E36 323 - What gearbox?

[therealpigdog]

So my trip to get tyres devolved into a conversation about the gearbox and the mechanic said probably cheaper and easier to buy a new second hand one than get them to strip and refurb it.

Can I use any E36 gearbox, as there seems to be more available from the four cylinder cars (and therefore cheaper) or do I need one from a 6 cylinder model?

Cheers again

[sniff diesel]

Your 323 will probably have the same box as was fitted to the 328 and 3l M3.

I've got one in my shed you can have for £50. PM me if you want..

[phelix]

Auto or manual?

[JimexPL]

What's the problem with the gearbox?
One of my 328s was very notchy getting into second and third as if the synchro had gone. Got hold of another gearbox and when we split the box from the car it turned out that the clutch was in pieces (looked like the original one, on 163,000 miles), and this was in fact the culprit, rather than the box.

[therealpigdog]

It's a manual box.

Needs a hard shove to go into third when going up the box, and gives a crunch on the way down. Once in, it stays in though and drives no problem.

[phelix]

Can't speak for E36s or 4 cylinder E46s but 323i/325i and 328i/330i E46s used different manual gearboxes. Probably interchangeable though.