Will this transmission work for my 1990 325i?

[bmbarnum]

Hello everyone,

In advance, I apologize because I am far from car savvy and barely learning on my own. Also, thank you in advance for reading/your help.

I have done a good amount of research regarding 5 speed swaps, and I know that since I have a 1990 325i I can swap either a late or early getrag 260 trans as long as I get the driveshaft of an early transmission if I went that route. However, I picked up this Getrag 260 for dirt cheap, but I do not believe this is the same as the early model Getrag 260s I have seen through pictures. The seller told me that he removed it off his 1985 when the headgasket failed on him and the gears were perfect still at 120k. That is the only information I was provided with before purchasing.


Why I do not think it will fit because the transmission does not have the same "Guibo" as the early or late trans. It is just a big cup like disk with the input flange in it. Also, Inside bellhousing it has the stamp "83/86" if that means anything. See pictures.

So, if this in face will not work with my 1990 325i, I will be selling it which I hope to not do because I got the transmission for $50 haha.

[bastianshaw]

it will work
I would take off the ["big cup" (harmonic balancer) ] install a new guibo, output seal shift selector seal and replace the bushings w brents delrin which you can find here on r3v by searching

[jlevie]

That transmission will work. You can use the drive shaft from any manual transmission 352, thought you may need to change the transmission output flange. You will will have to use the sheet metal shifter or get the E30 M3 adapter. And you'll need to plug the holes in the bell housing where the timing sensors mount.

You may have to use a different throwout bearing. The depth of the bell housing as compared to that of a 325i/is/ic transmission is the clue.

[bmbarnum]

Thank you so much for the clarification. I appreciate it greatly :)