[Grazy_87]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

Grazy,
Since you are talking doing the gearbox and diff at same time, you may want to look at the final ratio of the gearbox in conjuction with the diff's ratio. There is another thread on switch to manual trans authored by Iaknown. I recall there being a different LSD source that offered a 2.56:1 diff ratio. Our stock ratio is like 2.81:1. Iaknown looked up the ratios of the 330D manual gearbox and it was going to cause the RPMs to run higher if same stock diff ratio is retained. I'm just saying you could optimize to get what you want (sort of). You would only have those two ratios to pick from. Iaknown got his LSD from a different source though as Quaife is only the same 2.81:1 ratio I believe. He has yet another thread talking the LSD he had done and it was a good bit cheaper too. He got his diff from M factory. They cut his ring gear weld, machined and bolted it onto the m factory diff. I just asked him a question on that thread pertinent to this gearing question. So, his thread should be an easy find for you.

one more thing, Is that a 330D gearbox, shifter, and driveshaft?

Hey Buddy,

Thanks for the info, I am going to be using a 330d gearbox, diff and drive shaft for the conversion. I won't be retaining any of the original drive train. My reason being if it works for the 330d is 'should' hopefully work for mine. I have heard the ratios in the manual gearbox are shorter than the auto, which will make the car more punchy on track but loose out on top end. I will look into that thread as it sounds like a good read and helpful!

[Grazy_87]

I picked up some more bits from my local race team today, at a nicely discounted price. A CAE shifter, Solid flywheel and sachs racing clutch. I am now just waiting for my diff to come back complete with quaife LSD. I am using the final drive ratio of 2.81 which birds have told me will improve acceleration...

[335duff]

What diff ratio does your car come with? I believe us cars are 2.81

[Grazy_87]

Originally Posted by 335duff

What diff ratio does your car come with? I believe us cars are 2.81

UK cars are the same 2.81 with the auto box. However the 123d manual comes with a 2.81 diff which is what I am using with a quake unit installed.

[Grazy_87]

Productive day today, removed the auto gearbox, diff and propshaft. I have also removed the airbox and associated pipe work as I want to use a rallycross ITG cone filter in the wheel arch to free some room under the hood. That should allow me to fit my oil catch can without having to squeeze it in.

I have completely stripped the interior to include: airbags, all plastics, headliner, any wiring loom which isn't essential, Idrive and media system. I have purchased a non sat nav dash which has been sent off to be flocked. Currently looking at getting a BMW performance steering wheel to top it off.

What I am struggling with at the moment is the routing for the clutch lines to the reservoir and slave cylinder, do they run through the bulkhead or through the floor???

[mob17]

Wow, really admire you doing all of that, especially on axle stands

[Yoxall]

The weight your getting rid of will make a massive difference, once you have done the build id weigh it to see what the real difference is. When I got my custom exhaust done the weight of the 2 back boxes section that was cut off was incredible the 335d e91 is a heavy car espically spec'd up 1's.

When it's complete you are going to have a real animal, getting the power down will be your biggest problem with it being a lot lighter than it should be.

I can't wait to see if the manual conversion works, the guys in the states have been looking at it and not done it. This will probably be the worlds first manual 335d.

When do u think it will be at the stage to start her up and try the diff/gearbox out?

[da_trem]

Subscribed

[Grazy_87]

Originally Posted by Yoxall

The weight your getting rid of will make a massive difference, once you have done the build id weigh it to see what the real difference is. When I got my custom exhaust done the weight of the 2 back boxes section that was cut off was incredible the 335d e91 is a heavy car espically spec'd up 1's.

When it's complete you are going to have a real animal, getting the power down will be your biggest problem with it being a lot lighter than it should be.

I can't wait to see if the manual conversion works, the guys in the states have been looking at it and not done it. This will probably be the worlds first manual 335d.

When do u think it will be at the stage to start her up and try the diff/gearbox out?

The power to weigh ratio should be fairly impressive (hopefully).
I am going to be running full racing slicks on tracks that will allow it, but if I have to use a semi slick it will be toyo R888rs as I really rated them before. I am also going to run a minimum of 265's all round and bigger if they fit. Obviously I am ditching the open diff in favour a quaife unit as one wheel peels are not cool :thumb down

I do have some guidance from a local race team who use the same engine in their 135d GTR race car, they supplied me the flywheel, clutch and CAE shifter at a heavily discounted price. The biggest problem will be coding the ecu, but have spoken to some BMW techs and they said its doable. Only time will tell, well seven or so days as all I'm waiting for now is my flocked dash to be finished then I will start putting it all back together. I will be happy if the car runs and doesn't go into limp mode. Then I can trailer it to my tuner and let him have a play.

ps the auto box weighs a bloody ton!

[Grazy_87]

Originally Posted by mob17

Wow, really admire you doing all of that, especially on axle stands

Haha it wasn't easy getting the box out, thankfully my mate did that bit as he's a wizard and more flexible than me lol.

[335duff]

It occurs to me that for a us based swap, it may just be better to swap the d engine into an e90 m3?

[Grazy_87]

Originally Posted by 335duff

It occurs to me that for a us based swap, it may just be better to swap the d engine into an e90 m3?

I wouldn't fancy doing it, that would mean changing the loom, cooling system massive headache lol. Id just buy a 330d manual gearbox from the UK

[Yoxall]

It will be interesting how the 330d manual gearbox copes with well over 400bhp and near 700lb of torque.

Is the gearbox it's self being uprated? This would be my dream car if I had the money and expertise to do it. This thing will murder a lot of serious super cars I would imagine when complete.

Once on the track it will be interesting to see what it passes with ease.

[DozerDan82]

I am SOOO glad that when I swapped my F350 to a manual it was damn near bolt in, had to splice some wires and change an input to the tcase, but all in all bolt in. Hell even the cross member had sets of holes for both transmissions

[da_trem]

Is that gearbox from a 330d E90, or E46?..

[DWR]

Haha, Looks like an explosion. Especially with everything strewn on the grass.

Hmm, I see another track worthy vehicle. Your Porsche?

Originally Posted by Grazy_87

[iaknown]

Very cool build. I admire your determination.

So I need to ask about your flywheel/clutch assembly. If I recall correctly the 330D flywheel doesn't bolt up to our crankshaft. So this must be a custom unit for our engines? If so is it made to adapt a 330D clutch? Or a custom spec'd clutch?

Any feedback from the guys running this setup as to what chatter would be like at low rpm's in a street application? The gears are turning again (pun intended).....

[Grazy_87]

E90 330d gearbox, I have been told by the race team who use one in their race cars 'I will not break it' they couldn't in a numerous 24hr VLN races. Their car runs over 460bhp and similar torque levels to mine.

[BB_cuda]

Grazy and Iaknown, Ia is asking a "does it fit question", not a "can it take it question". The telling story will be a side by side picture of the auto trans flywheel and the manual trans flywheel shown with pressure plate on top of it earlier in this thread.

I think Iaknown is after how it bolts up to the M57 crankshaft.

[iaknown]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

Grazy and Iaknown, Ia is asking a "does it fit question", not a "can it take it question". The telling story will be a side by side picture of the auto trans flywheel and the manual trans flywheel shown with pressure plate on top of it earlier in this thread.

I think Iaknown is after how it bolts up to the M57 crankshaft.

I think Grazy was answering a previous question. But yea, this is the info I'm after.....

[Grazy_87]

The answer to the question is personally i do not know, however I have been told it will fit. I should know this afternoon / evening when I fit the box and diff. If it doesn't fit then I will have to start being creative lol.

[BB_cuda]

If not too late, can we see pictures of the auto trans flywheel and same picture of 330d manual flywheel? I'm interested in the bolt spacing and also bolt circle diameter. Thanks. If the manual flywheel bolts up, my question ( iaknown's really) gets answered