Can I use any M52?

[Omi]

As per title, can I use 328, 528 or 728 variants as donors? Are any of the ancilliaries non-compatible? Manifolds the same?

And while I'm here, can I just confirm the M42 gearbox will fit? Spoken to a few breakers today who have taken BMWs to bits for years and they said they were completely different bell-housings... But then they also said they had an Alusil M52 in stock.

Bloody retards!

[Jhonno]

yes you can use any, as i said, make sure you get all the ews and ecu etc off the same vehicle!!!

i think its the m40 box that will fit according to Andyboy, could be a little marginal with some abuse, i think its only rated to 200lbft.. but will do the job..

do a quick search in this forum..

[Jhonno]

bollocks, cant find it.. tho i did find a thread saying an m40 box doesnt fit on an m20 so therefore shouldnt fit on an m52. maybe it was an m42 box

[DanThe]

It is supposidly an M42 box that fits. The bread man has a couple I think

[12345kevin]

Ant was sayingto me that an m40 will fit straight on, along with the rad aswell.

[Omi]

I understand M40/42/50/52 bell housing pattern is interchangeable, M20 is the same, but canted 15 degrees? There's pics on a recent thread.

[Jhonno]

yeah that sounds right.. i know the m40/42 box sits at the right angle anyways

[toby]

Here's the thread you're talking about, I think.
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=50014

It mentions M50 but M52 is same process, I believe.

[JungleGus]

I understand M40/42/50/52 bell housing pattern is interchangeable, M20 is the same, but canted 15 degrees? There's pics on a recent thread.

this man is right....have done em all

[fowler]

An M20 box can fit on a M52 Phone A-tech for specialist parts required... or me

[Andyboy]

It will fit but it's not at the right angle. The best box is the unit on early H plate 520i and 525i cars - it's an overdrive unit just like an E30 325i box but has the bellhousing bolt pattern moved round 15 degrees. The biggest problem is finding one as they were only used for a couple of months before the E36 box was used.

E34 518i M40 box is ideal as is the 318iS E30 box.

[e30m3s50b32]

the e30 M3 dog leg box can be addapted to fit, i recall mosely motorsport did it a few years back .

there's an other option for you.

[Ant]

Dog leg box leaves you with the same issues as the ZF units though, too low a final drive ratio

Popping the M20 Getrag unit on is not a nightmare, and means the stock prop and diff can remain.

[Omi]

So I'll just keep the M42 drivetrain with my medium case diff for now.

Still struggling to find a dressed, non-nikasil engine with loom/boxes/ID/history for less than £1k!

[Andyboy]

the e30 M3 dog leg box can be addapted to fit, i recall mosely motorsport did it a few years back .

there's an other option for you.

A waste of time though - the ratios aren't much (if any) better than a regular £50 E36 box which bolts straight on at the right angle. The M3 box will bolt on but only with an early US 528e bellhousing which, like M20 boxes, will still be 15 degrees out. That's not a huge issue as the mounts can be played with as can the gearchange.

[Andyboy]

Still struggling to find a dressed, non-nikasil engine with loom/boxes/ID/history for less than £1k!

Talk to Ste, he buys them for £300........

Don't be put off by Nikasil. Anything that still works after this time will still be okay - and a lot less money too.

[e30m3s50b32]

agreed that its not the best box to use, it was just an example that it can be used with the right bell housing ( in racing/track use the dog leg has its advantages)

anyway back to my original post which was the options of gear boxes available to work on the m50, getting the box to work is not a drama or problem as its has been done in the past as stated.

but rather than mess around with gear boxes and linkages etc and trying to find the right bell housing, would it not be simpler to change the final drive for the taller ratio..........

with so many of the M3 track day drivers, they often end up using 3.64/3.91 differential, so there is a plentifull supply of 3.15/3.25's and of course they come on the Z3 as well in a suitable ratio.

[DanThe]

there is a plentifull supply of 3.15/3.25's and of course they come on the Z3 as well in a suitable ratio.

Yeah, they also come with a nice price tag!!

[Andyboy]

but rather than mess around with gear boxes and linkages etc and trying to find the right bell housing, would it not be simpler to change the final drive for the taller ratio..........

Just use an early 24v E34 box. It is the same size as the E30 box (it looks identical) and you can use a standard E30 prop. Finding one is hard but not impossible. I'm buying up the ones I can find........

[e30m3s50b32]

DanThe , yes they do come at a price, but i would pay £300 for the solution and not spend my time messing with an m20 type gear box and bell housings or looking for an m20 box to fit with the right ratios

just use the m50 gearbox from the e36 and pay the price for the diff ??

i'm all for new ideas and exploring options, but when there is a bolt in option that works why persist with an m20 box to keep a final drive ? if you have a 3.64/3.91 LSD that can be sold and off set the cost of the 3.15/3.25 LSD to suit the m50/e36 gear box

time is money

[1an]

nice overdrive box on my dads m50 means dont have to pay mega money for an m3 diff.