Easy question 4 the M50 coverters

[stevetigger]

Im using the M3 propshaft......but there are two different M3 propshafts.

So the question is...........

Do you know which year M3 your Propshaft came from?

Cheers!

[stevetigger]

Has nobody done an M50 conversion then??

[charlE30]

Are you sure Steve, my ETK comes up with the same part no for both early and late M3's or did they do a strange one in the middle

[stevetigger]

Are you sure Steve, my ETK comes up with the same part no for both early and late M3's or did they do a strange one in the middle

Have a look!

Not that it matters really because I am buying the prop!

[jmc330i]

What gearbox are you using?

My M3 prop car from a 1990 M3, but that was for my S50 conversion using the E36 M3 ZF 5spd (AFAIK, same as the 328i 5spd).

Im sure if you use the E36 325i Getrag box then the E30 325i prop will be fine.

[stevetigger]

What gearbox are you using?

My M3 prop car from a 1990 M3, but that was for my S50 conversion using the E36 M3 ZF 5spd (AFAIK, same as the 328i 5spd).

Im sure if you use the E36 325i Getrag box then the E30 325i prop will be fine.

Dont say things like that! E30 M3 props cost a bomb and normal 325i props dont! The thing is, I dont yet know what gearbox it is. I have tried the part numbers in my etk and cannot find it. I dont know if Im writing down the correct number off the gearbox, but now its in the car!

Please tell me I dont need the M3 prop?

[jmc330i]

Whats the part number youve got?

[stevetigger]

Whats the part number youve got?

Cant bloody find it now! I have every part number for every part I have used and Now I cant find it! It might be on a piece of paper in the Garage! I'm going to do the school run in ten minutes, then Im going in the garage to take some photo's.....I will have a look when im in there. Hope I can find it!

[jmc330i]

Whats the part number youve got?

Cant bloody find it now! I have every part number for every part I have used and Now I cant find it!

Always the way

Ive just checked the ETK, and the 318i uses the same prop donut as the 325i, so if youve still got the donut from the 318i try and fit it to the gearbox.

If the 3 bolt holes line up you need the 325i prop, if they dont you probably need the M3 prop - the bolt holes are spaced futher apart I seem to remember.

[stevetigger]

Thats right, My prop bolts are not far enough apart for the gearbox! So I do need an M3 prop!

Its a close ratio Sport Gearbox. Did they do one for the E34?? I do think its an E34 gearbox.

[jmc330i]

The ETK lists a few gearboxes for the E34 525i M50, some are the same as the E36 325i and some the 328i.

If you can find the part number youve got, I will have a look.

[stevetigger]

Just off now down stairs!

[stevetigger]

Im back

On the gearbox it says


1221936.9
1.1 225


???

[DanThe]

Ive got an E30 325 prop on the back of my E36 325 getrag if it helps Steve,
Had to take the outer vibration dampner off though

[jmc330i]

I dont think thats a BMW part number - or atleast not one the ETK recognises.

Im just going out to check something - back in 10mins.

[DanThe]

Cant you just change the drive flange?

[jmc330i]

Ive got an E30 325 prop on the back of my E36 325 getrag if it helps Steve,

That would be right. It seems as though steve needs the M3 prop, because he has more than likely got the ZF box with the bigger output flange - just he isnt sure what car the box came from

[stevetigger]

That would be right. It seems as though steve needs the M3 prop, because he has more than likely got the ZF box with the bigger output flange - just he isnt sure what car the box came from

Very true, the output flange is the big style! The problem in the first place was the engine, it was an auto and when I bought it the guy had made it manual and he kept saying its the close ratio Sport box!

[jmc330i]

On the gearbox it says


1221936.9
1.1 225


???

Where on the gearbox are these numbers?

[DanThe]

Why dont you see if you can swap the output flange with the one on your 318 box? You will need to grind your 30mm socket down a bit

[jmc330i]

The 318i output flange may fit, but I would of thought it has a different number of splines or different sized output shaft??

I remember reading something about not being able to use the E30 325i output flange on the E36 ZF box, but I cant find the web page now. I didnt really look into it because I knew I could use the E30 M3 prop.

[stevetigger]

Where on the gearbox are these numbers?

Under where it says


=BMW=

Why dont you see if you can swap the output flange with the one on your 318 box? You will need to grind your 30mm socket down a bit

Because 318i Gearbox is long gone to pay for the M50

[jmc330i]

Does it say anything above the =BMW=?

My 325i sport box has Getrag printed above there, but I cant get under my Sport to check the ZF box.

[stevetigger]

Does it say anything above the =BMW=?

My 325i sport box has Getrag printed above there, but I cant get under my Sport to check the ZF box.

Cant see that far up, the gearbox is in the car! I will look tomorrow, my chest still hurts for crawling under a car NOT jacked up! I crawled in under the front!



But to be honest I think it says getrag too.

[jmc330i]

Cant see that far up, the gearbox is in the car!

Not sure what the clearance is like with the M50, but you may be able to see it from the top - it should be below and a little bit back from the 'bulge' in the bellhousing for the starter motor.

But to be honest I think it says getrag too.

Looks a bit blue under there - is that an E30 colour??


If your output flange is the larger sort, I would of thought you have the ZF box, not the Getrag. A quick measurement of my E30 325i donut shows (very roughly) a 67mm distance between the centres of 2 bolt holes, this should be the same as your 318i donut.

I cant measure the one on my E36 box as its all fitted to the car, but it will be larger than the E30 325i one.
If you can get to the output flange on your gearbox, have a check of the measurements.

[stevetigger]

Was sumit like 8cm if I remember! between the bolts!

Does that sound right, Also Im sure thats where I was looking.....Just in front or behind(however you look at it) the starter motor "buldge"



Is that not the right place to look??

[jmc330i]

'Getrag' should be in quite big letters, about 1cm-1.5cm high somewhere around here (amazing photo edit alert!).....


I think I know the number you found in the circle - I have a number there on my E30 325i box, but its not a part number I can find anywhere.

8cm sounds like you will need the E30 M3 prop. I will have a go at measuring mine when I get back from work tomorrow morning - its a bit dark now and Im not sure if I can get to it or not, but I will have a go.

[stevetigger]

So what do you want me to look for where you have arrowed??

To see if it says a number?

[jmc330i]

Im guessing it will say 'Getrag' or 'ZF', something along those lines. I dont think there are any numbers there, but if you see any they might help ID the gearbox.

I will have a go at measuring my E30 M3 prop/E36 Gearbox output tomorrow morning when I get home.

I better get going now or Im going to be late for work again

[jmc330i]

Right. My new trolley jack doesnt fit under the E30 - bugger

Like you I crawled under the car without it jacked up and it really does hurt

Anyway, the bolt holes on my mine are 8.5cm apart centre to centre. That might be a couple mm out, but I was looking at an angle and couldnt see the tape measure very well.

Going by your measurements and the fact your 318i donut wouldnt fit, I would say 99.9% that you need the E30 M3 prop.

I still have no idea what gearbox you have though

[stevetigger]

Nothing there,










What Ive been doing so far is........On my ETK

Putting in different models and then trying the part number!

[stevetigger]

Maybe its a fake gearbox?

[jmc330i]

Maybe its a fake gearbox?

Damn those things

Looking at the output flange in the pic, I would be pretty much positive to say that you need the E30 M3 prop. It looks the same as the one on my E36 M3 5spd, and thats the same output flange as the 328i and the E34s Ive looked at on the ETK.

Sorry, but I still have no idea on the gearbox though

[stevetigger]

The closest number so far is the E34 M5

Which is also the same as a E34 525i years 09/90 to 01/92

part no. 1221859

My part No. is 1221936

[DanThe]

That gearbox is much bigger than my standard E36 325 box Steve,
So is the output flange (but you allready know that)