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Thread: E36 transmission options

  1. #1
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    E36 transmission options

    Hello again, I am wondering what transmission would be suitable for a turbo charged e36. I have destroyed 2 manual transmission in my 1992 325i (sounds like a fist full of gravel was thrown inside).

    About my car:
    1992 325i
    M50 engine
    Bore:86mm
    Stroke:91mm
    Turbonetics turbo t3/t40e


    Is there an option for an automatic transmission? If so is there clutch kits to hold more power for it?

    Another manual transmission option?

    What are you currently running? Any help would be appreciated thank in advance.

  2. #2
    Jkpgt96's Avatar
    Jkpgt96 is offline One of those JZ swappers BMW CCA Member
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    Zf320 from the e36 m3/328 or a 420g from the e46 m3 or euro e36 m3


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  3. #3
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    Will I be needing a different drive shaft for this?

  4. #4
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    If you are interested in an automatic I am making adapter plates to use a GM auto. I had one made one for myself a few months ago and I had 10 more made to sell. Any GM auto will work, powerglide, th200r4, th350, th400, 700r4, 4l60e, 4l80e,



    This was also a member that was making adapters for a ford C4 but I think he stopped making them.


    86 325es, 2.8L m50, S476sxe, ProEFI 128 ecu, e85, solid rear axle, TH400 trans, 28x10.5w slicks, zip ties, popsicle sticks, tape
    best time 9.06 @ 151.8 mph, best 60 foot 1.30

  5. #5
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    The OP's Getrag 250 is not as strong as the ZF320. Easiest to change to the ZF320. The Getrag 420G is expensive and gets mixed reviews. The ZF 6 speed is also expensive. And an auto conversion will be expensive though it is probably the best choice if the primary goal is to go quick on the dragstrip. I am leaning toward the T56 Magnum, which will be a $4k swap plus I will need a different clutch and a modified driveshaft.

  6. #6
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    I will say, if going 420g DO NOT use the euro 6speed. The input shaft is quite smaller than its e46 counterpart and breaks easily. I snapped one and so has chikinhed I believe. Running an e46 420g now and I think it will be up to the task, for awhile. If not T56 magnum time

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
    The OP's Getrag 250 is not as strong as the ZF320. Easiest to change to the ZF320. The Getrag 420G is expensive and gets mixed reviews. The ZF 6 speed is also expensive. And an auto conversion will be expensive though it is probably the best choice if the primary goal is to go quick on the dragstrip. I am leaning toward the T56 Magnum, which will be a $4k swap plus I will need a different clutch and a modified driveshaft.
    Don't necessarily need a new clutch for the T56. Just need to change the hubs on the clutch discs to 26 spline. Clutch net did this for me when I ordered my first clutch from them for free.


    86 325es, 2.8L m50, S476sxe, ProEFI 128 ecu, e85, solid rear axle, TH400 trans, 28x10.5w slicks, zip ties, popsicle sticks, tape
    best time 9.06 @ 151.8 mph, best 60 foot 1.30

  8. #8
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    If I changed to a ZF320 do I need a different driveshaft at all? The reason for the automatic thought is my knee does not like the clutch anymore. I can give another manual trans a shot as long as it will hold up.

  9. #9
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    You need a different front half of the DS and guibo and shift linkage.

    My next car will be DCT or similar or auto. Today, autos outperform manuals. 10 or 20 years ago or more, manuals outperformed autos.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
    You need a different front half of the DS and guibo and shift linkage.

    My next car will be DCT or similar or auto. Today, autos outperform manuals. 10 or 20 years ago or more, manuals outperformed autos.

    You'll be back to a manual after that. Trust me. Once you have a glass DCT that can't hold any power and is stupid $$$ to repair. I had an auto 335 and it was awful. Engine was wonderful if you could ever control it (ie couldn't, stupid auto).

  11. #11
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    I am thinking 991.1TT PDK.

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    So I just want to confirm these are the only BMW manual trans option available?

    320g is better then what I currently have? What kind of power can that one hold? What years and models does this come from? What do I need to swap to this trans?

    420g expensive? What kind of power can’t it hold? What years and models does this come from? What do I need to swap to this trans?

  13. #13
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    What type of driving do you do? Do you drag race or street race? Do you plan on making more power at some point? Are you sick of breaking parts?

  14. #14
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    I would like to try and take it to a track some day, mainly just drag race and drive to work a couple times a year.

    Possibly a little more power at some point. Right now I can not even get it fully tuned due to transmissions blow up every time I hit the gas pedal.

    Very sick of breaking the transmissions

  15. #15
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    The idea behind this car was too keep it as sleeper as possible. The only things that are not stock looking when you look at it are:

    Wheels
    Seats
    Seat belts

    At this point I’m getting tired of breaking the transmission. And may be willing to change the shifter area of the car a little. I may be able to design a shifter that will work with a TH400 and still look oem inside the car

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
    I am thinking 991.1TT PDK.
    Despite shifting stupid fast and being very quick, I'd recommend against a PDK 991. Just FYI.
    915whp '98 M3 Sedan /// 37k Mile '95 M3

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    Quote Originally Posted by 95RogueM3 View Post
    Despite shifting stupid fast and being very quick, I'd recommend against a PDK 991. Just FYI.
    Then I can’t buy a 991.1TT, because the 991TT comes only with PDK. It’s a very good trans. Way better than the old one in the 997.1TT.

    Autos and Dual clutch like pdk or dct work great with forced induction. Pretty much no drop in boost when shifting and they shift faster than a human.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
    Then I can’t buy a 991.1TT, because the 991TT comes only with PDK. It’s a very good trans. Way better than the old one in the 997.1TT.

    Autos and Dual clutch like pdk or dct work great with forced induction. Pretty much no drop in boost when shifting and they shift faster than a human.
    If you like DCT, then you will love PDK. I was speaking more about the 991 TT (and really most of the high performance cars that only come in dual clutch) that they truly are lacking the fun associated with rowing gears-- except for those occasions when you are all-out or on track. I've driven a 991TT extensively and its super fast, and the gear changes are near instant (and the machine gun burble on downshifts makes me chuckle), but I would still pick a manual option. I am currently shopping something more exotic and while I love the idea of an MP4-12C, am worried about the lack of involvement.

    Yes, tiptronic on the 997.1 was terrible. No comparison to PDK.
    Last edited by 95RogueM3; 01-30-2018 at 05:57 PM.
    915whp '98 M3 Sedan /// 37k Mile '95 M3

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by 95RogueM3 View Post
    while I love the idea of an MP4-12C, am worried about the lack of involvement.
    An acquaintance of mine (fellow autocrosser) and regular OLOA participant has had a nightmarish time with his MP4-12C. Nothing but problems with the engine mgmt and turbos.



    He was so pissed about Woking not getting the car sorted in time last year that he went out the week before One Lap and bought this instead:

    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by jakermac; 01-30-2018 at 08:44 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by jakermac View Post
    An acquaintance of mine (fellow autocrosser) and regular OLOA participant has had a nightmarish time with his MP4-12C. Nothing but problems with the engine mgmt and turbos.
    The more I read about them, the more its apparent they shouldn't be owned outside of warranty. On a positive, McLaren allows you to extend warranty out to 10 years after production, however at a cost of ~$4,500/year. Seems like most people suffer with electronic issues moreso than drivetrain -- though I have seen transmission replacements, etc. While evidently crazy fast, again, just not sure for my weekend and pleasure use I'd really enjoy an "automatic" transmission. The PDK confirmed that for me, which rules out DCT M Cars, PDK cars, and older technology like E-Gear and SMG as just not quite involved enough, despite technically being faster/better than I am.

    Back to the thread...the T56 while expensive is a pretty awesome feel. I don't have a shorter throw on mine, and yet it still feels like you are operating a bolt action rifle. Definitely better than any BMW box I've felt...
    915whp '98 M3 Sedan /// 37k Mile '95 M3

  22. #22
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    So if I wanted to do the ZF trans as a bandaid until I have time to get something else fitted what parts would I need to put it in. Is the driveshaft front the same between the getrag 250 and the ZF320? Shifter linkage?

  23. #23
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    Front half of DS is different, guibo is different, linkage is different.

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
    Front half of DS is different, guibo is different, linkage is different.
    So I would be looking for

    the shift linkage

    Driveshaft

    guibo


    My car is a 1992 325i 4 door will there be a driveshaft that will fit without modifications?

  25. #25
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    Is it 4 bolt or 6 bolt at the diff? The DS for ZF320 cars may be 6 bolt for early models like 95M3 or 96 328/M3 but most later cars seem to have a 4 bolt rear. The rear of your current DS will fit the front of a ZF320 DS. The trans output fkangevis bigger diameter so you need the bigger guibo and bigger front half of the DS. The linkage differs because the shifter console has a different shaped hole at the trans end. I forget whether the shift selector rod differs. I did only one conversion and it was years ago.

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