Reconditioned BMW 5 Series Gearbox

Which gearbox fits a BMW 5 Series diesel or petrol between 2003 and 2010?

The answer depends on the engine code, not just the engine capacity: two 5 Series fitted with a 3.0d can carry gearboxes with different references depending on the generation of the block. Across this range, all available engine variants take a 6-speed manual gearbox, but the gearbox families differ between the diesel variants and the 2.5 petrol.

Three engine variants, several engine code families

The 3.0d covers three distinct engine codes — M57D30, 306D2 and 306D3 — corresponding to successive developments of the BMW six-cylinder diesel in the E60/E61. The associated gearbox (GS6-45DZ family) varies in exact reference according to these codes: GS6-45DZ-TH6G, TH5H and HAL are not cosmetic variants but differently calibrated units. The 2.0d covers codes M47D20, N47D20A and B47D20, with a GS6-37DZ gearbox (reference THES), mechanically more compact than the 3.0d version. The 2.5 petrol groups together codes M54B25, N52B25 and N53B25, again with its own dedicated gearbox (GS6-17BG-APX): the 2.5 petrol transmission is not interchangeable with that of the diesels, even where the gear ratios are identical.

Identifying the right part on a 3.0d: the generation trap

The 3.0d is the most common engine variant in this range. The key watch-out: the gearbox reference changes between the 2003–2007 and 2007–2010 production phases, directly linked to the revisions of the M57D30 block through to the 306D2 and then 306D3 variants. A gearbox from a 2004 E60 3.0d is therefore not necessarily compatible with a 2009 E60 3.0d. The engine code physically stamped on the block is the only reliable way to cross-reference the correct gearbox reference within this range.