Swapping manual to an auto- You read that right! Topic is solved

[bmdubya1198]

Yeah, I don't know that it would be worth the time and effort to swap from manual to auto. I got worried when I first saw this thread title though, but I see where you're coming from!

It's taken enough of a toll on me to work out the differences and required modifications with swapping from auto AWD to manual FWD in my 2000 R that aren't problems while swapping just about any other P80, and an auto swap would just be a bigger headache because you have to account for everything that the manual car doesn't have in relation to the TCM and wiring, PNP switch wiring, shift interlock, etc. At least when going to manual, you just have a couple small modifications to wiring and basically ignore everything else. Autos don't work that way.
Plus you'll need a tune on the ECU, because I would assume that won't work very well at all with the AW50-42.

So you've got two options realistically... take all of the swap parts from the M56 car and part it out, or if you can't bring yourself to tear apart the car (can't blame you at all if it's nice!) just buy another parts car for the swap parts and leave the M56 car as-is. Or option 3, you can see if you can find a complete manual swap at the junkyard, but you can't recover any money on that option from parting out. There is one at my go-to yard right now that I'm trying to convice my cousin to buy.

[Kara503]

Unfortunately I think I am going to have to part out the donor car. I did some more research and it's just too hard to convert a manual to an auto. Will post an update once I start swapping the m56 into my Platinum

[bmdubya1198]

I think that’s the best option. Good luck with the swap!