Dogleg Transmission Available?

verde2002

verde2002

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For no other reason than to have something different I have always wanted to swap my regular 5-speed on my coupe to a dogleg version. I was going to do this a few years ago but was advised against it by a few well respected shops. Now I am revisiting the idea and issue is I can't find any of these transmissions for sale anywhere and ones available are from Europe and shipping is an arm and a leg. They used to be available and quite cheap a few years ago. I wish I had stuck to what I wanted and bought it then. Questions I have are if I have a 5-speed swap already will this be a direct swap and more importantly does anyone have one of these transmissions laying in their garage that will be willing to let go for not much money?

Lesson learned: if you want to do something that is a bit different, go for it or you might regret missing the opportunity. :)
 
One should have bought all available Getrag 265 (dogleg or not) a few years ago. They used to be available for pennies now they´re not availbale at all.
In the Jag scene some manufacturers of manual conversion kits have seized to offer the kits for lack of availability of useable Getrag 265s.

Now if a 265 even of questionable condition does appear at all it will usually sell for 1000€ easy. Makes the P-car bubble seem harmless.

Guess I was lucky to buy a NOS 265 standard pattern for 2200€ 5 years ago...

At least someone should offer you a straight swap though. As much as I love a dogleg pattern for shifting, the 1:1 fifth gear makes the dogleg box pretty pointless in the E9. WIth a torquey M30 you really don´t need more gears between 1st and 4th. But you do need the .081 cruising gear of the standard shift 265.
The only way the dogleg box makes sense is if you build a track focussed E9 or if you put in a much longer rear diff (3.07 or such). But then you have the hassle of the speedo etc...

What´s the reason you want to go dogleg?
 
I bought a virtually new one about 15 years ago and I still enjoy it in my Coupe. It had been passed around the BMW dealers for years before that because of a warranty problem. I took a chance on it, replaced the ball bearings with upgraded ones and yes, they can still be troublesome. Sometimes the gear shift lever gets stuck between two gears and the shift lever needs more space in the shift console, than the standard 5 speed. I could see why it's not the right transmission for most people, but on my powerful car with a 3.07 gear ratio it's really nice.
 
I have a dogleg 265 in my coupe, and while it's fun to have because it's the gearbox to have, it's not all unicorns and rainbows.

It doesn't want to go into first from a roll unless double clutched, the 1-2 shift is a little ponderous, it doesn't shift well when cold, and it confuses the ever loving fook out of my friends when I let them drive it.

I was excited to have that gearbox in the car when I bought it; 6 monthsater I couldn't careless. I need a taller rear end as I skip shift all the time.
 
Have a dogled in mine, mated w/ a 3.45 lsd, makes a sporty combo, love it. Mod'd w/ the UUC short shift kit and DSSR link, its shifting feels very solid. A highly recommended upgrade that eliminates issues for both CR and OD boxes.

Granted, tranny and gearing combo is a regional set up. I raced an OD 5spd w a 3.91lsd and the 2-3-4 gears were on the slower side pulling out of corners. My combo isnt the best for interstate cruising, swappin a 3.2 or a 3.07 would be better for those long hauls. But for the mtn twisties and future track plans, the ' sport box' is awesome.

Its easier to change a diff than a tranny......

My 2cents.
 
bad news

that doesn't sound very promising.
Now I'm worried that the rebuilt CR dogleg box, new driveshaft and 3.07 LSD sitting on the floor of my barn area mistake (car has the regular 5spd OD and a 3.45 open diff).
Wonder what this setup is worth on the open market.

John
 
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