E70 3.0d/3.0sd Drivetrain differences

[ekelly]

Originally Posted by TOMMO

Howdy All,

Since this is my first post of the new year.... may you all live strong and prosper in 2009!

The thing is.... i am considering adding a tuning box to my 3.0d but i am slightly apprehensive with regards to the demands on the transmission etc etc... We aren't talking a massive ammount, this varies from company to company but i'm not going for the biggest available anyhow.

I was wondering if there are any significant differences between the 3.0d/sd cars? If the drivetrain is the same.... then i shouldn't have any problems as the quoted figures are below the sd output anyway. Do share please.

And if anyone in the UK has any experience with diesel tuning companies or can reccomend someone or something that would be appreciated greatly.

Cheers all!

Hi Tommo

This is a fairly well discussed topic in other forums for the 535d and 335d.
I haven’t driven an E70 3.0d so I can’t really compare. But in comparison to an E53 3.0d (218hp) the transmission in the E70 3.0sd is very “smooth”. What I mean is when you put your foot down (not kick down) the E70 changes up through the gears with ease and no fuss which I find aids the luxury factor of the E70. Obviously this because of the Twin Turbo set up. The 3.0d has this huge turbo kick when it comes into action but tapers off when nearing the red line which is where the 3.0sd keep going. From the offset the there is a power difference but its how the torque is spread throughout the revs which I think is important.

At 1700rpm the 3.0d has ~480Nm and the 3.0sd has ~570Nm of torque
At 2000rpm both have their maximum torque (3.0d: 520Nm, 3.0sd: 580Nm
At 4000rpm the 3.0d has ~380Nm and 3.0sd has ~480Nm of torque

The most impressive thing is that torque available in the 3.0sd remains flat until 4200rpm which is where the 3.0d runs out of breath. Gear ratios are different; in particular it is the final gears which are better on the 3.0sd.
There are two “reputable” tuners that I know of DMS and E-Maps which can take the 3.0d up to about a maximum of 290hp & 620Nm which would make it marginally better in performance to the 3.0sd. Although you mention that you are not going for the biggest gain, I’ve seen 270hp & 600Nm. Mind you I would not count on them (DMS or E-Maps) fulfilling the new warranty they issue you when have the E70 is mapped, providing things do not go bad that is.

In relation to the transmission both are “labelled” the same i.e. ZF6HP26. However from my understanding the 3.0d has the ZF6HP26 which can handle up to a maximum of 600Nm. The 3.0sd has the ZF6HP26 TU (technical update) which corresponds to ZF6HP28 which is capable of 700Nm. The life expectancy of the engine will decrease somewhat when it is mapped to a higher setting. If you don’t plan to dive it anymore than 100,000 miles you should have no immediate problems.

Hope this might help in your decision.

Kind Regards
ekelly