pre 4/86 versus post 5/86

[fcsteve]

i have been searching for a while and i posted it on another forum but i havnt found an exact answer.

is the only difference between the earlier getrag 260's the clutch and flywheel or is it more ?

if it is just the clutch/flywheel can i buy an older tranny and put the newer clutch and flywheel on it and have it work like the post 5/86's ?

[MR 325]

I believe the shifter design was also changed then.

[fcsteve]

is there anything besides the linkage that i couldnt just swap onto the older tranny's ? im asking all this cuz i can get the older tranny's for under $125, but the 87-91 tranny's are gonna cost me around 300.

[fcsteve]

nobody knows .. or nobody feels like sharing ?

[RickSloan]

i have 2 post 5/86 tranny's if you would like one of those. where in PA?

I'll meet you somewhere near the middle in price.

NVMD you said 260 my bad...

but actually where are you finding these trannys? cause i need one!

[JoeP]

Clutch and flywheel are different. You have to watch the mount points on the older transmissions. Most early transmissions, depending on when they were made, don't have the mounting ears for the newer aluminum shifter console. Just look at your shifter console mount point on your transmissions and check the replacement to see if it's the same. Everything else should work without an issue. Personally, I'd get the early flywheel and clutch since it would be a single mass unit. Then you could dump the dual mass flywheel you have now.

[fcsteve]

i have 2 post 5/86 tranny's if you would like one of those. where in PA?

I'll meet you somewhere near the middle in price.

NVMD you said 260 my bad...

but actually where are you finding these trannys? cause i need one!

http://www.mypartshop.com/

thats where you can buy them. but i try and avoid buying anything for anybody's selling price. so far i have been getting everything out of the junkyard. best find so far was my 95' vanos m50 with only 115000 miles on it and it was taken to the dealer for every repair until it got totaled. best $204 i ever spent (that price included everything, motor, alternator, ps pump, starter, exhaust manifolds and the fuel pump)

harry's you pull it in allentown or hazelton is where i have gotten everything i have so far.

[fcsteve]

Clutch and flywheel are different. You have to watch the mount points on the older transmissions. Most early transmissions, depending on when they were made, don't have the mounting ears for the newer aluminum shifter console. Just look at your shifter console mount point on your transmissions and check the replacement to see if it's the same. Everything else should work without an issue. Personally, I'd get the early flywheel and clutch since it would be a single mass unit. Then you could dump the dual mass flywheel you have now.

ya. thats what im going to do. i knew the flywheel/clutch assembly was different. but i wasnt sure if it wiould swap to an older tranny.

what i really wanna do is buy an older tranny from a pre 4/86 and buy everything new for it, master/slave cylinders, clutch from a post 5/86, pressure plate etc.

but i need to know if it would work first. cuz if i buy that all and put it all on and then go to start the motor after the swap and it has to all be removed because it doesnt work right, or doesnt grab or something stupid.

[JoeP]

The only difference with the older transmissions is the mount points for the shifter console. If you buy an early one that doesn't have the newer style console mount, you will need the complete sheet metal mount as well. It's not just "linkage", it's the entire mount and hardware. The transmission will bolt right up and be exactly like your old one. Hope this answers your question. By the way, where in PA are you. Harry's U-Pull It in Hazelton is a great yard. I've found some great stuff there as well and the prices are very reasonable.

[fcsteve]

The only difference with the older transmissions is the mount points for the shifter console. If you buy an early one that doesn't have the newer style console mount, you will need the complete sheet metal mount as well. It's not just "linkage", it's the entire mount and hardware. The transmission will bolt right up and be exactly like your old one. Hope this answers your question. By the way, where in PA are you. Harry's U-Pull It in Hazelton is a great yard. I've found some great stuff there as well and the prices are very reasonable.

i live in bethlehem.

[JoeP]

Harry's U-Pull It has a yard in Allentown I haven't been there, but Hazelton is a great yard. Low prices, and they run monthly specials, I think $35 for a transmission, every week. Check the website:

http://www.wegotused.com/harrys.htm

[fcsteve]

Harry's U-Pull It has a yard in Allentown I haven't been there, but Hazelton is a great yard. Low prices, and they run monthly specials, I think $35 for a transmission, every week. Check the website:
http://www.wegotused.com/harrys.htm

i know. i live near the allentown one, its like a 2 minute ride. they know my name when go. the allentown yard only has 5 bimmers. all 3 harry's yards have the monthly specials. i havnt been to the one in pennsburg tho. i print out all 3 specials papers every month. then i go look for parts when its the cheapest. :up:

[JoeP]

Hazelton gets it's share of BMW's. The most I've see at one time was seven 3ers. Plus the occational 5 and 7. I think it's the biggest yard out of the three. Things get picked over pretty quick though. And some jerk takes all the keys! I had to pass on a nice Mtech 1 steering wheel because there wasn't a key. Oh well, good luck.

[fcsteve]

Hazelton gets it's share of BMW's. The most I've see at one time was seven 3ers. Plus the occational 5 and 7. I think it's the biggest yard out of the three. Things get picked over pretty quick though. And some jerk takes all the keys! I had to pass on a nice Mtech 1 steering wheel because there wasn't a key. Oh well, good luck.

the hazleton one is the biggest by far. they have more bmw's then any of the other yards. and you can bust out the key section of the column and use a screw driver to release the lock. i had to do it to get a steering wheel from harry's in allentown cuz someone took the key.