Euro "dog leg" gearbox question

Doc Ed · #1 (**permalink**) 09-12-2005, 06:06 PM

Just picked up a 1989 e30 M3 w/ euro "dog leg" gearbox..1st gear is down..

Being a newbie when it comes to e30's...can someone tell me a bit about this gearbox..
For example...was it an option here in the U.S...Did it come with the 2.3L motor or the 2.5L etc...
Was it standard on the EVO...

Someone fill me in..

Thanks!

AlpinaTurbo · #2 (**permalink**) 09-12-2005, 06:20 PM

This gearbox came in the european 2.5 E30 M3. Its a close ratio gearbox, Its a great gearbox to have in a 4cyl M3. This gearbox is very rare, I have one their great for acceleration.

uberpanzer · #3 (**permalink**) 09-13-2005, 12:13 AM

Umm...they were the stock gearbox in the 2.3L M3 in Europe too. It is 'rare', since the e30 M3 is rare. They also made them to directly bolt to the M20 in the e21 323i IIRC. But I believe that was an option on those cars.

The dog-leg was never offered as an option on US cars.

hammerfang · #4 (**permalink**) 09-13-2005, 10:26 AM

not to sound like a noob, but dog-leg means that the gears r straight-cut right?

CleanAzzE30z · #5 (**permalink**) 09-13-2005, 01:07 PM

No it means that 1st gear is where 2nd is, and you go up-right-up to 2nd and straight down to 3rd for racing/performance purposes.

hammerfang · #6 (**permalink**) 09-13-2005, 02:01 PM

ah i get it, if i remember correctly alot of ferraris from the 80s and early 90s used that configurations, im assuming the purpose is that most people believe when ur racing ur hardly ever in first gear except for a dead stop, so by using a dog leg box u can select gears faster and have less of a chance of mis-shifting into 1st?

bmwwindout · #7 (**permalink**) 09-13-2005, 03:25 PM

Hey doc. a couple weeks ago some one was trying to sell your e36 on auto trader. I got a email from them and they of course said your car was out of the counrty....haha i found it very amusing.. and very messed up.. they were only asking for like $8,000... any way they pulled the ad. but just thought i would let you know.

AlpinaTurbo · #8 (**permalink**) 09-13-2005, 03:46 PM

This gearbox came on some eurospec 535i and 635csi. In Many european places its not considered rare.... but in Usa its not every day you buy a car with a dogleg close ratio...

bmwwindout · #9 (**permalink**) 09-13-2005, 07:26 PM

i will trade a us one for a dogleg=)

Doc Ed · #10 (**permalink**) 09-15-2005, 05:57 PM

Thanks for the info....I guess the previous owner must of had the gearbox put in because I believe this originated as a U.S. car...

And yeah...a bunch of people saw my car on auto trader...weird ad..

And if I was selling the car..8k would be a steal!!...