Firstfives.org

What is the difference between the 260 E28 trans and the E12 265 trans? Same ratios? How can you tell them apart? Is one better than the other?

Something I wrote up for Mye28.com

Manual Transmissions

G260/5
Used on 5/6/733s from '83-'84. Non removable bell housing, waffle pattern for case casting. Considered weak and cannot accommodate a M5 clutch. Sheet metal shifter support. Overdrive 5th.
G260/5
Used on '83-'88 528es, and E30 6 cylinder cars. Same model number as above, but different bell housing bolt pattern and shape, so it’s not interchangeable. Some or most or all of the internal parts may be, but with the cost of used transmissions, it’s irrelevant. Used sheet metal support thru about 86, then used the cast support. Waffle case pattern. Overdrive 5th.
G260/6
Used on '86-'88 535’s and E34 535s, but they may not have the flywheel sensor holes drilled out. Identify it by the fins on the bottom of the transmission and non-removable case. Overdrive 5th.
G265/6
Used on '82 528e and '85 535i. Also on '85 6/735, '80-'81 E12, '81-'82 6/733s and E30 M3s. Considered the strongest transmission available for E28’s. Is easily identified by a removable bell housing which allows use on M10, M20 and M30 engines, as long as the correct bell housing is used or reused. All except M3s have a sheet metal shifter support. It’s use in '85 M30 powered cars was reportedly dictated by the short life of the 260/5 in those cars. Overdrive 5th.
G280
Used on M5/M6s. Close ratio, but overdrive 5th gear.
G265/5
Never available on US spec cars, it's a close ratio 5 speed similar to the 265/6 overdrive transmission. 5th gear is 1:1. Often incorrectly called a 262 close ratio or dogleg, but a 262 is a 4 speed transmission. All 265’s I’ve seen have the front case casting with a 262xxx casting number, but they are 265s if they are 5 speeds. Removable bell housing and it does have an unusual shift pattern with 1st being off by itself and 4th/5th across from each other instead of 5th being up by itself.
Other notes: Most or all of the linkage parts seem to be model specific, the sheet metal shifter supports while they look the same, aren’t, even if from the same transmission and for the same chassis, i.e. one from a G265 from a 528e won’t work on a G265 in a 535i. I assume this is also the case for the later cast aluminum shifter supports, but I haven’t verified it myself.

I would add that if you need a speedo drive gear then you need to look for these: The 265/6 was introduced in 1980 through 1982 on the e12, e23, e24 and e28. The later 265/6 boxes can be modified to to add the speedo drive but you would need the gear on the output shaft and the speedo assembly itself which is same as the 262 four speed. The 265/6 is getting harder to find as it is used in e3 and e9 conversions.

Good points on the speedo drive, since I'd written it up for E28s with electronic speedos I'd omitted that part.

Harder to find and much more expensive I might add, supposedly approaching a thou now.

Back in the day I got a good deal on a Getrag 5 speed. I took it to a shop and had them install it in my 76 530i to replace the 4 spd. I remember that all they had to do in terms of modification was to replace the speedo drive. Can I assume that it is a 265/6 ?

canada karl wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 7:54 am Back in the day I got a good deal on a Getrag 5 speed. I took it to a shop and had them install it in my 76 530i to replace the 4 spd. I remember that all they had to do in terms of modification was to replace the speedo drive. Can I assume that it is a 265/6 ?

Yes. Theoretically it could have been a close ratio 265/5, but they are very rare never having been imported here and don't have an overdrive 5th.

Aha! This one definetly had overdrive so now I'm thinking it must be a 260 .

canada karl wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 7:26 am Aha! This one definetly had overdrive so now I'm thinking it must be a 260 .

No, if it had a speedo drive it would have been a 265/6.

Ok. Got it.