My M20 Tranny is dying - can I install a E36 Tranny?

[65Matt]

The manual transmission in my 1989 325i is having problems:

1.I have to be very careful when shifting from 2nd to 3rd or it grinds. By careful, I mean push the clutch in all the way, hold it for a second, match revs, and baby it into 3rd.
2. It's now popping out of first gear as I'm trying to get the car moving from a stop. (Very violently)
3. The shifter is very sloppy.

Can this tranny be fixed, or is it even worth it?

Since people swap in the M50/S50 motor and keep the M20 transmission, does that mean I can just install a M50/S50 transmission with my M20 motor? (When I had my 94 325is, I loved the way the transmission shifted.)

If this swap is possible, what would I need?

[JRowe]

Your current tranny is not worth fixing. Find a replacement. You can use an e36 tranny, but it will require a different driveshaft and perhaps some other work. I'm not entirely sure becaue I've never done it. I'm just going on what I've heard on this board. I'm sure someone who has done the M50/s50 swap will chime in and answer all questions.

I would advise you to just find a good, used m20 tranny. Unless your planning an m50 swap in the future, there is no need to change trannys.

[rscheiring]

and the E36 tranny isn't exactly famous for being bulletproof...

[325 eta]

i think you can use the same driveshaft, my tranny does the same in 2nd and 4th

[Rob]

the e36 box is a lot more complicated, therefore more expensive to fix if it breaks. Find another e30 box. There was a few in the r3v classifieds recently

[Digitalwave]

E36 boxes also have different ratios, so a new diff would be in order.

[BahnE30]

6 speed in a m20 e30 would be tight as hell though

[Stu]

E36 boxes also have different ratios, so a new diff would be in order.

True. 3.25 or 3.46 would fit the bill for a 325i, but you might want to hang onto the 3.73, would be a blast.

However, why do this? The feel of the M20 tranny is great, and you'll appreciate it more during high performance driving. The Getrag 250 (E36 318/325) and the ZF 310 (E36 M3) are more prone to downshift overrevs as well.

I love the M20 tranny's. I'd suggest getting another one if I were you. Used, they run about 1/2 what a used M50 tranny will.

[Brian 89 325i]

DOG LEG DOG LEG DOG LEG. Or another run of the mill G260.

Brian

[BavarianBimmer]

Can somebody explain those codes like Getrag 240 and 260 ??
Any help would be great :roll:

[BS87]

240s were in the 4 cylinders, 260s in the 6 cylinders (i think)

[M-technik-3]

Matt, why does it grind? Have you checked the fluid levels? Are the synchros worn? What are the symptoms?

You can find trannys out there as little as $50 to $750 so spend some time and find a good yard.

[Stu]

Getrag 240 --->M42 (in E30)
Getrag 260---->M20
Getrag 250---->E36 318/325
ZF 310----->E36 M3 (and 328 i think)

I do not know what the M10 cars came with, but I recall their being a ZF tranny available. Bill may know.

[JPbmw]

what about the one in the first E34s that came out?
The ones that still had the M30 in them

[Stu]

what about the one in the first E34s that came out?
The ones that still had the M30 in them

Probably the Getrag 265 that was used in the E28 M30 cars.