Side question: Did you go ahead and replace all the stock seals with the Viton seals and new screws on the pan?

The speculation is the heat from the exhaust and dissimilar materials between pan/transmission/screws + cheap seal material is why they all end up leaking at some point. Not just the pan and the mechatronics seal, the one further up on the box as well.

Decided to reuse the ppf as i dont like the available bolt on solutions for holding the diff.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...32087f5ee7.jpg
Rear lower miata suspension bushing in a alu tube made to dimension.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...9e41e9f3da.jpg
6mm folded alu plate for strength.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...a250c7e067.jpg
Even more strength.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...51d2fa092c.jpg
Looks clean. And easy to work on.

All welded up.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...d46b66fc2b.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...2d21a5c72b.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...ffc8390632.jpg

Too bad something so pretty gets stuck under the car! Really enjoying your fab work!

had to make a new downpipe and first half of the exhaust to get it past the DCT gearbox. Its a tight fit, even with the modified floorpan, but it fits.
Heat protetction will be added.
Still have to find a way to route the transmission oil cooler lines and install the thermostat.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...20f8fd49bf.jpg
not much room for activities!


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...76c22e51a0.jpg
Made the downpipe a 2 piece design. with a short elbow on the turbo to make it possible to take it out of the car without having to pull the entire drivetrain out in one big package.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...55502dbe33.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...67016a84df.jpg

I want your clean subframe. Please include it with the transmission and controller.

This is amazing. In for... wherever this goes.

Very elegant PPF solution.

So when can we all buy the kit?

Sadly way to much custom work for a kit to really be a viable thing. where the 6speed E46 box can be made as a bolt on, this is so far not.

It's ok, you can do it.... We all believe in you.

This is amazing. Absolutely amazing. Almost wanna do this to my car!

So you're using the factory BMW TCU with MaxxECU to flash it, is that correct?

EDIT: MaxxECU appears to be a standalone management unit and isn't a flash, I don't know what's going on.

finished the downpipe and hanger.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...c8b26e81de.jpg


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...51cf228f6d.jpg

No sir.

Håvard here has his transmission retrofitted with new internal mechatronics to openly communicate with his standalone he is using.

The maxxECU folks have cracked the communication to the factory BMW TCM and spoofed it to work with their ECU in any application. I'll be doing one In my TTv8 Volvo.

maxxECU does not work with the M4 transmission for now, maybe at a later point is what i got from the maxxECU guys when discussing my project with them,
But its really cool that the ECU manufacturers start supporting crazy mods like DCT transmissions in older cars :D

It does
 

As of now, both m4 and 335/135 are supported, with a little more work on the m4 needed for clutch pressures. That's the last I remember on the subject. It's in beta right now anyway, the final work is perhaps due with the next version

I agree with you, this opens up so many possibilities. Very exciting.

335/135 boxes, and e92 V8 boxes use different protocols, and also different control from the shifter etc. the messages i got from maxxecu was that this would be tested next winter.

Also, the maxxecu will run the BMW TCU firmware in the gearbox, while this setup just removes it completly and runs all sensors and solenoids directly from a standalone controller.
It also gives the possibility of a "drive by wire " clutch pedal. and tunable shift times/pressures more easily.


here is a video of one of the guys already running the setup im using, in a RX8 with a honda engine.

Any chance your controller is from the "H**" guys? I'm looking at installing it on a customer's RX-8 as well and looking for feedback before purchasing.

Finished the last mechanical part. The centerpart of the clutch delete, with splines. Just some wiring left now and perhaps i can testdrive this setup soon.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...cfb79034b5.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...8bcf808bf8.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...d86ca201b0.jpg

Any update on this? Is it possible to have the engine auto blip on down shifts? How would that work?

That would require DBW.