what transmission do i have?

[JuanPabloBongto]

OK so my friend and I pulled the motor from my 535is donor car about 2 weeks ago and haven't been doing much w/ the M30 swap since because of the obscene cold here.

Today I went to take a look in the garage and figured I might as well introduce myself to the transmission.

One one side (passenger) the transmission casting reads, get this, "GETRAG" but then on the other side (driver-side), behind some metal tube is cast this number:

262 0 0510 90


Of course, I want to believe that it's a 262 close-ratio, but I have no idea how to validate a suspicion like that. This is my first swap.

note: this 535is was originally an automatic, but had a manual swap done about 4/5 years ago.

[JuanPabloBongto]

from mye28.com....

If the tranny is a 5 speed off of an M20 or M30 engine then it is either a 260 (/5 or /6) or a 265. The 262 is a 4 speed tranny. I think the close ratio 5 speed has been called a 262 because that is what's stamped on the casing, but I believe it is actually just a 265 close ratio.

There was a discussion on this recently on the First Fives board...all the 265 trannies have 262 stamped on them. I could not find the thread, but I believe it has to do with the fact that part of the case is the same betwen 262 and 265. If you go to the First Five boards and inquire, I'm sure someone will answer.

So, if your transmission is a 5 speed it is either a 260 or 265. If it has a separate bell housing, then it is a 265. Then all you have to figure out is whether first gear is left and down (dog-leg and therefore close ratio) or left and up (regular 265).

Metric Mechanic's website has a reference guide to all the BMW manual transmissions.

The Getrag 262 was a four speed gearbox with detatchable bellhousing that was first used in the E3 saloons (2500 - 3.3) from 1968. It was also used in the CS Coupes, four speed M30 engined E12's like the 525, 528, 530i as well as the 6 Series and 7 Series E23.

From 1978, Getrag built a five speed version, the 265 as either a sport with dogleg first and close ratios and from 1980 as a standard H pattern overdrive. It is basically the 262 with an extra centre section to accomodate the fifth gear - the bellhousing and first centre section are the same which is why the 5 speed dogleg and overdrive units still have 262 on them. Some however will have 265 cast in the third part.

So the 265 is in four pieces - bellhousing, first section, fifth gear housing, end cover.

The 265's all had the speed drive socket on the rear section because the end section is still 262 from the days when BMW's used speedo cables.

From about May 1980 the five speed ovedrive version appeared for the 735i and 635CSi. It has an added refinement in the shape of syncromesh for reverse gear. Look for 'EZ' stamped into the casing on the bottom.
The early 528e also has this gearbox in overdrive form. When the E30 arrived at the end of 1982, Getrag designed another gearbox, the 260. This was used in M20 applications like the Euro 323i as well as the 325e and 325i and the 528e as well as the euro 525e.

The E28 528i and early 535iSE/M535i used the 265 box until 1985 when it was replaced by a new version of the 260. This was basically the 325i/528e gearbox in a new casing compatible with the M30 engine. It has an all in one casing and the bellhousing is not removeable. It can be identified by having long cooling fins along the bottom like a VW cylinder barrel. This gearbox was also used on the E32 7 Series and E34 5 Series with the M30 engine.

[Thor]

You may have hit the jackpot. Those are the exact numbers on my 265 close ratio transmission. The 265 close ratio used a case with a 262 stamp on it for some reason.

Have you tried shifting it yet to check the pattern? Look for 1 being down and to the left.

[euroshark]

Here's my 265CR case. As you have read, the 265 uses the 262 case, but 262s are apparently only four speed transmissions. Your number doesn't match mine, but you never know! Check to see if first is down and left.