91 318i driveshaft question

[Mistawall]

Fuck i got a 6 Bolt drive shaft and my Diff is 4 bolt... what do i do find a new drive shaft?

[theycallmebrown]

yep. it's 4 bolt. so i'm good to go it looks like! =D

Thanks!

[theycallmebrown]

The m3 ZF driveshaft will work if it's the 4 bolt style setup it's the same as the 328 ZF shafts some are 6 bolt pattern though and won't fit

4 vs 6 to connect to the differential right? The tranny side is 12 bolt I think. I'll crawl under and check the m3

[SmokeE30]

Dang. So the free driveshaft from the m3 won't work... OK. Thanks!

The m3 ZF driveshaft will work if it's the 4 bolt style setup it's the same as the 328 ZF shafts some are 6 bolt pattern though and won't fit

[theycallmebrown]

Dang. So the free driveshaft from the m3 won't work... OK. Thanks!

[luckysnafu]

You'll need a 325/328 manual driveshaft and an e30 CSB (center support bearing). Make sure you buy the CSB for your specific car/body (318i sedan) as they are different for 318/325 cars (I learned this the hard way). Assuming you get a complete driveshaft you just need to swap the CSB and you are good to go, no need to buy dust covers or anything else. Also make sure you put the CSB on the car the correct way (offset to one side) or you will get crazy vibrations.

[theycallmebrown]

Cant figure out what driveshaft i need

I have a 91 318i 4 door, the engine i am swapping is an s50 from 1995 with a zf transmission.

What I gather is that the "e36 328i uses the same transmission as the later model E36 M3, the ZF 320. The E36 328i/is driveshaft (part number 26111227283) fits only when you replace the center bearing and support with an E30 unit. However, you need to use the E36 front (26111226552) and rear dust (26111226553) covers. The circlip (26123648156) is the same." from the wiki...

Does that mean that the driveshaft on the m3 will not fit and I need to find one off an e36 328i? That is what is sounds like. If that is the case, it's the right lenth and nothing else (other than what that wiki says) needs to be done? it will mate with my 4 door 318i differential just fine?

Reason i ask is the only info available that i can find is talkinga bout the 91 318is. is it exactly the same as the 318i?


Also, What differential would you recommend for city driving? I will probably never take this to the track, or if i do it will be infrequently and just for fun, not competitively. I want the overdrive for roadtrips, the wiki says the e30 325i diff is a good swap... does that mean my 318i diff wont fit and NEEDS to be replaced? Can I just use the differential off the donor m3?

I've spent a week now digging through everything i need for the swap and this is the only thing I'm not sure on.