OMFG What drive shaft do I need?

[shiboujin]

I thought I had a getrag 250. Apparently I have some ZF tranny. My motor is out of a 91 E34. I bought a regular old E36 drive shaft and its way too long. From what I've found I need one of the following drive shafts:

E30M3
86-98 328
98 M3

Is this true? anything else work? Sounds kinda weird that 98 is the ONLY M3 year that works.

Also, anyone know where I can get one? (specific links not just "EBAY!")

[broke30]

I thought I had a getrag 250. Apparently I have some ZF tranny. My motor is out of a 91 E34. I bought a regular old E36 drive shaft and its way too long. From what I've found I need one of the following drive shafts:

E30M3
86-98 328
98 M3

Is this true? anything else work? Sounds kinda weird that 98 is the ONLY M3 year that works.

Also, anyone know where I can get one? (specific links not just "EBAY!")

Never heard of an 86 328 ;). Anyways, I used an '87 325e driveshaft and it fit perfectly. I am also using a zf tranny. It is the cheapest solution and easiest to source.
Max

[shiboujin]

again. why only 87?

Bah, wish I knew someone around here with an eta for once.

[Fidhle007]

The earlier E30s had the larger guibo like the ZF BUT it uses 10mm bolts, rather than the 12mm ones on the ZF. Therefore the shaft should work but I'd worry about the possibility of failure due to the slop in the bolt holes. I'd go with the 328 shaft (I believe this is what is under my car) because it's a bolt up situation.

[shiboujin]

I shall hunt egay then.

[btec116]

I shall hunt egay then.

(Chuckle)
But anyway, I had driveshaft probs too. There are a few different lengths even within models. I fould about five different variants for a standard E30/M20/Getrag260.
Measure between your gbox/diff flanges then go to the wrecker. Then pick one out!
I was under the assumption E30 318i AUTO shafts are the right length for a non-M ZF box out of an E36. But make sure you check the bolts, I may be wrong (I ended up using a Getrag anyway)

[shiboujin]

How about a 95 M3 drive shaft with the E30 back half?

http://bigfishmotorsports.com/e30e36parts/

[shiboujin]

http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/store/shop.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=6134&Category_Code=DS&ACTION=CatList&Ecode=e36&Year=1997&Model=328i&BodyStyle=4D

Auto or manual 328?!

http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/store/shop.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=6134&Product_Code=3.03.DSM9A&Category_Code=DS&Ecode=e36&Year=1998&Model=M3&BodyStyle=2D

Or an auto M3? The manual 98 M3 has the CV joint style back end.

[e30325ic]

318 shafts are longer on both e36 and e30's. Make sure you get one from a 325. I am using the m3 shaft since that is the one I found. But I have put one in someones else's car when they went to the Zf.

[shiboujin]

so the 95 M3 front on a 325 E30 rear will work?

[e30325ic]

so the 95 M3 front on a 325 E30 rear will work?

No it will not work. The Carrier BRG is on the front shaft of the e30 and on the rear shaft of the M3 shaft. You will need the whole shaft but you will have to use the carrier BRG from the e30 since the e36 is wider. I know I just disassembled both of them today to swap the BRG's around for my car.
Just get an m3 or a 328 e36 complete drive shaft and put a new e30 carrier BRG on it. If you shaft you got is too long then it is probably from a 318.

[shiboujin]

The 98 manual drive shaft is the CV joint rear but the auto is the 4 bolt rear kind. If I get the 328 one, do I get the manual or auto one?

[Aptyp]

For the longest time, i was under impression that any e36 automatic driveshaft was a bolt in for ZF.s because the front portion is shorter, and rear is identical.

How can people who done the swap not know better?

[shiboujin]

so the 328 auto shaft will work?

http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/store/shop.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=6134&Product_Code=3.03.DSM9A&Category_Code=DS&Ecode=e36&Year=1998&Model=M3&BodyStyle=2D

[e30325ic]

so the 328 auto shaft will work?
http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/s...3&BodyStyle=2D

If they say it will work, I guess it will. I am only going by what I have done.