1997 Used BMW Transmissions For Sale

21
verified 1997 BMW transmissions
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1997 Used BMW Transmissions For Sale

21 verified used 1997 BMW transmissions in stock: the ZF 5HP30 five-speed automatic behind the big cars (740iL and 750iL E38, 840Ci E31), the ZF 5HP18 on the 328is and on the M3 automatic new to the US this year, the GM-sourced 4L30-E on the 318i, 318is and 318ti, and four separate manuals, the small Getrag S5D 250G, the ZF S5D 320Z in both its E36 and its E39 528i form, and the Getrag 420G six-speed behind the 540i. 1997 listings are terse: not one of these 21 titles carries a case code, so we map the unit from nameplate and engine class and confirm it against your VIN. Every unit is ASE Shift-Tested through every gear under load, photographed before shipment, and backed by a 6-month warranty with extended coverage up to 3 years. Free freight nationwide, 30-day money-back.

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Warranty On Every Unit
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ASE-Tested & Verified
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1997 BMW Transmission Families

Which gearbox sits behind which 1997 BMW, and how many of each we hold today.

Transmission family Fits (1997) In stock
GM / Hydramatic 4L30-E (A4S 270R) — 4-Speed Automatic 318i, 318is, 318ti Compact: the M44 1.9 four-cylinder E36 cars. Six units, split by the Thru 12/96 and From 1/97 build-date change. GM case, shares nothing with either ZF automatic. 6
ZF 5HP30 (A5S 560Z) — 5-Speed Automatic 740iL and 750iL (E38), 840Ci (E31). The M73 V12 750iL has its own bell-housing and calibration and is not swapped with the M62 V8 cars. The two 740iL units split Thru 12/96 versus From 1/97. 4
Getrag S5D 250G — 5-Speed Manual 318i, 318is, 318ti. The small-case Getrag, behind the 1.9 four only. Lighter than the ZF 320Z and not an alternative to it either way. 3
ZF 5HP18 (A5S 310Z) — 5-Speed Automatic 328is coupe (two units, one each side of the Thru 12/96 and From 1/97 split) and the M3 automatic, new to the US this year and carrying M-specific calibration on the same A5S 310Z. Smaller than the 5HP30, larger than the GM four-speed, no interchange. The M3 listing records only AT and a speed count, so the VIN settles it. 3
ZF S5D 320Z — 5-Speed Manual, E36 / E36-7 2.8 Six 328is coupe and the Z3 2.8 roadster new this year. Same M52 2.8 gearbox for both; the Z3 runs its own shift linkage and driveshaft, so order those with the car. 2
ZF S5D 320Z — 5-Speed Manual, E39 528i 528i (E39) only. Same 320Z case family as the E36 unit but a different chassis fit: the E39 output flange and tail housing are not E36 parts. We keep the two apart. 1
Getrag 420G — 6-Speed Manual, E39 540i 540i (E39, M62 V8), the only Getrag 420G and the only six-speed on this page. Heavy-duty case; it fits no six-cylinder or four-cylinder 1997 BMW. 1
ZF 5-Speed Manual — E36 M3 (S52) M3 (E36, S52 3.2) manual. Its own ratio set and clutch package, not a 328is gearbox with a badge. The listing prints no case code and we will not print one it never showed; the VIN is the tiebreak. 1
Total 21

Other BMW Model Years

Every model year we hold BMW transmissions for. Years without a link are in stock but have no year page yet — text us your VIN.

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Why Buy a 1997 BMW Transmission from Auto Power Source

1997 is the year the E39 5 Series reaches full stride, and the split that decides fitment is the chassis and the engine class the gearbox was bolted to, not the badge on the trunk. The V8 and V12 cars (740iL and 750iL E38, 840Ci E31) all take the large ZF 5HP30, BMW's A5S 560Z, though the V12 750iL has its own bell-housing and calibration and is not swapped with the V8 cars. The 2.8 M52 328is takes the smaller ZF 5HP18 (A5S 310Z), and so does the M3, because BMW offered a five-speed automatic on the US M3 for the first time this year. The 1.9 M44 cars use a GM-sourced 4L30-E four-speed that shares nothing with either ZF unit. Three automatic classes, no interchange.

On the manual side there are four separate parts for 1997, not one. The 318i, 318is and 318ti use the small-case Getrag S5D 250G. The 328is and the Z3 2.8 new this year use the larger ZF S5D 320Z. The E39 528i uses the same 320Z case family but a different chassis fit (the output flange and tail housing are E39 parts, not E36 parts), so it gets its own row rather than being folded in. The 540i runs the heavy-duty Getrag 420G six-speed, the only six-speed on this page. And the E36 M3's five-speed carries its own ratio set and clutch package behind the S52 3.2, so an ordinary 328is manual is not an alternative either way.

Two absences are worth stating outright rather than leaving you to notice them. We hold no 1997 E39 automatic at all: both 5 Series units here are manuals, so there is no ZF 5HP24 (A5S 440Z) 540i automatic and no E39 A5S 310Z on this page, and the family table lists neither. We hold no ZF 4HP22, 4HP24 or 5HP19 either, and no four-cylinder Z3 1.9: the only Z3 we have is the 2.8 six. Where a 1997 title gives us nothing we say so rather than inventing a part number, and two rows prove it: the 4L30-E listings never print the 270R-versus-310R torque rating, and the M3 manual never prints a case code at all.

Every 1997 BMW transmission we hold was pulled from a low-mileage donor vehicle, cataloged by VIN, and stored in our climate-controlled warehouse. Each went through our six-step inspection: VIN-matching, ASE Shift-Testing through every gear under load, noise verification, full visual inspection, multi-angle photography, and palletized shipping. On a thirty-year-old unit the valve body and bell-housing seal get the hardest look, because one that is clean outside can still be tired inside. These are long out of dealer supply, which is why a tested used OEM unit is usually the only sensible way to keep a 1997 BMW on the road. Free freight anywhere in the continental U.S., 30 days from delivery to return for any reason with no restocking fee, and a 0% fitment-related return rate across 100K+ units in stock.

📱 Fastest way to match: text us your VIN, get options in minutes.Text Your VIN →

Your 1997 BMW Transmission Options: Compared

Most 1997 BMW owners face four real choices when the transmission fails:

← Swipe sideways to see all columns →
Option Cost Reliability Warranty Fitment Match
Used OEM (this collection) $$$ Best Value High — tested Included VIN-matched
New OEM (dealer) $$$$$ 2-4× more High Manufacturer Exact
Aftermarket / Reman $$$$ Varies 6-12 mo May adapt
Junkyard $ Cheapest Unknown None DIY

Tested used OEM hits the sweet spot — same engineering as new, fraction of the cost.

1997 BMW Transmission Buying Guide

5 things to verify before buying a used 1997 BMW transmission:

  1. Settle which gearbox class your car takes before anything else. On a 1997 BMW the dividing line is the engine the transmission was bolted to. The V8 and V12 cars (740iL, 750iL, 840Ci) take the large ZF 5HP30. The 328is and the M3 automatic take the smaller ZF 5HP18 / A5S 310Z. The 1.9 318i, 318is and 318ti take a GM 4L30-E four-speed sharing nothing with either ZF unit. These three classes do not interchange, however similar the names look.
  2. Check the build-date note on your listing: 1997 splits at the turn of the year. Eight of these 21 titles carry either "Thru 12 96" or "From 1 97": the 318i, 318is, 318ti and 328is automatics and the two 740iL. That is a within-year production change at the end of calendar 1996. The listing does not say what changed, so we will not guess; what matters is that the two sides are not one part. Give us the build month from your door jamb, or the VIN.
  3. Do not treat an E36 manual and an E39 manual as the same part. The 328is and the Z3 2.8 run the ZF S5D 320Z; nominally so does the 528i. But the E39 unit has its own output flange and tail housing, and the 540i's Getrag 420G six-speed is a different gearbox again. Tell us the chassis, not just the speed count. We hold no E39 automatic for 1997, so if yours is an automatic we will source rather than substitute.
  4. Treat the 750iL V12 and the M3 as their own parts, not variants. The 740iL, 840Ci and 750iL are all ZF 5HP30 five-speeds, but the M73 V12's bell-housing and calibration differ from the M62 V8's. Likewise the E36 M3's manual has its own ratio set and clutch package and prints no case code; the M3 automatic is an A5S 310Z with M-specific calibration. If your car is an M3 or a V12, say so up front: substituting either way does not work.
  5. Confirm the match with your own VIN before you order. Your VIN settles the transmission class, the case, the build-date split and the chassis generation in one step. Text it to +1-307-441-5554 and we will confirm in writing exactly which unit fits your vehicle before you pay.

Our ASE-certified technicians verify every one of these points against your VIN before any unit ships.

📞 Need help choosing the right 1997 BMW transmission? Talk to our team live.Call 1-877-313-8995

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the warranty on a used 1997 BMW transmission?
Every 1997 BMW transmission ships with a 6-month warranty included, printed on each product page. Extended coverage of up to 3 years is available at checkout.
What does ASE-tested mean on a transmission?
ASE-certified technicians Shift-Test every gear under load and check for clean engagement, no slipping and no abnormal noise. On the ZF automatics the valve body and bell-housing seal are inspected; on the 4L30-E the clutch packs for shudder-free takeup; on the manuals every synchro and the input-shaft seal. Plus full visual inspection and photography.
Why do the listings not show a transmission code?
1997-era titles here are short: model, AT or MT, sometimes a speed count or a build-date note. None of our 21 1997 BMW listings carries a case code. We map the unit from nameplate and engine class, and the family table flags where a listing leaves something open. We do not print a code a listing never showed.
What does "Thru 12 96" or "From 1 97" mean on your listings?
A build-date split: BMW made a production change at the turn of 1996 into 1997, and eight of these titles sit on one side of it. The title does not say what changed, so we do not speculate; we simply do not treat the two sides as one part. Send your build month or VIN and we will match it.
Will a 318i transmission fit my 1997 328is?
No. The 318i is a 1.9 four on a GM 4L30-E automatic or the small Getrag S5D 250G manual; the 328is is a 2.8 six on the ZF 5HP18 automatic or the larger ZF S5D 320Z manual. Different cases, different bolt patterns, no interchange. Send your VIN.
Do you have a 1997 540i or 528i automatic?
Not in current stock. Both 1997 5 Series units here are manuals, the 528i ZF S5D 320Z and the 540i Getrag 420G, so there is no ZF 5HP24 / A5S 440Z and no E39 A5S 310Z on this page. Rather than show a row we cannot ship, we left both off the family table. Call or text and we will source one.
Which transmission is in the 1997 Z3?
For 1997 the Z3 gained the 2.8 M52 six, and the one Z3 unit we hold is that car's ZF S5D 320Z five-speed manual, the same gearbox as the 328is. Its shift linkage and driveshaft are Z3-specific. We hold no four-cylinder Z3 1.9 unit this year.
When can I reach customer service?
Call 1-877-313-8995 or text +1-307-441-5554 during the business hours shown in the site footer, or email info@autopowersource.com any time.
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100K+
Engines+Transmissions In Stock
0%
fitment-related returns
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Our 6-Step Inspection & Shipping Process

Every 1997 BMW transmission we ship has been through these six steps:

1. VIN-Matching
We match the donor VIN to your VIN to confirm transmission code, drivetrain, and RWD/xDrive configuration.
2. Tested & Verified
ASE-certified technicians Shift-Test every gear under load. Units are checked for clean engagement, no slipping, no abnormal noises.
3. Noise & Smoke Verification
Units are run to verify normal mechanical sound and clean operation — catches internal wear static tests miss.
4. Visual Inspection
Every accessible component is inspected: bell housing, output shaft, Mechatronic sleeve, cooler lines, sensor harnesses.
5. Photograph & Catalog
Multi-angle photos sent to you BEFORE we ship for your approval.
6. Palletize & Ship
Strapped on a heavy-duty wooden pallet, shipped via freight at no charge.

Our Photos-Before-Shipment Guarantee

Before any transmission leaves our warehouse, we send you multi-angle photographs. You approve. If you do not approve, you get every dollar back — no questions, no restocking fees, no return freight charges. On top of 30-day money-back and the warranty included with every unit. Browse all 21 1997 BMW transmissions below.

✉ Email Us at info@autopowersource.com
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