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RCN Wiki · Touring Cars

Getrag 265 five-speed gearbox (1979–1991)

Q: Is a Drenth or Samsonas kit legal in historic racing?

Drenth states its 265 Group A kit is HTP approved. Samsonas sells homologated Group A touring and rally ratio sets and a non-homologated six-speed. What counts is the car's own HTP and the series rules, so check both before buying.

By the RCN editorial team · Updated November 2026

The Getrag 265 is the five-speed manual BMW fitted to six-cylinder cars and to the E30 M3. Its European close-ratio version has a dogleg first gear and a direct fifth. Race builders still use the case as a base for Group A gear kits. A sound 265 core has value well beyond road use.

Group A DTMGetrag

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History

Getrag's 265 grew out of the 262 four-speed. It keeps the same front casting but adds a 97 mm intermediate section, giving a three-piece case with a removable bellhousing ⁸. BMW used two families. The 265/5 close-ratio box has a dogleg first gear and no overdrive. The 265/6 is also a five-speed, with an overdrive top gear ⁸. Forum sources date the CR box in Euro 635CSi models from 1979 to 1984 ⁸.

The E30 M3 made the 265 famous. BMW built 17,970 E30 M3s from 1986 to 1991 to homologate the car for Group A and the DTM ¹¹. European cars got the dogleg CR box with a 1:1 fifth. North American cars got the OD version with a normal shift pattern ¹¹. Owners list the Euro ratios as 3.72, 2.40, 1.77, 1.26 and 1.00, and the US set as 3.83, 2.20, 1.40, 1.00 and 0.81 ⁹. The Evo 2 moved the final drive from 3.25:1 to 3.15:1 ¹¹. RM Sotheby's notes that Japanese and some export Sport Evolutions used an H-pattern ¹².

In competition the case outlived the original gears. Drenth offers a straight-cut, dog-engaged six-speed kit built to a Prodrive specification and rated at 400 Nm ¹⁵. Samsonas lists a five-speed Group A touring set and a six-speed Group A rally set for the same housing ¹⁷. Vink Motorsport sells a 265 Group A box with homologated ratios and steel synchro rings ¹⁸.

The big M cars are a common source of confusion. A forum decoding table lists the 280/5, not the 265, for the M cars, with an integral bellhousing and cooling fins ⁸. Swaps of S14 engines into BMW 2002s also show up with other Getrag boxes, such as the 235/5 and 245 ³⁶. Buyers should identify the case, not trust the listing title.

Palmarès

Not a racing-results machine. The 265 is the production gearbox of the E30 M3. The car won the DTM in 1987 and 1989 and the ETCC in 1987 and 1988 ¹¹. It also took the 1987 WTCC and the BTCC in 1988 and 1991 ¹¹. An M3 also won the 1987 Tour de Corse with Bernard Béguin ¹¹. Works race cars used homologated gear sets, so the road ratios are not proof of period race spec ¹⁸.

What to check before you buy

Confirm CR or OD from the rear cover plug, not the sticker: The CR has a larger plug on a raised boss; the OD plug is small and flush. Casting numbers alone do not tell you much ⁸. Count the case pieces and look at the bellhousing: A 265 has a removable bellhousing; the 260 and 280 have it integral ⁸. Some listings sold as 265 turn out to be other Getrag boxes, such as a 245 ⁶. Check the Motronic sensor holes in the bellhousing: An S14 or other Motronic engine needs them. Early US L-Jet housings do not have them ⁸. Ask who rebuilt it and get the invoice: Owners report few rebuilders left, one shop holding two 265s for about 18 months, and one shop bending a fork ²⁰. A box checked by Pete's Gear Shop was sold with a receipt ²². Check the speedometer drive: A core with mechanical speedo drive was priced at $1,300 in 2022 ²¹. Owners say the Drenth kit has no speedo provision ¹⁶. For a race kit, get the maker, ratio sheet and paperwork: Drenth states its kit is HTP approved ¹⁵. Samsonas ratio sets differ for Group A touring and rally ¹⁷. Ask what oil it runs: One rebuilt M3 box rattled on ATF and shifted stiffly when cold on 70/90 ¹⁴.

Versions and evolutions

Version	Years	What changed	How to identify
Getrag 265/5 CR (dogleg)	1979-1984 (Euro 635CSi), 1986-1991 (Euro E30 M3)	Close ratios, dogleg first gear, direct-drive fifth, no overdrive ⁸¹⁰ ⁸	Three-piece case, removable bellhousing, no cooling fins, 97 mm intermediate section. On the rear cover the round plug at top right is larger and sits on a raised boss ⁸.
Getrag 265/6 OD	1980-1982 and 1985 (per forum table); OD 265 also in US E30 M3	Five speeds despite the /6 suffix; overdrive fifth and H-pattern ⁸⁹ ⁸	Same three-piece case as the CR, but the rear-cover plug is small and flush. Early US L-Jet housings lack the Motronic sensor holes ⁸.
E30 M3 Evo 2 and Sport Evolution	1988-1990	Same 265 CR dogleg box in Euro cars; final drive lowered to 3.15:1, with a limited-slip differential ¹¹¹³ ¹³	Check the differential tag for 3.15. A UK Sport Evolution sale listing describes a 265 CR dogleg with a 3.15:1 LSD ¹³.
Race gear kits in the 265 case	Current production	Straight-cut, dog-engaged gears. Drenth 6-speed Group A kit rated 400 Nm; Samsonas 5-speed touring and 6-speed rally sets ¹⁵¹⁷ ¹⁷	Straight-cut gears whine. Ask for the kit maker's invoice and the ratio sheet. Samsonas 5-speed touring first gear is 2.336 ¹⁷.
Getrag 280/5 (not a 265)	M cars	Close ratio with overdrive and normal shift pattern ⁸ ⁸	Integral bellhousing, cooling fins on the case, small intermediate section ⁸. An E34 M5 S38B36 package on RCN lists a Getrag 280 ¹.

Known issues

Synchro ring wear, reverse first — Grinding on selection. On a 1987 M3 box at about 160,000 km the forward rings were in spec but reverse was borderline ¹⁴. About $600 in parts for six synchros (2015 forum report) ²⁰
Worn main shaft roller assembly — Rattle when hot with the clutch released; one owner found it worse on ATF ¹⁴ unknown; the rebuilder called it the most expensive part ¹⁴ ¹⁴
Input shaft seal and seal track wear — Oil at the bellhousing. A rough worn band under the zinc coating was found on one input shaft ¹⁴. Seal kit $19.69 (input, output, shifter seals and output flange plate) ¹⁹ ¹⁹
Output and shifter shaft leaks — Low oil level; the seller warns low fluid quickly damages gears and bearings ¹⁹ $19.69 kit plus labour ¹⁹ ¹⁹
Bent 1-R shift fork after a poor rebuild — Will not select reverse; damaged synchros found on teardown ²⁰ unknown; owner replaced the whole box ²⁰ ²⁰
Cracked shims and hard-to-find small parts — A cracked input shaft shim, and a 6.5 mm ball bearing for the 2nd gear hub that a bearing shop called an unusual size ¹⁴ ¹⁴

Checklist before you buy

Confirm CR or OD from the rear cover plug, not the sticker — The CR has a larger plug on a raised boss; the OD plug is small and flush. Casting numbers alone do not tell you much ⁸. ⁸
Count the case pieces and look at the bellhousing — A 265 has a removable bellhousing; the 260 and 280 have it integral ⁸. Some listings sold as 265 turn out to be other Getrag boxes, such as a 245 ⁶. ⁸
Check the Motronic sensor holes in the bellhousing — An S14 or other Motronic engine needs them. Early US L-Jet housings do not have them ⁸. ⁸
Ask who rebuilt it and get the invoice — Owners report few rebuilders left, one shop holding two 265s for about 18 months, and one shop bending a fork ²⁰. A box checked by Pete's Gear Shop was sold with a receipt ²². ²⁰
Check the speedometer drive — A core with mechanical speedo drive was priced at $1,300 in 2022 ²¹. Owners say the Drenth kit has no speedo provision ¹⁶. ²¹
For a race kit, get the maker, ratio sheet and paperwork — Drenth states its kit is HTP approved ¹⁵. Samsonas ratio sets differ for Group A touring and rally ¹⁷. ¹⁵
Ask what oil it runs — One rebuilt M3 box rattled on ATF and shifted stiffly when cold on 70/90 ¹⁴. ¹⁴

Running costs ²⁰

Rebuild interval	No factory interval found. One 1987 M3 box showed minimal wear at about 160,000 km road use ¹⁴.
Typical rebuild cost	Metric Mechanic quoted about $4,250 plus core (2015) ²⁰ and $3,000 (2022 forum post) ²¹. Vink Group A conversion €9,500 ex VAT, donor box €2,000 extra ¹⁸.
Consumables	Seal kit $19.69 ¹⁹; synchros near $100 each (2015) ²⁰.
Spares availability	Synchro rings available from aftermarket suppliers; some small parts are no longer made ¹⁴. Owners report few shops still rebuild the 265 ²⁰.

Where it races today

FIA historic events (Appendix K, HTP) · Historic Group A — Drenth states its 265 six-speed Group A kit is HTP approved ¹⁵. The FIA historic database lists BMW M3 homologation 5327 dated 2 March 1987 ²⁵. Check the car's HTP for the gearbox entry. ¹⁵
Heritage Touring Cup (Peter Auto, 2023 rules) · GR.A — The class covers Group A cars homologated 1982-1984, with extensions up to 31/12/1986. A valid FIA HTP is required and national HTPs are not accepted ²⁶. On those dates a 1987-homologated E30 M3 falls outside; check the current year's rules. ²⁶
Group A rally and touring · Group A — Samsonas sells separate homologated Group A touring (5-speed) and rally (6-speed) ratio sets for the 265 housing, plus a non-homologated 6-speed ¹⁷. ¹⁷

Market prices

Getrag 265 dogleg close-ratio gearbox, loose, South Africa (RCN listing): 2,300 USD (2026-08) ²
BMW S14 engine with Getrag 235/5 dogleg, USA (RCN listing): 11,000 USD (2026-08) ³
S14B23 engine, Getrag 265 and OEM differential, USA (RCN listing): 14,000 USD (2026-07) ⁷
S14B23 engine and Getrag 265, Seattle (RCN listing): 9,000 USD (2023-11) ⁴
S14B23 engine and Getrag 265, France (RCN listing): 6,593 USD (2023-11) ⁵
Getrag 265/5 CR with bellhousing, checked by Pete's Gear Shop (forum asking price): 4,000 USD (2021-04) ²²
Core 265 with mechanical speedo drive (forum figure): 1,300 USD (2022-06) ²¹
Drenth 265 Group A 6-speed gear kit, plus VAT (MacG Racing): 11,383 GBP (2026-11) ¹⁵
Drenth 6-speed gear kit only, quoted to a forum member: 12,000 EUR (2024-02) ¹⁶
Vink Motorsport 265 Group A gearbox, ex VAT, customer core: 9,500 EUR (2026-11) ¹⁸
Samsonas E30 M3 dogbox kit for the 265 housing (listed, sold out): 7,399.99 USD (2026-11) ¹⁷

In November 2026 a loose 265 dogleg was listed on RCN at $2,300, while new Group A gear kits cost three to five times that. S14 engine and 265 packages on RCN ranged from $6,593 to $14,000 between 2023 and 2026.

Reference prices are dated and sourced; live asking prices are in the listings above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I tell a 265 dogleg from an overdrive 265?

Both use a three-piece case with a removable bellhousing. Look at the round plug at the top right of the rear cover. The close-ratio dogleg box has a larger plug on a raised boss. The overdrive box has a small flush plug. Casting numbers often read 262 and do not settle it ⁸.

Did every E30 M3 have the dogleg gearbox?

No. European cars had the close-ratio dogleg Getrag 265 with a 1:1 fifth. North American cars had an overdrive 265 with a normal H-pattern and a 4.10 final drive ⁹¹¹. RM Sotheby's also notes H-pattern boxes in Japanese and some export Sport Evolutions ¹².

Will a stock 265 survive a race engine?

No factory torque figure was found. Race users usually fit a dog-engaged kit in the original case. Drenth rates its Group A six-speed kit at 400 Nm input ¹⁵. Owners report that synchros, especially reverse, are the first parts to wear on road boxes ¹⁴.

What does a rebuild cost?

Forum reports give Metric Mechanic quotes of about $4,250 plus core in 2015 and $3,000 in 2022 ²⁰²¹. Six synchros cost about $600 in parts in 2015 ²⁰. A Vink Group A conversion is €9,500 ex VAT with your core ¹⁸. Get a current quote before buying.

Is a Drenth or Samsonas kit legal in historic racing?

Drenth states its 265 Group A kit is HTP approved ¹⁵. Samsonas sells homologated Group A touring and rally ratio sets and a non-homologated six-speed ¹⁷. What counts is the car's own HTP and the series rules, so check both before buying.

Can I fit a 265 from an E28 M5 or M635CSi?

A forum decoding table lists the M cars with the Getrag 280/5, which has an integral bellhousing and finned case ⁸. If a seller says the box came from an M5, check the case and bellhousing. An RCN listing sold as a 265 dogleg cites an E34 M5 donor ².

Sources

Search results for 'getrag', Racing Car Network (2026-11) — Current Getrag listings, E34 M5 S38B36 with Getrag 280 package
Getrag 265 Dogleg Close Ratio gearbox, Racing Car Network (2026-08) — Price, removable bellhousing, Motronic holes, claimed E34 M5 donor
BMW S14 Engine and Getrag 235/5 Dogleg Gearbox, Racing Car Network (2026-08) — Price, 235/5 with S14 in a BMW 2002
BMW M3 S14 Engine and Getrag 265 Gearbox, Racing Car Network (2023-11) — Price of S14B23 and 265 package
BMW M3 S14 Engine and Getrag 265 Gearbox (France), Racing Car Network (2023-11) — Price of S14B23 and 265 package
BMW S14 2.5L Engine and Getrag 5-Speed Gearbox, Racing Car Network (2025-07) — Shows a Getrag 245 sold under a generic 5-speed title
BMW M3 E30 Motor S14 Engine Transmission Complete 100k Miles S14B23 Getrag 265, Racing Car Network (2026-07) — Price of S14B23, 265 and differential package
Getrag transmission numbers decoding, E9 Coupe Forum (2017-04) — Case pieces, bellhousing, CR vs OD rear-cover plug, years, 280/5 for M cars, Motronic holes
The Gearing Guide, GTPlanet forum (2013-05) — E30 M3 Euro CR and US OD ratios, final drives
Gear ratios for Getrag 265/5 transmissions, E9 Coupe Forum (2026-04) — 265/5 CR ratios to three decimals
BMW M3 (E30 section), Wikipedia (2026) — Production, gearbox per market, Evo 2 final drive, race titles
1990 BMW M3 Sport Evolution, Lot 127, RM Sotheby's (2021) — Dogleg Euro vs H-pattern Japan/export Sport Evolution
1990 BMW M3 Sport Evolution, PistonHeads (2026) — Sport Evolution 265 CR dogleg with 3.15:1 LSD, rebuild scope
Getrag 265/5 Rebuild, ShiftBMW (2020-08) — Wear found at 160,000 km, parts replaced, rattle, oil choice, NLA ball bearing
Drenth Getrag 265 Group A 6 speed Kit, MacG Racing (2026-11) — Kit price, 400 Nm, Prodrive specification, HTP approval
Kit to turn a Getrag 265/5 into a 6-speed - Netherlands, E9 Coupe Forum (2024-02) — Drenth kit quote in euros, refurbished case price, no speedo drive
Samsonas Motorsport Dogbox Kit, BMW E30 M3, 5150 Autosport (2026-11) — Kit price, Group A touring and rally ratio sets
Getrag 265 Gr. A gearbox, Vink Motorsport (2026-11) — Group A box price, homologated ratios, steel synchros, donor price
Transmission Seal Kit for Getrag 260/262/265, BimmerWorld (2026-11) — Seal kit contents and price, leak warning
Getrag 265 Rebuild Rant, E9 Coupe Forum (2015-06) — Synchro cost, bent fork, rebuilder availability, Metric Mechanic quote
Five speed conversion on Bring a Trailer (post 44), E9 Coupe Forum (2022-06) — Core price and Metric Mechanic rebuild figure
FS: Getrag 265/5 - Close Ratio/Dogleg, E9 Coupe Forum (2021-04) — Asking price, Pete's Gear Shop inspection
gearbox weight, E9 Coupe Forum (2009-11) — Catalogue weight of 5-speed sport box
245/265/260 comparison, the320i blog (2011-10) — Measured case and bellhousing lengths
BMW M3, FIA Historic Database (2026-11) — Homologation 5327, 2 March 1987
Heritage Touring Cup 2023 Supplementary Regulations, Peter Auto / FFSA (2023-01) — Group A class dates, HTP requirement

Did you know

The /6 in Getrag 265/6 does not mean six gears; the 265/6 is a five-speed overdrive box ⁸.
The close-ratio 265 shares its rear cover with the 262 four-speed, so the bolt holes line up ⁸.
Drenth's Group A six-speed kit for the 265 is designed to a Prodrive specification ¹⁵.