s54 w/ getrag260?

[knuklehead92]

i heard you can use getrag 260 for the swap. What clutch should i use? m20 clutch?
i hear it bolting up but havent heard anyone running a s54 with a getrag 260 yet if so what clutch

[gobuffs]

Since the other trannies that bolt up to the S50s work on the S54s there is nothing to reinvent.

[rThor432]

Any 240mm setup will work fine. I'd ditch the 228mm M20 stuff, but even that will work with the right clutch. The S54 isn't a torque monster by any means, so you don't have to go crazy. A light E36 240mm flywheel with a stock clutch set (or E34 M5) will be sufficient and cost effective.

[nando]

it will certainly work - but I wouldn't say the gearing is very desireable.

[e30polak]

it will certainly work - but I wouldn't say the gearing is very desireable.

This.

ZF or 6 speed IMO

[Wanganstyle]

This.

ZF & 6 speed IMO

ZF 6 speed. > getrag 6 speed any day. Been there done that wont go back again.

[Jables]

Why 6 speed? It's just heavy as shit compared to 5 speed (do you really need 6 speeds in an E30?)

Genuine question, I've never driven one so anyone whos driven both would be helpful!

[Wh33lhop]

Why 6 speed? It's just heavy as shit compared to 5 speed (do you really need 6 speeds in an E30?)

Genuine question, I've never driven one so anyone whos driven both would be helpful!

It's heavier yes, but it has another ratio to play with.

The idea behind the 6 speed is that you can still have the fun/short first five gears without the drawback of rattling your brains out on the highway (like me).

[Rsully70sev]

What's the specific name of the ZF 6 speed? Tried looking, couldn't find much unless were talking about the one out of the E46 M3.

[Wanganstyle]

Why 6 speed? It's just heavy as shit compared to 5 speed (do you really need 6 speeds in an E30?)

Genuine question, I've never driven one so anyone whos driven both would be helpful!

What about 23.5 lbs extra weight makes
It extremely heavy? I could just remove the back seat or run with half a tank of gas to make up the difference.

6 speed 2005+ transmissions replaced 5 speeds in the bmw line. Modernized shifting, modern bearings = more efficient gearbox. Fuel economy increases simply from the design of the box, the 6th gear allows one to run different ratios also. more performance or more fuel economy or a better combination of both compared to a 5 speed.

4 speeds were replaced by 5 early 1980's, nowadays the 5 speed is going the way of the dodo.

What's the specific name of the ZF 6 speed? Tried looking, couldn't find much unless were talking about the one out of the E46 M3.

E46m uses a getrag unit. Old style with DNA to the e31 unit.

E46 330i 2005-6 ZHP / and all e60 530i use a modern zf 6 speed. E92/82 use zf 6 speeds also, both non turbo 328 and twin turbo 335 use zf 6 speed transmissions.

6 speed is not the future; it's NOW.

Test drive e60 or e46 or e92 with 6 speed manual to see what one feels like? Could just go to the nearest bmw dealer.

E30's are great with 6 speeds. Can have furious 1/2/3/4 accel and then have 5/6 be longer for cruising.

[nando]

I always wish I had another gear when I reach 5th on my G260. i wouldn't change the 1-5 ratios If I had like a .5:1 overdrive..

although, aside from fuel economy, part of the reason for the increase in the # of gears is simply marketing - more = better. see the 7 and 8 speed autos.

to me, a ZF 5 speed is the best mix of price, performance, weight, gearing, etc.

[Wh33lhop]

to me, a ZF 5 speed is the best mix of price, performance, weight, gearing, etc.

The ZF5 is nearly identical to the g260 gear spacing wise, with the exception of first being about 10% longer in the ZF.

[nrubenstein]

Why 6 speed? It's just heavy as shit compared to 5 speed (do you really need 6 speeds in an E30?)

Genuine question, I've never driven one so anyone whos driven both would be helpful!

I've had the ZF320, the G260 and the 420G (6spd) in my car. The problem with either 5spd solution was that any gearing choice that kept cruising revs at a tolerable level made the car feel slow. The 6spd gives me quick acceleration and a short enough highway gear.

Would definitely have saved a lot of effort and a decent bit of expense to just go with the 6spd in the first place. It's absolutely true that you carry a bit of extra weight as a result - and that diffs short enough to make the 6th gear usable on track aren't very durable or easy to get hold of. On the other hand, it allows you to run very close to 5spd track gearing in a street car. That is very nice.

[Rsully70sev]

What about 23.5 lbs extra weight makes
It extremely heavy? I could just remove the back seat or run with half a tank of gas to make up the difference.

6 speed 2005+ transmissions replaced 5 speeds in the bmw line. Modernized shifting, modern bearings = more efficient gearbox. Fuel economy increases simply from the design of the box, the 6th gear allows one to run different ratios also. more performance or more fuel economy or a better combination of both compared to a 5 speed.

4 speeds were replaced by 5 early 1980's, nowadays the 5 speed is going the way of the dodo.



E46m uses a getrag unit. Old style with DNA to the e31 unit.

E46 330i 2005-6 ZHP / and all e60 530i use a modern zf 6 speed. E92/82 use zf 6 speeds also, both non turbo 328 and twin turbo 335 use zf 6 speed transmissions.

6 speed is not the future; it's NOW.

Test drive e60 or e46 or e92 with 6 speed manual to see what one feels like? Could just go to the nearest bmw dealer.

E30's are great with 6 speeds. Can have furious 1/2/3/4 accel and then have 5/6 be longer for cruising.

Yeah that 6speed sounds amazing. I'm switching from 2.93's to 3.46's on my S50 so I feel the 6th gear would save me on the highway. I'm just not sure where to find one, I guess craigslist and ebay. What's a reasonable price for one? And are they pretty much plug and play-swap out 5spd swap in 6spd?

[e30polak]

The ZF5 is nearly identical to the g260 gear spacing wise, with the exception of first being about 10% longer in the ZF.

And the 1:1 5th in stead of 4th.... :p

Also, the clutch and flywheel options are cheaper and better with the ZF.

ZF 5 speed > G260 any day of the week