E28 dogleg box question

[MattTheHat325]

A mate of mine has just bought a dogleg box for his 86/87 m535i, but has come across a niggle.

The existing gearbox has crank sensors in the bell housing, and the dogleg doesn't. However, the original box does not have a detachable bell housing so he can't swap them over. The dog leg doesn't have the castings either, for location of the sensors, but It does have a speedo drive. He was told it was e28 but had 635 written on it in White pen so could well be e24, if that makes a difference? The dogleg is dated '83.

Anyone got any idea what box he's got here and how can he get around the crank sensor problem?

Matt

[snakebrain]

There is an answer, but I don't know it! Cecotto479 is your man, or baveria30si on bmw5.

[bmw-mad]

sounds like he has a e12/e24 based dogleg gearbox

which are different as they are cable driven

[e21Jason]

Yes early dogleg box,so he needs the bell housing of a later one or swap to e34 motronic on the engine which is run of the crank sensor.

Or flog the box on 02forum.co.uk as they will pea themselves over the speedo drive and buy another box.

[MattTheHat325]

Thanks for that guys, so what is the availability like of the later bell housing? And where do the crank sensor go with the e34 set up?

[Andyboy]

You will struggle to find a bellhousing without the £400 gearbox attached. If it's E12 or early E24 it'll probably be shagged out anyway. They're nasty old things and the overdrive 260 is vastly better.

[cecotto479]

He'd probably be better selling that box and buying another one with the correct bellhousing. He should also probably try a dogleg equipped car before swapping from an overdrive box to the dogleg.

It's noisy - particularly in neutral at idle and I find the change obstructive. It's plain unpleasant at motorway speeds and almost all need rebuilt. Only worthwhile in a track car.

IMO the best gearbox mated to the M30 is the switchable auto.

For the Motronic swap, it has been detailed on mye28.com. Best done with a complete b35 swap or at lest a head swap to get the benefit of the bigger valves and exhaust manifold.

For an E28 you're looking for parts from an '88/'89 E24 with the B35 fitted. That'll let you fit the ECU inter right place.

I'll have what you need for the conversion if you decide to go ahead with it.

[MattTheHat325]

Thanks for the input guys, I think he's going to sell the dogleg now. It's a real tidy car and he doesn't want to mess about with it too much. He sends his thanks for the advice!