My 128i manual swap diaries

[Blau]

Shifter in... But... Seems like it's leaning a little too far towards the passenger seat? I dunno. It shifts into and out of all the gears so we'll see what it looks like when the center console is all back together.

Special note to anyone doing this swap. There is a bracket for the back of the shifter carrier that is hidden. There is a second bracket further back in the tunnel. I think that's for the 135i shifter carrier because when I tried to use it I found it was way to far back. I dug around and noticed the same bracket further up but hidden under the insulation. I cut it away and boom, there it was. I installed the new bushing and was all set. See pic below.

[ZHPizza]

Did you say that's a 135 shift lever? The 135 and 128 have completely different shifters assemblies and different lever part numbers - probably different bends/spacing altogether.

[Blau]

Originally Posted by ZHPizza

Did you say that's a 135 shift lever? The 135 and 128 have completely different shifters assemblies and different lever part numbers - probably different bends/spacing altogether.

Yeah it is definitely not OEM fitment, but I've seen it used in this application. I don't love the lean but I haven't actually driven it yet so I'd like to get some miles in with it before I go in a different direction. I know the 330i e46 zhp shifter has been used too and I may try snagging one of those. Regardless I'm ordering a regular 128i shifter cup just in case.

[likhitkod]

Blau excited to see this done! I did this swap last summer and it the best thing you can do to it lol. Let me know if you need help with wiring or anything, I know that intimidated me the most!

[Blau]

Originally Posted by likhitkod

Blau excited to see this done! I did this swap last summer and it the best thing you can do to it lol. Let me know if you need help with wiring or anything, I know that intimidated me the most!

I will definitely reach out. I can't deny that I'm procrastinating on that.

Today I decided to attack the driveshaft bushing and it's torturing me. I'm hoping to do the water pump as well since that's leaking. Everything except for coding and wiring. Lol.

I'll get to it.

[likhitkod]

Originally Posted by Blau

I will definitely reach out. I can't deny that I'm procrastinating on that.

Today I decided to attack the driveshaft bushing and it's torturing me. I'm hoping to do the water pump as well since that's leaking. Everything except for coding and wiring. Lol.

I'll get to it.

Oh I get it I did the same. Nice that you’re tackling other things around it too. I was on a time crunch when I did it so it all took about 3-4 days start to finish working like 8 hours a day. Wiring and coding is a LOT easier than i thought.

Luckily my drive shaft bushing was good but I wished I had a chance tackle more things under there while i had the chance too.

[Blau]

Yeah man, I wish I took less time, but it's been cool to knock out an hour here and there since I've got kids and a job that requires quite a bit of my time (teacher). I'm supposed to be done by now but May will have to do.

Honestly, the hardest part so far has been the exhaust. The amount of burned hours nearly crushed me.

[likhitkod]

I agree. I didn’t want to mess with the bolts so i ended up cutting the exhaust a couple inches back and have them welded back after I was done. Not ideal but that was the quickest think for me to do haha!

[Blau]

After many hours and tools, I finally removed the driveshaft bushing. I didn't know how long the old driveshaft sat at the bone yard so it seemed like a good idea to do it. What a monster.

This swap must go 1000x faster if you don't live in rust prone areas...

Old driveshaft bushing vs new one for comparison.