Bmw e36 driveshaft lenghts

[SwapLimited]

Hi guys,

I have a 1986 325 coupe that I swapped with an M50TU and a Getrag 250. I found a Z3 at a junkyard, so I took many parts, including the ZF 320. I also took the front driveshaft, thinking it might be similar to the one in the 328i. I also found a 318i manual and a 328i automatic, and I was surprised by the differences in the rear driveshafts of these two cars. Most forums say that E36s have the same rear driveshaft, but clearly, that's not the case, as you can see in the picture. I took many measurements and was hoping someone could confirm which one is proper for the rear and whether the front section from the Z3 is the same as the 328i manual.
Measurements:

L1 = Thread end to flange
L2 = Thread end to bushing end
L3 = Flange to Spline end
L4 = Center to center U-joint

- 328i automatic (realoem 26111227612 1275mm)
Front:
L1 = 365mm
L2 = 390mm
Rear:
L3 = 930mm
L4 = 750mm
Overall to flange:
Lmin = 1220mm
Lmax = 1250mm

- 318i manual (realoem 26111227773 1561mm)
Front:
L1 = 627,5mm
L2 = 650mm
Rear:
L3 = 700mm
L4 = 500mm
Overall to flange:
Lmin = 1235mm
Lmax = 1275mm

- Z3 manual (realoem 26111229474 1244mm)
Front:
L1 = 582,5mm
L2 = 605mm

I took all the measurements with a tape measure, so they're not extremely precise. Also, the overall length is from the flange in the front and rear (like L1), and all the measurements for the rear start at the flange, not the end of the studs that connect to the differential. For the front section, I took all the measurements without the screw cap so that the measurement would not depend on how much it is screwed in. The minimum and maximum overall lengths depend on the position on the yoke. Ideally, I would swap the transmission and then test everything, but since I don't have a garage and am doing this at a friend's house, I would like to know beforehand so I can send the driveshaft to a machine shop for balancing.

Thanks!

[TobyB]

No help here,
other than to say I've noticed the same thing- different models got
radically different setups, and lengths seem to vary almost by VIN...

I have 2 E46 driveshafts apart right now- one from a 330 auto and one from a manual.
Not only are the lengths different, the slip joints go the opposite way. So there's no mix-n- match
to be had there! The E36 318 220 driveshaft is the same as neither of them...

t
needs to sort this out too, one of these decades.

[SwapLimited]

Yes, that's curious because the 318i driveshaft doesn't fit the Realoem length. Maybe it's my mistake, though. The 318i was probably an automatic transmission, not a manual. It's been a long time since I removed this driveshaft from the junkyard, so I probably forgot. That would explain the difference in overall length compared to what Realoem says. The part number for a 318i automatic is 26111229063, and the overall length is 1324 mm. In that case, it seems that the driveshaft for the 318i automatic not only changes the front length as we think but also the rear length. It could also have the same front length but a different rear length. I can't say for sure. The rear driveshaft from the 328i is more similar to the one I saw on the other forum, so I would probably go with that one. It would be really helpful if someone could confirm the rear length for a 328i rear driveshaft.

It seems that the Z3 front driveshaft is the same as the 328i's. Based on this Reddit forum:
https://www.reddit.com/r/BMWE36/comm...t_measurement/.
SpeedAndPower measured the front 328i driveshaft, which is 23 5/8" (600 mm), pretty close to what I measured on the Z3. I can't be 100% sure, but that seems like a good guess.
At least the slip joints are on the same side, unlike your E46. It's a questionable design choice by BMW to have opposite joint orientation on the same model but different transmission.

I will keep you updated if I find anything!

[SwapLimited]

Today, I went under my car to take some measurements. I have an M50TU with a Getrag 250 and Revshift 24V motor mount. The driveshaft is from another E30 M50 swap, but I presume it's from an E36 325i manual because it fits, and that's what's recommended for that swap.

- 325 Manual E36 Driveshaft (From an E30 M50 Swap)
Front:
L1 = 610mm with the cap
Center of CSB to flange = 635mm.
Rear:
L4 = 750mm
Center of CSB to diff flange = 835mm

Getrag 250
Bellhousing to guibo = 550mm

Zf 320 (Z3):
Bellhousing to Guibo: 562,5mm

Conclusion:
1. In other words, the distance from the bellhousing to the differential is approximately 2020mm (635 + 835 + 550). All measurements were taken with a measuring tape, so it's not rocket science. Since I have the ZF, I am left with 1457,5 mm for the total length of the driveshaft, from the front flange to the diff flange. When I put the Z3 front with the 328i rear, I have a gap of 1450–1472,5 mm, so it's perfect!
2. Not all E36 rear driveshafts are the same. The 325 and 328 have the same one, but not the 318, at least not the automatic one. Furthermore, for a 24V swap in an E30, a 325 or 328 driveshaft is needed.

I hope this helps others!