I don't know if you guys have seen it already, but there is a dog leg trans on ebay (if a repost, too bad, I don't search; thats for noobs, lol)
just the price seems a little high:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-e30-e21-dogleg-transmission-gearbox-engine-323i_W0QQitemZ140193327386QQihZ004QQcategoryZ33733 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

wow! im guessing because it only has 13000 miles on it.

At least $1000 of that is for the red paint on the shifter tray. :-)
I thought M20 ones were not as ridiculously rare as the M10 ones are? Of course any M20 trans with a speedo hole is about a grand.

repost, its just been relisted. :)

M20's are rare as rare can be, especially over there.

Last time this trans was on eBay, it was in the $3000 range and reserve was met. Whats the deal?

non paying bidder perhaps.

I read that because I've been looking for a good 5-spd for my 323i, and about fell out of my chair laughing when I read it! I rather spend half of that and have MM rebuild mine, even if it was still just an OD not a CR! Friggin' silly.

There's a 323i in Melbourne with a dogleg box. I want it!

foer that money I can get a race trans from Saenz, with a 1.1 5th gear......

foer that money I can get a race trans from Saenz, with a 1.1 5th gear......

plus the custom belhousing, plus the driveshaft, plus the linkage, plus the clutch. Believe me, it all adds up very quickly.

I read that because I've been looking for a good 5-spd for my 323i, and about fell out of my chair laughing when I read it! I rather spend half of that and have MM rebuild mine, even if it was still just an OD not a CR! Friggin' silly.

Doesn't MM modify/bring the ratios closer together anyway? I mean all you are really out is the dogleg pattern. Which is probably pretty cool from 2nd to 3rd, but $4500 cool? Eh...if I had that cash for a tranny I'd probably have Pantera or a Miura.

This might be a dumb question, but if the dog leg trannys are worth so much why hasn't somebody started casting the cases and machining dog leg specific parts then building brand new ones? Or just manufacturing parts for reproductions. Like I said maybe a dumb question. Probably goes into costs. Just a topic for discussion.

what's the difference between dogleg and normal? Ive never heard of that before

That trans is clean enough to be in the B.M.W. museum. 4300 is a little steep, but remember there are not many of those in comparable condition. That unit is not even broken in.

what's the difference between dogleg and normal? Ive never heard of that before

"Dog legs" or close ratio 5 speeds have a different shift pattern Reverse is where first gear would be, then first gear being opposite of reverse. It's more of a sport transmission, having the gear ratios closer together to help the driver keep the revs up in the power band. Plus fifth gear is 1/1 not .08/1 like in the overdrive five speed. Pretty cool, cause 2nd is opposite 3rd giving you a sequential gear box feel in a twisty road course. I drove a euro 635csi that had one once. It definitely made that car a hell of a lot quicker.

its like this

r 2 4
1 3 5

its cool but takes some time getting used to it. you start in reverse at a stop light once or twice before you get the hang of the new pattern. i drove a friend's e30 m3 with that tranny and it was ok. it reminded me of my 65 mustang with the three speed. same pattern but no 4th or 5th gear.

This might be a dumb question, but if the dog leg trannys are worth so much why hasn't somebody started casting the cases and machining dog leg specific parts then building brand new ones? Or just manufacturing parts for reproductions. Like I said maybe a dumb question. Probably goes into costs. Just a topic for discussion.

It would take about $5,000,000 in equipment. If you are a transmission manufacturer and already have the equip you could probably do it for $100,000 in dies and tooling.

its like this

r 2 4
1 3 5




Isn't it like:

r.....2..4
..1..3..5

?

The most notable difference in a dogleg is that 1st is down low where 2nd would be on a standard shift pattern. The ratios between gears on the Getrag 245/10 are close as opposed to the ratios on the 245/4 being further apart.
The ratios for the 245/10, 245/4
1st/ 3.764:1 1st/ 3.764:1
2nd/ 2.325:1 2nd/ 2.00:1
3rd/ 1.612:1 3rd/ 1.33:1
4th/ 1.229:1 4th/ 1.00:1
5th/ 1.00:1 OD/ 0.81:1
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/8732/doglegou4.jpg

The most notable difference in a dogleg is that 1st is down low where 2nd would be on a standard shift pattern. The ratios between gears on the Getrag 245/10 are close as opposed to the ratios on the 245/4 being further apart.
The ratios for the 245/10, 245/4
1st/ 3.764:1 1st/ 3.764:1
2nd/ 2.325:1 2nd/ 2.00:1
3rd/ 1.612:1 3rd/ 1.33:1
4th/ 1.229:1 4th/ 1.00:1
5th/ 1.00:1 OD/ 0.81:1
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/8732/doglegou4.jpg

Yeah...thats what I have a dog leg tranny. It takes getting used to, but man its so fun. I am keeping this and mating my2.9 m20 up to it.....

cases arent any different. Its the shift forks and rails that are different, along with the gearsets grouped together. On the dog leg boxes 1st and reverse are together, 2nd and 3rd, 4th and 5th. Normally 5th and reverse are paired and so on. You dont need any special tooling or parts for them, they still make replacement bits.

cases arent any different. Its the shift forks and rails that are different, along with the gearsets grouped together. On the dog leg boxes 1st and reverse are together, 2nd and 3rd, 4th and 5th. Normally 5th and reverse are paired and so on. You dont need any special tooling or parts for them, they still make replacement bits.

So then theoretically, if I'm understanding you, you could get the guts from one and build your own using the regular 245/5 case?

I think the rear housing might be different. It appears that the regular box has 4 shifter rails in it and the dogleg has 3. In any case you can change the ratios in any transmission if you can make gears. You'd end up with a funny pattern most likely, something like:

R.1.3.4
...2.5

It would cost a ton less to use an old case, but still more than $4k each.

That pattern would be tough. I was just looking at MMs site an they do change the ratios in their boxes. Closer between 1st and fourth and then the same OD gear. Hell of a lot cheaper just no cool shift pattern.

Wow, $4300! If this guy gets that, mine is going up for sale! BUt hey, I'll give you guys a good deal. $4300, and I'll fly to your location and install it.:)

I'd like to see some PROOF that it has 13k miles. Mine has 134001 miles on it, and looks just as clean. Pressure washers and Oil Eater are amazing things!

I've never driven my 323i, but I have done a few thousand miles in a 928S with dog leg box. Takes about an hour to get used to, after that, its wonderful. Now, my 323i is a RHD, so I'll be getting used to a dog leg box, while shifting with my left hand, and driving on the wrong side of the car!

Al

Thats going to be a fun car. I've always wanted a right hand drive car just to be different. The only one I've seen locally is a Rover P5 in a junkyard though.

Isn't it like:

r.....2..4
..1..3..5

?

yup, but you took the time to space them correctly.

You dont need any special tooling or parts for them, they still make replacement bits.

who makes them & where do you get them? My OD 5-spd needs desperate rebuilding & I've called all over the place looking for replacement brass so a local shop can rebuild it & MM is the only one I can find & that's because they machine all of their own components. Share the info buddy, 'cuz right now I'm looking at $2,200 + shipping both ways to have MM rebuild my tranny & modify my propeller shaft to accept the stronger E30 6-bolt guibo or convert to a E30, trans for $$?? or, I do know of another M20 5-spd availible used for $1,000 in unknown condition... I could have mine rebuilt for way less than $1,000 if I had all the brass & bearings.