240/5-260/5 tranny swap

[wideminer]

OK, so no input on the " Pops out of first" post. I want to put a 260/5 in my 1991 318is. I know about the flywheel, starter, T.O. bearing stuff. What about the driveline? Will my driveshaft bolt right up to the new tranny?

[1991 E30 M42]

You may need to use the m20 drive shaft if the m42 drive shaft doesn't collapse enough. There is someone on here that has done it, possibly Rob E30

[DesktopDave]

I was looking at realoem.com, other than maybe length and a funny vibration damper on the m42 the driveshafts look the same.  I have a 325is and a 318i, I'll go measure lengths of the m20 and m42 shafts and let you know.  I have to swap the diff anyway, this'll get me motivated.  Could this tranny swap be an easy way to get a single-mass flywheel into the 318i?

[wideminer]

The 240/5 that's in the car won't stay in first very well. The lighter flywheel is a plus also.

[Jimmy Lewis]

You will also need the 325i shift linkage, carrier and selector rod. I would imagine a tranny swap being pretty similar to a clutch swap, so it really wouldn't be any different, just sourcing more parts.

[DesktopDave]

Well, I got the diff out, but there's so much stuff to get out of the way on my 318.  The shafts are same from the back, but I'm still not sure they're the same length.  I'll keep you up to date on developments.

If you swap the trannys, are you sure the clutch & plate are the same thickness?  I'm told that the flywheel ring gear & starter have different gears, but I'd figure there might be other differences like a shorter/longer bellhousing or gear selector lever already mentioned.

[DesktopDave]

The transmissions are definitely different lengths, the 260 looks a few inches longer.  So you'll need the shorter M20 drive shaft at a minimum.