M52/M54 5 spd gearboxes

[tim_s]

Hi guys,
Anyone know how these interchange? wondering if an early 330ci m54 engine in an e46 with a knackered g/b can take other S5D 320Z gearboxes from other e46 models or from e36/e38/9 etc. All seem to be S5D 320Z, but with different four letters at the end of the g/b no.
Can anyone shed any light on the interchangeability?
Thanks
Tim

[stuartgallafant]

tim, i believe the gear ratio's are different between the same models with different engine sizes

i've got a section in one of my training manuals from when i did my apprenticeship, that tells you what all the digits on the gearbox means, but i cant remember off the top of my head

[tim_s]

ah crap, does it make much odds? Could I pop for instance an e36/46 328 box onto a 330 without worrying about too much? S5D 320Z - THMW (328) vs S5D 320Z - THCH (330). Both have pretty similar diff ratios. Output flange looks fine, I presume linkage/mounts etc are ok? Any chance you can get any more info mate?
Out of interest, your thoughts on the 330ci?

[stuartgallafant]

An M52TU 'box would fit onto an M54 engine, but a standard m52 wont go, i dont think. RE the drive ratio's, you can get the info for them on ETK/ECP from the dealers, but whether you'd actually be able to get a parts guy to be helpful enough to tell you, is like p1ssing into the wind...

What is your problem anyway mate?

Personally, I am a fan of 330Ci, but juice-to-power ratio is quite steep compared to the 325Ci. Personally, i'd rather have the 330Cd n jus get it remapped and serviced more often. 2 fella's at work have 330's and do roughly 18mpg. My mate has a 330Cd which I take care of for him and his Board Computer is always reading in the 30's mpg - its an auto too, n he dont drive it slow!! Straight down the line, there's not much in it, speed/power wise, so little in fact, that as I said, i'd choose the Diesel any day

[tim_s]

Cool. got some quotes from some breakers and box price doesn't seem too bad. the prob is a selector spring has gone, basically in neutral it's coming to rest in line with 5th not 3rd.
thanks for the advice - surprised about the mpg, thought it was supposed to be quite good on fuel! had a look at the quoted mpg figures and it looked good, not too much different to the 328sport, bloody worried about 18mpg tbh though. was intending to lpg anyway but 18mpg is bollocks. it's not as fast as i expected either - doesn't feel faster than my IS and didn't pick up from low rpm as well cos of the long gearing, really doesn't feel much different to an e36 328 :S sounds nice though and has multifunction wheel, eleccy heated memory leather, all the toys etc, and liked the e46 chassis, it drives really well - better than an e36!

[Andyboy]

The selector spring fault is fairly common. The M54 box is basically the same as the 'big' M50/52 box from the 328i. There is a difference in the front casing/bellhousing on all M54 boxes, not sure what it is.

As for what numbers mean:

S5D320Z

S= Schalter (manual)
5= 5 speed
D= Direct drive (1:1 top gear)
320 = torque capacity in nm
Z = ZF.

S6S420G (540i)

S = manual
6 = 6 speed
S = overdrive
420 = torque capacity
G = Getrag

A5S440Z

A= Automatic
5 = 5 speed
S = Overdrive
440 = Torque capacity
Z = ZF (Some 528i E39's are a 440J, J meaning 'Jatco', Japanese transmission Company).

[stuartgallafant]

Thanks for that Andy, i knew i knew how to read them, but i just couldnt remember!! i've had to learn so much lately, the old stuff is getting pushed out by the new!!

the Jatco boxes are the ultra-high temperature boxes, due to Tokyo's traffic problems!!

you say the fault is fairly common, but i've not really seen it before n i dont think we've changed trannies at our place for it...

also, i think the difference in the bell-housings is the way it mates up near the sump and positioning of the starter motor, so im told

tim, i totally agree with you on the E46 - E36 comparison. the suspension design is the same on both cars, trailing arms, top arms, support arms, etc but the rise is so much nicer in the E46. Quite possibly all the ally parts instead of steel

and i agree too about them not being particularly fast

[andrewe30m3]

regarding the gear selector fault; my 330ci had this problem when i bought it - i ended up getting it repaired on the warranty from the garage i bought the car from - the selctor from memory was £88 with £900 of labour - 16 hours I recall - cost to me £0 - thanks AA 5 star warranty.

[boybimmerm3]

The gearbox problem is quite common. Parts to repair are cheap enough and only takes 30 mins when the box is out. Easy fix.

[DieselMeister]

I'd disagree about 330 not being fast. They may not feel dramatic but that's just down to the delivery - they're deceptively quick despite being lardy and 100bhp shy of an M3. If you have a good one from new and run it in properly that donk pulls like a train from tick over right to the limiter in 5th and cruise all day at 120mph in 6th where permitted.

I had a commute of around 40 miles per day, with a bit of B-road at either end and never dropped below 24mpg average in 7 months and 11k miles. Once the car hit 9k, it felt like it gained another 20bhp and was much freer revving too.

A car with about 50k+ miles should fly once wound up and still have loads of torque low down.

Run it on 98+ and the economy / power difference is noticeable.