Transmission choice concerns & suggestions

[Adrian_Visser]

Lol no reason, I haven't switched em yet. My current trans has a pretty beat 2nd gear syncro but I have a spare 260 in the garage too. Mainly it was a junkyard find I couldn't resist. I'm a parts hoarder what can I say?

Thanks to my bro for grabbing it for me.

Hell the 2.79 needs a rebuild anyway, if they weren't so damn hard to find with LSD I'd just grab another one or a 2.93LSD.

[rThor432]

My bad, are both the Getrags identical?

No, the E46 is supposed to have revised synchros. The Euro 6-speed is a nice gearbox and is not much heavier, but I don't think it's worth the extra $$. I have one in my E36, and the forward gears are pretty much the same as the ZF-- you only gain overdrive. If you can justify the extra $ for the trans and custom work to install it, go for it.

[328ijunkie]

My bad, are both the Getrags identical?

The 2 M3 6sp ones? No. E46 M3 uses a different spline count (dont recall off the top of my head what) on the clutch disc/input shaft and some other changes. Getrag E36 6sp box uses same clutch setup as the ZF 5sp's (for the most part).

[Wanganstyle]

E46M 6mt uses V8/V12 size imput shaft to the trans. Same as V12 6mt and V8 6mt.

E36M euro evo2 6mt uses same size imput as 5 speed items, so It can technically take a M20 clutch. It uses a S52 clutch natively; thus popular with e36m guys for compatibility.

E46M 6mt can be fitted with S52 clutch set+fly+ s62 friction disc.

[328ijunkie]

H, care to mention when they started doing the crazy shit with the flywheel mounted pilot bearings?

[Wanganstyle]

06 or so in e46 lineup, I know the 330i aftermarket flywheels have the TOB pressed in like a subaru to the flywheel.

s54 has the pilot bearing in the crankshaft, I prior ran a S52 fly+ clutch with it +zf 5mt (s52 = same setup as S50b32 6mt)

[328ijunkie]

woot

[nrubenstein]

What's so great about the 6 speed?

G260 is kind of sluggish, especially in a single vanos motor. The gear spacing just kind of sucks. 6spd gets you better spacing.

[Mr.SWISS]

I have already decided to go 6sp. If you want to have your cake and eat it too, this is what you do.