BMW E36 M3...where to get? - Page 2

JustinDetail · 02-12-08, 11:16

Yeah, the E36 M3 deserves a manual tranny...preferably the rare Euro 6 speed. But those are hard to come by and about $3000 each.

Accumulator · 02-12-08, 12:51

Wonder how the 6-speed would work in US-traffic use

I never felt the 5-speeds were lacking myself, it was always easy to stay in the powerband and the spacing seemed good. A lot of the 6-speeds I've driven seemed to have the extra ratio for reasons I didn't appreciate, but I haven't driven all that many of 'em.

JustinDetail · 02-12-08, 01:05

The ratios in the Euro 6 speed are nearly the same 1-5 as the 5 speed box, it just has that extra gear for lower rpm highway cruising. So, a lot of guys swap out the stock 3.15/3.23 for something more aggressive like a 3.64 or 3.73. Then the 6 th gear is about the same rpm as stock gearing and a 5 speed.

But I do hear ya on the crazy close gearing in cars like the RSX Type S, or Subaru STi. Neither of those hit even 60 in 2nd gear. Crazy close gearing.

Accumulator · 02-12-08, 01:20

Yeah, I couldn't use 6th in the Mallett 'vette until I got 3.73s and even then I hardly ever wanted it.

I bet some lower gears would really wake my M3 up, but if I were gonna spend more I'd consider paintwork...or storage space! I oughta spend more time compounding and less time posting so I can get that thing to Eric

I hope the next owner doesn't park it in the sun too often..I shudder to think what my ETG would say about the amount of clear that's left

grease · 02-12-08, 04:45

One of you has had 6 E36's, and the other has a Mallet Vette and an S8 among others...You guys are doing a great job of making me jealous.

JustinDetail, didn't the E36 M3 over here come with a 6 speed at one point? I've seen one in a E36 M3 before, and I could have sworn the owner said it was OEM.

Accumulator, how much has your vette been "mallett'ed" ?

427?

JustinDetail · 02-13-08, 07:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by grease

JustinDetail, didn't the E36 M3 over here come with a 6 speed at one point? I've seen one in a E36 M3 before, and I could have sworn the owner said it was OEM.

The 6 speed manual was OE in the European M3's with the 3.2 (96-99) for sure, not sure on the 3.0 liter (93-95), 286hp one. I think that came with the 5 speed std, not sure. But to answer, your question, the first 3 series model to ever come with a 6 speed manual in the US market was with the introduction of the E46 M3 in 2001. Follwed by the 2003 330i performance package (zhp).

simracer · 02-13-08, 08:46

Strange. You guys are right...the 6 speed ratios are virtually the same as the 5 speed ratios for 1-5. 6th is a 0.85, so basically just an economy gear.

The strange part is that I could have sworn that US M3s had posted better 0-60mph times than the earlier euro spec model with more hp and torque. I had always chalked that up to the fact that the 6 speed might not have been geared for 60mph until 3rd, thus requiring an additional shift. But if the ratios are basically the same, that probably wouldn't be it.

So it would seem I've either remembered it incorrectly, been misinformed or there's some other culprit (500 lbs of ballast in the trunk?).

Accumulator · 02-13-08, 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by grease

Accumulator, how much has your vette been "mallett'ed" ?

427?

Nah, I had a "396-plus". There's an old thread somewhere in the Car and Driver Forum where I discussed why I traded it towards the S8. Short version: Sold my Porsche 'cause I couldn't fit with a helmet, had the Mallett built...but my life changed and I quit doing track stuff for the most part. Even with the smaller displacement engine, the Mallett was simply frustrating to drive on the street...you know, the old "it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow" thing; the car was boring at public-road speeds (and for me those are some fairly high speeds

). I simply wasn't gonna spend enough time on tracks to appreciate it and I actually cover ground faster in the (less conspicuous) S8- cops who'd pull the 'vette over in a second let me off with dirty looks in the Audi.

That was sorta the same thinking when I bought the e36 M3...I knew I like driving them and it's just "imperfect" enough that I can enjoy it on the street. A "better" one wouldn't take any real driver involvement until "go directly to jail" speeds. Ditto for my '84 RX-7 GSL-SE ...it's not *fast* but it's *fun* to drive well.

JustinDetail · 02-13-08, 11:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by simracer

Strange. You guys are right...the 6 speed ratios are virtually the same as the 5 speed ratios for 1-5. 6th is a 0.85, so basically just an economy gear.

The strange part is that I could have sworn that US M3s had posted better 0-60mph times than the earlier euro spec model with more hp and torque. I had always chalked that up to the fact that the 6 speed might not have been geared for 60mph until 3rd, thus requiring an additional shift. But if the ratios are basically the same, that probably wouldn't be it.

So it would seem I've either remembered it incorrectly, been misinformed or there's some other culprit (500 lbs of ballast in the trunk?).

The 0-60 times are about the same between the US 3.2 240 underrated hp hehe/236 tq, and the 321hp Euro 3.2 IIRC, 5.2 to 60 for the Euro and 5.4 or so for the US. The thing is, the Euro ones, start absolutely cooking after the 2-3 shift. I mean 3rd is a decent gear in a stock US 3.2, taking the car from about 65 to 95 in short time, but 3rd with the Euro S52B32 is a whole nother world.

A good analogy is how a light bolt on E36 M3 3.2 can *slightly* keep up with a stock E46 M3 up to about 70...then it's lights out for the E36. A E46 M3 has a *much* stronger pull in 3rd-5th then a E36. No contest there. And a Euro 3.2 321hp example *should* keep up with a stock E46 M3 up top.

spg383 · 02-14-08, 06:19

'you could buy my M3 for sale, Euro 3.2/6 speed. \r\n\r\nS.Garrity56 - For Sale Euro 3.2 E36 M3Â '

ekalmus · 06-08-08, 10:19

I have a 1994 BMW e36 - blue for sale. It is located in Los Angeles ca. The car was in process of being fully rebuilt. Engine is good running condition. Priced to move. Contact me if you are interested.

As far as I know there were only 2,968 E36 BMW's sold in North America. This one is not near perfect, but it is a 94 e36 m3.

Eric

eric@btmedia.net

310 795 1089

sal329 · 06-08-08, 01:46

Check out BMW forums?
Roadfly.org
Bimmerforums.com
Bimmerfest.com