E34 525i A (M20) 1990 - Questions

[Gio]

Howsit Fanatics

So I'm the owner of a 1990 E34 525i A and I must admit I reallt love the E34, wish it was the newer model with M50 motor but hey, I love it anyway.

So I have tried to search a little on here and came up empty so I'll just ask my questions and see what responses I get.

Admin, if this is posted in the wrong place please move to the right place for me. Thanks.

My auto box (4hp22) overheats when driving on a hot day or in traffic and then the car doesn't want to drive and sometimes it stalls and then I have to wait a while before I can start it. I have been told that the clutches are burnt and that it's time for a manual conversion or to replace the auto box.... Needless to say, I don't have the cash for a manual conversion at the moment so I guess I will have to look for a replacement auto box.

Can you guys advise if a E30 325i A (4hp22) box will fiit a E34 525i A (4hp22) without having to change the diff?? I know the gearbox code is the same but when I check what other BMW models use the same box as the E30 4hp22 auto box, REaloem does not show that the E34 525i can use it, in fact it shows that it is only used by the E30 325i A.

Please help guys, I will greatly appreciate it.

Laters. raise:

 

[Budleigh]

Have you tried changing the oil? There must be a reason for the box overheating? Also, a manual swap might be cheaper and more cost-effective.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[JohnLod]

Howsit Fanatics

So I'm the owner of a 1990 E34 525i A and I must admit I reallt love the E34, wish it was the newer model with M50 motor but hey, I love it anyway.

So I have tried to search a little on here and came up empty so I'll just ask my questions and see what responses I get.

Admin, if this is posted in the wrong place please move to the right place for me. Thanks.

My auto box (4hp22) overheats when driving on a hot day or in traffic and then the car doesn't want to drive and sometimes it stalls and then I have to wait a while before I can start it. I have been told that the clutches are burnt and that it's time for a manual conversion or to replace the auto box.... Needless to say, I don't have the cash for a manual conversion at the moment so I guess I will have to look for a replacement auto box.

Can you guys advise if a E30 325i A (4hp22) box will fiit a E34 525i A (4hp22) without having to change the diff?? I know the gearbox code is the same but when I check what other BMW models use the same box as the E30 4hp22 auto box, REaloem does not show that the E34 525i can use it, in fact it shows that it is only used by the E30 325i A.

Please help guys, I will greatly appreciate it.

Laters. raise:

Hi, from what I could get from my friend at ZF is yes it would as you got two versions in the E34, Hydraulic and electronic (EH) and if his memory serves him correctly on the M50 had the electronic. The m20 had hydraulic that is the same as the E30 325i according to his memory.
My friend suggested you give Executive auto a call on 011 6094484, apparently he still recons those "older" gearboxes.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

 

[Gio]

Have you tried changing the oil? There must be a reason for the box overheating? Also, a manual swap might be cheaper and more cost-effective.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Howsit Budleigh

Thanks for your reply bro, I have actually done a oil service on the box and cleaned out the strainer as well but it is still doing the same thing.

This only happens when the outside temp is very hot coupled with sitting in traffic. I use the car daily and drive to work (Boksburg to Woodmead) and it drives fine and I can only assume it is because of the cool morning air. After work I generally wait till traffic dies down completely and the temp drops before I leave to go home and again it gets me home without any issues.

Me mentioning that the clutches are burnt is only based on what I have been told, I really don't know hey. This is the first auto I have owned and i regularly check gearbox oil and I don't drive her hard.

Thanks again bro

---

Hi, from what I could get from my friend at ZF is yes it would as you got two versions in the E34, Hydraulic and electronic (EH) and if his memory serves him correctly on the M50 had the electronic. The m20 had hydraulic that is the same as the E30 325i according to his memory.
My friend suggested you give Executive auto a call on 011 6094484, apparently he still recons those "older" gearboxes.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Hey John

Thanks for your reply.

I just called Executive Transmissions and spoke to Mark who advised that I will probably look at payin in the region of R15K to have my box reconditioned. That is waaaay out of my budget at the moment so i will probably be forced to get another auto box at a low price and hope it will last until I have all the required parts to doo the manual conversion.

Really sad though, was hoping to keep her auto... :blueCry:

 

[JayDrft]

Hi Gio,

Sounds like you are having some issues with your box.

I recently stripped a e34 520 auto, I still have the box - I do not know the condition, as when I got the donor car, the motor was shoot...so I can only assume that the box is still intact.

If by any chance, you can use this box, as it came off of the M50...you are more than welcome to chat to me...however - keep in mind that the auto box has clutches, yes...but at the same time, dont forget about the torque converter. These can also cause problems...so consider all the possible options.

 

[Gio]

Hi Gio,

Sounds like you are having some issues with your box.

I recently stripped a e34 520 auto, I still have the box - I do not know the condition, as when I got the donor car, the motor was shoot...so I can only assume that the box is still intact.

If by any chance, you can use this box, as it came off of the M50...you are more than welcome to chat to me...however - keep in mind that the auto box has clutches, yes...but at the same time, dont forget about the torque converter. These can also cause problems...so consider all the possible options.

Hey Jay

Thank you for your advice on the torque converter bud.

I really don't know how to diagnose the problem I'm having hey. I suppose the only way to check the torque converter would be to replace it with another one and see if that improves anything.

Will the auto box from the M50 motor fit on to a M20B25 motor as a plug and play of would I need to change things like the TC?

Regards,

 

[JayDrft]

Im not 100% Sure...perhaps you could seek some advice from Gizmo.

 

[Gio]

Thanks, hopefully Gizmo will comment on my post.

Sent from my Ghost using Tapatalk

 

[JohnLod]

Hi Gio,

Sounds like you are having some issues with your box.

I recently stripped a e34 520 auto, I still have the box - I do not know the condition, as when I got the donor car, the motor was shoot...so I can only assume that the box is still intact.

If by any chance, you can use this box, as it came off of the M50...you are more than welcome to chat to me...however - keep in mind that the auto box has clutches, yes...but at the same time, dont forget about the torque converter. These can also cause problems...so consider all the possible options.

Hey Jay

Thank you for your advice on the torque converter bud.

I really don't know how to diagnose the problem I'm having hey. I suppose the only way to check the torque converter would be to replace it with another one and see if that improves anything.

Will the auto box from the M50 motor fit on to a M20B25 motor as a plug and play of would I need to change things like the TC?

Regards,

Hi, the M50 has a electronic gear box and the M20 has a hydraulic gearbox so from what I have been told it won't work.

 

[Gio]

Thanks John, much appreciated bud

Sent from my Ghost using Tapatalk

 

[zippy320]

The 4Hp22 Transmission was also available in the E30 320i , My E30 has this gearbox. Thats the Box BMW replaced on my 320i when my original box died .

Maybe you could also scout out those cars for transmissions .

 

[Gio]

The 4Hp22 Transmission was also available in the E30 320i , My E30 has this gearbox. Thats the Box BMW replaced on my 320i when my original box died .

Maybe you could also scout out those cars for transmissions .

Thanks bru, do u perhaps know if it's a plug and play swap?

Sent from my Ghost using Tapatalk

 

[JayDrft]

Hi John,

Any indication what the difference is between the hydraulic and electronic boxes....as ive noted that there is still hydraulic connections on the box and I only see a small electronic module on the box.

Everything else is cable controlled etc.

If you could shed some light on the findings, I would appreciate that as well as Gio.

 

[Gio]

Thanks for that Jay

Sent from my Ghost using Tapatalk