525e gearbox

[Stonkin]

Hi, i know someone breaking a 525e manual. Will this gearbox be ok to use with my 325i? Is it the same as a 325 gearbox?

Cheers

[sweep]

They didnt come in manual,i have a early gearbox from a e30 or a e28 1987 520i gearbox.

[Stonkin]

Ok mate thanks, didnt realise that. The 325 manual touring boxes, they have different ratios to the saloon?

[jmc330i]

They didnt come in manual,i have a early gearbox from a e30 or a e28 1987 520i gearbox.

I'm fairly sure the 525e did come with a 5spd manual. The ratios however won't be any good for a 325i unless you fit the E28 diff as well.

[snakebrain]

I'm fairly sure the 525e did come with a 5spd manual. The ratios however won't be any good for a 325i unless you fit the E28 diff as well.

Nope, definitely auto only. Plenty were converted but none came that way from the factory.

[pacerpete]

525Es WERE available as manual but not in the UK. I fragged a Swiss one many years ago.

[jmc330i]

The one I drove was definitely a manual and a lefty, so that explains that

[Andyboy]

The manual 525e box is the same basic Getrag 260 as used in the pre 1988 steel bumper 325i and 323i and has the same ratios - 3.83, 2.20, 1.40, 1.00 and 0.81.
It must have the two holes in the bellhousing for the sensors though.

[Stonkin]

Cheers guys, forget the 525e box Is the touring box useable with the 325i coupe, i'm sure i have read the final drive ratio is lower?

[Brianmoooore]

Touring box is exactly the same as a saloon box - will either be standard ratios, or, very rarely a close ratio box.
Final drive is nothing to do with the gearbox in any 'proper' car, except the few with rear transaxles.

[snakebrain]

The manual 525e box is the same basic Getrag 260 as used in the pre 1988 steel bumper 325i and 323i and has the same ratios - 3.83, 2.20, 1.40, 1.00 and 0.81.
It must have the two holes in the bellhousing for the sensors though.

That's the way to convert one then? Good E28s are getting thin on the ground, and a lot of the cleanest ones are (undesirable) 525e autos. Can't you put a 325i head on too to make it a bit feistier? That would be a nice car..

[e21Jason]

The bell housing from the 528e will be worth more than the box as it lets you put a 265 on the back of an m20

[daimlerman]

The manual 525e box is the same basic Getrag 260 as used in the pre 1988 steel bumper 325i and 323i and has the same ratios - 3.83, 2.20, 1.40, 1.00 and 0.81.
It must have the two holes in the bellhousing for the sensors though.

That's the way to convert one then? Good E28s are getting thin on the ground, and a lot of the cleanest ones are (undesirable) 525e autos. Can't you put a 325i head on too to make it a bit feistier? That would be a nice car..

Better way is a 730 head from a 320/520,match the ports to a 325i inlet/throttle body/AFM and you leap from 140(ish)bhp to about 175bhp...better with the later motronic 1.3 and a suitable chip/re-map,of course.

[Andyboy]

Even better, leave it alone and enjoy the lovely splodge of torque they have. With a manual box, a 525e is very nice to drive with lots of lazy grunt. They are not slow. They are also very economical.
Or, spend lots of time and money pissing about with it and end up with something that's a bit like a 528i but not as good.

[jmc330i]

The manual 525e box is the same basic Getrag 260 as used in the pre 1988 steel bumper 325i and 323i and has the same ratios - 3.83, 2.20, 1.40, 1.00 and 0.81.
It must have the two holes in the bellhousing for the sensors though.

Doesn't the 525e run something like a 2.9-3.1:1 ratio diff? I tried my 325i with a 3.15:1 ratio diff and it wasn't much fun.
I guess that's one way of improving the economy of a 525 though.

[Stonkin]

Has been interesting to read the 525e stuff. Cheers Brian, have ordered the Touring box

[daimlerman]

The manual 525e box is the same basic Getrag 260 as used in the pre 1988 steel bumper 325i and 323i and has the same ratios - 3.83, 2.20, 1.40, 1.00 and 0.81.
It must have the two holes in the bellhousing for the sensors though.

Doesn't the 525e run something like a 2.9-3.1:1 ratio diff? I tried my 325i with a 3.15:1 ratio diff and it wasn't much fun.
I guess that's one way of improving the economy of a 525 though.

525e was just a little bit different,BMW's early '80's take on an economical 4/5 seater cruiser.Contempary road testers found 35/38mpg...came with the first E/H (electro/hydrolic) autobox in the UK.Even today,a decent one will more than keep up with traffic and return decent fuel consumption.

These days,the same buyers are putting their cash into turbo-diesel engined cars.

[Andyboy]

Doesn't the 525e run something like a 2.9-3.1:1 ratio diff? I tried my 325i with a 3.15:1 ratio diff and it wasn't much fun.

2.93 on early ones and 3.07 later on. Very tall gearing at around 33mph/1000 in fifth but the 525e engine develops it's torque at 1500-3000 rpm and is out of puff by 4500. I converted a 525e to manual last year and it was just lovely to drive. That drivetrain in an E30 would be even better and you'd get 40mpg or very close on a steady run.