is it possible to hook up a 318i manual tranny to a 3.2l m3 engine?

Stuttgart · 03-14-2006, 11:32 PM

the reason im askin is I just got a tranny installed, i paid for a 325i manual. I drove the car with the 325i motor hooked up to it and its perfect but i just got a hunch that its not a 325i because the reciept says 318 but i told them i need a 325i. The shift points are the same. 3rd gear is like b4 tops out at 145kmh just like it did with the 325i tranny. How can i tell if its a 325i tranny and not a 318i tranny. I took out my engine b.c. i want more power, got a m3 engine ready to install. HELP GUYS!

BennyL · 03-15-2006, 12:09 AM

i don't know, but i assume there should be some sort of serial # on the transmission to identify it by...

KIRASIR · 03-15-2006, 12:24 AM

E36 318 tranny = E36 325 tranny. They are identical.

It will also work fine with an M3 engine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuttgart

the reason im askin is I just got a tranny installed, i paid for a 325i manual. I drove the car with the 325i motor hooked up to it and its perfect but i just got a hunch that its not a 325i because the reciept says 318 but i told them i need a 325i. The shift points are the same. 3rd gear is like b4 tops out at 145kmh just like it did with the 325i tranny. How can i tell if its a 325i tranny and not a 318i tranny. I took out my engine b.c. i want more power, got a m3 engine ready to install. HELP GUYS!

superman123 · 03-15-2006, 12:37 AM

won't fit on a m3 motor u would need a 328 tranny

uber e36 · 03-15-2006, 12:38 AM

I personally think you should get the M3 tranny which is rated to handle more torque... I drive a 325 and am replacing my tranny this spring. I'm going to drop in an M3 tranny as I plan to make more power in the next year or two...

KIRASIR · 03-15-2006, 12:52 AM

Please do not post if you have not idea what you are talking about. 318/325 fits just fine with the M3 motor and can handle the power/torque.

Neither Getrag nor ZF tranny will last long if the car is "drag raced" from every stop light.

Quote:

Originally Posted by superman123

won't fit on a m3 motor u would need a 328 tranny

Stuttgart · 03-15-2006, 01:14 AM

KIRASIR, ty and geoff it would probably best i did, but i got to wait till this one dies. KIRASIR, THANKS SO MUCH FOR RELIEVING MY WORRIES! I drag raced the old tranny everyday basically and thats how my 2nd gear went! I read somewhere that the Toyota Supra's have the Getrag as well, is this true?

M3ti Compact · 03-15-2006, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuttgart

KIRASIR, ty and geoff it would probably best i did, but i got to wait till this one dies. KIRASIR, THANKS SO MUCH FOR RELIEVING MY WORRIES! I drag raced the old tranny everyday basically and thats how my 2nd gear went! I read somewhere that the Toyota Supra's have the Getrag as well, is this true?

Yeah, Toyota uses a Getrag...but I dunno if it's the same one in the BMW's...

ZiMMie · 03-15-2006, 08:51 AM

depends on wat yr 318 the tranny its coming from.

uber e36 · 03-15-2006, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIRASIR

Please do not post if you have not idea what you are talking about. 318/325 fits just fine with the M3 motor and can handle the power/torque.

Neither Getrag nor ZF tranny will last long if the car is "drag raced" from every stop light.

Perhaps this answer will be a little more educated for you:

318 - Getrag S5D 200G (92-95)
318 - Getrag S5D 250G (96-98)
323/5 - Getrag S5D 250G
328 - ZF S5D 320Z
M3 - ZF S5D 310Z (95)
M3 - ZF S5D 320Z

*I was told that the 200/250/310/320 #s were how much torque it can handle

The BMW Service Manual States:
"Due to different power characteristics and performance requirements, four different manual transmissions are used..."

KIRASIR - Do you have some information that the engineers in Munich don't have?

Stuttgart - I'd play it on the safe side...

KIRASIR · 03-15-2006, 12:36 PM

geoff@bmw,

My comment was pointed at superman123 who said

Quote:

won't fit on a m3 motor u would need a 328 tranny

All of the transmissions you listed are all PHYSICALLY interchangeable between the different e36 models providing one uses appropriate clutch fork, linkage, driveshaft and a couple of other parts.

With regards to the extra power and torque.
All of the Getrag transmissions are perfectly capable of holding up to 200+hp providing the owner does beat the shit out of them. Even ZF synchros will not withstand much abuse if the car is drag raced from every stop lights.

There are dozens of 318ti's with DASC/turbo/6-cyl swaps pushing 200+hp and still use the stock Getrag transmission. A number of these cars are heavily tracked as well (ask around the 318ti list). To date, I haven't heard a single complaint with regards to the transmission from any of them myself included, and I’ve been a member of that list for 6 years.

Furthermore, the parts that most likely WILL go first will be not the transmission but the differential and the clutch.

Moreover, a ZF transmission will add at least $1000+, plus the driveshaft, plus the linkage parts to the cost of the swap. If Stuttgart can spend such money on the ZF transmission then by all means he should get one. However, in my opinion this money can be better spent somewhere else. (///M diff for example)

Most of the problems with manual BMW transmissions have little to do with extra torque and power but with how they are used. Changing gears quickly, without fully disengaging the clutch, and without matching the revs is a sure way to toast ANY transmission (synchos and forks are pretty delicate parts).

Cheers,
SL

PS Stuttgart, no clue about the Supras

Quote:

Originally Posted by geoff@bmw

Perhaps this answer will be a little more educated for you:

318 - Getrag S5D 200G (92-95)
318 - Getrag S5D 250G (96-98)
323/5 - Getrag S5D 250G
328 - ZF S5D 320Z
M3 - ZF S5D 310Z (95)
M3 - ZF S5D 320Z

*I was told that the 200/250/310/320 #s were how much torque it can handle

The BMW Service Manual States:
"Due to different power characteristics and performance requirements, four different manual transmissions are used..."

KIRASIR - Do you have some information that the engineers in Munich don't have?

Stuttgart - I'd play it on the safe side...

jeffrie · 03-15-2006, 12:41 PM

E30, E36, & E46 tranny's are all physicaly interchangable with the above mentioned differences.

uber e36 · 03-15-2006, 01:17 PM

KIRASIR - my apologies, I your post was right after mine...

I guess I just like to go overkill on everything, so I'd rather be safe the first time.

Stuttgart · 03-15-2006, 02:48 PM

thanx for all the info kirasir, gives me more peace of mind now. I will look into the supra thing...

**thinair** · 03-15-2006, 05:53 PM

The Supra TT uses the same 6spd Getrag that the E46 M3 uses.