6 speed swap

[Mpopaj]

Hello,
I just got my first car over the summer, a 2.8 coupe. I am a novice to the car and to the forums, so excuse any questions that may have been answered already. Anyways I am interested in swapping my tranny to a 6-speed. I think my best option would be to go with a 6-speed zf with a shortened drive shaft from a 330. I think that should be fine but correct me if I’m wrong. My main question is about what differential I should use. I wanted something short like a 4.1 or a 3.91. What are my best and easiest options?

 

[Dino D]

Following with interest. I’ve seen it done in Z3M models over on Bimmerforums in the US but not seen it done on a 2.8 before.


Must have been done on some e36 328i cars by now but I’ve not seen anything lately but haven’t searched the net for a while.

are you going with an LSD diff?

 

[Mpopaj]

Yes it would be an LSD. I assume it would be the same swap for a z3m and 2.8 considering people swap e36/e46 transmissions in m3’s and non M’s all the time

 

[Pingu]

It may be simpler that you think. You just need to be handy at making things. The only "problem" is making the propshaft, as it would need to be outsourced.

The gear lever remote is probably a different length (possibly a different throw as well - I roughly measured my M Roadster as 11.5mm), but that is easily resolved.

I believe the 1st motion shaft is the same, as are the mounting points.

You would need to make sure that you used a box that is rated for the torque of your engine. I would have thought that an E46 M3 should suit all occasions.