3-Series (E21, E30)Chat relating to the BMW 3-Series from 1975-1983 and 1984-1991 line. Specific models: BMW 315, BMW 316, BMW 318, BMW 318i, BMW 320/4, BMW 320i, BMW 320/6, BMW 323i, BMW 320i. E30 Family models include: BMW 325e, BMW 325i, BMW 325is, BMW 325ix.
BimmerWerkz.com is the premier BMW Forum on the internet. Registered Users do not see the above ads.
O.K., so the tailhousing thing didn't work out as planned due to an unforseen problem with the "good" tranny! To make a long story a really short one, I am now in dire need of a GOOD '87 ETA 5spd. Anyone out there have one available for a reasonable price? Please help.... need to get car off jack stands before neighbors have a major BF!
OK... I found an '87 325ic with a good 5spd.! Question is does anyone know if there is a difference in the 5spd in my '87 325e and this 325ic? I've heard that they will interchange and that they won't interchange! Starmavin, do you have any input for me on this one? I'm gonna have to pull it tomarrow if it will work and I don't want to spend a whole day in 100 degree KY humidity pulling it just to find that it won't work! PLEASE HELP!
Depends, the guibo could be different. Some of the "e" cars took the larger flex disk with 12mm bolt holes and some took the smaller flex disc with 10mm bolt holes, the convertible has the disk with 10mm bolt holes. I'm not sure but may be able to change out the output flange (you may need a special tool to do that) or you can use the convertible drive shaft, it will interchage. Other than that the trans are identical.
Thanks man that helped... I ended up getting one locally from a yard. Had the bright idea to pull it myself ! Not smart! It was 97 degrees and 80% humidity today.... no shade.... 4 HOURS.... Lots of PAIN.... $300 dollars! Just can't wait to put it in Oh by the way, any suggestions on fluid for this bad boy seeing as how I managed to spread it evenly over the entire surface of my bed liner! I couln't tell if it was ATF or regular old skunk fluid? It's for an '87 ETA 5 spd.
WOW... just noticed that Jeepman posted last at like 3:30am! Can you say insomniac! What do you have me covered with? You mean you have a tranny? Well... day late and a dollar short... story of my life! Anyhow thanks for the reply! How far are you from Louisville? Starmavin... I want to say that the label was kinda orange, but it was covered in grease so I can't say for sure. The car is about 25mi. from my house at the garage where I do all my work, so I can't look at it right now. The stuff that came out looked kinda redish purple and it seemd thicker than regular ATF but it smelled kinda like a mix of gear oil and ATF? I'll get a good look at the label tonight and let ya know, thanks!
Regular ATF, although I would suggest mecron V, it's synthetic. There are 3 types, one with red lable, one with a green lable then one with no lable. The ones with the red and the ones with out a lable take ATF. If yours had the green label then you would be in trouble, that trans takes a special mobile SHC 630 gear lube that is expensive and hard to find.
Cool... yeah it's red for sure! I think I've got some RedLine sitting around at the garage somewhere. Now all I have to do is the hard part... put it back in! Thanks for your help!
One more question. I now have a perfectly good 5spd. tranny sitting around that I would like to put on Ebay but I don't know what it fits. It's identical to the one I needed except for the top part of the tail housing. The one I needed had the shifter linkage mount at the top of it and this one doesn't. It's shifter linkage has some kind of a plate that bolts to the end of the tail housing rather than the top...When I was searching the boneyards I found lots of these but no one could tell me exactly what configuration they were supposedly out of! Anybody out there know what I'm talking about?
O.K..... I figured it out with some extensive Googling. BMW used the sheet metal bracket '86 and earlier E30's and the aluminum arm '86 and later! So the one I have is for an '86 and earlier. Thanks for all your help guys.
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
! Not smart! It was 97 degrees and 80% humidity today.... no shade.... 4 HOURS.... Lots of PAIN.... $300 dollars! 
Just can't wait to put it in
Oh by the way, any suggestions on fluid for this bad boy seeing as how I managed to spread it evenly over the entire surface of my bed liner! I couln't tell if it was ATF or regular old skunk fluid? It's for an '87 ETA 5 spd. 
What do you have me covered with? You mean you have a tranny? Well... day late and a dollar short... story of my life! Anyhow thanks for the reply! How far are you from Louisville? Starmavin... I want to say that the label was kinda orange, but it was covered in grease so I can't say for sure. The car is about 25mi. from my house at the garage where I do all my work, so I can't look at it right now. The stuff that came out looked kinda redish purple and it seemd thicker than regular ATF but it smelled kinda like a mix of gear oil and ATF? I'll get a good look at the label tonight and let ya know, thanks! 
Linear Mode
