E30 M20B25 Manual Transmission Options

[Sykohtic]

So I will likely be looking for 5-speed to replace my automatic in the coming year or so, and so I'm curious as to my options.

I know the swap of choice seems to be the Getrag 260, but outside of a ZF, are there any other transmissions the will fit the M20, and if so, are they even worth the time?

The M3 ran a Getrag 265, but I'm not sure if it would even mate to an M20, and then I've heard about the "sports" transmission (I assume that came on the manual version of my 325is?) which had closer ratios. Is this sports transmission the 260 or a separate transmission that was more exclusive to the 323is?

Thanks in advance.

[MR 325]

May I ask why you don't want to run a Getrag 260? They're easy to find and relatively cheap.

You can run a Getrag 265 if you get a bellhousing from a 82 528e but I'm not sure what driveshaft you'd run.

The sport transmission you're referring to is the dogleg transmission which is rare, expensive, and was not offered in the US.

The 325iS had the same transmission as the 325i. There is also no such car as a 323iS.

[Sykohtic]

May I ask why you don't want to run a Getrag 260? They're easy to find and relatively cheap.

You can run a Getrag 265 if you get a bellhousing from a 82 528e but I'm not sure what driveshaft you'd run.

The sport transmission you're referring to is the dogleg transmission which is rare, expensive, and was not offered in the US.

The 325iS had the same transmission as the 325i. There is also no such car as a 323iS.

It's not that I don't want the 260, but I was just wondering if there were other options. I love the fact that it's so relatively inexpensive to swap the tranny to a 260. But, it would still be pretty cool to be running something like a 265 in whats probably gonna be a M20B30. Plus if I spend that money for a transmission and tracked down a bellhousing like so, at that point might as well just go custom driveshaft for giggles and save a few extra pounds in the drivetrain. That kind of hardware would NOT be cheap, but I may eventually go custom for the driveshaft anyway for the 260. Would be cooler still to have a dogleg tranny...

I suppose you're right about there being no 323is, but I believe you could get a lot of "is" type options, including the LSD, the sport tranny, premium sound, the 9 button OBC, etc. on the 323i. Ive had the pleasure of seeing such a car here in the states up close and personal, as the guy who I used to get all my parts from had a full eurospec 323i will all of said options and then some.

[Wanganstyle]

It's not that I don't want the 260, but I was just wondering if there were other options. I love the fact that it's so relatively inexpensive to swap the tranny to a 260. But, it would still be pretty cool to be running something like a 265 in whats probably gonna be a M20B30. Plus if I spend that money for a transmission and tracked down a bellhousing like so, at that point might as well just go custom driveshaft for giggles and save a few extra pounds in the drivetrain. That kind of hardware would NOT be cheap, but I may eventually go custom for the driveshaft anyway for the 260. Would be cooler still to have a dogleg tranny...

I suppose you're right about there being no 323is, but I believe you could get a lot of "is" type options, including the LSD, the sport tranny, premium sound, the 9 button OBC, etc. on the 323i. Ive had the pleasure of seeing such a car here in the states up close and personal, as the guy who I used to get all my parts from had a full eurospec 323i will all of said options and then some.

OK so you want a challenge and to have tres cool factor.

Install a euro spec 6 speed transmission from a E46 2005/6 320D sport model. This is bolt on and much cooler than any rotten dogleghumper unit

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=110010&page=2

[The Dark Side of Will]

It's not that I don't want the 260, but I was just wondering if there were other options. I love the fact that it's so relatively inexpensive to swap the tranny to a 260. But, it would still be pretty cool to be running something like a 265 in whats probably gonna be a M20B30. Plus if I spend that money for a transmission and tracked down a bellhousing like so, at that point might as well just go custom driveshaft for giggles and save a few extra pounds in the drivetrain.

If you're actually worried about weight, stick with the 260. The 265 is significantly (>20 lbs) heavier. The 260 is more than capable of dealing with the torque an M20 stroker makes.

[TobyB]

much cooler than any rotten dogleghumper unit

<Snorts beer out his nose>

t

[digger]

i run a CR gearbox in mine that came on Oz spec 325is models. i dont know the correct nomenclature for the box

[Sykohtic]

OK so you want a challenge and to have tres cool factor.

Install a euro spec 6 speed transmission from a E46 2005/6 320D sport model. This is bolt on and much cooler than any rotten dogleghumper unit


http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthr...=110010&page=2

That sounds incredibly awesomerific. 6 speed E30? Sounds like winning lol though tracking that down would be a job, and an expensive one. But still... 6 speed... *Muwahahahahahahahaahhahahahahaha* :-P

While that would be one of those like crazy things that maybe would have some issues with happening, how bolt on is bolt on in this case anyway?

[Sykohtic]

i run a CR gearbox in mine that came on Oz spec 325is models. i dont know the correct nomenclature for the box

This sounds interesting. I didn't know there was such thing as an Oz spec E30. Looks like its time for sir googlesalot to start digging. Haha.

[Sykohtic]

There are actually quite a few 320D 6-speed manuals on Ebay in Europe, and for pretty cheap. Only expensive part about the actual item is the shipping across the Atlantic to get it here.

[Wanganstyle]

That sounds incredibly awesomerific. 6 speed E30? Sounds like winning lol though tracking that down would be a job, and an expensive one. But still... 6 speed... *Muwahahahahahahahaahhahahahahaha* :-P

While that would be one of those like crazy things that maybe would have some issues with happening, how bolt on is bolt on in this case anyway?

Good enough to bolt on and daily drive in the bay area.

Then revert to 5 speed to sell car, another friend is running the 6 speed setup with a stock M2025 in the bay area

With modern technology and money anything is bolt on and possible

[Sykohtic]

Good enough to bolt on and daily drive in the bay area.

Then revert to 5 speed to sell car, another friend is running the 6 speed setup with a stock M2025 in the bay area

With modern technology and money anything is bolt on and possible

Do you have any idea of what your friend did to get the tranny to work? Like what bellhousing he used, what sort of driveshaft he bolted in, etc.? You guys are saying it's "bolt on" so I'm trying to discern if that means... make a tranny bracket and bolt the tranny as it comes straight up to you M20, install the necessary hardware in the engine bay(slave cylinder and such), a manual tranny pedal set, tie up a few linkages and hit the road... or are we talking track down some bellhousing from the legendary 11 series that didnt exist, a driveshaft from a toyota land cruiser, a slave cylinder from a Hyundai Tiburon, linkages from a Silvia, weld in the tunnel from a Ferrari 355, rob the console out a Stingray, and then put in a gear lever from a Ugo lol

All exaggeration aside, I'm just trying to figure out what I might need to look into finding to get this swap to work.

[Wanganstyle]

Check my signature it's in my build thread

[Sykohtic]

Check my signature it's in my build thread

Thanks, just noticed that, I'll check it out.

[Wanganstyle]

Thanks, just noticed that, I'll check it out.

I try not to spoon feed...... :p