It's just programming on the computer. Before people we're coding the cars to make them think they were 540's instead of 740's, but people have found ways around that in case they had custom software that they didn't want erased and are able to just get the 540 transmission software parts of the code transferred over instead of the whole ball of wax. The X5 would be an interesting attempt since it's similar yet different to the 540/740, but still it's own beast with the AWD system. My 740iL is non VANOS as well, so it's not like I could copy the code from my 740iL onto a VANOS X5 for the sake of saving time. It'd take some work, but I don't doubt it can be figured out one way or another. At worst, if not coded, the vehicle will still drive, you'll just have constantly nagging transfail safe codes on the OBC.

I agree that the weight savings would be pretty substantial. I take out the spare tire everytime I'm back home in Boise and then throw it back in for roadtrips just for the sake of saving weight while doing my normal driving around town...that damn spare is heavy! There is like 10% more loss between the auto compared to the 6spd, so gas mileage went up as well. Compared to some other's, my 7 is still pretty stock even with the 6spd since I still haven't gone FI...the biggest difference still being my engine rebuild. There are a few 740's floating around with 6spd and superchargers, or Rob from UUC owns 750iL with an 850csi 6spd transmission swap. It's still a pretty unique upgrade, so I'm happy to be part of a select few. Next major mod...STS style turbo

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