E30 Zone

Hey there!

Im planning my s50 conversion and wonder what dramas lie with using the 6 speed box into my s50 conversion 325iS ???

Its either use the 6 speed or use the standard e30 325iS box (260 i think?)

What drams lie with the getrag 260 on a s50 b30 conversion?

thanks heaps

6 spd box fits, but you will need a custom gearbox mount and custom (shortened) prop.

The E30 325i box will bolt up to the S50, but is rotated slightly in one direction. This means the gearshift will be off centre - the guys in the US dont seem to have a problem with this and I think some have managed to re-centre the gearshift (Im not sure how).

I dont know what flywheel and clutch combination you would need to run the E30 box on the S50.

I have the 5 speed from an E36 3.0 M3 (actually its from a ZCoupé but they are the same I beleive) for my S50B32 conversion. It all came from a crash damaged MRoadster.

I beleive you can actually use the prop from an E30 M3 with this (5 spd) combo but am yet to get one to try. JMC330i (james above) told me it should and I think I beleive him! Might be better than getting the E30/260 to fit?

The 6 speed isn't huge drama to fit.. Make up a support, make up a gear linkage and have a prop made up.

Ian's car has one and it all works perfectly - He's the man to squeeze for info! I think Buster used the 6 speed box too.

Jai

Hi,as Jai said, the 6 speed needs a custom mount/cradle.Shortened prop with m3 evo end on it,and i used the standard linkage and gear lever.

jaistanley wrote: JMC330i (james above) told me it should and I think I beleive him!

Yes it does fit. Its exactly what I have - E36 M3 5spd, E30 M3 prop and E30 diff.

If you use the 6spd box, then you can still use the E30 325i diff - I think 3.64 is the ideal ratio, but the 3.91 is still fine.

im using the 3.91 at the mo.It goes,erm well
i think 3.64 would be better as first is way too low.

buster wrote:im using the 3.91 at the mo.It goes,erm well

You think that goes well - try the M3 5spd box and a 4.27 318i diff

I fitted the 318i diff just to get the Sport moving and will be driving it back up the road to my place when the manifolds are finished. That should be a laugh

jmc330i wrote:

buster wrote:im using the 3.91 at the mo.It goes,erm well

You think that goes well - try the M3 5spd box and a 4.27 318i diff

I fitted the 318i diff just to get the Sport moving and will be driving it back up the road to my place when the manifolds are finished. That should be a laugh

LOL,super low tractor gearing !!

Flipping eck! I have a 3.15 LSD to go on mine (might be a 3.25, what was the earlier MCoupé, 3.25 or 3.15?). Could try it with my 4.1 LSD for a while! Maybe not. Top speed would barely be morris minor scaring, even at 7500rpm!

The choice of which diff might sway you on which gearbox to use. If you didn't have to search for a different diff, that money could go into the bits for the 6 speed perhaps?

I'm not sure whats 'better' by the way. The 5 speed should really suit the torquey 3.2 but then the 6 speed can keep it zinging.. Perhaps the 3.0 is better suited to the 6 spd and the 3.2 to the 5 speed... Not driven an E30 with either so can't really comment yet! It all depends on the characteristics of the engine.

Good luck hombré...

Jai

jaistanley wrote:Flipping eck! I have a 3.15 LSD to go on mine (might be a 3.25, what was the earlier MCoupé, 3.25 or 3.15?). Could try it with my 4.1 LSD for a while! Maybe not. Top speed would barely be morris minor scaring, even at 7500rpm!

Yeah Im not going to drive it with the 4.27 other than the 1/2 mile from my mates workshop back to mine.
Im still on the look out for another LSD, either an E30 M3 or MCoupe jobbie (is the MCoupe diff a straight swap for the E30 diff?) and I also have a 2.93 open diff from an E28, but I needed to move the car and only had the 4.27 at hand.

Yes the top speed would be low, but hell it would get there fast

thanks heaps....

these parts hard to get in australia and very $XXXX

still tosing it up at this stage, depending on the dollar of course

what needs to be done to fit the e30 box to the s50......... looks like i might be going down that route??

infusion wrote:what needs to be done to fit the e30 box to the s50......... looks like i might be going down that route??

Im not sure as nobody here has done it that way.
If its the same for the m50 engine then a few have done that.

Probably is the same as the M50 engine but I'd imagine you'd have to use the flywheel/clutch M50 boys do... Will it take the torque? You hear of 2.7 boys munching gearboxes too.

The MCoupé diff goes straight on but you'll need diff cups to match your driveshafts.. In My case I'll need the cups from an MCoupé as I'm using the swingarms and driveshafts (and 312 by 20mm brakes!!). For a 325i or M3 swingarms, you'll need medium case diff flanges (E30 big, or 325i flanges to clarify). In my oppinion that diff cover looks very low. Mine is cracked where the diff bush goes and I was going to replace it but now I think may fit the E30 diff cover and an M Coupé bush. There are some of those square speed bumps near my house. Could get messy.

Jai