M50 e30 gearbox q's?

[WYZEUP 283]

Hey guys,

So i know im going to probably get told to search this but i have looked and looked but there is soo much conflicting information out there that it hasnt come to finalise my decision.

So, i am in the process of transplanting an m50 into my e30 with the plan of turbo'ing it.

So with all my researching from what i understand is the ZF box is the stronger gearbox to use over the 260?

now my next question which i seem to get so many conflicting answers is which of the two gearboxes mounts using factory mounts and brackets? as i really dont want to have to make custom mounts etc and risk driveline issues by not getting everything sitting at the corrcet angles

[e30ftw 410]

You use an e30 gearbox mount if using nay of the e36 gearboxes. Only the 260 needs a custom mount, since m20 and m50 have a different degree of tilt.

[WYZEUP 283]

if the zf gearbox comes from an e30 i will have to make a custom mount then too?

[e30ftw 410]

Yes

[_ethrty-Andy_ 2136]

another way to understand it, think of the engine the gearbox was attached to when the gearbox was new

M20 gearbox : custom mount, has its own bellhousing pattern

M10/M30 gearbox : custom, share a pattern

^^ Both of these mostly line up with the following, but only use about 7 of the 12 or 14 bolts. They all have same degree of tilt which is different to M50, so gearbox and engine do not align correctly.

M4x/M5x : Share a bellhousing and tilt. use standard E30 cross member as the gearbox and engine are aligned again

[Nobimmer 694]

I used a zf box and the standard e30 mount with some custom bushes. Pretty straight forward really.

[WYZEUP 283]

I used a zf box and the standard e30 mount with some custom bushes. Pretty straight forward really.

used a zf box from an e30?