M30 on a budget, transmission questions.

[78gizmo]

Hi, have just had a read of the M30 thread, which was very useful. It says some M10 gearboxes will fit, is there a way of telling which? The reason is i have been offered a 535i very cheap, but it is an auto. The car i want to fit it to is Manual 318i '86 M10. If the engine will fit to my cars existing transmission without too many headaches then i will get stuck in, but i am on a severe budget, so if i need to source an M30 manual box, new prop etc then i will have to give it a miss this time. Any help or ideas on other bits i will need to complete the conversion would be much appreciated! I will have the complete 535i to source bits from.

[SPADGE]

My advice would be to find a cheap e34 manual as a donor car it'll be cheaper in the long run!

[Gunni]

Agree.

Buy the 535i part it.
Buy a manual one and us that.

[FormerMember]

Yes, you can use M10 gearbox but then you need M30 flywheel, clutch etc etc anyways..
Also, with M10 box the gearing ratio is way too fast to be sensible, so find manual 535 straight away, it'll be lot easier.

[Gunni]

that´s wrong. m30 flywheel doesn´t fit into the m10 gearbox.

also about the m10 box gearing.

[johnl320]

Gunni know, he's done it.

1. M30 engine
2. M10 flywheel/clutch
3. M20 prop
4. Large case diff 3.64 from early 325i

Job done, but make it stop and make it handle first.

Thats my advice

john

[Gunni]

I used a 320i driveshaft.
I have no idea if the m10 prop will fit.

[johnl320]

oops typo edited