WTB: ZF Manual for S52 Z3M (320Z) in SoCal

[Capo95]

Title says it all! Synchros feel like they're going and I'd like a replacement.

[ZoO]

im sure you can use a zf from e36, e46, and 6cyl z3s. they are pretty plentiful. might even have luck checking junk yards

[bluptgm3]

6 cylinder Z3s, E36 328, 1995 M3, 1996 - 1999 M3, E46 328, 330, E39 528.
Lots to choose from.

What fluid are you running and what mileage are we looking at?

[ZoO]

E46 328, 330,

e46 330i pre-facelift only. 2003 330i and up have 6 speeds.

[BimmerBreaker]

Also may want to verify the transmission is really bad. Syncros dont go bad on these a lot but shift pins do, leading to sloppy shifting

[bluptgm3]

e46 330i pre-facelift only. 2003 330i and up have 6 speeds.

Which also fits (with additional parts) and is not a bad thing!!


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[Capo95]

6 cylinder Z3s, E36 328, 1995 M3, 1996 - 1999 M3, E46 328, 330, E39 528.
Lots to choose from.

What fluid are you running and what mileage are we looking at?

thanks everyone for the info! I checked RealOEM for matching transmissions, but then found some old threads where some people claimed that not all of the listed transmissions were actually compatible.

Regardless, I'm at 151k miles with fresh Royal Purple Synchromax MTF . Purchased at 137k and shifting was already rough but I didn't mind that much. Now the throwout bearing is going so I figured I'd swap transmissions while it's out.

As for shift pins, I do have the fifth gear sticking issue. I previously thought of this as an isolated issue, but maybe it's worth just doing the pins first. Has anyone had luck with this alleviating hard shift issues?

[ZoO]

how long do you plan on keeping the car? if its a lifer, i would just go 6 speed, newer transmission, and you get to update the driveshaft, rubbers, flywheel, and clutch while you are at it.

[Capo95]

how long do you plan on keeping the car? if its a lifer, i would just go 6 speed, newer transmission, and you get to update the driveshaft, rubbers, flywheel, and clutch while you are at it.

I'll be selling it within a year, unfortunately. It's a fantastic car but I need to make room and I'm more attached to my E36 M3. I'll keep this in mind though if my plans change.

[bluptgm3]

The shift detent replacement required simple but special tools, though my 'heavy lifting guy' did it without them on his 20-ton shop press


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[Capo95]

The shift detent replacement required simple but special tools, though my 'heavy lifting guy' did it without them on his 20-ton shop press


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yup I'm not worried about the job, I can make the tools--I just don't want to go through the trouble of it's unlikely to fix the problem. A bit of research shows that it will likely help--I'll try it out. Thanks!

[Bobkid]

yup I'm not worried about the job, I can make the tools--I just don't want to go through the trouble of it's unlikely to fix the problem. A bit of research shows that it will likely help--I'll try it out. Thanks!

Also swap the fluid to Amsoil and that alone should provide a noticeable improvement. I used the RP for about a year and noticed the shifting getting progressively worse over time. Just changing the fluid solved half the problems I was seeing.

[mva]

I am selling a set of the tools, I no longer own a z3 - See my add above.

[Mr Bingley]

Most hard shifting problems are fixed by replacing the clutch line. If you haven't done that yet, do it first. If it works, replace the clutch and throwout bearing and do the shift pin job. If you've already done the line, then continue your search, but do the shift pins on the new unit unless you know they've already been done.