Gearbox to M Series engine variants?

[danlolasdad]

hi guys im relatively new to bmw so have some questions about their gearboxes the Mseries engine 40-44 im assuming all have the same bellhousing to block bolt pattern? which other engines have this pattern? and how many variants of gearox are there in the e30/36 for this series engine i hear about getrag and zf for example which is better and does either have removable bellhousing. maybe there is a definitive thread on here that i havent found. pics help too thanks everyone.

[danlolasdad]

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[romkasponka]

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Ratios for all e36 gearbox are same (except 6spd), but different if compare with E30. E36 gearbox swap is the right way if you are looking for performance. Gearbox marking like S5D 250G means 5spd and it can handle 250Nm. As I know bolt pattern is same on E30, E36 and E46 (depends from clutch size).

E36 4,24 2,52 1,66 1,22 1,00

E30   3.83 2.20 1.40 1.00 0.8

[danlolasdad]

Ratios for all e36 gearbox are same (except 6spd), but different if compare with E30. E36 gearbox swap is the right way if you are looking for performance. Gearbox marking like S5D 250G means 5spd and it can handle 250Nm. As I know bolt pattern is same on E30, E36 and E46 (depends from clutch size).

E36 4,24 2,52 1,66 1,22 1,00

E30   3.83 2.20 1.40 1.00 0.8

thanks for the reply do you mean to say all ratios are the same even for 6cyl 5spd? incl m3? except m3 6spd?

one of the reasons im asking about gearboxes is i was thinking if one had a removable bellhousing perhaps i could rotate it and reattach to stand my engine upright id fab up new mounts and sump etc i havent experimented yet i wanted some information first any sort really please feel free to post any gearbox conversion,repair mods etc etc

[DesktopDave]

Bolt patterns are the same on all the four-cyl (Getrag 240) and baby six trannies (Getrag 260).  But I thought the six-cyl trannies are "tilted" less than the Getrag 240 in my e30.  I'm also fairly sure that the four cylinders were tilted differently until the e46.  Now they're all the same, keeping the six-cylinder pattern.

 Also, the earlier G240 (e21 & '02) has a differently sized input shaft, so the pilot bushing must match.

I haven't seen any of the smaller trannies with a removable bell housing.  But I haven't seen all that many...

[dsm2002]

As I understand it and E30 and E36 M20, M4X and M5X have the same bellhousing pattern. The M20 at least the engine is tilted slightly differently. All have integral bellhousing except for the 1981 528e which has a separate bellhousing on the Getrag 265 compared to the latter Getrag 260. This is a one-year US model only, with a 2.7 eta version of the M20. The finer points of flywheel, clutch, throw-out bearing, and starter escapes me. There can be differences.

As romkasponka says 1:1 top on the E36 with the same or almost the same ratios across the board.  Of these the ZF in the 328i or M3 is the strongest. the Getrag 250 is OK. If you see a Getrag 220 which is in some markets (maybe not the US) which is usually behind a M40, run away fast.

The E30 has OD ratios in the Getrag 240 and 260. These is also the Sport gearbox option in some E30s i.e. 325iS in some markets.

 

HTH

[romkasponka]

thanks for the reply do you mean to say all ratios are the same even for 6cyl 5spd? incl m3? except m3 6spd?

one of the reasons im asking about gearboxes is i was thinking if one had a removable bellhousing perhaps i could rotate it and reattach to stand my engine upright id fab up new mounts and sump etc i havent experimented yet i wanted some information first any sort really please feel free to post any gearbox conversion,repair mods etc etc

Yes, 4-6cil ratios are the same (E36 325td have slightly longer 1st gear).

You can just cut your bell-housing and weld it on in position you need.