S38 325iX - The real scoop

[The Dark Side of Will]

Not sure why youd want to buy that expensive peice, and make an adapter for the tcase, to run a Getrag 265 when a 260 can be 100% bolt on with all stock parts.

It can, but getting those correct stock parts could be a challenge in the US, as you're well aware ;)

[nando]

Not sure why youd want to buy that expensive peice, and make an adapter for the tcase, to run a Getrag 265 when a 260 can be 100% bolt on with all stock parts.

[Nisse Järnet]

Yes they mount M20, M50 etc with 265. Not sure on the angle but i can ask :)

[The Dark Side of Will]

Can you just cut the bell housing and rotate it then weld it back together? If not I guess I'll start looking for 525ix parts overseas, or just settle for the 10 degree angle. Does the 10 degree angle cause any harm? Thanks again for all your help.

This is for a 4HP22 and was done via EDM (NOT a common machining technology), but yes, you can cut a bellhousing apart and weld it back together.

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117333

My exptectation would be that a 24V swap can be done with a E53 oil pan and front diff BUT it will require a U-jointed driveshaft as the E53 diff is further from the crank centerline than the E30/E34 diffs. I don't know how that will affect floor pan clearance.

The E53 diff is stronger than the E34 diff, however.

The Getrag 265 does have a removable bellhousing. It was originally built with housings for the M20 and M30/S38/S14. Since the 265 was never used with a T-case and requires an adapter ANYWAY, a 24V swap could use the M20 bell, tilt the transmission and then clock the E30 T-case back to where it should be via the adapter. The 265 is stronger (and heavier) than the 260, but has the same ratios.

Like this?

What the hell is that?
I found this page: http://www.kohlerracing.se/page.php?...-_transmission

Does that mount a 50 series engine to a 265 with the transmission still upright ?
Do they cast that themselves? Why does it look welded around the starter mount?

[flyboyx]

Can you just cut the bell housing and rotate it then weld it back together? If not I guess I'll start looking for 525ix parts overseas, or just settle for the 10 degree angle. Does the 10 degree angle cause any harm? Thanks again for all your help.

yes you can cut and weld the bell. that will only take care of the transmission. i don't think you have a handle on the mechanics of the ix driveline yet. just keep in mind that everything has to stay in alignment. if you tilt the engine you need an oil pan that keeps the diff aligned as well. then you need all the supporting parts to make the drive line work since they will not interchange.

so, your choices are frankenpan, or as chris says e34 parts. i don't think anyone has looked at e53 parts yet to know if they will be viable or not. the axles probably won't work. in my searches, i picked up a set of e46 axles which are probably very similiar to x5. there is no way they are anywhere close to compatible with e30 awd front hubs.

[nando]

That wont change the fact that the M20 ix oil pan wont work

[stonea]

Can you just cut the bell housing and rotate it then weld it back together? If not I guess I'll start looking for 525ix parts overseas, or just settle for the 10 degree angle. Does the 10 degree angle cause any harm? Thanks again for all your help.

[nando]

Ok, I'm in the starting process of gathering information for a M52 swap and from what I've gathered is I'll need custom motor mounts, and I'll need to do a fraken pan. The part I was trying to get around was the motor being tilted at a 10 degree angle, which I thought was created by the transmission bolting up at a 10 degree offset. I've read flyboy's thread on e30 tech and he was talking about cutting the bell housing and rotating it 10 degrees then welding it back together to correct the tilt. What was the steering rack problem you mentioned, is that solved by the fraken pan too? I only ask because thats the first I've really heard of it. Sorry for all of the questions, or if any of it doesnt make sense. I'm just trying to make sure I have all of my facts straight.

You cant get the engine rotated correctly using the M20 oil pan. The only way is with parts from a 525ix or E53 x5.

[Nisse Järnet]

I might be able to source front axles and other E34IX parts for you.

[flyboyx]

chris and i have euro e34 ix pans/front diffs/ and axles. the the main reason why we chose this route is that we feel the stock e30 front diff isn't strong enough to withstand a reasonable amount of power. you can source these parts from germany or perhaps great Brittan. most of the parts can be purchased reasonably except for the axles. you will likely have to pay a king's ransom for those. the other limiting factor is the shipping expense. for the front drive train basics, you would want to budget about 2k for the parts you need with shipping. you will still need to get a 3.38 ratio set up for the rear.

if you do decide to do the frankenpan, it is documented here and on the e30tech forum as well. i don't have any experience with this however.

personally, this would be an awful lot of work for an m52 swap which is almost the same amount of power you started with.

[stonea]

You dont need a removable bellhousing for a 24v ix

Also, you will still need to weld - the motor mount arms will need to be fabricated, and there are issues with the steering rack & the front diff.

Ok, I'm in the starting process of gathering information for a M52 swap and from what I've gathered is I'll need custom motor mounts, and I'll need to do a fraken pan. The part I was trying to get around was the motor being tilted at a 10 degree angle, which I thought was created by the transmission bolting up at a 10 degree offset. I've read flyboy's thread on e30 tech and he was talking about cutting the bell housing and rotating it 10 degrees then welding it back together to correct the tilt. What was the steering rack problem you mentioned, is that solved by the fraken pan too? I only ask because thats the first I've really heard of it. Sorry for all of the questions, or if any of it doesnt make sense. I'm just trying to make sure I have all of my facts straight.

[nando]

You dont need a removable bellhousing for a 24v ix

Also, you will still need to weld - the motor mount arms will need to be fabricated, and there are issues with the steering rack & the front diff.

[Todd Black 88]

The g265, like the one on the m3, with a removable bellhousing, was also available with a m20 bolt pattern bellhousing. It came on either the 83 or 84 528e.

Not certain of the year, or if this is relevant at all.

[stonea]

you're on the right track except it's not from an M30 powered car. :)

Could you elaborate? What would I have to do a 24v swap with out welding or drilling. Finding a getrag 260 from a e34 with a removable bell housing and swap the rear end from the getrag 260 from an ix onto the e34 one and get the correct bell housing for the transmission swap. Then I have what I need done to do the swap on the transmission side of things.

[nando]

you're on the right track except it's not from an M30 powered car. :)