M3 Evolution guidance

[dern]

steil said:

The 4-door also came in 3.0 guise - I have one

Went for this as it was a touch chaper to buy than an Evo, and I didn't fancy the potential hassle of the vanos and 6-speed box issues. Comments above are quite correct about the 6 being much more relaxed on motorways, but for me that's not that big an issue. Regularly get 28mpg (according to the OBC).

Thanks. Is the 6th gear just an overdrive then or are the rest of the ratios closer together? Basically, cruising at high speed aside, is a 6 speed box in this instance a gimmick?

[steil]

A quik google says:
1st Gear Ratio 4.23:1
2nd Gear Ratio 2.51:1
3rd Gear Ratio 1.67:1
4th Gear Ratio 1.23:1
5th Gear Ratio 1.00:1
6th Gear Ratio 0.83:1

3.0
1st 4.21:1
2nd 2.49:1
3rd 1.66:1
4th 1.24:1
5th 1.00:1

So I guess the 6th is overdrive on the Evo - hence the usefuleness on a motorway & better mpg. However I've heard (whether true or false) that there can be issues with the 6-speed box which require replacement rather than repair, whereas the 5-speeder is from the 325/328 & also the e46 range hence more readily available. Hence the lower-risk combo lead me to a 3.0 rather than an Evo model considering mine is 13 years old.

[dern]

steil said:

A quik google says:

Should have thought of that

Thanks for the info

[vixpy1]

The 5 speeder is a nicer box to use

[steil]

vixpy1 said:

The 5 speeder is a nicer box to use

Well said - forgot to put that in my post - I've driven quite a few M3's and the 6-speeder plus the ones in E46's are not really fit for 'the ultimate driving machine' - long, baulking throws, whereas the 5-speeder has a very nice feel.

I might be wrong on this but i think the 325/328/3.0 M3 is a BMW 'box whereas the 6 is ZF?

[nos4a2]

steil said:

vixpy1 said:

The 5 speeder is a nicer box to use

Well said - forgot to put that in my post - I've driven quite a few M3's and the 6-speeder plus the ones in E46's are not really fit for 'the ultimate driving machine' - long, baulking throws, whereas the 5-speeder has a very nice feel.

I might be wrong on this but i think the 325/328/3.0 M3 is a BMW 'box whereas the 6 is ZF?

I fitted a short shift kit to my Evo - worked quite well but it was quite "obstructive" when cold, fine when hot though.

Don't forget that the 3.2 has quite a lot more torque further down the rev range too so you don't have to work it quite so hard to press on. This may not be such an issue for a track day car but on the road you want as much punch as possible when overtaking.

[rossb]

Got a discreet aug 97 3.2 evo saloon with no spoiler for work stuff - and it's v.comfortable and relaxing - and v.quick economical little q car i get 30-32 mpg on a 85 cruise

bought it off here with fbmwsh - but had no interest in maintaining the fbmwsh - as i can get the work done locally by a fastidious engineer - and the car's not in a value range where fbmsh come into it

re vanos - i change oil regularly and always change the £5 vanos filter per oil change. car seems sensitive to correct oil and runs smoothly on bmw recommended castrol 10/60 - vanos growls for a couple of secs on start up - but is silent after that has been fine for last 10k miles - engine has done 104k. Believe there was a recommended vanos unit housing bolt upgrade - you sometimes can get a little weeping on unit - i replaced these recently with some good quality bolts and it's fine

performance wise i am really impressed - it's a work hack so don't really cane it - but based on hard it pulled the other day at 145 in 5th i am sure there was plenty to come - 6th is a relaxing overdrive - and cruise is a bonus for long journeys. however when you want to play and scream it to 7.5 or whatever it does - it picks up it's skirts nicely and sounds gorgeous

re: handling mine has an lsd - don't they all? and is very progressive even when provoked and is a lot less of a handful than my e30 - which is like driving a vintage car on worn crossplys in comparison - great fun but not as quick to hussle on bumpy lanes - also evo oem brakes - which i have just replaced are really good - would love to whack those dinner plate discs and calipers on my e30!

Am switching the pilots this weekend for goodyear gsd3's on recommendation from a friend who had one for years - we'll see

I am really happy with mine and dilemma is what would i replace it with if i wanted a smallish/mid size 4 seat saloon ideal for threading around country lanes and cruising at high speed on motorway alike for the money?

In summary lot of stomp for the £££'s - just service it as you would expect a 10 year old n/a 100bhp/litre unit and go and buy one now!

[M5Dave]

steil said:

A quik google says:
1st Gear Ratio 4.23:1
2nd Gear Ratio 2.51:1
3rd Gear Ratio 1.67:1
4th Gear Ratio 1.23:1
5th Gear Ratio 1.00:1
6th Gear Ratio 0.83:1

3.0
1st 4.21:1
2nd 2.49:1
3rd 1.66:1
4th 1.24:1
5th 1.00:1

So I guess the 6th is overdrive on the Evo - hence the usefuleness on a motorway & better mpg. However I've heard (whether true or false) that there can be issues with the 6-speed box which require replacement rather than repair, whereas the 5-speeder is from the 325/328 & also the e46 range hence more readily available. Hence the lower-risk combo lead me to a 3.0 rather than an Evo model considering mine is 13 years old.

Getrag, who make the 6 speed gearbox for the M3 Evo will not supply any parts to repair or rebuild it. So if it goes wrong, the only solution is a replacement box.