Getrag 265 driveshaft

[BMW335i]

Hi all,

Have been doing alot of research but never found an answer for this.
Anyone ideas?

Getrag 265 dogleg close ratio gearbox from the e24 635csi (IIRC same from the E30 M3)

If it's the same gearbox from the E30 M3, an M3 driveshaft should be plug and play material..

Anyone?

[Andy.B]

If it where attached to an s14, (or the Alpina 335i that had the engine jammed so far forward the special radiator was inside the core support where the AC condenser normally lives) then yes, it would be plug and play. Unfortunately, however, with a radiator bolted behind the core support (where it is going to be on everything BUT the Alpina 335i), the m30 will be so far back that it pushes the output shaft of the g265 a few inches farther back than a g260's output shaft.

I have hunted and read and searched and stuck different parts of different shafts together and even made a CSB carrier that would allow a frankenstein of shaft parts...
And then I gave up, called driveshaftspecialist.com, and ordered a shortened shaft. I'm still waiting for it to arrive, but it was a hair over $500 for a shortened, rebuilt driveshaft, shipped to my door.

TLDR:
e30+m30+g260 = bolt in driveshaft
e30+s14+g265 = bolt in driveshaft
e30+m30+g265 = shortened driveshaft

[BMW335i]

Darn!
Any measurements?
I hope shortening the driveshaft wont cause any vibrations on the highway..

[Andy.B]

I don't have the measurements offhand, but I can dig them up.

However, it truly depends on the mounts and the holes used. Q-Bangs mounts aren't the same as the e30.de mounts, which aren't the same as the Garagistic mounts. What worked for me (Q-Bang mounts with the engine as far back as it could possibly be without removing the blower motor box), won't necessarily work for you. Most people shorten a hair over two inches with the engine in "position 2". I ended up shortening over 3 inches.

Basically, you need to get your engine/tranny bolted in, bolt a guibo on the driveshaft output flange, and measure the distance from the guibo to the CSB bolt holes.

Driveshaftspecialists has a worksheet to make sure you get all of the correct measurements, and will shorten the shaft to your specs, replace the u-joints and CSB, and high speed balance the shaft, before the ship it to you. No need to worry about vibrations on the highway, and with all new joints and CSB, it shouldn't need any attention for years.

Unfortunately, there is no easier/cheaper solution for the m30/g265 combo in an e30 that has been discovered yet, but the peace of mind of a shortened, completely rebuilt, proper length, bolt in driveshaft is worth $500 (to me).

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Yep gotta take about 2 inches out of your drive shaft. I paid 120 for my 87 325e driveshaft and 80 bucks to have it shortened at a local place.

[BMW335i]

I don't have the measurements offhand, but I can dig them up.

However, it truly depends on the mounts and the holes used. Q-Bangs mounts aren't the same as the e30.de mounts, which aren't the same as the Garagistic mounts. What worked for me (Q-Bang mounts with the engine as far back as it could possibly be without removing the blower motor box), won't necessarily work for you. Most people shorten a hair over two inches with the engine in "position 2". I ended up shortening over 3 inches.

Basically, you need to get your engine/tranny bolted in, bolt a guibo on the driveshaft output flange, and measure the distance from the guibo to the CSB bolt holes.

Driveshaftspecialists has a worksheet to make sure you get all of the correct measurements, and will shorten the shaft to your specs, replace the u-joints and CSB, and high speed balance the shaft, before the ship it to you. No need to worry about vibrations on the highway, and with all new joints and CSB, it shouldn't need any attention for years.

Unfortunately, there is no easier/cheaper solution for the m30/g265 combo in an e30 that has been discovered yet, but the peace of mind of a shortened, completely rebuilt, proper length, bolt in driveshaft is worth $500 (to me).

Thanks bro, everything has become clear now.
I'll bolt everything on, and start measuring just like you said ;)

Pics following of the swap.