5 spd swap

[JodyStevens]

So my euro 528i has a 4 speed manual

I pulled a 5spd sport transmission from an e28. A 525e I think?
I was planning on putting it in my e12, but I am unsure of what is all required. I think it'll bolt to the m30, but I haven't verified that yet.

This is was the FAQ says is required:
1) transmision,
1.5) Motronic bellhousing & flywheel if planning to go Motronic
2) driveshaft,
3) shifter w/ mountings,
4) speedo cable,
5) crossmember and mounts,
6) Some Redline MTL to fill the new trans. (It makes a difference.)

-I have a trans
-not going motronic so no problem.
-I am kicking myself for not taking the driveshaft. Do I need it in my situation?
-I have a short shifter
-will the speedo cable work from the 4spd? I may have one from an e28 anyways.
-I have the crossmember and mounts.
-Fluid is no problem


So my main question is do I have to get that 525e driveshaft, what is the difference between the 4spd driveshaft? Length/Flange?

[Blaise]

So my euro 528i has a 4 speed manual

I pulled a 5spd sport transmission from an e28. A 525e I think?
I was planning on putting it in my e12, but I am unsure of what is all required. I think it'll bolt to the m30, but I haven't verified that yet.

This is was the FAQ says is required:
1) transmision,
1.5) Motronic bellhousing & flywheel if planning to go Motronic
2) driveshaft,
3) shifter w/ mountings,
4) speedo cable,
5) crossmember and mounts,
6) Some Redline MTL to fill the new trans. (It makes a difference.)

-I have a trans
-not going motronic so no problem.
-I am kicking myself for not taking the driveshaft. Do I need it in my situation?
-I have a short shifter
-will the speedo cable work from the 4spd? I may have one from an e28 anyways.
-I have the crossmember and mounts.
-Fluid is no problem


So my main question is do I have to get that 525e driveshaft, what is the difference between the 4spd driveshaft? Length/Flange?

I am not sure about the driveshaft length, but it is my understanding that the E28 does not use a speedo cable like the E12 (though you state that you have an E28 cable). This is the reason why most look for a late E12 (1980-1981) 5 speed.

[JodyStevens]

Must be an e12 Speedo I have then. I basically just went to a guy who had an e28 with a bunch of parts. He sold it all to me and that was included.

Also. I just pulled the engine out of the e12 and I do not remember undoing the speedo cable. Is it possible this already has motronic? How would I readily identify it as motronic/l jetronic?

Actually, thinking back, Im sure that I undid an electrical hookup on the side of the trans. It was a basic Bosch 2 pin plug Im pretty sure. Im going to take a better look when I get home.

[Mike W.]

Yes, you need a transmission with speedo cable capabilities. Which means a Getrag 265. If it came out of a 525e, it has the wrong bellhousing, but yours should fit. But that transmission was only used in '82 in eta cars. Yes, you need a different driveshaft, a 5 speed is about 4 inches longer than a 4 speed. If it came out of an E28, but is a 265, it probably doesn't have the speedo drive installed, it may need both the worm gear and the drive itself or just the drive, after you remove the plug. Most 525e/528e cars did not have the correct or an adaptable transmission.

[JodyStevens]

I just went down and looked at the transmissions that I have. I have a 265 I believe, we pulled it out of an e28 525eta for sure. Looking at where the speedo drive would go in the transmission, it appears to actually have that drive installed.
Here is a picture.

Looking at my other spare trans, it doesn't have this drive. So I'm thinking if I swap bell housings this should work in my e12. Provided I find an e28 drive shaft of course. Does it matter if its the 525eta drive shaft?

[GripGreg]

Don't narrow your search to just the E28. The drive shaft from an '80 or 81 E12 will work too; because it's a 5spd. Unless it's the 'auto tragic'!
Try some Pik-A-Part yards. You can get very lucky there. Might find the correct tranny you're lookin' for. The 265 5spd from the '80 & 81 is the one everyone is lookin' for!! It turns out to be the strongest tranny for the car.
What year car is your 265 tranny from; that might help the big dawgs here.
Good luck,,,,Greg

[JodyStevens]

Its not that I want to narrow my search, but where Im from, theres not really any choice. I know of two e12s in the entire province and I havent even seen it. I live on the east coast of Canada.

e28 are more common as in Ive seen about 8. Two in wrecking yards.

We dont have pick a parts here. You call the wrecker, he demands your arm, maybe your leg and he pulls the parts for you. You go get the parts and he collects your arm. Haha.

The transmission was from what I believe to be an '82 528e. Im not sure exactly because it was from someones half finished project and Im not sure what all was changed from original.

[GripGreg]

Jody, go to the 'For Sale' section here to find the bell housing you need.