Hi Everyone,

Have you seen this?

I've heard a lot about this concept from my M3 people, and they love it, but has anyone done this, or is thinking about it, or seen it, etc... It's still pretty expensive though...

Louay

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Can one really say what they want?

 

This would give you better pull through all gears, and cut you top speed down dramaticly, just like the ad says. It will also increase the RPMs at an given gear and speed, so you'd want to make sure you weren't turning 4k RPMs at 70 in 6th, unless you like that.

With an M3 or other rear wheel drive car, you can change out the gearing in the rear diffential, and get the same effect. Since you're not pulling the transmission, like you would on a Cooper, it's generally alot cheaper to do this mod on a rear wheel drive car. BMW makes alot of interchangeable diffs, so with those cars you can often find a used diff with the gearing you like and do this mod really cheap.

 

Wow! Only $4500! Why does this kit make first gear even taller?

 

I think it's only applicable to a race car on a road course where you don't have to stop. You want the gears closer together to keep the engine in the ideal RPM range around the corners. Also, you usually don't have stop signs/lights on a track to you don't mind a taller 1st gear. Don't want that on the street though. 52mph in first gear?

I'd never see redline on the Autox track in 1st gear!

 

So in in-town driving, we'de be lucky to get to 2nd gear...that would really be annoying, I already complain about not getting out of third in traffic...

L

 

So much for that relaxed 5-7 hour cruise to the track at 80mph. Please add 1-trailer and 1-tow vehicle to to total cost to play.

 

They also offer a cheaper alternative (although still a bit pricey) that lowers your two stock final ratios from 2.74 & 4.05 to 3.26 & 4.88.

http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/NMG3002/InvDetail.cfm

Heres a comparo of the overall gear ratios between the stock MCS, MM's Close Ratio Trans (CRT) and MM's Final Drive Gearset (FDG) installed in a MCS:

Gear___MCS_____CRT_____FDG
1_____11.42_____9.37____13.56
2______7.18_____7.79_____8.54
3______5.40_____6.51_____6.49
4______4.40_____5.32_____5.27
5______3.66_____4.34_____4.33
6______2.98_____3.55_____3.42

The Final Drive Gearset is a better choice street driven cars. You would definately need to install a LSD with that first gear!

 

It would be interesting to see numbers though. Imagine 0-60 /1/4mile times with the $4500 gear set and their Stage III kit. Does anyone run this setup? I can't help but think the numbers would be awesome. sub 13secs???

 

>>It would be interesting to see numbers though. Imagine 0-60 /1/4mile times with the $4500 gear set and their Stage III kit. Does anyone run this setup? I can't help but think the numbers would be awesome. sub 13secs???

Bottom line....ain't spending 4500 plus labor (morons like me can't really do this stuff properly). Gearing is fine with me so far. I have three different diameter wheels and a universe of tire aspects to choose from.........

 

Wonder why such a ridiculously high price? I agree with Super_MINI not suitable for high speed tracks. This must lower the target audience.

Still, I'd like to see the numbers! :smile: I wonder if MINI Mania even has a set installed.

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Rodney
'03 IB/W MC w/ 1,2,3 HID, Auto Wipes, Promini Intake and rear/side sunshades

 

This is a ridiculous mod. Expensive and you only get benefits out of the 1-2-3 changes (these are the only changes that are actually closer ratios.)

And a higher first gear? Yeah I suppose it'd make sense in roadracing, but then it seems like the lower top end would be problematic. I'd be interested to hear Nuzzo's experience on-track.

Here're the ratios plotted


...and the relative difference between them...

 

On that last plot I suppose I should've used the inverse (showing that the stock gearing is a *greater* difference vs. *lesser* difference, but you get the idea. Just wanted to show that there's no net difference between 3-4, 4-5 and 5-6 gear changes.

One more thought. For a given speed (say 100mph) it's better to hold a lower gear (and turn a higher rpm) all other things being equal. The gearbox is a multiplier for torque, after all, and you should get greater acceleration out of the lower gear.

I haven't fully thought through how the 'close ratio' box might help, so feel free to pick apart my assertions. Gotta hop,

Jeff

 

Changing just the final drive and adding an LSD along with lighter clutch would be the ticket if you wanted to drop 5 large in the driveline. I am thinking about going from my 45 x 17" rubber to 45 or 50 15" to get about a 10% final drive drop. I have been in the 130's a few times, and don't think this cars blunt rear could ever allow more than about 140MPH without 300HP. Right now 6th gear is dead weight. Any car that can't hit redline in one gear lower than top gear is geared wrong from the factory (read that EPA).
Wes