Found a cheap, lower mileage 95' 325i convertible, but owner says that it pops out of 1st and Reverse, and mechanics have told him it'll needs a trans.
What kind of transmissions will bolt to this motor, and any suggestions how much to pay for a used transmission?
I think I read that most manual transmission from the M5X family are pretty interchangeable. So I think just about any E36 or E46 5 speed box you can find should bolt up. I know E36s are solidly in LeMons territory now, so it should be pretty cheap to find a replacement. It's not like E46s where people still think they're worth money, they're about at the bottom of the curve.
yes, those trans are cheap.. and relatively robust. The previous owner must have really beat on the car
I would expect $300 to $500 for a used direct replacement part, depending on mileage.
I usually get the ZF trans from the E36 M3 for $375-425. That one ought to be a getrag 250 IIRC and about $250 at the JY. You could upgrade to the ZF but I cannot recall what is involved - the trans mount, guibo and front driveshaft flange ... etc.
The last one I did I snagged the whole driveline from a 328 to put in an E30 so it all just bolted right up.
I have a 5spd from a 1994 325i with about 160k miles that I pulled in December (performing a 5.0 Ford swap). I am actually driving through your area on Friday (headed to Bowling Green for an Evo school). How far are you from rt81?
I haven't yet pulled from engine (which is on floor) but could. Occasional grind from 2nd gear, otherwise I had no issues in the 5k miles I used it for.
Oh, crap. I have one on my garage floor too... a small grind going into 5th under full load but $100 would get it off my floor (that is how much DriveGear hands out for the cores ;) ).
Funny you mention; I'm in the process of buying a rebuilt Getrag 260 from DriveGear. Great guys.
And, like everybody else in this thread apparently (other than the OP), I have a Getrag 240 out of a '94 3-series hanging around "in inventory." What is it with these things? They're like used Camry's or something.
unevolved wrote: I think I read that most manual transmission from the M5X family are pretty interchangeable. So I think just about any E36 or E46 5 speed box you can find should bolt up. I know E36s are solidly in LeMons territory now, so it should be pretty cheap to find a replacement. It's not like E46s where people still think they're worth money, they're about at the bottom of the curve.
I don't see many people letting E36s go for quite that low a price, but I am starting to see some high mileage E46 323s for around $2K
I blew 2nd in an early Getrag 250. I broke the mounting tabs off my original one, but the second gear synchros were weak in that one. I've since swapped to a ZF from a 328 convertible, which is very nice. You need the drive shaft, flex disk, and shifter stuff to swap to a ZF. I bought mine for $50 from LKQ self-serve during a 50% off sale.
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