• First high torque N54 (335i/135i) steptronic transmission build completed by Level 10 Transmisisons - ~700 pound-feet capable

                    
      		   
      Published on 07-03-2011 01:31 AM
      54 Comments Comments
      As many of you know, BimmerBoost user LostMarine got his 335i Steptronic transmission built by Level 10 to handle increased torque as his upgraded turbos took their toll on the stock transmission. Turn around time was surprisingly quick and should be 10 days and under for all N54 transmission builds. LostMarine had the transmission built along with upgrading the torque converter with a higher stall and the valve body. Price will vary depending on options.

      In Lost Marine's words:

      So here are the details I can speak of. Car runs strong, very solid and strong now. Much improved over what I can remember even when I first bought the car. Here she is as the short journey began. Luckily the car was only down for about 1-1/2 weeks










      Clutches were fried in mine as you can see from this pic.


      They were replaced with stronger material obviously. Now rated up to 700ft/lbs




      Tq convertor was setup for mild street use and increased stall RPM by 500.


      Sorry no more pics on that

      VB Pressure was increased from the stock 60-70psi to 130 psi.

      Pump volume was also increased in total flow from 2qt's/30 seconds to 3 qt's/30 second

      All of this translates in the much stronger and firmer shifting that I have been noticing.

      I have to say, for being a BMW and asking for a mild street use Transmission , Level 10 Delivers.

      The higher stall has nearly no affect on the DD driving characteristics of the car. I do not feel any "slack", and had i not known the stall was increased, I could never tell.

      I had planned on attaching video of the car/trans going through the gears, but the angle was way off. I attempted to have it catch the sound and speedo/Tach so you could see the correlation, along with Datalogs. The roads today were not easily manuevered though.
      This article was originally published in forum thread: First high torque N54 (335i/135i) steptronic transmission build completed by Level 10 Transmisisons - ~700 pound-feet capable started by Sticky View original post
      Comments 54 Comments
      1. BoostAddict's Avatar
        BoostAddict - 07-03-2011, 01:36 AM
        Glad to see this worked out well! Now hit the track!
      1. DBFIU's Avatar
        DBFIU - 07-03-2011, 01:54 AM
        need videos or die
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 07-03-2011, 02:00 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by DBFIU Click here to enlarge
        need videos or die
        He tried.. he will try again.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 07-03-2011, 02:00 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by BoostAddict Click here to enlarge
        Glad to see this worked out well! Now hit the track!
        Higher stall will definitely help.
      1. Yukohama's Avatar
        Yukohama - 07-03-2011, 03:30 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        Higher stall will definitely help.
        so what exactly does a higher stall do? i'm a noob...

        and good to hear your car is all back together against lostmarine, time for more vids!
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 07-03-2011, 03:35 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Yukohama Click here to enlarge
        so what exactly does a higher stall do? i'm a noob...

        and good to hear your car is all back together against lostmarine, time for more vids!
        The stall speed of the torque converter. Basically when you step on the brake and the gas there is a stall RPM, right? Well, this RPM is now higher.
      1. SlicktopTTZ's Avatar
        SlicktopTTZ - 07-03-2011, 03:38 AM
        Hell yeah! Glad to see it finally finished!
      1. SlicktopTTZ's Avatar
        SlicktopTTZ - 07-03-2011, 03:41 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        The stall speed of the torque converter. Basically when you step on the brake and the gas there is a stall RPM, right? Well, this RPM is now higher.
        It doesn't have to do with the gas and the brakes. That would change based on your braking system. But having a higher stall does have an effect on that.

        Here is a good explaination from a Ford forum:

        The stall speed of a converter is determined by several things. A converter is made up of 4 parts, the front cover, stator, impeller, and rear cover. Each part has fins inside it to direct the fluid around each part and by modifying these fin's angle, it changes the stall speed. Stall speed is essentially when the engine speed and fluid speed are the same, and stall speed is NOT when you're sitting at a stop and mash the gas while holding the brake. That rpm is NOT the stall speed, that's just where the engine torque overpowers the brakes and moves the car forward.
        A higher stall speed allows the engine to get into the powerband quicker, like revving a clutch and quickly slipping it. Unlike a clutch, a converter doesn't get grabby or tempermental. But a higher stall speed creates more fluid slippage inside it, creating more heat so an auxiliary trans cooler should be considered mandatory.
        A higher stall speed can also take the shock out of the drivetrain when the trans shifts, making it actually easier on parts.
        The stall speed can also be affected by the engine it's behind. A converter that stalls at 2000 behind a stock small block could stall at 3800 behind a big block. This is why converters should be custom made for your combination for the best performance.
      1. enrita's Avatar
        enrita - 07-03-2011, 04:32 AM
        Great write up! Might be the next in line for this upgrade, kind of amazing you had only 1 and half week downtime, excellent work and shows how familiar they are with the zf trans. Wouldnt oil smell burnt and be black if the clutches are gone?
        You never changed the AT oil prior the failure Lostmarine?
      1. fastgti69's Avatar
        fastgti69 - 07-03-2011, 04:34 AM
        Big step for ppl with auto tranny that will soon be going BT
      1. DavidV's Avatar
        DavidV - 07-03-2011, 05:23 AM
        Congratulations on the build!
        Do you have an estimate on how much this rebuild will improve your tracktimes?
      1. Itsbrokeagain's Avatar
        Itsbrokeagain - 07-03-2011, 08:37 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by enrita Click here to enlarge
        Great write up! Might be the next in line for this upgrade, kind of amazing you had only 1 and half week downtime, excellent work and shows how familiar they are with the zf trans. Wouldnt oil smell burnt and be black if the clutches are gone?
        You never changed the AT oil prior the failure Lostmarine?
        He did change it once around 65k if I remember correctly...but at that point I think it was already going downhill. Only a matter of time before it went after that.

        ZF trans are great. I wonder how many parts we have in common with your average domestic muscle car?
      1. bobS's Avatar
        bobS - 07-03-2011, 10:10 AM
        Nice pics, can't wait for vids! LM, I bet your car rips now.
      1. LostMarine's Avatar
        LostMarine - 07-03-2011, 12:01 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by enrita Click here to enlarge
        Great write up! Might be the next in line for this upgrade, kind of amazing you had only 1 and half week downtime, excellent work and shows how familiar they are with the zf trans. Wouldnt oil smell burnt and be black if the clutches are gone?
        You never changed the AT oil prior the failure Lostmarine?
        actually i did, at 50k miles and again around 75-80k miles. i never had any smell and not sure of oil color when they pulled it
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 07-03-2011, 02:52 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by SlicktopTTZ Click here to enlarge
        It doesn't have to do with the gas and the brakes. That would change based on your braking system. But having a higher stall does have an effect on that.
        Just once example where it will help him at the strip.
      1. R1000K3's Avatar
        R1000K3 - 07-03-2011, 03:09 PM
        Did they modify the transmission to hold more clutch plates or use different material in them?

        In case the number of plates is the same and made from a different material, will they need periodical replacement or not?

        Was the stock torque converted opened and got re-angled fins to increase the stall speed or is it a new converter?
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 07-03-2011, 03:14 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by R1000K3 Click here to enlarge
        Did they modify the transmission to hold more clutch plates or use different material in them?

        In case the number of plates is the same and made from a different material, will they need periodical replacement or not?

        Was the stock torque converted opened and got re-angled fins to increase the stall speed or is it a new converter?
        Great questions...
      1. LostMarine's Avatar
        LostMarine - 07-03-2011, 09:13 PM
        Level 10 Bmw PTS Bulletproof Torque Converter (Send In Yours) 4HP19, 4hp22, 5hp18, 5HP19,6HP19, 5HP24, 5hp26, 5hp30, 4l30,6l50-Our Price: $798.00

        Level 10 Bmw Bulletproof Valvebody (Send In Yours) 4HP19, 4hp22, 5hp18, 5HP19, 5HP24, 5hp26, 5hp30, 4l30, 6l50,6HP19-Our Price: $698.00

        Level 10 PTS Bulletproof Transmission (Send In Yours) 4HP19, 4hp22, 5hp18, 5HP19, 5HP24, 5hp26, 5hp30, 4l30, 6l50,6HP19-Our Price: $3,998.00
      1. LostMarine's Avatar
        LostMarine - 07-03-2011, 09:14 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by R1000K3 Click here to enlarge
        Did they modify the transmission to hold more clutch plates or use different material in them?

        In case the number of plates is the same and made from a different material, will they need periodical replacement or not?

        Was the stock torque converted opened and got re-angled fins to increase the stall speed or is it a new converter?
        For specifics like that, you'll need to contact them. I dont know whats involved, so didnt bother to ask. Those questions are above me, I just wanted a finished product
      1. Eleventeen's Avatar
        Eleventeen - 07-03-2011, 09:24 PM
        I've heard that a properly matched upgraded torque converter can be good for nearly a half second reduction in 1/4 mile times. If they properly matched the converter to his powerband, he should be able to leave the line under very high boost.
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