Some M93 and M94 transmissions are identified as such by the last three digits of the serial number, but M97 transmissions are not. The serial number is on the right side of the transmission, stamped vertically along the front of the case.

May 26, 2013 · As you may know by now the problem you are experiencing is fairly common with the M94 transmission. This model was produced with straight (not undercut) shift gear dogs which can result in accelerated wear of the shift forks.

Oct 22, 2007 · Due to the fact that the M94 transmission does not have undercut shift dogs, under normal operation the gears in some units (depending on luck-of-the-draw manufacturing tolerances) tend to want to walk out of gear.

Apr 14, 2008 · The transmission (M94) Shifts fine but will produce a substantial 'klunk' moving from first to second. Only a soft hand on the throttle will avoid the lurking jolt. I understand that this situation, quite manageable now, can only go to bad and then worse over time.

Jul 13, 2010 · I'm at the point of ordering the input shaft for my transmission but don't know whether the transmission is the M93/4 or the M97. The input (drive) shafts are quite different and I don't want to be ordering the wrong one. Two BMW dealers come back with conflicting information on which one I have....

Nov 9, 2008 · Yes, you can put the M94 shaft into the M97 case but you'll have to change to the clean bearings because the shaft with tapered bearings won't fit into the M97 case. In changing those bearings, you recreate the M97 problem.

Provided you can get away with just replacing the gear, while BMW does not sell individual parts for the M97 input shaft the gear is the same as was used on the previous generation (M94) transmission, and that gear is available for about $245.

Jun 28, 2012 · i believe that BMW replaced those early M94 transmissions as a warranty/recall repair. contact your local dealer, see what they can get from Motorad for you. at 35k, i would inspect the rear main seal, but not automatically replace it.

Aug 24, 2017 · Your bike was built in 3/96, about the time the M94 gearbox was replaced by the M97. Your bike's gearbox has s/n 0000852DAH. Anton's page says that clean ball bearings were added to the M94 gearbox input shaft beginning with transmissions 10483DAF (etc).

Oct 2, 2006 · "Yes, and yes. The M94 and M97 shafts are interchangeable. You'll probably have to update the M94 input to the clean bearings in order to install it in the M97 case, but that's just good practice." - Anton Largiader