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E30 M52 Convertion with 318IS Gearbox. Good or Bad?
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 8:16 pm
by podiumprep
Hi all,
In the next month or so I will be starting to convert are E30 325 I Sport in to an M52 plant. I've been reading around and believe some of you guys have fitted 318IS gearboxes, I know they fit straight in but my concern is are they up to the job? The car will be used only on track and will get some punishment so I need something reliable.
So is a 318is box up to the job or is there something better suited?
Your thoughts and advice is most welcome.
Re: E30 M52 Convertion with 318IS Gearbox. Good or Bad?
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 8:21 pm
by eko
M42 box is upto the job,plenty on here using it.
Re: E30 M52 Convertion with 318IS Gearbox. Good or Bad?
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 8:37 pm
by podiumprep
Good good thats what i like to hear.....
Anyone running big power with these boxes in? Not that i intend to go past the 260bhp mark.
Re: E30 M52 Convertion with 318IS Gearbox. Good or Bad?
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 10:25 pm
by E30BeemerLad
I'm probably running about 220+bhp and give the box a hard life, including about 40+ passes down the 1/4 mile with it and no problems
Re: E30 M52 Convertion with 318IS Gearbox. Good or Bad?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:20 am
by Green
Get a lot of abuse from me on the road, very up to the job with no issues so far.
Re: E30 M52 Convertion with 318IS Gearbox. Good or Bad?
Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 3:46 am
by e30-EVN
Been giving mine a hidin for months now and no issue whatsoever....
My only issue transmision wise is the crapy luk clutch I fitted to save money!! Slips from time to time
Sachs next time, but the box...... If 1 can stand up to me it will stand up to a lot
Re: E30 M52 Convertion with 318IS Gearbox. Good or Bad?
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:45 am
by podiumprep
Thanks for the feed back guys. I see alot of yours are road based cars, do we know of anyone using the boxes for Racing or Rallying? We've had one in the past and 2nd gear sync wasnt great, is that a common thing?
Andy
Re: E30 M52 Convertion with 318IS Gearbox. Good or Bad?
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:56 am
by DanThe
There are a lot of track day E30's using iS box with the 2.8, ive never heard of one failing, they can whine and be a bit shit to engage but thats what you get with unknown 20 year old gearbox's
Ive always used the M52 box on my cars because its newer, less likely to leak and is also a ZF box rather than Getrag
Re: E30 M52 Convertion with 318IS Gearbox. Good or Bad?
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:43 pm
by Bob_S
mine leaked all its oil out, it whined, 2nd was horrendous but it saw off 3 diffs
Re: E30 M52 Convertion with 318IS Gearbox. Good or Bad?
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:14 pm
by podiumprep
Bob_S wrote:mine leaked all its oil out, it whined, 2nd was horrendous but it saw off 3 diffs
Thats good going!! What diffs were they?
Still looking at different gearbox choices at the mo.
Re: E30 M52 Convertion with 318IS Gearbox. Good or Bad?
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:16 pm
by podiumprep
DanThe wrote:
Ive always used the M52 box on my cars because its newer, less likely to leak and is also a ZF box rather than Getrag
Am i right in saying you use the same E30 gearbox mounts for these?