transmission of choice?

[hoveringuy]

This is what I'm shooting for... (the 6 speed, not SMG!)

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/05%20E85%20Driveline.pdf

[Stu]

Which starter did he use? I think the M20 and M50 starter gears have different offsets? If it's a plug-and-play other than a little grinding, I'm all for that. Let me know as much as you can about his setup (via PM if that's better). I have the opportunity to get rid of the ZF for $800 or so, but I need to act quickly.. Let me know, please and thanks Stu.

Man, that must have been a buzz bomb.. ha.

Yeah Mitch's does need it. He wants the UK close ratio though, so he can keep his over-drive. The dogleg with a 3.64 would drive me insane on the highway. My 323i with the 3.23 rear gear was pretty bad. Still about ~250-300 less rpm in 5th than a 260 with a 4.10.

Hey man I'll let you know about the tranny before the end of the weekend.

[rThor432]

^^Thanks Stu, I appreciate it.

[bostonbmw]

You need to run a new diff though. 3.46 is the super performance one e36 guys run. 3.25 is the stock M3 ratio. Some people run 2.73 but only with extra hp. I like my 3.25.

All 3.0-liter E36 M3s regardless of engine type have a ZF Type C five-speed manual gearbox with the following ratios: 4.20 (1), 2.49 (2), 1.66 (3), 1.24 (4), 1.00 (5). This is mated to a limited slip differential (25%) with a 3.15:1 final drive.

The Automatics,GT's and lightweights got a 3.23

thats from www.bmwmregistry.com

[rThor432]

^Except for the '97 auto, which got a 3.38:1 rear gear.

[MIKe30]

I've been searching and can't find it. I thought I read somewhere on here that there was a 5% (or 7%) extra drivetrain loss of power with one tranny over the other.

anybody have any more info on this?

[lifeiskaos]

im slightly confused. i know 240's came on 318's, 260's came on 325's, what about the getrag 250's? or the zf's? what tranny tranny do e34 m50's come with?

[SpecM]

im slightly confused. i know 240's came on 318's, 260's came on 325's, what about the getrag 250's? or the zf's? what tranny tranny do e34 m50's come with?

g240s came in e30 318i
g250s came in e36 325i
g260s came in e30 325i

zf320s came in e36 m3/328i

iirc the e34 m50 had g250s as well

[rThor432]

iirc the e34 m50 had g250s as well

That sounds right.

[BenM]

'92 525i had the ZF310 AFAIK.

[Kerrath]

The M20 is tilted 10-degrees to the left compared to an M50. Therefore, when you mate an M20 (260) transmission to an M50, the tranny sits 10* to the right. This is not a problem. You need to fab up a tranny brace and cut/rotate 10-degrees/weld the selector rod.

It sounds like your friend didn't do this, and the console is getting in the way of grabbing 5th gear. :)

I get the selector rod, makes sense. In an '86, it uses a shift plate which bolts up to two points on the tranny which means the pivot for the shifter is taken off center too. Got ideas on how to re-center it?

[SpecM]

I get the selector rod, makes sense. In an '86, it uses a shift plate which bolts up to two points on the tranny which means the pivot for the shifter is taken off center too. Got ideas on how to re-center it?

got vice-grips?

[MDryVur]

I run the 260 and am happy with it. I didn't choose it; it chose me..

awsome..:up:

[Kerrath]

got vice-grips?

So it's a job for torsion, just bend it around?

[MIKe30]

I've been searching and can't find it. I thought I read somewhere on here that there was a 5% (or 7%) extra drivetrain loss of power with one tranny over the other.

anybody have any more info on this?

anybody?