E46 BMW 344i S Project

[DieselFan]

I found a M5 limited slip diff and 6 speed gearbox from a local scrapyard a pitty the engine has a hole in the block otherwize it might have been a V10 E46

Did the gearbox actually come off a V10 motor? The V10's gearbox does not fit V8's (apart from possibly the S65)

yep an actual V10 there must be a way to make it fit...:=):

If the bellhousing are different you will need an adaptor plate made and a flywheel spacer. Not a cheap exercise. You'd be better off finding the correct gearbox if you haven't already paid for the v10 one.

And if you go the adaptor plate route you may have to modify other things like the shift linkages and shorten the propshaft.

 

[steveafster]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=09RRavdW3C0

wow that is just crazy

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I found a M5 limited slip diff and 6 speed gearbox from a local scrapyard a pitty the engine has a hole in the block otherwize it might have been a V10 E46

Did the gearbox actually come off a V10 motor? The V10's gearbox does not fit V8's (apart from possibly the S65)

yep an actual V10 there must be a way to make it fit...:=):

If the bellhousing are different you will need an adaptor plate made and a flywheel spacer. Not a cheap exercise. You'd be better off finding the correct gearbox if you haven't already paid for the v10 one.

And if you go the adaptor plate route you may have to modify other things like the shift linkages and shorten the propshaft.

Thanx for the info I am more worried about the electronics on the gearbox its covered in actuators and electronics..

bell-housing etc to be expected..

 

[Sankekur]

I found a M5 limited slip diff and 6 speed gearbox from a local scrapyard a pitty the engine has a hole in the block otherwize it might have been a V10 E46

Did the gearbox actually come off a V10 motor? The V10's gearbox does not fit V8's (apart from possibly the S65)

yep an actual V10 there must be a way to make it fit...:=):

Of course anything can be made to fit, given enough time and money and sometimes a large force of expendable labour.

The big thing is the starter mounts in different locations on the S85/S65 and M6x motors.

If this is really the way you want to go what I would do is have an engineering shop cut off the mounting part off both the V10 gearbox and the dodgy auto box's belhousings and then have them weld the auto box mounting part onto the V10 gearbox. You will obviously need a place that really knows what they are doing. This way you can at least keep your spacing the same.

Did you at least get the flywheel and clutch with the gearbox as well?

 

[steveafster]

I found a M5 limited slip diff and 6 speed gearbox from a local scrapyard a pitty the engine has a hole in the block otherwize it might have been a V10 E46

Did the gearbox actually come off a V10 motor? The V10's gearbox does not fit V8's (apart from possibly the S65)

yep an actual V10 there must be a way to make it fit...:=):

Of course anything can be made to fit, given enough time and money and sometimes a large force of expendable labour.

The big thing is the starter mounts in different locations on the S85/S65 and M6x motors.

If this is really the way you want to go what I would do is have an engineering shop cut off the mounting part off both the V10 gearbox and the dodgy auto box's belhousings and then have them weld the auto box mounting part onto the V10 gearbox. You will obviously need a place that really knows what they are doing. This way you can at least keep your spacing the same.

Did you at least get the flywheel and clutch with the gearbox as well?

Wow really sound advice you are giving me I can get the Clutch and Flywheel they have kept it aside however as you say there must be better options available as far as gearbox choices go maybe a solid 5 speed option could be looked at..

 

[Sankekur]

You can get a 5 speed box for the later e34 530i's the ones that came with an M60 it will be a straight fit onto your motor, but you will have to either modify the box to take a timing pickup (requires some precision drilling else your timing measurement for the DME will be wrong), or you will have to convert it to front mounted timing....say by going aftermarket ECU or you could go to one of the older DME's from the M60 days.
The 540i, does it have an M62 or M62TU motor?


You best option for a gearbox would be to go for either the box out of the e39 540i manual, or for and e39 M5 box. The 540i one is hen's teeth rare, but are generally a bit cheaper. The M5 one is easier to find, but are more expensive (though it should be cheap for someone that bought an e60 M5 gearbox ). Don't listen to what anyone tells you (especially scrapyards) the 540i and M5 boxes are the same, the M5 one is just more expensive because M5.

The e34 540i 6 speed gearbox is also a possibility but will require the same modification as the 5 speed one. Other than that this gearbox is identical to the e39 ones.

 

[danieljames]

Surely by selling the v10 g box assembly you can make up the cost of one that would be better suited to your application

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Sorry. Cancel that comment.....didn't realise you haven't bought the box yet

 

[DieselFan]

Isn't the e60 m5 gearbox SMG?

 

[Fordkoppie]

This is getting better by the minute.

2 superchargers on an M62 V8, a 7 speed SMG....made to work as a manual with a normal clutch... in an e46

Do you work for Ascari by any chance?

 

[DieselFan]

Debbie downer over here. If you don't have anything to contribute. Rather don't post.

 

[ChefDJ]

Wow got some good Feedback fortunately I am not working with a shoestring budget I have done some research and yes it is going to be a bit of a challenge but that's all part of the fun.

The conversion has to be a V8 and it has to be BMW..

All the best of luck :clapper:

 

[Nikhil]

@Sankekur thanks for adding some very valid knowledge to this build thread :thumbs:

 

[boost3d]

This is getting better by the minute.

2 superchargers on an M62 V8, a 7 speed SMG....made to work as a manual with a normal clutch... in an e46

Do you work for Ascari by any chance?

Iv said this to you before and I shall say it again. If you have nothing better to do then to criticise everything on the forum , please do everyone a big favor and rather not post at all.

Have a nice day further !

 

[Gizmo]

Technically criticism can be a good thing because it can help spur the guy on to disprove the naysayers. Fordkoppie actually knows how much pain-staking work is involved in making all of the mismatch parts work, let alone all of it work at the same time...Give him a break, you can actually learn a lot from the guy.

If we didn't have sceptics we would still think the world is flat...

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If you guys have been to his house you would know that he knows a few things about V8's and engine swaps...

 

[Prev]

Technically criticism can be a good thing because it can help spur the guy on to disprove the naysayers. Fordkoppie actually knows how much pain-staking work is involved in making all of the mismatch parts work, let alone all of it work at the same time...Give him a break, you can actually learn a lot from the guy.

If we didn't have sceptics we would still think the world is flat...

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If you guys have been to his house you would know that he knows a few things about V8's and engine swaps...

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Gizmo nobody is questioning his knowledge but his constant sarcasm and mockery of members posts is unacceptable and doesn't belong on this forum. If Fordkoppie cannot change his attitude and style of posting then he doesn't really add value to this forum. The OP has received some great advice so far from other members like Sankekur (just mentioning the recent posts) so Fordkoppie should take his queue from that style of contribution.

Fordkoppie, PM coming your way


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sankekur]

Technically criticism can be a good thing because it can help spur the guy on to disprove the naysayers. Fordkoppie actually knows how much pain-staking work is involved in making all of the mismatch parts work, let alone all of it work at the same time...Give him a break, you can actually learn a lot from the guy.

If we didn't have sceptics we would still think the world is flat...

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If you guys have been to his house you would know that he knows a few things about V8's and engine swaps...

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^^^This^^^

Honestly if the OP doesn't have the mental fortitude to handle Mr Ford's skepticism, I doubt he will have the fortitude to pull through on a build like this.
Personally I am still very skeptical about this build and still feels that the OP doesn't know what he is letting himself in for. That said it is nice to discuss V8 things for a change even if there is a chance it will amount to nothing.


Just a little off topic, a little look into Mr Ford's garage (for those skeptical about his passion and knowledge):

 

[RAArmstrong]

Sank, we're not doubting his knowledge nor passion. Fordkoppie no doubt knows his stuff!

I think all thats being said is rather check how you come across when you type something on a forum. Its so different from having a face to face conversation. Its so difficult to pick up tone when all you're looking at is text. Something could be taken as an insult/whatever where it's really not meant that way at all... I think that's the crux of the matter :coolShake:

 

[danieljames]

This seems to happen a lot on this forum....Most of us have subb'd to this thread to see updates. Not a fight between who knows and who doesn't know.

All the op wanted was advice....insight. If u don't like a comment then shrug it off. If you must disagree then atleast have a valid reason(i.e.-A better suggestion). Not looking to step on anyone's toes but this thread is starting to spiral. Hope we can all appreciate this.

 

[Gizmo]

Pics from the op of what has been done so far will steer this thread back on track...

 

[Coisman]

Shut up kids!!! Or you can all go to your rooms!!! :RedNo:

Now back to the dream/nightmare of building this thing called a 344i... imp:

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

I once saw a pic of a E46 325i with a E90V8 in it.