - they won't able to talk to each other. And all the shift points would be wrong anyway because the gear ratios and everything physically about the transmission are different.

That's what I figured, just wanted to make sure. Thanks hass!