[zachdog]

I did a 6 speed swap on my 325. We needed a new flywheel. In addition to a 330 driveshaft, you'll also need a differential flange from a 330 -- the 325 uses a 4-bolt flange and the 330 uses a 6-bolt.

 

[j4ke]

I did a 6 speed swap on my 325. We needed a new flywheel. In addition to a 330 driveshaft, you'll also need a differential flange from a 330 -- the 325 uses a 4-bolt flange and the 330 uses a 6-bolt.

Awesome -- thanks for the reply Zach. That's just the kind of info I was looking for. Which flywheel did you end up using?

 

[zachdog]

Awesome -- thanks for the reply Zach. That's just the kind of info I was looking for. Which flywheel did you end up using?

We pulled a flywheel from a manual transmission 330 -- the engine blocks on both models are the same size, so it bolts right in.

 

[j4ke]

We pulled a flywheel from a manual transmission 330 -- the engine blocks on both models are the same size, so it bolts right in.

Ahh OK. The 330 flywheel came with the transmission I bought so I should be set there.

 

[TerraPhantm]

I did a 6 speed swap on my 325. We needed a new flywheel. In addition to a 330 driveshaft, you'll also need a differential flange from a 330 -- the 325 uses a 4-bolt flange and the 330 uses a 6-bolt.

Another option is to use the 325 SMG driveshaft if you don't want to swap flanges. Rare to find used though

 

[j4ke]

Another option is to use the 325 SMG driveshaft if you don't want to swap flanges. Rare to find used though

That's an interesting option that I never would have thought of. A cursory look though confirms that they are indeed rare! I came up empty.

 

[mikeetastic]

subbed.. doing this soon..

 

[chanman1029]

Good luck bro, you wont regret it

 

[j4ke]

So I finally got the transmission I got off ebay...and to my surprise, it's a Getrag, not a ZF. The seller insisted it came out of a 330i ZHP. Does anyone know whether the ZHP ever came with a Getrag transmission?

 

[blarf]

So I finally got the transmission I got off ebay...and to my surprise, it's a Getrag, not a ZF. The seller insisted it came out of a 330i ZHP. Does anyone know whether the ZHP ever came with a Getrag transmission?

Pretty sure the only Getrags were the 5 speed used in the 323/325 and the 6 speed used in the M3/M5/540.

If my Google fu is up to date:

Getrag 420G (M3):

ZF GS6-37BZ (330):

5 speeds:

Getrag S5D-250G (323/325):

ZF S5D-320Z (330):

 

[j4ke]

Pretty sure the only Getrags were the 5 speed used in the 323/325 and the 6 speed used in the M3/M5/540.

Thanks blarf. In the meantime, I found this thread:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=562530&page=2

which reports that there is a GS6-37BG (instead of GS6-37BZ) that is manufactured by Getrag and that made it into some non-M 3-series. Visually, the transmission is basically the same as the ZF 6-speed you posted, but has a Getrag tag/serial number on it:

 

[mikeetastic]

to anyone that did this swap - did you guys just leave the shifter cable connected to the steering column?

 

[metallikatz3]

Yup - just tucked all those cables and connectors out of the way under the console

 

[mikeetastic]

Yup - just tucked all those cables and connectors out of the way under the console

im guessing the same goes to the auto trans harness like below? just tucked them zip tie somewhere safe?

 

[TitaniumCranium]

In the end I demo'd the harness and reused some of the wire/connectors for the mirror dip and other connections I've made since the swap. If I was doing this swap from the beginning again, I'd demo the auto harness right off the bat because all the wiring and a majority of the connectors can be cannibalized from the harness. You can unseat the female pins from one of the automatic harness TCU connectors, with wire pre-attached by BMW, to install in the DME pin 23, and EWS pin 8 connections.

Good job all BTW - It looks like this is a pretty popular conversion

 

[TitaniumCranium]

Special shout out to genuity and TerraPhantm for adding information, (assistance behind the scenes) and providing helpful input through the life of this thread. Very much appreciated.

May the stick be with you!

 

[YoitsTmac]

I hate to ask, especially since I'm not currently doing this project. DIY was on a 330ci, which his a pre-facelift 2-door. Therefore I can copy this DIY exactly for when I do this to my 328ci?
I feel that, although the cost is more for a 6-speed, the fact that you can keep your stock 3.46, you can get about equal rpm highway cruising.

 

[mikeetastic]

whats the best way to cut out the clutch opening for this under cover? dremel?

 

[metallikatz3]

I used a dremel with a cutoff wheel to make the cuts and then just cleaned it up with a flat file. Took about 10 min and the lines are already on the back-side of the trim piece!

 

[TitaniumCranium]

Same here, Dremel then file to clean the plastic slag left by the cutoff wheel.