Audi A3 1.9 TDi: Manual to Automatic swap?

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zYx

zYx

zYx

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My GF has got a problem with her back. She will need an automatic soon so I was thinking about swapping the gearbox instead of swapping the car.

Did anyone try swapping a gearbox in an audi to an automatic box?

I've done it before with older cars, but I'm not sure what it is like with these newish cars?

Please be reasonable :p
 
A friend did this years back, similar issue, leg injury, couldn't use a clutch comfortably.

Cost him a lot of money as it wasn't a simple job, but, it was worth it to him as his car wasn't available as standard with a factory Auto - it was a J plate Sierra Cosworth - in this case, sell and buy an auto.
 
Sell current A3, buy a second hand A3 that is the same spec but auto.

Sorted?

Cannot imagine changing it over to an auto is an easy or cheap job.
 
Done it on older cars without any hassle, but we are talking cars from the 80's and 90's. Did a Yaris MMT to manual recently, and its been a nightmare, new ECU'S, trim, instrument cluster and a wiring loom.

Its easier to sell the car buddy.
 
Tinders said:
Done it on older cars without any hassle, but we are talking cars from the 80's and 90's. Did a Yaris MMT to manual recently, and its been a nightmare, new ECU'S, trim, instrument cluster and a wiring loom.

Its easier to sell the car buddy.
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Ahh this seems like a hassle...

Which auto boxes (brands) are the most reliable?
 
It's not worth the hassle. It's not a rare car, it can be bought as an auto so just do that.
 
Sell manual, buy automatic.

Edit: Think about half the steps you'll have to do - new ECU, wiring looms, instrument clusters etc etc, just to allow the auto box to work. Get autobox, fit everything. Declare the modification on the V5, and then watch the resale value drop because people don't want a modified car.
 
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yes it is modified, you just declaired the mods (which you have to by law anyway), which you will also have to tell the insurance company about.

it's not worth the effort.

new flywheel, new torque converter, new drive shafts, (maybe new hubs too), new gearbox, is it quattro? is so then new rear prop, new shifter, new trim, new ecu, new keys programmed for new ecu. loom mod (at best), remove clutch system and pedal.

there are prob a load of small things like mounts, oil cooler, relays, extra loom for auto box and anything else that needs changing for that specific conversion.

unless you got an amazing deal on that car (and even then you still need to change it) then selling and getting an auto is by far the best idea.

auto to manual is much easier
 
What an idiotic idea.

The A3 isn't a unique car that's worthy of the effort, just trade your box for same thing + and DSG box.
 
As said definitely not worth the effort! On older cars it's not so bad, but with the amount of electronics involved it's a crazy idea.
 
It'd be an ECU swap and autobox ECU install as well wouldn't it?
Pedal box, gearbox, shifter..

Does sound a bit intensive
 
zYx said:
Ahh this seems like a hassle...

Which auto boxes (brands) are the most reliable?
Click to expand...

You can either have a solid box like the ZF 6hps but when they go wrong it costs around £2.5k to rebuild.

Or you can have a slightly less reliable box like a 5hp but when they go it's more like £1.1k to rebuild.
 
Instead of changing to auto would it work out cheaper to get it adapted for disabilty. So you would be using your hand for the clutch instead of foot.

I just google one called the duck clutch...hand operated on the gear stick. So there will be other types out there but it comes down to cost I suppose... bet they not cheap....but only needs to be cheaper than an auto box.
 
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