Thread: Has Anyone Put a Manual in a L322?

D3 and L322 drive lines are completely different. I have done a LOT of homework on how to fit a manual to mine, and it looks possible. I haven't found anyone that has done it yet. There are threads on here, full fat RR and a BMW site I have started to gather information.

Basically you would need to source an X5 5 or 6 speed box - it will bolt straight to the back of the TD6. You would need to fit the X5 flywheel and spigot bearing. The clutch would be a bit fiddly as the exhaust on the L322 will foul the clutch lever on the X5 box, so you would need to fit an internal concentric throw out bearing. The L322 TC - NV225 should fit straight behind the X5 box, but I have been unable to confirm this 100%. The X5 only runs a single speed TC - the NV125 so unless you wanted to make it a single speed vehicle. You would need to ditch it. The manual box is a different length, so new driveshafts would need to be made, the X5 ones are different. Then you just have to mount a clutch master behind the dash - there is room, and then figure out the shifter linkages as I'm not sure where they come out. Lastly, you need to convince the electronics that the auto is still there, although I have figured that out as well.

So, I believe it could be done. I've worked out if I did all the work myself, then I could do it for $7 to $10K. If you had to pay someone to do it then double it at least.

If my box craps sit self again. I may go down this path. But a member here is most of the way through a 5L50E installation on his, and if that is successful. Then that would be a much easier way to go, and you could live happily that it wasn't going to break...

Cheers - Gav.

I knew someone else would be thinking the same.

Do you have any more information on the 5 and 6 speed X5 boxes?
Convincing the ECU it doesn't need an auto gearbox shouldn't be that hard. Depending of course on how anal it is about feedback to it's gearchange instructions.

How about road speed, where is that read from?

Is there any manual gearbox to bolt to the TDV8?

Can't help you with a box for the V8, I have been concentrating on the TD6 as it has the weakest gearbox. Speed sensing is from the auto I believe, but the X5 box has a speedo drive on it. As the X5 and the early L322's are almost identical in their dirvelines, and the X5 came with both auto and manual, I don't think the electronics would be a killer.

So what box does the X5/X6 use? By any chance a ZF S6-53?

Because that's what the D3 uses and there cannot be too many other options in that size.
Thread here with some info: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/modified-z...box-lt230.html

D3 ZF S6-53 specs here: http://disco3club.co.uk/gallery/albu.../308_03_02.pdf

Gday Gav,

Just read your thread about the possibility of a decent gearbox being added to the L322. I myself have a 2006 TD6 Vogue and love her to bits. She has 103,000 kms on the clock and when I'm giving it herbs up a steep highway hill overtaking I get a shudder happening. Not always but it has scared me into wanting it replaced with something suited to the vehicle. I too would love a manual but I read your thread about that too, and being a sparkie and not a mechanic it seems it would way outta my league financially. I an very interested to know any updates you may have from the other member who is nearly finished upgrading his box to the stronger one mentioned.

Cheers, Glen

The research I've done is for later on - my gearbox is rebuilt and fine at the moment, and I won't be doing anything while it is still working. Hopefully by then, the 5L50E conversion will be proven to be a goer and would be a lot easier than installing a manual box, but I still think it could be done with enough time, effort and money...

I'm a Sparky too by the way.

The only way I will be able to afford to do it is by doing everything myself, so IF it is ever required, I'll be parking the L322 In the garage for many months while I tackle that job.

I am also the sort of person that won't let anyone else touch my vehicle (apart from the bloody auto) as basically I'm too cheap to pay a mechanic.... That and I prefer knowing exactly what has been done, and I love working on cars.

Hopefully won't need to try any of this for many years...