Reliable manual trans swap?

[Brian7]

I've read a lot of threads regarding people having issues with the G260, it whines, it grinds, it makes noise, it rattles, it leaks etc. Quite frankly, I don't want to question if I'm buying a good transmission. I'd really like to put a 6MT in and forget about it but what about ZF transmissions out of E36's? Help rid my car of this automatic!

Car specs; 89 325i auto.

[Wanganstyle]

buy from europe: 6mt from 320d e46 2005-6
swap. done

[MR 325]

So you figure if a transmission is from a newer car it must be in better condition? Not always the case.

Fine a good Getrag 260 from a reputable source or buy a cheap one and have it rebuilt.

The ZF trans will sit at an incorrect angle and would require a custom trans brace and shifter linkage. (Among other things)

[Brian7]

buy from europe: 6mt from 320d e46 2005-6
swap. done

I'm going to have to read through your thread again

So you figure if a transmission is from a newer car it must be in better condition? Not always the case.

Fine a good Getrag 260 from a reputable source or buy a cheap one and have it rebuilt.

The ZF trans will sit at an incorrect angle and would require a custom trans brace and shifter linkage. (Among other things)

What does a good working 260 cost from a reputable source? I'm guessing around $500? Maybe less? I know a newer trans won't necessarily be in good working order either but I hear they are crisper than older manual transmissions.

[Wanganstyle]

So you figure if a transmission is from a newer car it must be in better condition? Not always the case.

The ZF trans will sit at an incorrect angle and would require a custom trans brace and shifter linkage. (Among other things)

320D - EURO; the Diesel engines/6 speed zf and 5 speed zf transmissions have the same angle as the M20.


a 2005/2006 ZF gearbox has a better chance of being in decent shape than some crusted out G260 from 1984-91

ZF 6 speeds can be serviced @ diffsonline; full rebuild is avail.


If one is doing a gearbox on a car that needs to be reliable and the options are:

buy 30 year old g260 + spend ~1k on rebuild

or spend less than 1k on a 8 year old 320D transmission 6 speed shipped from europe...

I'm going to have to read through your thread again



What does a good working 260 cost from a reputable source? I'm guessing around $500? Maybe less? I know a newer trans won't necessarily be in good working order either but I hear they are crisper than older manual transmissions.

I think drivegear (andrew) is popular with the Spec e30 crowd as they are forced to run the original g260 box via rules.
It should NOT be cheap; You could also ask CAtuned for gearbox rebuild service costs - they are local norcal

[mitchlikesbikes]

G260s aren't made of glass or anything. buy one with low miles, preferably with proof of functionality, then reseal it and fill it with good fluid. done. easy. it doesn't have to be any more complicated than that.


orrrrrrrr do the ZF and just pop a 24 valve in with it. swapping to that trans and not swapping engines at the same time seems like a waste of effort to me.

[Brian7]

320D - EURO; the Diesel engines/6 speed zf and 5 speed zf transmissions have the same angle as the M20.


a 2005/2006 ZF gearbox has a better chance of being in decent shape than some crusted out G260 from 1984-91

ZF 6 speeds can be serviced @ diffsonline; full rebuild is avail.


If one is doing a gearbox on a car that needs to be reliable and the options are:

buy 30 year old g260 + spend ~1k on rebuild

or spend less than 1k on a 8 year old 320D transmission 6 speed shipped from europe...




I think drivegear (andrew) is popular with the Spec e30 crowd as they are forced to run the original g260 box via rules.
It should NOT be cheap; You could also ask CAtuned for gearbox rebuild service costs - they are local norcal

Just seems ridiculous to me to spend that much on a reliable G260. I'll keep my eye on a 320D trans or a complete S50 swap with a 5 speed ZF. If I were to swap in a 6 speed from a 320D, I'm assuming it would also bolt to an S50 motor, correct?

Are you also referring to ZF 5 speeds from a 320D or any ZF 5 speed in the US? I'm still learning what cars came with what transmissions but it sounds to me like almost all manual transmissions from any inline 6 car will be interchangeable with whatever setup I plan to run.

I'm aware of the angles between motors/transmissions and am a very competent fabricator so I don't mind a little custom work to make things jive well.

G260s aren't made of glass or anything. buy one with low miles, preferably with proof of functionality, then reseal it and fill it with good fluid. done. easy. it doesn't have to be any more complicated than that.


orrrrrrrr do the ZF and just pop a 24 valve in with it. swapping to that trans and not swapping engines at the same time seems like a waste of effort to me.

This is the most profound statement right here! Spending so much on a transmission swap when a complete motor/trans setup can be installed for not THAT much more. Its crazy how cheap complete cars go for on craigslist. Hell, complete M50 swaps with manual trans and ECU for less than $1000. Crazy talk :D

[Wanganstyle]

Just seems ridiculous to me to spend that much on a reliable G260. I'll keep my eye on a 320D trans or a complete S50 swap with a 5 speed ZF. If I were to swap in a 6 speed from a 320D, I'm assuming it would also bolt to an S50 motor, correct?

Are you also referring to ZF 5 speeds from a 320D or any ZF 5 speed in the US? I'm still learning what cars came with what transmissions but it sounds to me like almost all manual transmissions from any inline 6 car will be interchangeable with whatever setup I plan to run.

I'm aware of the angles between motors/transmissions and am a very competent fabricator so I don't mind a little custom work to make things jive well.



This is the most profound statement right here! Spending so much on a transmission swap when a complete motor/trans setup can be installed for not THAT much more. Its crazy how cheap complete cars go for on craigslist. Hell, complete M50 swaps with manual trans and ECU for less than $1000. Crazy talk :D

When labor costs more than parts.......parts are close to moot.

A bad cylinder head costs $1000bux++ to get over; installing a 24v is asking for a world of hurt financially if you are not ready for it. (Not hating I race a 24v e30)

All small 6 boxes share bolt pattern.

G260+m50 is something popularly r3vtarded so a m20+zf5/g250 from e36 wouldn't be any worse.


Sohc petrol and Diesel gearboxes share the same angle

Dohc petrol boxes are titilated more angle

[Hooffenstein HD]

buy from europe: 6mt from 320d e46 2005-6
swap. done

Any more info on this swap?

Other than a Gearbox what else is required?

What clutch, slave and TOB would I use? How about tailshaft/giubo? Would selector rod length be affected?

[Wanganstyle]

Any more info on this swap?

Other than a Gearbox what else is required?

What clutch, slave and TOB would I use? How about tailshaft/giubo? Would selector rod length be affected?

Everything is altered as its a 6 speed gearbox. One can easily reference e36 and e46 6mt swaps if you want to know the difference that the bmw factory does when outfitting the same chassis with 5 and 6 speed manual boxes.
Lots of data on this forum and on others.

It's a standard 6mt; garagistic, akg, uuc, make it a pretty much order and bolt in swap.

Lots of pictures online if you search; it's very logical to assemble the parts list; the only euro item is the e46 320d 6mt gearbox- obviously it's not available in the usa.

[Mpower600]

Awhile back I was having transmission problems with my getrag 260.

I then decided to swap in a ZF-S5D-310Z to my m20.

All you need is the right Pilot bearing

M3 or 328i driveshaft

and the stock e30 shift linkage and rod works fine

and of cores a custom transmission brace

the benefit of the swap was pretty good I noticed a lot more acceleration
I am also running 4.10 gear ratio witch is not recommended for hwy driving especially with the zf 5 transmission witch to my knowledge has a slightly shorter gearing than the g260

[Wanganstyle]

Awhile back I was having transmission problems with my getrag 260.

I then decided to swap in a ZF-S5D-310Z to my m20.

All you need is the right Pilot bearing

M3 or 328i driveshaft

and the stock e30 shift linkage and rod works fine

and of cores a custom transmission brace

the benefit of the swap was pretty good I noticed a lot more acceleration
I am also running 4.10 gear ratio witch is not recommended for hwy driving especially with the zf 5 transmission witch to my knowledge has a slightly shorter gearing than the g260

4.10 final + ZF5 SPEED is too short for some race tracks here; we actually dropped our race car from 4.10 to 3.91 as it suited the spread of tracks better.

For street use try a 3.15-3.46