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Thread: Drivetrain upgrade

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
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    Bucharest
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    E39 520i m52b20

    Question Drivetrain upgrade

    I have a NFL 520i in which i swapped a M54B30. After some struggles all is running fine now.

    I have kept the original tranny, a Getrag S5D 250G, as it had shorter ratios.
    The question is: How much can I abuse this tranny without breaking it? I know it is allegedly rated at 250 Nm, but I am also sure it can withstand way more.
    I have read mixed opinions on this, so I would prefer an opinion from somebody who is using this tranny.

    Do any of you guys run this tranny with higher power and torque outputs than mine?


    On the long run, I plan other upgrades as well:
    CDV
    SMF conversion + clutch upgrade (still in doubts, will post another topic on that)
    Quaife LSD
    Motor re-building, and changing to Schrick camshafts, and maybe forged pistons
    Supercharger
    Custom Exhaust headers

    The thing is, after all is done, I should be at around 360/400 hp with 400/430 Nm of torque.
    Can my tranny take that without problems? When should I consider upgrading it, and what would be a recommended swap?

    I would prefer to keep this tranny for the short ratios. I can get a good used tranny for around 120/250$ depending on the model. So if you have an alternative that has equal short ratios, but can withstand more than my current setup, please let me know.

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    03 M5/05 RR/06 Cayman S
    My understanding is that 250g transmission is garbage and won't handle that kind of power. Either go with the 320z (same as 530i manual, e36 M3 manual, Z3M S54 5-speed, etc.) or the 420g (e36 M3 EVO, e46 M3, etc.) 6-speed. The 320z is a wonderful transmission and is very smooth and has roughly the same ratios as the 6-speed from gears 1-5. Another option is the GS6-37BZ 6-speed from the e60 530i, but it requires a custom transmission crossmember to be made, while the 420g can use the 540i mount. Check out my 530i/6 build thread in my signature for more information on that if you want.

    -Paul
    2003 "M5" - Full M5 conversion, AMG C63S 6 piston front calipers, Porsche Panamera 4 piston rear calipers, GC Coilovers,
    Eibach ARBs, UUC Evo3/DSSR, Borla Exhaust w/Muffler Delete, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto, Bi-Xenons, e38 Style 37 M-Pars, e60 Hubs 530i 6-speed swap build thread
    2005 Range Rover 4.6is (M62TU Powered) - 4.6is Engine Swap from X5, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto
    2006 Porsche Cayman S - Soul Performance Competition Headers and Exhaust, H&R Coilovers, 718 Boxster Spyder wheels, Rennline 35mm rear spacers

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    Location
    San Jose, CA
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    1997 BMW 540i 6 speed
    Yes, the 420G is a brawny gearbox, and is used on the E39 540i, as well as the E39 M5.


    Ed in San Jose '97 540i 6 speed aspensilber over aubergine leather. Build date 3/97. Golden Gate Chapter BMW CCA Nr 62319.

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by edjack View Post
    Yes, the 420G is a brawny gearbox, and is used on the E39 540i, as well as the E39 M5.
    Not the same one, it yes. Only differences are the bellhousing, input shaft length, and output flange size. Internals are the same. Can't put the 540i/M5 transmission on the 530i, in case OP read your post and got confused.

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

    -Paul
    2003 "M5" - Full M5 conversion, AMG C63S 6 piston front calipers, Porsche Panamera 4 piston rear calipers, GC Coilovers,
    Eibach ARBs, UUC Evo3/DSSR, Borla Exhaust w/Muffler Delete, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto, Bi-Xenons, e38 Style 37 M-Pars, e60 Hubs 530i 6-speed swap build thread
    2005 Range Rover 4.6is (M62TU Powered) - 4.6is Engine Swap from X5, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto
    2006 Porsche Cayman S - Soul Performance Competition Headers and Exhaust, H&R Coilovers, 718 Boxster Spyder wheels, Rennline 35mm rear spacers

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
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    E39 520i m52b20
    Ok thx! After some more reading I think I will look after a 320z. Thx guys!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    e39 520i ´99, shifter 5+1

    Modifications done:
    M54B30 swap
    Powerflex rear subframe bushings
    Koni Yellow + Vogtland springs
    Short Shifter
    K&N Panel Air Filter
    Custom 2.5 Exhaust + Magnaflow free flow Mufflers
    Alpina Rims
    Facelift Head & Tail/lights
    Alpina Green II color
    Android Navigation
    Morel Virtus 502 + Morel Maximus 502 + Audison LRX 6.9 Amp + Mosconi 4to6DSP

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
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    Bucharest
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    E39 520i m52b20
    Just to confirm:

    I found this gearbox here locally:



    From what I googled, it should be the zf 320z, right?

    Link from an identical gearbox from ebay:





    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    e39 520i ´99, shifter 5+1

    Modifications done:
    M54B30 swap
    Powerflex rear subframe bushings
    Koni Yellow + Vogtland springs
    Short Shifter
    K&N Panel Air Filter
    Custom 2.5 Exhaust + Magnaflow free flow Mufflers
    Alpina Rims
    Facelift Head & Tail/lights
    Alpina Green II color
    Android Navigation
    Morel Virtus 502 + Morel Maximus 502 + Audison LRX 6.9 Amp + Mosconi 4to6DSP

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    Charlotte, NC
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kreindler View Post
    Just to confirm:

    I found this gearbox here locally:



    From what I googled, it should be the zf 320z, right?

    Link from an identical gearbox from ebay:





    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Looks like it.

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

    -Paul
    2003 "M5" - Full M5 conversion, AMG C63S 6 piston front calipers, Porsche Panamera 4 piston rear calipers, GC Coilovers,
    Eibach ARBs, UUC Evo3/DSSR, Borla Exhaust w/Muffler Delete, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto, Bi-Xenons, e38 Style 37 M-Pars, e60 Hubs 530i 6-speed swap build thread
    2005 Range Rover 4.6is (M62TU Powered) - 4.6is Engine Swap from X5, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto
    2006 Porsche Cayman S - Soul Performance Competition Headers and Exhaust, H&R Coilovers, 718 Boxster Spyder wheels, Rennline 35mm rear spacers

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Bucharest
    Posts
    95
    My Cars
    E39 520i m52b20
    Perfect!!! @110$ it's a must have)


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    e39 520i ´99, shifter 5+1

    Modifications done:
    M54B30 swap
    Powerflex rear subframe bushings
    Koni Yellow + Vogtland springs
    Short Shifter
    K&N Panel Air Filter
    Custom 2.5 Exhaust + Magnaflow free flow Mufflers
    Alpina Rims
    Facelift Head & Tail/lights
    Alpina Green II color
    Android Navigation
    Morel Virtus 502 + Morel Maximus 502 + Audison LRX 6.9 Amp + Mosconi 4to6DSP

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    9,266
    My Cars
    03 M5/05 RR/06 Cayman S
    Yeah, that's a pretty good price

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

    -Paul
    2003 "M5" - Full M5 conversion, AMG C63S 6 piston front calipers, Porsche Panamera 4 piston rear calipers, GC Coilovers,
    Eibach ARBs, UUC Evo3/DSSR, Borla Exhaust w/Muffler Delete, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto, Bi-Xenons, e38 Style 37 M-Pars, e60 Hubs 530i 6-speed swap build thread
    2005 Range Rover 4.6is (M62TU Powered) - 4.6is Engine Swap from X5, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto
    2006 Porsche Cayman S - Soul Performance Competition Headers and Exhaust, H&R Coilovers, 718 Boxster Spyder wheels, Rennline 35mm rear spacers

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Bucharest
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    My Cars
    E39 520i m52b20
    Another quick question:

    Driveshaft:
    Is it the same for the 2.0 m52 as for the 3.0 m54 or do I also need to change that??


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    e39 520i ´99, shifter 5+1

    Modifications done:
    M54B30 swap
    Powerflex rear subframe bushings
    Koni Yellow + Vogtland springs
    Short Shifter
    K&N Panel Air Filter
    Custom 2.5 Exhaust + Magnaflow free flow Mufflers
    Alpina Rims
    Facelift Head & Tail/lights
    Alpina Green II color
    Android Navigation
    Morel Virtus 502 + Morel Maximus 502 + Audison LRX 6.9 Amp + Mosconi 4to6DSP

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
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    Charlotte, NC
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    03 M5/05 RR/06 Cayman S
    Quote Originally Posted by Kreindler View Post
    Another quick question:

    Driveshaft:
    Is it the same for the 2.0 m52 as for the 3.0 m54 or do I also need to change that??


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Driveshaft depends on transmission and differential. I don't know what diff you have, so can't really say. If you got a 528i or 530i diff, it would work.

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

    -Paul
    2003 "M5" - Full M5 conversion, AMG C63S 6 piston front calipers, Porsche Panamera 4 piston rear calipers, GC Coilovers,
    Eibach ARBs, UUC Evo3/DSSR, Borla Exhaust w/Muffler Delete, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto, Bi-Xenons, e38 Style 37 M-Pars, e60 Hubs 530i 6-speed swap build thread
    2005 Range Rover 4.6is (M62TU Powered) - 4.6is Engine Swap from X5, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto
    2006 Porsche Cayman S - Soul Performance Competition Headers and Exhaust, H&R Coilovers, 718 Boxster Spyder wheels, Rennline 35mm rear spacers

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Bucharest
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    My Cars
    E39 520i m52b20

    Drivetrain upgrade

    I have got the 520i (manual gearbox) diff, 3.46 ratio:




    So if i swap the gearbox for the zf 320z, can i keep the drive shaft and diff? (I will anyhow change the diff to a quaife lsd this winter, but i mean until then)

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Last edited by Kreindler; 08-06-2017 at 02:40 PM.
    e39 520i ´99, shifter 5+1

    Modifications done:
    M54B30 swap
    Powerflex rear subframe bushings
    Koni Yellow + Vogtland springs
    Short Shifter
    K&N Panel Air Filter
    Custom 2.5 Exhaust + Magnaflow free flow Mufflers
    Alpina Rims
    Facelift Head & Tail/lights
    Alpina Green II color
    Android Navigation
    Morel Virtus 502 + Morel Maximus 502 + Audison LRX 6.9 Amp + Mosconi 4to6DSP

  13. #13
    Join Date
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    Charlotte, NC
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    My Cars
    03 M5/05 RR/06 Cayman S
    Considering it doesn't list any 528i or 530i, I'm guessing no. The reason is the input flange on the diff is smaller on the smaller engine cars, so the cv joint from the 528i/530i driveshaft won't mate to it. If you tried to use a 520i driveshaft, the output flange on the 320z is too big for it, so you really need to match the diff to the transmission and use the matching driveshaft.

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

    -Paul
    2003 "M5" - Full M5 conversion, AMG C63S 6 piston front calipers, Porsche Panamera 4 piston rear calipers, GC Coilovers,
    Eibach ARBs, UUC Evo3/DSSR, Borla Exhaust w/Muffler Delete, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto, Bi-Xenons, e38 Style 37 M-Pars, e60 Hubs 530i 6-speed swap build thread
    2005 Range Rover 4.6is (M62TU Powered) - 4.6is Engine Swap from X5, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto
    2006 Porsche Cayman S - Soul Performance Competition Headers and Exhaust, H&R Coilovers, 718 Boxster Spyder wheels, Rennline 35mm rear spacers

  14. #14
    Join Date
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    Charlotte, NC
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    03 M5/05 RR/06 Cayman S
    If you were in the US, I could have sold you my 528i driveshaft and diff, but too heavy to ship international.

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

    -Paul
    2003 "M5" - Full M5 conversion, AMG C63S 6 piston front calipers, Porsche Panamera 4 piston rear calipers, GC Coilovers,
    Eibach ARBs, UUC Evo3/DSSR, Borla Exhaust w/Muffler Delete, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto, Bi-Xenons, e38 Style 37 M-Pars, e60 Hubs 530i 6-speed swap build thread
    2005 Range Rover 4.6is (M62TU Powered) - 4.6is Engine Swap from X5, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto
    2006 Porsche Cayman S - Soul Performance Competition Headers and Exhaust, H&R Coilovers, 718 Boxster Spyder wheels, Rennline 35mm rear spacers

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Bucharest
    Posts
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    My Cars
    E39 520i m52b20

    Drivetrain upgrade

    Got it! So i need to look for a 528i/530i diff.


    My guess would be no, but still a chance as they share the gearbox:

    What about an e36 328i or e46 330i driveshaft? Would it also be a match?


    + LE:
    Is the driveshaft different in the estate cars?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Last edited by Kreindler; 08-07-2017 at 02:12 AM.
    e39 520i ´99, shifter 5+1

    Modifications done:
    M54B30 swap
    Powerflex rear subframe bushings
    Koni Yellow + Vogtland springs
    Short Shifter
    K&N Panel Air Filter
    Custom 2.5 Exhaust + Magnaflow free flow Mufflers
    Alpina Rims
    Facelift Head & Tail/lights
    Alpina Green II color
    Android Navigation
    Morel Virtus 502 + Morel Maximus 502 + Audison LRX 6.9 Amp + Mosconi 4to6DSP

  16. #16
    Join Date
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    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
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    My Cars
    03 M5/05 RR/06 Cayman S
    E36 has a totally different type of diff flange. It has to be e39 528i/530i. Touring 528it/530it (if ZF 320z) should have the same diff and driveshaft as sedans

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

    -Paul
    2003 "M5" - Full M5 conversion, AMG C63S 6 piston front calipers, Porsche Panamera 4 piston rear calipers, GC Coilovers,
    Eibach ARBs, UUC Evo3/DSSR, Borla Exhaust w/Muffler Delete, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto, Bi-Xenons, e38 Style 37 M-Pars, e60 Hubs 530i 6-speed swap build thread
    2005 Range Rover 4.6is (M62TU Powered) - 4.6is Engine Swap from X5, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto
    2006 Porsche Cayman S - Soul Performance Competition Headers and Exhaust, H&R Coilovers, 718 Boxster Spyder wheels, Rennline 35mm rear spacers

  17. #17
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by blackknight530i View Post
    E36 has a totally different type of diff flange. It has to be e39 528i/530i. Touring 528it/530it (if ZF 320z) should have the same diff and driveshaft as sedans

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
    Solved! Talked to the guy who sold me the trany, and he still has the driveshaft and diff, so I will buy them from him


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    e39 520i ´99, shifter 5+1

    Modifications done:
    M54B30 swap
    Powerflex rear subframe bushings
    Koni Yellow + Vogtland springs
    Short Shifter
    K&N Panel Air Filter
    Custom 2.5 Exhaust + Magnaflow free flow Mufflers
    Alpina Rims
    Facelift Head & Tail/lights
    Alpina Green II color
    Android Navigation
    Morel Virtus 502 + Morel Maximus 502 + Audison LRX 6.9 Amp + Mosconi 4to6DSP

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    9,266
    My Cars
    03 M5/05 RR/06 Cayman S
    Quote Originally Posted by Kreindler View Post
    Solved! Talked to the guy who sold me the trany, and he still has the driveshaft and diff, so I will buy them from him


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    There you go.

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

    -Paul
    2003 "M5" - Full M5 conversion, AMG C63S 6 piston front calipers, Porsche Panamera 4 piston rear calipers, GC Coilovers,
    Eibach ARBs, UUC Evo3/DSSR, Borla Exhaust w/Muffler Delete, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto, Bi-Xenons, e38 Style 37 M-Pars, e60 Hubs 530i 6-speed swap build thread
    2005 Range Rover 4.6is (M62TU Powered) - 4.6is Engine Swap from X5, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto
    2006 Porsche Cayman S - Soul Performance Competition Headers and Exhaust, H&R Coilovers, 718 Boxster Spyder wheels, Rennline 35mm rear spacers

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