1995 m3 transmission automatic question - United Bimmer Community

**cabrit** · 03-03-2006, 09:13 PM

can you put an 1995 m3 automatic tranmission in a 1994 325i

**doughboyea** · 03-03-2006, 09:33 PM

Why would you want to????

Dough

**94bmw325i** · 03-03-2006, 10:36 PM

They have an extra gear don't they? Making the car a 5 speed automatic...

**doughboyea** · 03-03-2006, 11:07 PM

Well, mine does, but really, is it honestly worth the trouble? I would think it would be better to go to a manual if anything....

Dough

Storamin · 03-03-2006, 11:14 PM

lemme get this straight.

your car is an auto, and you're blasting him for wanted an auto?

**doughboyea** · 03-03-2006, 11:20 PM

no...?
I"m not bashing him.. he wants to exchange his 325i automatic tranny for an M3 automatic tranny....I'm just saying that it's better worth the hassel if your going to switch it to a manual. But like I said before, he just wants to switch out his auto tranny for an M3's auto tranny... to me, it doesn't make sence. But what do I know?

Dough

**tomctx** · 03-03-2006, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cabrit

can you put an 1995 m3 automatic tranmission in a 1994 325i

With enough money and someone with a shop full of tools and know-how, you could make it physically fit. I think the problem would be the transmission controller or "brain". Would it be compatible with your ECU? I really doubt it would be plug-n-play.

**BMWLotAttendant** · 03-04-2006, 12:15 AM

well you probably have an M52 6 cylinder engine.

If you found a 96 M3 tranny with an S52 6 cylinder engine.....

Point being, they might have the same transmission.

Or, I might be wrong in thinking that the tranny and the engines have to be the same despite the S and the M.

**xsperf** · 03-04-2006, 12:44 AM

first of all guys, dont be retarded. what if his tranny is blown and he found one from a 95 m3? and seconldy, his engine is an M50 while the m3 is an S50, but since the m3 and the 3series manual trannies are the same, then the automatic probably would be the same as well. dont take my word for it, but you will most likely be able to

and btw, a manual swap isnt that easy, you still have to install the whole clutch assembly, differential, driveshaft.. etc etc

**doughboyea** · 03-04-2006, 06:50 AM

My question simply is, are you doing the swap because you blew out ur old tranny and the M3's is the only one you could find or your trying "upgrade" to a better transmission? If it's that latter, I personally don't think its worth it seeing how ur replacing one auto for another.

Dough

**xsperf** · 03-04-2006, 09:50 AM

yea but who said hes upgrading, maybe he just found an m3 tranny for cheap and it is easily accessable

**BMWLotAttendant** · 03-04-2006, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsperf

first of all guys, dont be retarded. what if his tranny is blown and he found one from a 95 m3? and seconldy, his engine is an M50 while the m3 is an S50, but since the m3 and the 3series manual trannies are the same, then the automatic probably would be the same as well. dont take my word for it, but you will most likely be able to

Thanks for reminding us. We must be retarded.

Acutally, he would have an M52 if his was a coupe. That's what I wasn't sure about.

Annnnd, if he blew his tranny...wouldn't he say so? I think he wants an upgrade not because his tranny is blown.

Anywho.

Good thoughts xsperf.

**cabrit** · 03-04-2006, 02:11 PM

my tranny is kind of weak i did everything that i could to save it but still doe not respond lie it use to. so i was thinking of replacing it. i found 1995 m3 automatic tranny which looks similar to the 325 stock for $450 with 37kwhich the car had i just tought it was a good deal and if it fits why let it go. but then again its to good to be truth. then again i probably have a lot of work to do since this tranny comes from a bigger engine.
thanks guys

**tomctx** · 03-04-2006, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWLotAttendant

Thanks for reminding us. We must be retarded.

Acutally, he would have an M52 if his was a coupe. That's what I wasn't sure about.

The M50 was the 6 cylinder engine in the OBD I cars through 1995, coupe, sedan, convertible. 2.5 Liters. The M52 is the 2.8 liter 6, I think through 1999. I believe the later 2.5 liter engine was the M54, not sure about that. I'm sure the 4 speed has a different transmission controller than the 5 speed. I'm not sure they are both compatible with the engine ECU. That would be what I'm concerned about. If they can't talk to each other how would the trans work?

**xsperf** · 03-04-2006, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWLotAttendant

Thanks for reminding us. We must be retarded.

Acutally, he would have an M52 if his was a coupe. That's what I wasn't sure about.

Annnnd, if he blew his tranny...wouldn't he say so? I think he wants an upgrade not because his tranny is blown.

Anywho.

Good thoughts xsperf.

so it is an m50 and he did blow his tranny

I hate to say I told you so, but YEA!! YEA!! IN YOUR FACE!!!

-Brian Griffin