Another 6speed trans model option...

[JdevTi]

First I want to acknowledge that there are a LOT of threads on swapping 6 speeds into these and other BMW's. Looking at this ratio page (http://www.bokchoys.com/differential/GearRatios.htm) that BMW earlier on wasn't a fan of overdrive manuals...

Either way, my new to me Ti has to go on a journey from central to southern california and back once a month, and right now to save on gas I'm getting my doors blown off driving 65-70 on the main freeways. It's pretty much bull***t imo. Anyway, that car is a long term, versatile driver for me so is most likely going to get a 6speed instead of a diff swap. A lot of threads discourage it for cost reasons, but a lot of the threads are a few years old now too and I'm reasonably confident I can carefully find the right deal on parts to make the car more versatile. Another factor is this transmission has to come out for a clutch and hopefully fix the molasses-like sticky shifter it has. So it needs some parts and all the labor anyway. The clutch is really a problem for the car so I have to address the transmission anyway.

My question is if anyone knows if the newer (e.g. 07-10) 335 turbo (~300hp) transmissions have any fatal flaws for bolting under our cars? I realize the e46 M3 transmission is a more popular target for the swap, but those transmissions are expensive for reason, and the Z4 seems less common. The ratio for the 335 is a bit higher than the Ti and e46, but it's seems like a cost effective option. For example a euro salvage shop local to me has one up now for $1345 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E90-E91-E92-E93-335i-ZF-6-SPEED-MANUAL-TRANSMISSION-XLNT-CONDITION-GTD-/220975735629?fits=Make:BMW&hash=item33732e234d&item=220975735629&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr#ht_2955wt_1081) and could maybe be talked down a little or possibly include the used clutch components so I don't have to buy those.

I know this is a well worn subject in general, but if there is any newer insight as these newer 6 speeds become more available, maybe the swap can have a revival.

[Bluebimma]

Is it going on an m4x?

[spidertri]

I believe the 6spd from a E46 330 can bolt up, there are some threads on it on bimmerforums.

[JdevTi]

Is it going on an m4x?

never heard of it...

[JdevTi]

I believe the 6spd from a E46 330 can bolt up, there are some threads on it on bimmerforums.

You're talking about the model sold in the package zionsville sells. The 330 is the GS6-37BZ model. The trans I haven't read anything on but seems to have decent used pricing and availability is GS6-53DZ and as I mentioned is in the 07-10 335 turbo, taller gear set 5th being 1:1 as usual and 6th being .87. I'll call zionsville tomorrow and see if they will tell me anything objective.

[wolferj-RIP]

never heard of it...

The motors he is referring to are the M42 or the M44. M42 for 95 ti's (OBDI) or M44 (OBDII) for 96 and later ti's.

[JdevTi]

The motors he is referring to are the M42 or the M44. M42 for 95 ti's (OBDI) or M44 (OBDII) for 96 and later ti's.

Oh of course, 97 M44.

[JdevTi]

zionsville says the 335 transmission won't bolt up properly... I took that to mean it may bolt up, but not the way its supposed to. By the way the 330i and Ci transmissions are the same trans - so coupe/sedan, non difference. It's the same trans in the 525 and 530i e60 cars as well. The trans has to come from an 04 3series or above. The 03's and below were 5speeds. I am waiting on a call back to see if the later model e90 will work.

Also, the driveshaft zionsville custom makes can be mated to the stock 318ti rear end. It's a chunk at ~$600 though, but it's good to know the rear end doesn't have to be replaced.

Still researching. I'll post when I have anything more definitive.

[bmorekirby]

are thier ANY 6 speed that are know to be compatible with the m42/m44 motors? i've been seaching for a couple days and can't find much info.

~john

[JdevTi]

are thier ANY 6 speed that are know to be compatible with the m42/m44 motors? i've been seaching for a couple days and can't find much info.

~john

There is actually a TON of scattered information across the web, this forum, bimmer forums and a couple commercial web sites. There isn't anything that comprehensively puts together every option possible with all the different parts that would be required, but there are a lot of options and nuances to it, so it would be a tall order to create something that covered every bit.

What I learned yesterday is there are 6 6-speed transmissions that will mount to our engines. They guy at UUC I talked to didn't mention more than 2 as worth considering due to the amount of customization of parts required to make them all work, and after that he feels the e46 M3 is the best mount up for the e36, not making a distinction between our 4 cylinder hatches and the rest of the e36's. That was a question I had was is the 318ti unique in any way in choosing a transmission and setup, and it sounds like it's not. Like I mentioned above the driveline has to be custom made anyway, so it's the same amount of work/customization as the other e36's.

However and the UUC website doesn't seem to agree, but over the phone I have in my notes that the the flywheel and shifting mechanism for the e36 M3 will work. If you have those items or can source them cheaply, you just have to let them know so they can mate you up with the correct clutch components, he said for the same price as the e46 components. So that could save some money if finding the e36 M3 flywheel somehow is cheaper. Call UUC to double verify before dropping the money, but this is how I understand it.

Also, interesting to note is that their light flywheel and clutch setup run 1100. I asked him about trans gear chatter not being a dual mass flywheel, and he said if you run their recommended fluid and clutch system, you won't have any chatter. So that's another viable flywheel option. I kind of like this option from a performance driving perspective, but I'll probably just go with what is cost effective at the time.

[JdevTi]

I got this PM from someone else who uses their Ti for commuting:
"I drive 160+ every third day and do the 65-70 mph dance in the far right lane so I understand the frustration. I've looked at the tranny swap too but I'm going to do a diff ratio change. I've got just about every thing I need to complete the change which I'll do when I refresh the subframe and rtab(s) probably in a few weeks. I'm going to go with a 3.25 lsd first to see if it helps. I figure if I can run a little faster at the same rpms at 65-70 my fuel economy won't tank and keep the doors from getting blown off. I'll post up the results down the road."

I haven't made any real progress since I spoke with UUC last. One thing that I learned that from the tech I spoke to that I didn't mention before was that the transmissions are basically not-rebuildable. That's right... You can search around, and what seems to echo is that they are indeed not rebuildable. However what is interesting is that BMW sells the internal parts for our 5 speeds, but I don't see anything for the e46 M3 trans, just the whole trans. Same with the 330 - no internal parts for sale for the 6 speed, just the 5. However if you know different about how to service them, that would be good to know.

So that's another drawback to the 6speed manual from those two models at least. The advice then is if you get one with higher miles on it, like 150k and above, make sure you're getting a nice deal on it.

I've been really busy with personal stuff, but when things iron out this year hopefully, I'll start to take a serious look at getting out of the slow lane... By the way, I was in a serious stop and go situation on Friday (like 2 hours worth). I was thinking to myself, what if I had swapped the rear end and my first gear was now more like a second gear? I dunno. I think BMW should have given our stock 6speed ratio transmissions the 6th gear it was supposed to have.