Any S50B30/5sp guys run out of gearing at the top?

[detroitdarin]

I'm torn - a lot - seeing the 95Ms reach top speed at about redline (just via youtube vids), vs the 32 cars having a lot more headroom thanks to the 6th gear. My 320i is geared probably like the 30s - and I don't like seeing the tach way over in or near the red for more than a minute or so.

I guess I'm polling the 5sp guys - do you find yourself driving a lot slower than possible because you don't like running the tiller to max rpm? This is a quandary - from my (admittedly still limited) research ahead of purchasing, I've found the 30 is the engine I probably want, but the 32 is mated to the transmission I probably want.

Ultimate Goals for the car - probably summer driver only; few track days per year. Most of the daily stuff around here I can reach without leaving surface streets - but a few times a month I spend an hour or so at highway speeds (70 miles or so), and would prefer setting the cruise over 200kph as much as possible. When I move back to the states - about 5 years - I'll for sure take the car with me; regulated then to occasional track days and cruises probably. Thus, back in the states the difference would probably never be seen due to the arcane speed limits there :P

Thanks for any feedback beyond 'go away, n00b!'.

[Gasman M3]

I used an E46 M3 6-speed as I wanted quieter highway cruising to the track. Mine was in a E30 swap but the dimensions are supposed to be the same for both 6-speeds.

[SPhilly28]

The Euro and E46 are indeed exactly the same other than a few little machining differences. I swapped an e46 into my e36 euro to replace the stock smg box. If you are doing the swap anyway, just get the 6 spd and assorted bits, it's a bit heavier but the overdrive will give you what you want. Better than messing with final drive and screwing acceleration.

[444YYY]

Enjoy it for what it was meant to be.... The E36 is not very stable at high speeds, maybe that's what adds to the excitement, so either way you will not be spending a lot of time at top ends in either car...

[MauiM3Mania]

Just another data point; I run a euro six speed behind a S50B32 and a 3.91 diff. I have more top end than I'll ever need. Had it up to 6k at about 140 mph which is about the same as a 5 spd in top gear.

Enjoy it for what it was meant to be.... The E36 is not very stable at high speeds, maybe that's what adds to the excitement, so either way you will not be spending a lot of time at top ends in either car...

Its all about alignment, I suppose. My car drives straight and feels solid at speed (100mph+).

[detroitdarin]

Thanks folks. When I buy I'll make budget room for the 6sp swap. I plan to drive the car a lot in the summer. Heck, even between here and Nurburgring there's a lot of open-speed limit areas, so there's a good chance I'll be spending quite a bit of time in the higher-end. I'd bring the 5sp back to the states with me - because I'd want the car to remain complete for posterity's sake.

[444YYY]

Its all about alignment, I suppose. My car drives straight and feels solid at speed (100mph+).

Ok interesting, do you have a rear boot spoiler and front splitters?

[MauiM3Mania]

No spoilers or splitters.
Looks like a grandma car from a distance.

[maj75]

what's the final drive ratio on your 320i? I am not familiar with euro spec cars?

I just spent the past week in and around Munich. On last Tuesday, it was some holiday and we were driving to Neuschwanstein. I never saw so many classic BMWs on the road at the same time. I must have seen over 100 of the 2002 series cars plus other early 70s BMWs. I didn't see as many E36 cars as I would have thought. It was really cool to see that many classics being driven.

[444YYY]

MauiM3Mania, can you elaborate on Alignment please? General wheel alignment with aggressive camber of -2.5 deg as per factory spec?

[MauiM3Mania]

Being that my E36 M3 is not my DD and sees some auto-x time., I followed the more aggressive numbers in joenationwide's piece;

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...or-your-E36-M3

The toe-in/out setting makes all the difference in how the car feels/tracks on the road.

[444YYY]

Thanks!
I need to pay attention to rear toe... Think that's the answer to high speed stabilty...