6 Speed?

[smalcol]

I did search, but couldn't find anyone that has done a swap with the 6-speed? If so, what did you do for the driveshaft?

I'm using the six speed and am planning to swap in the E46 M3 output flange for the transmission. But, is there another solution? The flange itself is pretty expensive.

Thanks!

Seth

[_JohnnyD_]

Make a custom driveshaft out of the front half of a E34 or E39 540i/6 driveshaft and the rear half of a E30 driveshaft.

[JGood]

Apparently the auto e36 m3 driveshaft can work depending on your engine position. I'm going to give it a shot when I switch mine over to a 6 speed. I refuse to touch another BMW output flange, I've had terrible luck getting them to seal.

Frank had his sent out to a company in Atlanta if I remember correctly, completely rebuilt and modified for ~$600. Ryan had his modified at a local shop for $150 I think. Do whatever is in your budget.

[nrubenstein]

Apparently the auto e36 m3 driveshaft can work depending on your engine position. I'm going to give it a shot when I switch mine over to a 6 speed. I refuse to touch another BMW output flange, I've had terrible luck getting them to seal.

Frank had his sent out to a company in Atlanta if I remember correctly, completely rebuilt and modified for ~$600. Ryan had his modified at a local shop for $150 I think. Do whatever is in your budget.

Well, I hope mine seals. I traded output shafts when I got my S62. :eeps:

[JGood]

Well, I hope mine seals. I traded output shafts when I got my S62. :eeps:

There was a bunch of us that had ongoing issues with trans rear seals a few years back. I ended up ditching the trans because I couldn't fix it.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=86005

On the other hand, there's literally thousands of people who've successfully replaced rear trans seals on these transmissions. So I wouldn't worry about it.

[P Arkus]

Cant remember the company that Frank used in Atlanta, however I noticed recently that Garagistic sells a 6speed driveshaft for the swap. Here is the link:

http://store.garagistic.com/ocart/bmw-e30-parts/bmw-motor-swap/m60-m62-e30-motor-mounts

For $600 bucks, it may be worth just getting a whole new driveshaft that's made to spec rather than trying to hack your own up to get it to fit. I would assume that Garagistic knows the proper measurements for the swap, however it probably also depends on the position of your engine and how far back it sits. So either way, make sure you do your research!

[Vtec?lol]

Do it the right way and install your engine and trans. Mark down your measurements and give it to your local driveshaft shop. People swap engines in all the time and if they're pros they'll have the measurements they need from both models on hand and yours to spec with.

I paid $550 for mine and it's all new tubing and joints. Only the flanges were re-used. I also had it made 1/2 shorter incase I wanted to move my engine back a little more.

[dirty30]

I have a drawing with the measurements I used for mine. The front shaft length is going to vary now that there are a few different companies selling swap mount arm kits. I had my driveshaft cut, welded and balanced for $180. No one should pay any more than that for that service. I know a lot of people want new U joints etc so there will be some additional expense there but the basic fab work shouldn't be more than $150-180.

[smalcol]

Thanks all, apologies, I missed that detail in your builds. Based on length, It appears I can use a driveshaft from an automatic E3. The driveshaft of the E3 is much smaller in diameter than the E39 and the two shops I asked couldn't join them. The design is quite different in general, and there isn't a lot of room in the tunnel for the large diameter either.

Ideally, the E46 M3 output flange will fit the transmission and allow this plan to work.

[dirty30]

And for the love of christ replace the lock shaft when the trans is out of the car, you don't want to find out the hard way that the lock shaft spring is broken. I got lucky and did mine in the car but it was a few hours of hell.

[nrubenstein]

Thanks all, apologies, I missed that detail in your builds. Based on length, It appears I can use a driveshaft from an automatic E3. The driveshaft of the E3 is much smaller in diameter than the E39 and the two shops I asked couldn't join them. The design is quite different in general, and there isn't a lot of room in the tunnel for the large diameter either.

Ideally, the E46 M3 output flange will fit the transmission and allow this plan to work.

I swapped flanges from the Euro E36 6spd to the M5 6spd. I can't imagine that the E46 flange would be an issue.

You should also be able to just run the E36 M3 automatic driveshaft. It may need to be lengthened slightly to get enough spline engagement to last, but it will at least be usable for fitment and test with no additional work.

[JGood]

I honestly think an automatic e36 M3 driveshaft will bolt right up and work. bmwfans.info lists the length as 1346mm. Frank had his driveshaft spec'd to 1381mm, which included the guibo. That's 35mm longer then the auto e36 M3. I'm willing to bet a guibo is damn near 35mm thick, putting the auto e36 M3 driveshaft at the exact required length, as a 100% bolt-on solution.

Ryan, can you confirm your driveshaft length?

[slammin.e28]

I honestly think an automatic e36 M3 driveshaft will bolt right up and work. bmwfans.info lists the length as 1346mm. Frank had his driveshaft spec'd to 1381mm, which included the guibo. That's 35mm longer then the auto e36 M3. I'm willing to bet a guibo is damn near 35mm thick, putting the auto e36 M3 driveshaft at the exact required length, as a 100% bolt-on solution.

Ryan, can you confirm your driveshaft length?

If this is the case....oh my oh my. My problems are solved.

[smalcol]

Yes, that sounds like the M3 automatic shaft will work, you do still need the E46M3 flange though, the 540i bolt spacing is too wide. The output flange costs about ~250.

[P Arkus]

Some great info in this thread. In either case, I need to call a few shops around my area to see who can modify the driveshaft for how much. Also very interested to know if anyone has actually tried the automatic E36 M3 shaft as a direct bolt on. However wouldnt that still depend on who Made the motor mounts and what position the engine sits in?