engine and drivetrain How difficult is it to transplant a 320i automatic into 02A?

[Guest Anonymous]

The automatic trans in my husband's 74 02 has bought the farm. Its an automatic because of our hilly terrain so we are not interested in a 4 or 5 speed. We have our eye on a 320i automatic donor. Can the 320i auto trans be used in the 02. Is it a bolt in? Are the transmissions the same dimensions? One neighborhood expert tells us the torque converters are the same, but even if that's true, that says nothing about the trans' overall interchangability.

We have tried the search but only see suggestions to go 5-speed. Please, can anyone honestly answer the questions I've posed?

Thank you

[76bimmer]

This post does not answer your question but it is related. I just swapped a donor trans from a 76 into my 76. I took my time with the project but the basic operation is not too bad.

I did a few extra steps:

Removed the drive shaft, painted it, and replaced the center bearing.

Removed the exhaust, and painted it.

Removed the filter cover and painted it.

Replaced the filter cover gasket.

Replaced the trans filter.

Replaced the front and read seals. I highly recommend this step as it is easy to do when the trans is out and will stop your oil leaks.

Painted the dip stick tube.

Things word pretty well now with one slight exception. The transmission will grab a little when shifting into first on the way down when deaccelerating quickly.

By the way, it shifts twice and is in high gear at about 35 mph. It seems odd to me but that just the way it works. To go fast on the way up I need to hold it in gear manually before shifting. Its in high gear from 35 to 90+.

Good luck on your swap.

76bimmer

[us4736]

any reason you want a 320i trans and not a 2002 one .does the 320 have an OD ? i have a good 02 transmission if you can'nt find what you need