6-speed manual swap into e36 m3

[M III]

Does anyone have pics of this setup?

modified shift carrier (must be cut and welded to be 1" shorter and slightly offset)
modified shift selector rod (Zionsville cuts and welds them in custom jig)

[RRSperry]

2015-09-03 11.47.15-3.jpgTop is UUC SS, bottom is UUC euro 6 speed carrier.

[M III]

Thanks RRSperry.

I thought it's something I could modify as in the earlier post...

[ArcticM]

I made a custom carrier on mine. We cut about an inch out then offset it I forget exactly how much. I didn’t follow no guide I just bought a e46 carrier for 330i I think then modified it. I used a tranny out of a 530 so not e46 m3.

No clue how to Post picture on here

[M III]

Hey, is the e46 ZHP selector rod mod, just a heat application bend to fit?

I think it'll take me too much time to play with the fitment of the carrier mod.

[ArcticM]

I bought a selector rod from zionsville and transmission support brace. If you try to use your auto support brace with 330 tranny it mounts it to high

- - - Updated - - -

I used a 550i shift lever with it and it centered well

[daytonabitch]

Does anybody know whether a 6-speed ZF manual tranny from a 2006 E90 can also be transplanted into an E36 M3 or does it have to be from an E46?
Thanks!

[ArcticM]

bell housing may be different but the gearbox is probably the same. I would check realoem to see what you can dig up

[daytonabitch]

They are both listed as GS6-37BZ and exactly the same price but different parts numbers and different suffixes THEG on E46, TJEP on E90.
I presume the bell housing castings are integral with the gearbox and so can't be separated or switched?

[ArcticM]

No they can be separated and swapped.
I remember researching this pretty extensively and if I remember correctly the bell housing was slightly different on the TJEP or the gearing ratio's were off by a bit. It may not be clear by just checking the transmission numbers try cross checking the motor. For example the block numbers and engine build like m52, m50, s52, etc. are all gonna work through certain years but once e90 started the motors changed.

[daytonabitch]

Thanks ArcticM. So I guess then the question becomes whether the existing E36 5-speed bell housing will fit the GS6-37BZ gearbox

[blckstrm]

Hmm. That's a great question. If your 5 speed is slowly dying or dead (like mine is - maybe yours, too) that would certainly be easier to cannibalize than finding a bell housing from an e46.

[pbonsalb]

Do you really think the 5 speed and 6 speed ZF use the same transmission case so you could just swap bell housings, assuming that was actually necessary to fit the 6 speed?

[blckstrm]

Do you really think the 5 speed and 6 speed ZF use the same transmission case so you could just swap bell housings, assuming that was actually necessary to fit the 6 speed?

If you follow the conversation, the source tranny is from an E90, so it does need a new bell housing. I think it's a reasonable question (whether the case mounting is the same and would accept a bell housing from either the 5 or 6 speed) given how manufacturers like to avoid reinventing the wheel every time and given how frequently we see other parts re-used.

The answer may be NO, but it's certainly a reasonable question...