(Under Construction)
When the 2800CS made its debut it had a four speed transmission made by ZF. These transmissions are noticeable by the very short casing and an integral shift platform which is part of the casing itself. This made for a very efficient and crisp shift action but when it was produced it was claimed by some that there were durability issues with these. BMW did not sell a five speed ZF box but they were available from ZF directly and were apparently used in race cars in period and have a 1:1 output or a short ratio. The durability issues may or not be true.
ZF Four Speed
ZF Five Speed
When the 3.0CS came out it had a Getrag 262 four speed transmission. The 262 used up through the 1973 model year used a cylindrical slave cylinder that mounted in an ear of the bell housing much like the 1600/2002s and the release arm extends outside of the bell housing. Beginning with the 1974 model year the bell housing was changed and the slave cylinder was now mounted on the rear facing part of the bell housing and the release arm is inside of the bell housing. The Getrag 262 four speed was then used as the basis for two five speed transmissions: the 265/5 short ratio or dogleg box and the 265/6 overdrive box. Both of these boxes use the later style slave cylinder. These boxes are fairly easy to identify if you know where to look. Since the case from the 262 was used the casting numbers on the cases are really of no use. The four speed uses a two-piece case and the five speeds use a three-piece case. The 265/6 was introduced in 1980 through 1982 on the e12, e23, e24 and e28. In 1985 BMW also used the 265 instead of the newer 260 box for one year as well as in the e30 M3 but these will not have a speedo drive gear.
Getrag 262 Four Speed
Getrag 265 Five Speed
When the 2800CS made its debut it had a four speed transmission made by ZF. These transmissions are noticeable by the very short casing and an integral shift platform which is part of the casing itself. This made for a very efficient and crisp shift action but when it was produced it was claimed by some that there were durability issues with these. BMW did not sell a five speed ZF box but they were available from ZF directly and were apparently used in race cars in period and have a 1:1 output or a short ratio. The durability issues may or not be true.
ZF Four Speed
ZF Five Speed
When the 3.0CS came out it had a Getrag 262 four speed transmission. The 262 used up through the 1973 model year used a cylindrical slave cylinder that mounted in an ear of the bell housing much like the 1600/2002s and the release arm extends outside of the bell housing. Beginning with the 1974 model year the bell housing was changed and the slave cylinder was now mounted on the rear facing part of the bell housing and the release arm is inside of the bell housing. The Getrag 262 four speed was then used as the basis for two five speed transmissions: the 265/5 short ratio or dogleg box and the 265/6 overdrive box. Both of these boxes use the later style slave cylinder. These boxes are fairly easy to identify if you know where to look. Since the case from the 262 was used the casting numbers on the cases are really of no use. The four speed uses a two-piece case and the five speeds use a three-piece case. The 265/6 was introduced in 1980 through 1982 on the e12, e23, e24 and e28. In 1985 BMW also used the 265 instead of the newer 260 box for one year as well as in the e30 M3 but these will not have a speedo drive gear.
Getrag 262 Four Speed
Getrag 265 Five Speed
Last edited:
