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Mark Babb

Race Series Competitors
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Posts posted by Mark Babb

  5. Posted · Report reply

    According to the bible you need a 240 BMS, MB, or BMT. The gearbox number is stamped into the casing at the front edge of the bellhousing. The number is just a serial number, it is the letters on the end in which you are interested. These 3 sets of letters, either BMS, MB, or BMT, indicate it is from a 320i. Hope this helps.

    Thank you Dave for taking the time to look this up, really appreciated

    Mark

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Started discusing this subject elsewhere, however i still need a little help in clarifying a couple of points.

    I need to source a manual 240 Gertrag for a FL 320. Cannot use the 260 box due to incorrect ratios.(race series)

    I assumed a 240 box was the same whether it was fitted to a 318/320 or Pre FL or FL, however it has been indicated that this may not necessarily be correct.

    Therefore what should i look for or how can i tell which 240 box will fit a FL 320? I am aware that some of the earlier boxes had holes for the sensor however i believe this is irrelevant as the sensor on my car is on the engine ?

    Any advise is really appreciated as manual boxes seem to be $500 plus these days and i do not wish to waste money in getting the wrong type.

    Thanks

    Mark

  7. Posted · Report reply

    As far as I'm aware Mark, the only difference is the alignment of the bellhousing . they both have the same ratios etc, and the same bolt patterns, but the motors sit on different angles in the engine bay.

    This means that if you try to bolt up a 4 cyl box in your car it would be on an angle, hits the tunnel, linkages don't fit, I don't think it actually fits in the tunnel because of the angle.

    Thanks Dave, Will post a seperate forum asking for clarication on part number to look for or how i can tell the difference.

    Your assistance is really appreciated.

  8. Posted · Report reply

    Hey Mark, none of the 4 cyl boxes will fit your car, you need a 6 cyl box, pre face or face lift, both work I believe.

    Dave, am i wrong to believe a Getrag 240 box is different in spec between a 318 and 320?

    I thought it was just because some 320 had the 260 box which is not allowed.

    Crikey i guess i need to confirm as they are asking $500 plus these days for a manual box.

    Thanks for the help all

    Mark

  9. Posted · Report reply

    pre FL box dont bolt up

    bizzaarrch

    Are you saying that a pre FL box will not fit into a FL model? Just wondering as i'm trying to source a spare 240 box for my FL 320.

    Also any idea which model had the alloy carrier for the lever as opposed to the metal plate carrier (think i saw one at Andrew's when you were their).

    Thanks

    Mark

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Can someone explain the small hose coming off the block at the rear of the engine above the heater hose? can someone show me a diagram of that area only? Is this a heating device for the throttlebody for cars in a very cold climate to prevent ice up? would the performance of the intake be improved if it was blocked off? Leaving normal cold air going to the intake not being heated? and is the inlet on the otherside of the throttlebody coming from the cam cover the breather and could that be blocked off also and the pipe fed to a filtered collector bottle elsewhere? preventing the throttlebody from being dirtied by the fumes coming from the cam cover? and could I then use a throttlebody cleaner to get the last bit of performance from air going through a clean area to the block?

    Assuming the car is not for the E30 race series then all of the above would be as great idea. Would be interesting to know though if these do make any difference to performance. Let us know

    Thanks

    Mark

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Broken 240 gearbox for auction on trademe

    Lasted only two hours in my then recently purchased e30 325i :(

    Naturally replaced with a getrag 260 while i had the chance. Previous owner did conversion using the 240...seems many people don't know the difference, guess I do now.

    www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Car-parts-accessories/BMW/Engines-drive-trains/auction-87080917.htm

    Auction closes Monday

    How much are you looking for ?

  17. Posted · Report reply

    Questions for thought.

    - The 318iS seems to have close gear ratios (specifically a very close 3rd, 4th, 5th). Do all M4x 318s have this? Just trying to gauge whether to fix the gearbox.

    - The car still has the stock dual-mass flywheel. I am now wondering if I should use the M20 flywheel. Which is better [for a turbo car]? - dual or single mass. (The m20 flywheel would also give me more clutch options).

    - What would you strengthen in a gearbox if doing a rebuild?

    Hi Andrew,

    Im still figuring my around these gearboxes and i am sure someone more knowledglable will put me right if i have this wrong, However here goes: the 2 Getrag boxes that i know of 240 and 260 have identical 3rd/4th and 5th gear ratio's however 1st and 2nd are slightly different. I believe the 316/318 and some 320's use the Getrag 240. I assume the Getrag 260 was used on 325 etc. I run a 320 and was going to use the Getrag 260 on my conversion as i assumed it was a stronger box being for a 325, however at the time i could not find one so had to use a 240. The ratio's on the Getrag 260 would give slightly better acceleration in 1st and 2nd gear. I guess a ZF Gertrag would be the best option which would also mean top speed would be achieved in 5th Gaer as it has a direct 1:1 Ratio in 5th, whereas the 240 and 260 box both have 5th gear as an overdrive.

    Dont know if this helps, but maybe a little more info will assist in whatever decision you make.

    Regards

    Mark

  18. Posted · Report reply

    well my manual conversion is calling, so i'm organising things now, before i go to uni. then ill try get it done first holidays.

    my first lil' question (of many) is about the ratios of the manual gear box (trying to figure out if i'll be revving my guts out at 100kph).

    the gearbox is out of pre-facelift 320i. i think it was an 86/87?

    the gearbox is a getrag 240?

    i've done a little research and two ratios have popped up. which one will it be?

    i)

    1st: 3.764

    2nd: 2.325

    3rd: 1.612

    4th: 1.229

    5th: 1.000

    ii)

    1st: 3.72

    2nd: 2.02

    3rd: 1.32

    4th: 1.00

    5th: 0.81

    cheers

    antony.

    Hi Antony,

    The Getrag 240 has the ratio's listed in number 2. I did the same excersise a few days ago as i have the same Gearbox.

    Thanks

    Mark

  19. Posted · Report reply

    So If both 240 and 260 fit a 320 engine..Whats the difference? I recently fitted a manual conversion kit to my FL320 and didn't bother to check which number it had as i did not know there were 2 types. Had heaps of issues trying to source the correct length driveshaft. Anyway was just wondering if one model was better suited for a FL 320?

    Thanks

    Mark

  20. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks Conrad for the contact.

    Gavin Bellars found the problem within 30 mins (Jerry Claytons had the car for 2 days and still could not find the fault)

    Faulty ignition coil and one spark plug cap corroded.

    Thank you everyone for advise given.

    Mark

  21. Posted · Report reply

    Yours was the grey e30 in at glenfield jerrys ? I was the guy when you were talking to keith who asked if it was a race series car. I had another look at your car later in the day when I went back to get the m3 struts hub nut put on, and all I can say it im very impressed with it ... it must be one of the cleanest interiors i've ever seen in an e30 race car!

    Thank you for the kind comments.

    The car was prepared by Race FX in Henderson. It only went into for a roll cage....$20,000 later....Mind you everything underneath the car is just as clean as i had every component detailed before reassembly. Just a little frustrating that it went in with a smooth running engine and has come away with this problem. Hopefully the guys at Jerry Clayton will find the problem on weds otherwise it will take it to Hi Velocity just up the road later in the day. I am sure with all the kind assistance offered by everyone on this forum i will find the problem

    Thanks Mark

  23. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks Will/Hove and others.

    Your assistance is really appreciated.

    The car started off in excellent order, low km's, Lady owner etc etc. Paid top money for the car as i wanted to start with a good foundation.

    Whilst they were building the car i obtained new Cam belt, plugs, dist cap etc and had these fitted whilst engine was out of vehicle.

    Car currently with Jerry Clayton BMW who confirmed yesterday that the timing was correct. They will check valve gaps on weds when they reopen. First question they asked was the replacement head from a 325? European Auto's certainly supplied it to me as a fully recond head for FL 320, so no reason to think differently.

    Whilst engine was out the race builders did steam clean engine so i suppose water could have got in somewhere, but then again plugs, dist cap have all been replaced.

    Will check HT Leads, and rotor on weds and go hunting for this plug under manifold.

    One other question concerning this recon head i was sold...are the heads different from FL 320 to earlier models, could compression difference be a cause of erratic idle, misfire midrange and lack of bottom end power?

    Hove, would you have a contact number for Bob Homewood in Auckland as i have not heard of him. It would be a great help to find someone local in Auckland (north shore) that i can use to assist me with the car. Nothing against Jerry Clayton's but i'm dreading the invoice.

    Thanks Again

    Mark

  25. Posted · Report reply

    Hi All,

    Hopefully someone might be able to shed some light on a problem after collecting race car last week.

    1990 E30 320 110,000km.

    after driving the car for the first time this weekend, it has a misfire around 3,000rpm and then clears further up the revs, however it has a distinct lack of low down power. Took Car to Jerry Clayton (only people open this week), checked timing all ok.

    They have suggested it could be many things faulty ECU, EMS, Crank sensor, and so on.

    The car was a one lady owner low milage that drove perfectly before spending 3 months in race car preperation.(Auto to Manual conversion aswell)

    Was talked into purchasing a recon head complete from European Auto, although i had no problem with existing head. (it was suggested to me that 320's have a problem with heads and when they showed me a nice freshly recon head that they have done next door seemed liked a sensible thing to do)

    Options i see at present...swap heads back, but cannot see why a different head would make the difference.

    Replace ECU, EMS and everything else BMW have suggested, but this would cost a fortune new, and bit concerned second hand may also have a fault.

    So sitting here pulling out my hair and now wondering if i will be able to get the car fixed for the meeting end of January.

    Just wondered if anybody else has experienced anything similar and may be able to pass on some advice.

    Thanks

    Mark

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