Are all E30 driveshafts the same?

[ClayW]

Are all E30 driveshafts the same? M10, M20, M42....S14? Same front and rear flanges?

Yes or no, what are the lengths?

[kronus]

no

6 cyl:

auto and manual are different lengths

'87 manual etas came with big-guibo front sections

don't know about 4 cyl

[reelizmpro]

No, Auto shafts are different from Manual. Of the manual shafts, there are large (late ETA, M3) flange/guibo's and small. There's also early and late center support bearing. The shaft separates and trans flanges can be removed so it's a matter of matching everything up and keeping it balanced. For instance, my vert had a small flange driveshaft so I got a large flange from someone on R3v and got the matching front half (someone took the rear half) of the driveshaft at the yard. I had both parts rebuilt and balanced.

[blunttech]

Are all E30 driveshafts the same? M10, M20, M42....S14? Same front and rear flanges?

Yes or no, what are the lengths?

What do you need clay??

[ClayW]

What do you need clay??

I'm trying to determine the compatibility of an E21 5 speed with an E30 driveshaft to be installed in a 2002. Simple, right?

[Eric]

I'm trying to determine the compatibility of an E21 5 speed with an E30 driveshaft to be installed in a 2002. Simple, right?

Sounds fun!

[Sea Aych]

M42/M40 have different drivehsafts than their M20 counterparts (auto and 5speed) too

[Norbert]

Hello Guys!
Denmark here!

I have m20b20 320i 6 cylinder from earlier model (without a rear light facelift).

I have finished my original differential (as it i am quite sure was never changed in the lifetime...

I took Differential from newer model e30 (with a rear light facelift) of my friends who has same 320i model just never. His diff is bigger (the axle exits sit slightly further to the back of the car). I tried to mount it on my drive-shaft which connects well, but it does not allign with the mountings on the top (4 big screws) where the holding bracket is.

I roughly measured the lengh of the drive shaft from the rubber piece near the gearbox untill the place where it goes with the connection of the Diff. It came to be 150cm's 1.5meter (59.0551 inches). I realise my original one is bit too long for the differential i am trying to fit (connection part which connects with the Drive shaft extends more from the differential case, than on one i had before.)

Question:

Does anyone know exactly which year frame i have to go for or which configuration model i have to choose to be lucky to choose the right drive shaft so that it fits the diff and diff fits the mounts?

Hope i was clear enough and if not please ask as i am not native American-English speaker and might have boggled something up:)

Kind regards,

Norbert