Newer 4 or 5 Speed Automatic For E9?

andyleonard

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
197
Reaction score
43
Location
Topanga, CA
I know everyone's going the other way but I have to keep an automatic in my 73 E9 due to knee reasons. And the 3 speed auto is sort of dozy. Is there a non-computer 4 or 5 speed auto that I can get in there? Thanks.
 
Wow, so many may want to coax you into doing the "whole shebang" conversion to a 5 speed, but you clearly have a specific need for the automatic. It is apparent that many of these transmissions have been removed so that other drivers can experience the thrills of shifting and selecting each gear when they see fit. Point is, you may find many owners here who would gratefully send you their no longer in service automatic that will simple bolt into your car. But have you considered an old school, transmission service centre who may recognize your Borg Warner or ZF unit and finally have a chance to install some of their parts from the back of the shelf, to renovate a tired old European automatic? 70's Jaguars XJ6s were also equipped with the Borg Warner 65, but perhaps you have the ZF auto. Call around, the solution may be closer than you think.
 
From what I understand a zf4hp22 may work. The newer ones had electronic shifting but the older ones are not. Haven’t investigated enough as to bell housing clearances in the tunnel. But I believe there are different sized torque converters so should be different sizes of bell housings as well.
 
Be nice if there was something like a 700R4 with 4 speeds and overdrive that was cheap and would run without electronics.
 
From what I understand a zf4hp22 may work. The newer ones had electronic shifting but the older ones are not. Haven’t investigated enough as to bell housing clearances in the tunnel. But I believe there are different sized torque converters so should be different sizes of bell housings as well.

So if I have an HP22 in the barn from an early E23 745i 102 3.2 liter *without* the electric switch, is the bellhousing pattern the same as a 73 E9 auto 3 liter currently with a BW 3 speed? And if yes, is the bellhousing/tunnel fitment my only concern...maybe?
 
Andy Leonard, I have the same problem, I have MS and lost use of my left leg. I converted from a 4 speed to a 3HP out of a 528i. I looked into using a 4HP, there were two issues, the 4hp needs to come from a 633i or 733i they are not electronic but do have a lockup torque converter, but, the torque converter is much thicker so you'll have to reshape the tunnel at the firewall and no speedo drive, you can have your speedo converted to GPS or use a Garmen or some brand of GPS and use the speedo feature., it can be done.
 
Back
Top