Different center support bearings for E30?

[Vincent Brick]

Were there two different center support bearings used on E30s? One with wider bolt spacing and slots for adjustable preload like an E36, and one with narrower spacing without slots? Just curious as I had a shop that specializes in rebuilding BMW driveshafts return mine with the wrong, E36-style bearing. When I called them on it they asked if my car was Euro and said it was very strange, and that the one they installed is what a '91 calls for. They come highly recommended and their customer service is top notch, so I tend to think they know what they are talking about. They got it all taken care of so its not an issue, I just am curious for my own knowledge.

Props to Oceanside Driveline for coming to my house to pick this thing up and bringing it back to me proper within like 2 hours of calling.

[irish44j]

Both of the ones I've had were slotted so you can preload them.

[dsphil]

The earlier model is wider. I found out the hard way.

[Vincent Brick]

Interesting.

The shop initially gave me back my driveshaft with the wide one above, I didn't realize it was wide, just thought it had preload like the E36 one I did before and didn't think anything of it until I tried to install. When they brought it back it had the the one just like what came off it, they still had my old one to compare. This one adds the preload, about the appropriate amount,

The one I have looks like the one on the right of this huge pic I found on a GIS:






I guess its not a big deal, just curious, wanted to know what's up.

[TobyB]

Yup, they changed about the time of the bumpers. I too discovered this by trial and errror...

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[Vincent Brick]

They changed from the non-adjustable to the adjustable preload? Staying narrow bolt spacing the whole time I presume? I now think they put an E36 one on by mistake, thinking it was the late E30 one. Despite being a '91 my car has LOTS of early parts on it so I'm not surprised.