Right I keep forgetting this is the M62, not N62. Damnit. I wish you did this on a 4.8, then we would be in business. If only I had the time to research this. You did give me serious hope though.

I have no idea about x-drive adaptation, maybe it's easy, maybe it's impossible...

I would suggest to get an used NV125 TC and I can do an adapter (for like 150-200$, maybe less) to bolt the Getrag on N62.

SlickGT1,
I don't think it would be too hard to figure out for an N62 4.8is. I'm thinking out loud here. Honestly, x-drive may not be that hard to work around. It all stays intact. Remember that they made several manuals with x-drive, the X5 and X3, as well as some e60 5 series. Maybe others. Reverse engineer the difference on the electrical computer side. Sounds intimidating, but you'd have an "oh sh*t really?"moment when you see how easy it really it might be.

The e60 550i, GS6-53BZ 6-speed manual tranny would be a good candidate. It should bolt right up. Use all the available bits you can to connect the dots. You'd have to cross the bridge with connecting the T/C, but you have a working template to work from for ideas/solutions.Just throwing some ideas to you. Time and (for me, money too) are the biggest obstacles, but its a project you could be working on for the next year or so for you or anyone wanting to take it on. Imagine tearing the roads up with a manual 4.8is. That would be simply awesome.

That is true. The e60 trans might work. Can it handle the powa and weight / load of the X5?

The computer stuff does not scare me too much. You can pretty much remove every single option from the Vehicle Order with NCS Expert. I also think one can add options, from the X3 for example. So the coding part will most likely have to be the solution. If it comes down to it, and expert will have to be located.

Time and money is the issue for all of us. I would essentially need to buy another car if I am to start this project. That is something I can't imagine doing right now.

It would be cool as hell though. Definitely get rid of the current weak link in our cars, the trans.

My bet is yes. I'll try to find the specs. Its mated to a heafty car with the same motor/power. I'd put more faith in a good gearbox over a slushy any day. You "generally" can tell when a manual transmission is about to take a dump on you. An automatic, however good, can one day up and go to hell on you with out much warning. I know a little to well, especially with BMW automatics. There good, but complicated. Its a reliability vs durability issue.

Seems like they don't build stuff like they used to. As a teenager, I beat the hell out of an old e30 318i. Wasn't much life left in the ol' machine when I bought her, but good hell! I wouldn't die. It saved my life. I avoided a head on collision in a blind curve (not my fault) and went off into the shoulder, hit a culvert sideways, went airborne, and did a series of barrel rolls. It was all messed up. I was in the back-roads of North Carolina. No one around. (Late 1990's-no cell phone.)I managed to Roll it back onto all 4, put the battery back in. The front control arm was bent, so the tire was toeing in. No leaking gas, just broken motor mount. Started it up, looked through the driver side-window and drove it a gas station about a mile. Would not die! Cop gave me hell for moving the car. Most important thing, I didn't have not a single scratch or bruise. Needless to say, I bought another e30 to replace it. Wayyy off topic sorry.

Lol. Good story non-the-less. I keep researching the coding part. I have a theory on coding the crap out of my car, we might be able to add the manual options into the brains.

I asked the guy, who had decoded my car about x-drive and he couldn't dive me the answer quickly, but I'll have the info soon.

Mechanically, it is possible to couple the Getrag S6S on to N62 and also ATC 500 with the parts, I used in my conversion, by using adapter plates, which can be fabricated easily.

Anyways, as I've driven a couple of thousands miles with my conversion, I'm gonna do an internet page and I suppose in march 2013 I will also come up with the manual tranny conversion kit for N62 powered X5 E53. But, I suppose there will be much more stuff on the homepage, regarding also other BMW models.

So, I found out, adapting of x-drive on N62-powered X5 to manual isn't a problem at all, so it's doable and yes there will be a kit, which will also include the x-drive adaptation for manual tranny swap.

I just have to test the current 4.6is properly and hope nothing will break down.

In march 2013 I'll do a similar conversion of N62 powered X5 4.4.

Regards,

Nick

Wow, I love you long time. Please if you can do the legwork, I promise I will be in. If you will do this for sure for the 4.8 N62, I will start buying the necessary parts to get this done.

I read so much coding stuff yesterday night that my head still hurts. I still can't figure our how to remove FA SA codes with NCS. I know how to add them, but can't seem to remove them.

Thanks again for your effort. I really can't wait.

The only thing is I have to know, how many people will be in, because just one set wouldn't be interesting for me, I'd need at least 6 sets to offer them for adequate price.

In march I'm moving to new garage, where the 4.6is will be revised and supercharged, so the engine will be taken off the car. In that time I will do the adapter plates to fit the Getrag S6S on to N62 and also to the ATC 500 transfer case.

Regarding the electronics I will include the decoded ECU for the conversion, so it will be (almost) plug-and-play installation, but I will expect to get the stock ECU from the car, supposed to be converted.

You'll have to use the 545/645 or 550/650 flywheel and clutch set on your N62, other parts will be the same as in mine conversion.

The GS6-53BZ manual gearbox is rather rare, compared to Getrag S6S and the tailshaft isn't suitable for the adapter plate (housing) because the GS6 rear housing part is much bigger, than on Getrag S6S, which on the other hand consists of 3 parts.

BMW E39 M5 Getriebe Gearbox 4,9 V8 S62 Motor 6Gang M 5 Engine 150tkm | eBay

Getriebe BMW 545 i E60 /61 Getriebecode HGC | eBay

The GS6 gearbox is also bigger, than S6S, so even if there would be some suitable adapter palte, I really doubt, it would be possible to squese it in to the tight tranny tunnel.