Is full conversion kit for Getrag 265 offered by anyone here?

Zibsnis

Zibsnis

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Hi! I am planning to make conversion from auto 3-speed BW65 to manual 5-speed Getrag 265 on my 1972 3.0 CSA. Is there anyone who offers full kit, prefferably in Europe, and/or any assumptions by those who did it, how much would it cost finally?
 
Bimmerdoc.com

La Jolla Independent BMW can give you a list of all the parts you need and supply many of them. Bimmerdoc.com.

Do you have a good 265 that you know works well?
That is the first hurdle. Good ones are getting harder to find. If you pull one from a non-running car, you may have no idea if it really shifts well until you are done.

Conversion from an automatic will require pedals and also a new center console cover, and these latter pieces are getting more rare. I believe coupeking can supply the console piece, but expect to pay.

Not trying to be discouraging, but I would expect conversion cost in the US to exceed 5K dollars. Just being realistic. Conversion from 4 to five speed is a lot simpler, IF you know the 5 speed you have works well and does not need to be rebuilt.

Scott
 
Invaluable 5 speed conversion reading/info by Carl Nelson of La Jolla Independent. http://www.e9coupe.com/tech/5speed.html

Don't believe there is a full conversion kit available, but sourcing all the necessary parts should not be that difficult. I did a manual conversion on my 1st CS in the late 1980's and it was about $3500 back then, so the current cost estimate is probably in the $5000 neighborhood.
 
craterface said:
La Jolla Independent BMW can give you a list of all the parts you need and supply many of them. Bimmerdoc.com.

Do you have a good 265 that you know works well?
That is the first hurdle. Good ones are getting harder to find. If you pull one from a non-running car, you may have no idea if it really shifts well until you are done.

Conversion from an automatic will require pedals and also a new center console cover, and these latter pieces are getting more rare. I believe coupeking can supply the console piece, but expect to pay.

Not trying to be discouraging, but I would expect conversion cost in the US to exceed 5K dollars. Just being realistic. Conversion from 4 to five speed is a lot simpler, IF you know the 5 speed you have works well and does not need to be rebuilt.

Scott
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i believe Scott hit it on the head. perhaps somethings are more available in Europe than in the the US. not only is it getting harder to find the getrag 5 speed but even harder with the speedo drive in it.

does anybody know if the pedal box is the same between an e3 and an e9? that would be incredibly helpful if that was the case ... doubtful, but i thought i would put it out there.
 
HB Chris said:
Part numbers are unique
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I believe my auto to 5-speed conversion is using a clutch and brake pedal from an E3.

If I remember correctly, the box doesn't need replacing. The two pedals (clutch/brake) go in place where the single large brake pedal used to. Together, they are the same width as the single pedal where they actually mount.

-S
 
I'm trying to figure out how this costs $5,000 when one can purchase a complete 528i for $1,000 or less. Does that include labor?
 
I am about to do this. I sourced a used Getrag 265, shifter platform and shifter and pedals, then bought the rest from Carl Nelson. Of the stuff I got from Carl, the clutch master and drive shaft are both rebuilds.

I have something around $2k in parts; plan to do the install myself.
 
Ohmess said:
I am about to do this. I sourced a used Getrag 265, shifter platform and shifter and pedals, then bought the rest from Carl Nelson. Of the stuff I got from Carl, the clutch master and drive shaft are both rebuilds.

I have something around $2k in parts; plan to do the install myself.
Click to expand...


That sounds about right to me. Even with a rebuilt trans, $3,500 would be reasonable. I suppose $1,500 in labor makes sense. As the article indicated, this is an easy job.
 
Total novice advice

I have probably mentioned many times that Carls Quote; "Now that you have your beautiful machine in a million pieces, most of which you never thought you would see out of the vehicle, take a good rest. Let your nerves recover. It will be a BMW again." was the deciding factor on weather I would try this conversion at all-alone or with help.

The parts list is in Carl's letter- follow his advice- you will not go wrong! So I add my little ditty below for those on the edge.. or ledge.

The process really is not complex but you would be much better off if you have a lift because it takes the pain and danger out of the equation. With a lift you can really explore your "inner mechanic". If you do not have a lift you might try something in-between, source and collect all the parts and know exactly how they need to go together and then negotiate with a good mechanic to do the grunt work- ON A LIFT. I think that would bring the price down considerably as even a really good mechanic would likely do the job for under 1K. Also, you might make yourself available as a runner in case there are some bolts missing or fluid is needed etc. It might help to know where a "Fastenall" shop is in the area but try to get everything beforehand. Remember you will need lots of brake fluid, and a line from the fluid bottle to the master then to the slave etc, and you should use the same fluid that is already in the system- go over it again and again so you'll know how everything goes- every wrong move costs $.

Of course if you have a lift you can make lots of mistakes and none will be the wiser :-)
 
Replacing the trans on your back under the car on jack stands is no fun! it is not easy to align with the bell housing or if bell housing is attached to align it with the block. Ask me how I know.
 
I took the easy way out, I had VSR do my 4-speed to 5-speed swap over the winter. This was a project beyond my capabilities even with a home lift. I find comfort in knowing it was done right and enjoyed paying them to do it.
 
I used the stick pedals out of a rotted out 73 Bavaria when I converted my 72 coupe. What I can’t remember is if I used the Bavaria pedal box or just put the pedals in the coupe pedal box, but I can say for sure I didn’t have to buy anything from the dealer, all the pieces came from the Bavaria. I’m also thinking we used the speedometer parts from the Bavaria 4 speed to convert a later 265 Getrag to a mechanical speedometer drive.
I had the oddball crankshaft that doesn’t accept the pilot bearing mentioned in Carl’s write-up so Don came to the rescue with information on that as well as bleeding the clutch slave cylinder….. THANKS Don :wink:. ~ John Buchtenkirch
 
HB Chris said:
Replacing the trans on your back under the car on jack stands is no fun! it is not easy to align with the bell housing or if bell housing is attached to align it with the block. Ask me how I know.
Click to expand...

Chris, I couldn’t agree more. In over 50 years of working on cars & trucks I’ve probably changed 3 or 4 dozen clutches (not really a lot, but I’m a body man, not a mechanic) and I’ve never had any trouble getting the transmission back in like I did on my coupe. I replaced the bell housing studs with bolts and the tranny went right in, no problem. IMO BMW is unnecessarily obsessed with studs, the carburetor hold down studs being another example of a mechanic’s nightmare just by themselves :x. ~ John Buchtenkirch
 
John Buchtenkirch said:
Chris, I couldn’t agree more. In over 50 years of working on cars & trucks I’ve probably changed 3 or 4 dozen clutches (not really a lot, but I’m a body man, not a mechanic) and I’ve never had any trouble getting the transmission back in like I did on my coupe. I replaced the bell housing studs with bolts and the tranny went right in, no problem. IMO BMW is unnecessarily obsessed with studs, the carburetor hold down studs being another example of a mechanic’s nightmare just by themselves :x. ~ John Buchtenkirch
Click to expand...

Good to know about the studs versus bolts. Swapping the transmission on my '88 Volkswagen was a chore. Since it is transverse FWD you have to do this awkward twist to get the gearbox to clear the subframe. The second time around I just removed the whole front of the car and wheeled the engine out on my floor jack. I wish you could do this with coupes.
 
Markos said:
I'm trying to figure out how this costs $5,000 when one can purchase a complete 528i for $1,000 or less. Does that include labor?
Click to expand...

Along these lines, this '78 530i is close to Seattle and seems like a good starting point for multiple projects (including getting the car on the road). Looks like a cracked head. 120K miles - $500.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/4947667145.html

Does the 530i also have a 5spd Getrag 265? The shift pattern sticker on the dash looks like a four speed.

01717_1alfMo3cduc_600x450.jpg


Plus it comes with this..

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unless its been changed, the '78 e12 530i had a 4 speed. the e12 528i had a 5 speed (starting in '79)
 
rsporsche said:
unless its been changed, the '78 e12 530i had a 4 speed. the e12 528i had a 5 speed (starting in '79)
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Ahh so it was a year thing. I was thinking to myself, why would a 528 have a five speed, but not a 530. It's a four speed as the indicator 'indicates'.
 
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