6 Speed?

[JGood]

Yes, that sounds like the M3 automatic shaft will work, you do still need the E46M3 flange though, the 540i bolt spacing is too wide. The output flange costs about ~250.

Blah, you're right. 96mm/12 vs 105mm/14

Still not a badly priced setup overall, uses factory bolt-on parts. I like that, vs. having custom parts.

[nrubenstein]

I honestly think an automatic e36 M3 driveshaft will bolt right up and work. bmwfans.info lists the length as 1346mm. Frank had his driveshaft spec'd to 1381mm, which included the guibo. That's 35mm longer then the auto e36 M3. I'm willing to bet a guibo is damn near 35mm thick, putting the auto e36 M3 driveshaft at the exact required length, as a 100% bolt-on solution.

Ryan, can you confirm your driveshaft length?

For context, RealOEM lists the E36 M3 6spd shaft at 1367mm. I've always assumed that this does not include the guibo, but I will check this weekend. I have both. (Note that the E36 6spd shaft is not length adjustable, so it's not a good candidate for swap cars.)

[nrubenstein]

Blah, you're right. 96mm/12 vs 105mm/14

Still not a badly priced setup overall, uses factory bolt-on parts. I like that, vs. having custom parts.

You could probably also find a trashed 420G to salvage the flange off of if you have any time. It's not like a trash E46 transmission is exactly uncommon.

And you might even be able to use one from the big flange G260 or G265, or maybe even the ZF310/320.

Luckily for me, the guy I bought the S62 from wanted a 6speed to put behind a turbo S52 for his E39 M5. Swapping flanges should make life a lot easier for both of us, so we made sure they were spline compatible and went with that.

[smalcol]

Real OEM shows the length as 1346MM for the E36M3 coupe automatic driveshaft.

[smalcol]

I tried for a short while to find a flange used, no luck. I don't think failure is that common on the M3, the rest of the E46's use a different transmission.

[nrubenstein]

Real OEM shows the length as 1346MM for the E36M3 coupe automatic driveshaft.

JGood posted that above. ;)

E46 M3 transmissions fail pretty often, but finding someone who kept the parts is harder.

[JGood]

For context, RealOEM lists the E36 M3 6spd shaft at 1367mm. I've always assumed that this does not include the guibo, but I will check this weekend. I have both. (Note that the E36 6spd shaft is not length adjustable, so it's not a good candidate for swap cars.)

I'm also curious how BMW measures their driveshafts. I'd assume it would be flange to flange (outer surfaces), not including studs/guibo, and with the collapsing splines (if applicable) positioned as they would be in the car.

[nrubenstein]

I'm also curious how BMW measures their driveshafts. I'd assume it would be flange to flange (outer surfaces), not including studs/guibo, and with the collapsing splines (if applicable) positioned as they would be in the car.

Well, the good news is that I have the opportunity to figure that out.

[dirty30]

part # 23 21 1 282 442 is a 96mm output flange for an S54 420G... if you could determine whether or not the E36 M3 auto shaft is the correct length then you could just bolt that output flange to the end of your V8 420G and use an E36 M3 guibo/ driveshaft

[smalcol]

part # 23 21 1 282 442 is a 96mm output flange for an S54 420G... if you could determine whether or not the E36 M3 auto shaft is the correct length then you could just bolt that output flange to the end of your V8 420G and use an E36 M3 guibo/ driveshaft

Yes, that's the E46 M3 output flange we are talking about.

[P Arkus]

So just a question. When you guys are talking about using the Automatic M3 driveshaft, are you talking about the whole drive shaft or just the front half?

[nrubenstein]

So just a question. When you guys are talking about using the Automatic M3 driveshaft, are you talking about the whole drive shaft or just the front half?

The rear half of the E36 M3 automatic shaft is no different from the u-jointed manual one. You can fit it that way. (Actually, I did when I converted to a 6speed in the 332 out of sheer laziness.). Assuming that it has never been rebuilt, BMW driveshafts are balanced separately.

The general assumption, though, is that you will swap out the CSB and use the whole thing.

[nrubenstein]

I get roughly 1,360mm installed length, excluding the guibo. I'd say that that pretty conclusively states that the BMW length excludes it. If your V8 sits at least as far back as the I6, you can use the auto driveshaft with the right flange.

Also, I've been wondering if the V8 bellhousing was longer. It appears not to be, based on my measurements today. The extra apparent length is just from the block extension behind the heads.

[irrelevante30]

i know around here there are a few driveshaft shops and it usually isn't more than a few hundred dollars.

[JGood]

I get roughly 1,360mm installed length, excluding the guibo. I'd say that that pretty conclusively states that the BMW length excludes it. If your V8 sits at least as far back as the I6, you can use the auto driveshaft with the right flange.

Also, I've been wondering if the V8 bellhousing was longer. It appears not to be, based on my measurements today. The extra apparent length is just from the block extension behind the heads.

So the non-collapsing euro e36 M3 driveshaft that realoem lists as 1367mm, you measured at 1360mm, measuring from flange to flange (outer edges), not including studs?

I wonder how they measure the collapsing driveshafts... installed length, collapsed length, extended length...?