My 24v long term swap :) S54 I Love.

[The Dark Side of Will]

regarding "good price" e30 crowd is the most cheap garbage crowd when it comes to important things like driveline. Who else would be running weird g260 m50 trans mount rigs?

If it's stupid, but works, it isn't stupid ;)

If you keep the 260, everything works as before, but with more power.

If you swap to the ZF, you have to re-think your rear end gear at the same time or very shortly afterward.

[cormier]

You don't think you can find a ZF to use instead of the G260?

[mulletman]

Great, this thread made me want a 6-speed.

Thanks a lot.

[EulB30]

just run your motor as is; did you leak it down before you bought it/tore it apart?

IMO its Pointless to blow money to rebuild these pedestrian 6 cylinders; if it does not have ITB's its not worth BMW rebuild cost.


you need: 3.15 or 3.23 LSD. Modern z3 parts; not some rotten old garbage from junk e24/28 cars.

don't bother with G250; its not needed. Get a ZF sg320; its the same price.

any OEM e36M 5 speed driveshaft is plug and play for ZF sg320 5 speed + e30 body. Bolts right in.

Being that we got guys over here in FL running boosted e36 M3's running 600+rwhp stock pistons i guess i might not need them. The R/A from m54 in an m50 produces 220hp with cams maybe 230. it'll be like an s50 w/ thicker side walls plus i have both motors here by chance so y not lol.

And 3.23 i know i can find in e36's, 3.15? i might buy a M Roadster diff case though. ~$150

[EulB30]

regarding "good price" e30 crowd is the most cheap garbage crowd when it comes to important things like driveline. Who else would be running weird g260 m50 trans mount rigs?


ONE missed point- the focal point actually; THE GEARS themselves.


the GEARS THEMSELVES changed for e36; the e36/7 Z3 gears themselves are more efficient, better items. Gear teeth design changed again in e92 era to be even more efficient. LSD unit in e36 era also changed; the cross shafts, spiders all evolved to be more efficient.


i.e. there are 3 different sets of 3.15 gears, early design, late design and M car specific with M14 hardware.





use 6 bolt 95 M3 driveshaft with e30 chassis center bearing, install 6 bolt flange on diff.

Well truth be told, i was thinking to run the 260 i already have for the time being? save ~$300 for something else? Like s50 cams? & just picked up 1.40 MLS ARP's and 100# precision injectors.

[Wanganstyle]

1. The better diff ratios were offered in e24/e28 cars. Most of those cars weren't driven as hard as the z3s/m-coupes/m-roadsters would have been. We've never had a problem with any of the old e24/e28/e30 diffs used in all the e30s we've built. Worst case scenario you get a noisy diff.

Torsen Z3 diffs are nicer, but harder to come by for a good price, with a good ratio.

2. I was under the impression that '95 driveshafts didn't work? I thought only '96 + 328 & M3 worked, as well as the e30 m3 driveshaft and '86-87 325e.

regarding "good price" e30 crowd is the most cheap garbage crowd when it comes to important things like driveline. Who else would be running weird g260 m50 trans mount rigs?


ONE missed point- the focal point actually; THE GEARS themselves.


the GEARS THEMSELVES changed for e36; the e36/7 Z3 gears themselves are more efficient, better items. Gear teeth design changed again in e92 era to be even more efficient. LSD unit in e36 era also changed; the cross shafts, spiders all evolved to be more efficient.


i.e. there are 3 different sets of 3.15 gears, early design, late design and M car specific with M14 hardware.





use 6 bolt 95 M3 driveshaft with e30 chassis center bearing, install 6 bolt flange on diff.

[e30polak]

you need: 3.15 or 3.23 LSD. Modern z3 parts; not some rotten old garbage from junk e24/28 cars.

don't bother with G250; its not needed. Get a ZF sg320; its the same price.

any OEM e36M 5 speed driveshaft is plug and play for ZF sg320 5 speed + e30 body. Bolts right in.

1. The better diff ratios were offered in e24/e28 cars. Most of those cars weren't driven as hard as the z3s/m-coupes/m-roadsters would have been. We've never had a problem with any of the old e24/e28/e30 diffs used in all the e30s we've built. Worst case scenario you get a noisy diff.

Torsen Z3 diffs are nicer, but harder to come by for a good price, with a good ratio.

2. I was under the impression that '95 driveshafts didn't work? I thought only '96 + 328 & M3 worked, as well as the e30 m3 driveshaft and '86-87 325e.

[Wanganstyle]

Well for now looks like im going 5, the forged pistions were just to make sure i'd be goof ccause i didnt want them to be the weak link on the R/A.. the m50 has ~90k m54 has ~150k.. so i might just the the m50 pistons on the m54 R/A n boost.

As for tranny i guess something like a 3.25lsd wouldnt be too bad for econ + highway pulls so i'll go with that for now. Nd as you said i'll look for a g250 cause i'll prob find b4 a zf320. I need to Frankenstein a drive shaft -__- know of any 1 piece shafts out there?

Just picked up a 4dr few days ago >=) can not wait haha.

just run your motor as is; did you leak it down before you bought it/tore it apart?

IMO its Pointless to blow money to rebuild these pedestrian 6 cylinders; if it does not have ITB's its not worth BMW rebuild cost.


you need: 3.15 or 3.23 LSD. Modern z3 parts; not some rotten old garbage from junk e24/28 cars.

don't bother with G250; its not needed. Get a ZF sg320; its the same price.

any OEM e36M 5 speed driveshaft is plug and play for ZF sg320 5 speed + e30 body. Bolts right in.

[EulB30]

6mt gearboxes can run the gambit on pricing. 1.2-1.8k ya.

The 6mt also requires a very new style clutch. This is not cheap but allows you to fit a 335i turbo clutch.
modern clutch also moves the pilot bearing to a needle type inside the flywheel. Modern 22 spline 6 speed imput shaft design uses "involute" teeth pattern and is designed for more efficiency.

No need to change the pistons on m54, the original ones are made by mahle- aftermarket may be lower in quality. The original bmw mahle pistons also can take boost. Oem rods are also forged- don't waste your money and time unless you have some very specific build up in mind

The Bnb designs e30 6mt install kit is very inexpensive compared to buying the 6mt+clutch+driveshaft. Pm me if you find a reasonably priced local 6 speed gearbox and need one-

Well for now looks like im going 5, the forged pistions were just to make sure i'd be goof ccause i didnt want them to be the weak link on the R/A.. the m50 has ~90k m54 has ~150k.. so i might just the the m50 pistons on the m54 R/A n boost.

As for tranny i guess something like a 3.25lsd wouldnt be too bad for econ + highway pulls so i'll go with that for now. Nd as you said i'll look for a g250 cause i'll prob find b4 a zf320. I need to Frankenstein a drive shaft -__- know of any 1 piece shafts out there?

Just picked up a 4dr few days ago >=) can not wait haha.

[Wanganstyle]

history

[The Dark Side of Will]

Have you checked www.car-parts.com ?

[EulB30]

getrag 5 is --> go in the trash unless its a G250. those shift better than the ancient G260.

ZF320 is the workhorse modern 5 speed gearbox used up until 2005. These are nice if you get a NEWER ONE, not some OLD garbage leaking one. ZF 5 speeds from 1992-1999 are also famous for needing detent pin service - be for warned. plan for this expense/hassle


all vanos M50 will come with a G250 attached to it - to use it no kit is required.

if you want a the ultimate modern 6 speed gearbox, you can run a ZF 6 speed from a e46 330i ZHP, a e60 530i sport, or a 135i/335i.

if you dont want / have the budget for a 6 speed, then use the normal cheap 5 speed route popular with swaps. no kit required, much cheaper.

Well to be honest my e30 just got totaled and i got $5k for the car. I have a complete m50b25+dme & complete m54b30 i will be going M50B30 (possible overbore+forged pistons) turbo build. Problem is i dont have a tranny although $5k sounds like a lot.. It really isn't. The ZHP i can't find any under $1800 where as others on the forum have been blessed to grab them @ $300-$1000 from junk yards. So for me a 5spd on 2.93 lsd should suffice. But in case i do find either or i'd like to know how much i'd be looking at for the mounts on both a 5/6spd.

[Wanganstyle]

history

[EulB30]

Well i'm still in the mix researching some things, but it looks like i'll be rocking a m50 w/ either a zf 6 or getrag 5.

[jrdeamicis]

I cant find these "BNB" tranny mounts.. link?

Hi! I am Julian and I own BNB>

Sorry we have been hoarding all of products and installing only locally but that is soon about to change.

What engine / transmission combo do you want to run?