S6-37 6mt swap info (broken off from junk yard thread)

[EthanolTurbo]

Okay, describe what you like about it ?

Don't compare cable driven shifters vs direct rod. So if the VW Group
is similar to S2000 as I am getting from you so far you don't like notchy.

E39M5 uses different Shifter Arm than E46M3 so its expected to have
different shifting feel.

Regards
Anri

It shifts perfectly. Super communicative, super slick, it's buttery smooth. Have you driven an S2000 with fresh fluid?

[Obioban]

No idea why but the 420g in the E39 M5 shifts so much better than the E46 M3 420g.

Longer throws.

[heinzboehmer]

Notchy is fine with me, up to a certain point. What I hate about the 420G is how crunchy it feels. 1-2 shift requires way too much force and you have to crunch your way in. Feels like there's a few separate points where you encounter resistance in the throw.

+1 to the 981 comment. That gearbox feels amazing.

[Anri]

Yes, the benchmark is the S2000 transmission. I heard the 981 GT4 is similar.

Okay, describe what you like about it ?

Don't compare cable driven shifters vs direct rod. So if the VW Group
is similar to S2000 as I am getting from you so far you don't like notchy.

E39M5 uses different Shifter Arm than E46M3 so its expected to have
different shifting feel.

Regards
Anri

[Bry5on]

Yes, the benchmark is the S2000 transmission. I heard the 981 GT4 is similar.

My 981 GTS (same gearbox as GT4) was absolutely phenomenal. Clear gates, low notch, reasonable not-too-long-or-short throws. Same can’t necessarily be said for the 911 7-speed I had in my 991. That one had second gear synchro issues and just isn’t quite as clear with the gates.

I’m personally chasing something *closer* to that cayman. Sadly, the caymans don’t take hitch or roof racks, so here we are trying to make one car that does everything.

[EthanolTurbo]

I kind of lost interest once I realized I own a S6-37 already (in my 128i). I don’t think it shifts any better, even compared to the completely stock 420g in my e39 M5… much less compared to the auto solutions kit in my e46.

No idea why but the 420g in the E39 M5 shifts so much better than the E46 M3 420g.

[EthanolTurbo]

Gents,


Is there a bench mark how a transmission should shift ? absolutely not.

In general people do not like notchy gear shifting....

Someone few pages back mentioned that g420 "it will never be Honda" lol
I think Honda shifting is absolute garbage empty feeling, but that is just me.

I personally do like as notchy as possible so I can feel the gear mechanism
going thru the gears and way better control and feeling driven with anger.

Clack, clack, clack....

Regards
Anri

Yes, the benchmark is the S2000 transmission. I heard the 981 GT4 is similar.

[Anri]

Gents,


Is there a bench mark how a transmission should shift ? absolutely not.

In general people do not like notchy gear shifting....

Someone few pages back mentioned that g420 "it will never be Honda" lol
I think Honda shifting is absolute garbage empty feeling, but that is just me.

I personally do like as notchy as possible so I can feel the gear mechanism
going thru the gears and way better control and feeling driven with anger.

Clack, clack, clack....

Regards
Anri

[Gt4]

I kind of lost interest once I realized I own a S6-37 already. I don’t think it shifts any better, even compared to the completely stock 420g in my e39 M5.

From what I remember, I think my low mileage Z4M Coupe feel worse than pretty much any E46 M3 I drove while shifting 1-2 on the street. More notchy.

[Obioban]

I had a Z4M Coupe and 1-2 was notchy. And peoples on Zpost were also complaning about it over the years. Not sure it will be a night and day difference if someone do the swap.

I kind of lost interest once I realized I own a S6-37 already (in my 128i). I don’t think it shifts any better, even compared to the completely stock 420g in my e39 M5… much less compared to the auto solutions kit in my e46.

[Gt4]

I had a Z4M Coupe and 1-2 was notchy. And peoples on Zpost were also complaning about it over the years. Not sure it will be a night and day difference if someone do the swap.

[Obioban]

Saw this thread the other day and meant chime in. I have an S54 touring in the shop running a full ZHP trans. It's all a direct swap with a modded driveshaft.

What flywheel?

[Anri]

That's not the only difference. The input shaft on the V8 420G is longer than the I6 spec 420G.

Kaiv,

I was pointing the G420 was specifically designed to go in M5
and M3. E34M5 G420 6spd also have different input shaft but
the design is the same.

I have had rebuild 20+transmissions and with mixed match
bell housing some went to NASA E30 M20 spec and other model
Getrag's for street driving.

I can't see the bell hosing having affect on the shifting characteristics.
I have also converted SMG to manual and I have never seen anything
different in shifting characteristics. If the needle bearings are worn out
and etc that is different.

Changing the shifter fork, new synchronizer, new springs, the gear box
will shift just like it came from the factory.

Unfortunately those parts are not available for G420 and nothing can
be done.

Regards,
Anri

[kaiv]

This is very true. The Autosolutions kit made my 420g a lot more fun. Kaiv told me every 420g feels different and some are way smoother than others so maybe one day I'll get a low mileage trans from an SMG swapped in and see how much better it is.

To clarify my statement for everyone, my observations are after doing well over 100 SMG to manual conversions, all with the same bellhousing work, same shifter etc. There is a range within which most transmissions fall and they feel mostly the same. But every once in a blue moon you have one that a bit harsher than average or one that's exceptionnally smooth. I'm guessing it's part manufacturing tolerances, part wear and tear over the the life.

[kaiv]

Terra,

Remember BMW engineers will never do anything without
a concept they have in mind, otherwise they would have had
the G420 on std 330i as well...make 1 gear box for all, just like
Mercedes loves to do this trick. they use the same box from
1.8 S/C up to 2.0 up to 3.2 V6 S/C.

The G420 is also covering E39M5 only the bell is different.

(...)

That's not the only difference. The input shaft on the V8 420G is longer than the I6 spec 420G.