1996 318ti transmission

[myracdook]

I have several questions. We have a 1996 BWM 318ti automatic. We have found a 1997 318i transmission. First will it work in ours? Second, the one we found has a broken bell housing. We thought we could swap out the bell housing from the one we have that is still good and put it on the one with the cracked one. However, someone told us that the bell housing is all one piece and we can't do that. We don't have the tranny all the way off yet but it appears to be two pieces. what can you tell me and are there any special tips?

[Xenocide]

Not sure on the bell housing question. I think it is two pieces but not easily user serviceable. (not 100% sure) Might be some seals there on the transmission side that will be hard/impossible to replace.

Transmission out of a 97 318i will work fine. I would not want one with a cracked bell housing though.

[myracdook]

Our son in law is a mechanic and he was going to take the bell housing off of the one we currently have that is good and put it onto this one. This transmission we are looking at only has 36k on it. However, someone he talked to yesterday told him that the bell housing was one piece and not two. Hoped someone with experience on these would know for sure.

[Xenocide]

Looks to be 1 piece to me. I am at work right now so can't look at my extra one