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If there was a Top 5 list of things to do on the E46 M3, a shorter gears would be in the top two... The gearing used to be overlooked when planning modifications but the 3.91 and 4.10 gears are now one of our biggest selling upgrades for the E46 M3! With a rear end gear upgrade you get the effects of adding horsepower but without adding any more stress to the engine or drivetrain. The R&P acts as a torque multiplier, getting you into the power band sooner in each gear. It's one of the best areas to get return from your modification spending. The shorter (numerically higher) rear end gears will give you better acceleration in all gears at any speed with few downsides. Want to make your car faster off the line or out of corners? Or avoid a downshift to pass on the highway? This is what you need. This 4.10 is the latest version from BMW Motorsport - shot peened and hardend for increased strength. The R&P can be installed on its own but for cars that have more than 60,000 miles it would be a better idea to rebuild the whole diff. The factory viscous limited slip units have a typical lifespan of 50-70,000 miles. We offer diff rebuilding with 4.10 or other gear options and you get a fully-rebuilt and serviced limited slip unit at the same time. Click here for our diff rebuild options.
4.10 Gearing Example: 2004 M3, 6-speed manual, 275/35-19" rear tires
Gear RatioGearSpeedRPM
40 MPH in 4th
3.62 4th 40mph 2,250rpm
4.10 4th 40mph 2,550rpm
70 MPH Cruise
3.62 6th 70mph 2,650rpm
4.10 6th 70mph 3,000rpm
5th Gear Speed at Redline
3.62 5th 175mph 8,000rpm
4.10 5th 154mph 8,000rpm
Why 5th? Because 6th does not have the mechanical advantage to get past wind resistance at these speeds - it is more of a cruise/overdrive gear. Using 5th for comparison purposes is much more relevant than having to take into account wind direction, resistance, grade, elevation, tire sizing, etc. These numbers are for comparisons among gear ratios only, not to determine what your M3 will top out at.
This item is the genuine BMW part and the ring & pinion set only. You will need to have this professionally installed into your existing differential. BMW does not supply differential rebuild parts (bearings, shims, plates, etc.) so only a qualified shop that is experienced in BMW diff rebuilding should perform this installation. We also offer built differentials and exchanges, click here.
This item fits the following BMWs:
2001-2006 E46 BMW M3
2004-2010 E60 BMW M5 (manual transmission only)
OEM part number 33108321899
BMW Automatic Transmission Service Kit - Level 2 - Lifeguard 6 is a comprehensive service solution that includes everything needed to effectively maintain and service your BMW's transmission using high-quality ZF components and fluid. While BMW suggests that the ZF transmission utilizes a lifetime fluid, it’s important to understand that “lifetime” refers to the warranty, not the transmission's operational lifespan. Over time, the fluid degrades, becoming less effective at transferring heat and lubricating internal components. This degradation can lead to premature wear, resulting in louder operation, harder shifts, and potentially severe internal damage.
ZF recommends service intervals of 50,000 miles or 8 years—whichever comes first—for 6HP transmissions. By using OEM ZF components in this kit, BMW owners can ensure that only the highest quality factory parts and fluids are used, keeping the transmission running smoothly for years to come.
Hands down - one of the best performance upgrades you can make to an E46 M3, E60 M5 or E63/E64 M6! With almost no downside you can make your BMW much quicker by swapping in a new ring & pinion gear set. The gearing used to be overlooked when planning modifications but the 3.91 and 4.10 gears are now one of our biggest selling upgrades for the E46 M3! With a rear end gear upgrade you get the effects of adding horsepower but without adding any more stress to the engine or drivetrain. It's one of the best areas to get return from your modification spending. Using a shorter (numerically higher) gear ratio will give you better acceleration. The R&P acts as a torque multiplier, putting the engine into the power band sooner for each gear. There is an 8% increase in torque at the wheels with the shorter R&P. Want to make your car faster off the line or out of corners? Or avoid a downshift to pass on the highway? This is what you need.
The R&P can be installed on its own but for cars that have more than 60,000 miles it would be a better idea to rebuild the whole diff. The factory viscous limited slip units have a typical lifespan of 50-70,000 miles. We offer diff rebuilding with 3.91 or other gear options and you get a fully-rebuilt and serviced limited slip unit at the same time. Click here for our diff rebuild options.
3.91 Gearing Example: 2004 M3, 6-speed manual, 275/35-19" rear tires
Gear RatioGearSpeedRPM
40 MPH in 4th
3.62 4th 40mph 2,250rpm
3.91 4th 40mph 2,450rpm
70 MPH Cruise
3.62 6th 70mph 2,650rpm
3.91 6th 70mph 2,900rpm
5th Gear Speed at Redline
3.62 5th 175mph 8,000rpm
3.91 5th 162mph 8,000rpm
Why 5th? Because 6th does not have the mechanical advantage to get past wind resistance at these speeds - it is more of a cruise/overdrive gear. Using 5th for comparison purposes is much more relevant than having to take into account wind direction, resistance, grade, elevation, tire sizing, etc. These numbers are for comparisons among gear ratios only, not to determine what your M3 will top out at.
This item is the genuine BMW part and the ring & pinion set only. You will need to have this professionally installed into your existing differential. BMW does not supply differential rebuild parts (bearings, shims, plates, etc.) so only a qualified shop that is experienced in BMW diff rebuilding should perform this installation. We also offer built differentials and exchanges, click here.
This item fits the following BMWs:
2001-2006 E46 BMW M3
2004-2010 E60 BMW M5
2004-2011 E63 BMW M6
OEM part number 33127768525
Genuine BMW Screw Plug With Gasket Ring - M18X1,5
This item fits the following BMW Chassis:
E70 X5M,E71 X6M,E53 48IS,E38,E39,E46,E53 X5,E63,E65,E70 X5,E71 X6,E82,E85 Z4,E86 Z4,E89 Z4,E90,E92,E93,F01,F02,F06,F10,F12,F13,F15,F16,F22,F25 X3,F26 X4 X4,F30,F31,F32,F33,F34,F36
