E53 5speed To 6speed Swap.
 

My car is a killer in rpm on the highways at 80mph and 4grand rpm and was thinking to swap the 5 speed I have to a 2004 x4 6 speed trans and would like to know if it’s a direct swap for this or I have to swap out the transfer case and drivershaft.

Tired looking at the realoem parts list but the 2004 X5 6 speed is not listed just for my 2002 X5 show the parts listing but at the diagram looks the same for both years.

Thanks
Jp

Lots more to swap that just the mechanical parts (transmission, transfer case etc.) - there's all the transmission control electronics too, along with the transfer case controller etc. Massive task - including a huge amount of re-programming.

While such a swap might be possible, it might be easier to just sell it and find a 6-speed car.... :rolleyes:

From fading memory, someone/someones have done it...try Search.

Back at the High RPM Ranch, would the cost of the 6 spd trans and accompanying costs of the possible swap really be cost effective, other than for lowering highway rpm a ~ thou and maybe your piece of mind?

I get the highway high rpm: I have had an '01 E53 5 Speed since new, and quite familiar with the high rpm at highway speeds...

Not sure the 'cost'/aggravation/process is worth the effort, but everyone has their own bag.

GL on your search and project...
mD

Another option to lower the RPMs at highway speed is to put the differentials from the m62 e53. Some members here have done this and I think it lowers the rpms at 70mph by 500 or so. That would be much easier to do and to locate the parts. Cheaper as well.

There’s no electronica controls on manual that’s just automatic....:

Thanks I’ll search around!

I was thinking of this as well and thanks for the info!

True - but you never stated it was a manual trans and I just assumed it was an auto. :rolleyes:

So yeah, much easier. But the transfer case issue is the same... unless you can get the NV125/LWX500 transfer case to fit the 6-speed trans, you are looking at a full xDrive retro-fit. :yikes:

E53 5speed To 6speed Swap.
 

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...390b02b680.jpg

I’ve actually grown quite fond of this formula!

Especially with a 7000 rpm redline.

None on the transmission, but the LCI ('04+ 6 speed) transfer case is electronically controled (x-drive). Your pre-LCI doesn't even have the wiring harness for this. I looked into this swap and it would be an inordinate amount of work to do. I'm in the process of doing a differential swap as I write this. Going to the 3.64 differentials will drop your RPM's by 11%.

If the vehicle in question shares the same transfer case as I, it would be a downgrade. My transfer case is the same used in the Range Rover and is chain driven (analog). Bulletproof!

So my understanding is, replacing my diff’s with a 3.64 ratio decreases my acceleration by 11%?

I agree on the TC, simpler is better. Understanding how the systems works and having owned/driven pre and post LCI X5's at the same time in snow, I just don't see any advantage to x-drive with non-locking front and rear differentials.

Your acceleration won't decrease by 11% by installing 3.64 diffs. Yes, in a given gear and at a given rpm, the accelleration at that point will be 11% less. BUT, you'll hold a gear longer (or downshift) and shift less on the way from 0-60. I bet your 0-60 wouldn't be affected if it required one less shift. Mine are in the process of going in; I'll let you know how it goes when I get her buttoned up.

Yes, please..

Well I did stated it manual swap it’s really not a big deal from what other people are saying I guess the differential is the way to go to swap....

What differentials are you using and where are you getting the gearing?
I’m definitely interested to see how it goes once you’re all buttoned up with it best of luck and can’t wait to hear the results.

I've got a set of front and rears off a 4.4L - they're 3.64 ratio. Fronts are a direct swap. On the rears, you have to pop out the stub axles from your stock 4.10 diff and move them over to the 3.64 donor diff. It takes all of 5 minutes, and you should be replacing the seals while you have it out anyway (which requires removing the stub axles).

I've got high hopes for the conversion because 1st gear is just crazy short, even for towing, and as you know, 5th is a screamer on the highway. With headers and EU2 tune, I believe I'm ~10% up on power, so the 11% taller final drive gearing should be, well, perfect!

PM me about the diff if the price is right..

Yes first gear and fifth gear is nothing in these cars with their manual.

I was just reading this

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...ted-slips.html

The 3.64's are going on in my X5. Are you looking for a set of 3.64's or are you interested in my old 4.10's when I'm don with them? I don't have extra 3.64's. They're easy to find on ebay - just pick a donor with reasonable miles since normal people don't change their gear oil.

YES - that's the thread that originally gave me the inspiration to do this. I ran into a few inconsistencies when researching the swap, but I've cleared those up in the other thread I had about swapping diffs. Turns out it is plug and play on the pre-LCI cars (I was worried that the full rear axles would have to be swapped, but that's not the case).

Nice!!!!! So I’ll get some differentials from a 4.4 and just take the Flanges for the axles from my rear diff to the 4.4 to make the swap complete in the rear?

I'd look at the GS6X37BZ/DZ gearbox (BMW part# 23007563053) used in the late e46 iXs. The e46 shares the same 5-speed trans with the X5 and never received X-drive, so there's a high likelihood your old transfer case will bolt up. The e46 used the same transfer case its whole production run as far as I can tell.

This is when I give AMG’s a hard time.

This is a great thought. I just did some poking around on realoem, and it appears the e46 ix transfer case is more like the x5 lci atc500. It's a similar bolt pattern but doesn't look to be an exact match from what I can tell. I think the e46 is slightly different because of packaging (i.e the front driveshaft is more tucked in than on the e53). The pre lci x5 tranfer case (nv125) will definitely not bolt up to the e46 trans. Possibly, you could put the e46 transmission, front driveshaft and front diff in the e53, but the differential ratio would be different than any made for the e53.

Thanks for the idea originally but I want the 6 speed and I was thinking to use the 6 speed transmission from the e46xi but I have really checked out the part numbers.

Yeah, that was my point. Here's my logic:

The 5-speed is shared between the e46 & e53 3.0. The e53 LCI transfer case bolts to the 5-speed (although e39_touring says the pre-lci xfer case doesn't) and we know the e46 transfer case (nv125) bolts to the 5-speed. We also know the nv125 bolts to the 6-speed used in the e46 so it follows the nv124 should bolt up as well, so that 6-speed should work in an e53, in theory. You might need to figure something out for the shift linkage but I'd imagine it will be close if it doesn't work out of the box.

Even though the transmission is the same family, the ratios and cases are different between the E53 (nv125 t/c) and E46 (nv124 t/c). I pulled a couple of pics off ebay (nv 124 on top), and the transfer cases do have different bolt patterns and axle configurations, making a swap like this very difficult and involved.

Heyyyyy. Bringing this back from the dead……

jps /...do you have an update? Did you ever swap diffs or install a 6-speed trans?