is it worth fitting a 5 speed

stcos85

stcos85

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Starting to reassemble the CSI. The original 3.0 was in a poor state and it wasnt matching numbers. I managed to buy 2 x 3.5 litre engines, one has the original fuel injection and one has triple webers. Going to put the one with triples in my CSL when the body is restored.

So should I try to locate a 5 speed box to go with the 3.5 litre motor. Looking to hear the pros and cons of staying with the 4 speed or try and find a 5 speed
 
Your car mate. Do what you want.
That said, I'd be keeping the CSL as original as possible. If that means a non-matching original motor with a 4spd is as close as you can get to original I'd do it.
Especially when your CSL is a rare colour.
 
How difficult is it to change to a five speed? Wondering if my local shop could do it here and where would I get the parts?
 
Just to provide some counterpoint, the stock rear end in the E9 is a 3.45. Rough round numbers, at about 70 the car is spinning about 3500 rpm. At about 80, 4000 rpm. My CSi has a Getrag 265 5-speed that I installed decades ago when they were cheap, but my E3 (Bavaria) has the stock 4-speed, and when I drive it on the highway, I don't miss the 5-speed at all. In contrast, the stock rear end in most 2002s is a 3.64, causing 2002s to rev at about 4000 rpm at about 70, which is high by modern standards. In my humble opinion, if you want to swap an E9's engine for a modern M30B34 or 35, and find a donor car with both the engine and 5-speed, yeah it'd be silly NOT do to the 5-speed, but the 5-speed swap a la carte... unless you plan to spend hours driving over 80 mph, I wouldn't go to the time and expense.
 
thehackmechanic said:
Just to provide some counterpoint, the stock rear end in the E9 is a 3.45. Rough round numbers, at about 70 the car is spinning about 3500 rpm. At about 80, 4000 rpm. My CSi has a Getrag 265 5-speed that I installed decades ago when they were cheap, but my E3 (Bavaria) has the stock 4-speed, and when I drive it on the highway, I don't miss the 5-speed at all. In contrast, the stock rear end in most 2002s is a 3.64, causing 2002s to rev at about 4000 rpm at about 70, which is high by modern standards. In my humble opinion, if you want to swap an E9's engine for a modern M30B34 or 35, and find a donor car with both the engine and 5-speed, yeah it'd be silly NOT do to the 5-speed, but the 5-speed swap a la carte... unless you plan to spend hours driving over 80 mph, I wouldn't go to the time and expense.
Click to expand...
That has been my personal experience in my four-speed E9. They’ve only been rare occurrence is on long trips where I thought it would be nice but otherwise don’t feel the need for it. However, so many people on this forum have recommended it and said it was one of the best things I ever did that I am tempted to do it
 
The M30 is so much smoother than the M10's in the 2002 - I loooooonged for a 5-speed in the 02 for the 28 years I owned it.
For my E9 (currently at SFDon's getting everything but the kitchen sink done to it) - I am going with the 5-speed more because 'why not' as opposed to 'I gotta have it' - so to speak.
 
Yes! At least for California driving 5-speed is great.
If you worry about originality when selling just put a 4 speed sticker and tell the buyer it is 4-speed. Play dumb if the buyer reports finding an extra gear. "Oh, BMW might have been trialing it before deciding".
 
thehackmechanic said:
Just to provide some counterpoint, the stock rear end in the E9 is a 3.45. Rough round numbers, at about 70 the car is spinning about 3500 rpm. At about 80, 4000 rpm. My CSi has a Getrag 265 5-speed that I installed decades ago when they were cheap, but my E3 (Bavaria) has the stock 4-speed, and when I drive it on the highway, I don't miss the 5-speed at all. In contrast, the stock rear end in most 2002s is a 3.64, causing 2002s to rev at about 4000 rpm at about 70, which is high by modern standards. In my humble opinion, if you want to swap an E9's engine for a modern M30B34 or 35, and find a donor car with both the engine and 5-speed, yeah it'd be silly NOT do to the 5-speed, but the 5-speed swap a la carte... unless you plan to spend hours driving over 80 mph, I wouldn't go to the time and expense.
Click to expand...
Rob, The US 2800CS had a 3.45 but all US 3.0CS had a 3.64 so there is no single stock rear end. In my e9 with a 3.45 rear end and five speed 3,000rpm is 77mph and speedometer has been calibrated.

3.25 Open - CSi
3.25 LSD 25% locking - CSi and CSil
3.45 Open - Euro 3.0CS/CSA
3.45 LSD 25% locking - CSL, Euro 2800CS/CSA and 3.0CS/CSA and US 2800CS/CSA
3.45 LSD 40% locking - Euro 2800CS/CSA and US 2800CS/CSA
3.64 Open - Euro 2.5CS/CSA and US 3.0CS/CSA
3.64 LSD 25% locking - 2.5 CS/CSA
 
stcos85 said:
Going to put the one with triples in my CSL when the body is restored.
Click to expand...
When you get to that point, be sure to check out our side-draft linkage system designed specifically for the M30s. Based on the 2002ti side-draft linkage, it is complete from the bell crank to the carb throttle shafts so no other parts are needed. And all synchronization is done on the carburetors, not the linkage so that once installed, no maintenance or adjustment is required.
We've been selling this kind of system for the 2002s for many years with great results. Here's some pics.

20210709_171649.jpg
20210710_153911.jpg
20210710_154118.jpg
 
<<Rob, The US 2800CS had a 3.45 but all US 3.0CS had a 3.64 so there is no single stock rear end. In my e9 with a 3.45 rear end and five speed 3,000rpm is 77mph and speedometer has been calibrated.""

@HB Chris, I stand corrected. I realize now that I made several mistakes:

--My 3.0CSi still has, I believe, the 3.25 rear end.

--The 2800CS I parted out 35 years ago had the 3.45, which is now in my '79 Euro 635CSi. I incorrectly extrapolated that and assumed all US-spec CS cars had the 3.45. Sorry for the misinformation, and thanks for the correction.

Rob
 
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