e36 trans to e30 driveshaft options

[nholm325e]

I know this has been posted numerous times but i want to make sure i get exactly what i need...

i have the e36 getrag transmission and the e30 driveshaft. The e30 driveshaft bolt holes sit further away from the center then the holes on the e36 transmission do.

Can i just replace the front half of the e30 driveshaft with different one(i think i read that some m3's or 328i's driveshafts might work idk), so the bolt pattern will match the end of the e36 transmission??

Or do i need to get a whole driveshaft from another bmw, but is it going to bolt to the e30 rear end??

Just trying to figure out what i gotta do from here, any advice would help alot??

Thanks, Nick

[Mike B.]

The E30 325i/is 5-spd prop shaft should fit the E36 Getrag with no issues. Your eta prop shaft's flex disc is too small. You need to source a 325i/is 5-spd prop shaft.

[matt]

The E30 325i/is 5-spd prop shaft should fit the E36 Getrag with no issues. Your eta prop shaft's flex disc is too small. You need to source a 325i/is 5-spd prop shaft.

Yeah, it should but it doesn't... It's too short. Yes, I'm aware it stretches in the middle. It's still too short. Or maybe my motor is too far forward, who the hell knows. Put it together and you will see. It's still working (for now) in my car.

OP: You have a "large" guibo'd driveshaft. Sell it to someone who's using a ZF trans and buy a late e30 driveshaft.

[Mike B.]

Yeah, it should but it doesn't... It's too short. Yes, I'm aware it stretches in the middle. It's still too short. Or maybe my motor is too far forward, who the hell knows. Put it together and you will see. It's still working (for now) in my car.

OP: You have a "large" guibo'd driveshaft. Sell it to someone who's using a ZF trans and buy a late e30 driveshaft.

Are you saying that the E30 325i/is 5-spd driveshaft is too short for an E36 Getrag? If so, that's news to me as I've used this combo for a few swaps.

[matt]

It was for mine, and I've heard of it for others. Not a big deal, as far as I know as I put it together and it continues to work fine.

I will be swapping to an e36 driveshaft soon though. I belive that will fit better.

[nholm325e]

oh, my e30 is a 87 325e, and when i tried to use the e30 flex disk on my e36 getrag transmission it hit the shift linkage so i got the e36 flex disk(which was smaller). but i still have the 325e driveshaft and the bolt holes on the driveshaft deff. sit out further that the holes on the transmission does.

So a e30 325i/is driveshaft will bolt up no problem, do i need to get the whole driveshaft or can i get away with just using the front half part of the driveshaft, the side with the spines??

[nholm325e]

the late e30 325i/is driveshaft which has the "smaller guibo" end, is the 325i/is driveshaft going to bolt to my 325e rearend no problem??

im assuming yes but i dont want to make any assumptions..

[matt]

Yes.