will a m20 tranny work with an m30???

[chris_e34]

m20 :

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...97&hg=23&fg=05

m30 :

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...99&hg=23&fg=05

I am thinking about buying a 325 i can get a great deal on. i have a m30 sitting around i was thinking of throwing in. I have an auto tranny to go with it but i want the car to remain manual. it looks like the m30 engine would bolt right up to the m20 manual tranny. but since the m30 is a stronger engine would it be to much for the tranny. please educate me. thanks

[chris_e34]

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/m...178720603.html

forgot to post the link to the 325 in question.

and the m30 is from a 1990 535i, production date of late 89. i dont knwo the exact month.

[Reckless_Kelly]

AFAIK, the tranny will mount up to the motor fine, but I don't think that you can get the motor in an E30 chassis. IIRC, the m20 is very close to the radiator in the 325, and the M30 is about 4" longer than the M20, not to mention 57lbs. heavier, which might require stiffer front springs (assuming that everything fit).

[Toomas]

M30b34 conversions have been done to e30 a million times, it will fit there, i think you need customs engine mounts tho.
Even V12 has been put to e30, its little more rare tho.
And extra 57lbs to front axle shouldnt be a problem.

[Kalevera]

Completely different bellhousing, and the Getrag 260 variants found in every E30 325 that I can think of have the bellhousing integrated into the front half of the case (which can be pressed off, but the correct M30 bellhousing would be needed, which means you'd need a trans). There are a bunch of threads on the topic. But the short answer is that M30/M20 transmissions do not interchange, although there are some technicalities.

Most people who do the 335 conversion use the E34 B35 engine and transmission. One reason why E34 535 G260/6 transmissions are relatively expensive on the used market.

best, whit

[chris_e34]

just to clarify, the engine i want to put in the e30 is a m30b35. the tranny i want to run it with is:
01 RMFD-FIVE SPEED (OVERDRIVE) TRANSMISSION 260/5.15-TNW 06/1988 23001221205

M30b34 conversions have been done to e30 a million times, it will fit there, i think you need customs engine mounts tho.
Even V12 has been put to e30, its little more rare tho.
And extra 57lbs to front axle shouldnt be a problem.

....i am using the m30b35 from an e34 535i. anyone know of any good refurbished transmission sources, or a used tranny that will work (manual of course) thanks. (the classified section on this site does not have anything suitable)