E30 M52 Prop Shaft Options [24v M50 + 318is Getrag g240 Gearbox] BMW Drive Shaft Length Guide | 051
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- Опубліковано 3 гру 2023
- E30 M52 Prop Shaft Options [24v M50 + 318is Getrag g240 Gearbox] BMW Drive Shaft Length Guide | 051
In this video I explore which prop shaft (AKA drive shaft if you're in the US) I can use with my BMW E30 M52 build.
To transfer the new M52 power to the rear wheels of my E30 build, I need a prop shaft that fits. This is quite important because the prop shaft will potentially be spinning beneath the car at 6000rpm, and a improper fit might end up in disaster for my E30 chassis.
Luckily, with an M5X swapped E30, there are some good OEM options you can use which are quite cost effective. However, which one you can use is quite specific to which gearbox you select.
My specific combo is as follows:
- 1990 Facelift 316i Manual BMW E30 3 Series Coupe
- M52B28 24v 6-cyl Engine
- E30 318is Getrag g240 Gear Box
It would have been ideal to use the ZF 5-speed gearbox for my M52 swapped E30, however they have become prohibitively expensive based on the fact they're rare, robust and in demand for various high-power E30 engine swaps. As a result I opted to stick with a Getrag G240 as a much more cost effective option. It also meant I had a better selection of differential final drive ratios which should again help keep the cost down in purchasing one down the line. If I had gone with this I'd have needed the front half of an E36 prop shaft, and the rear of an E30 prop.
Although my 316i came with a g240 transmission as standard, I opted to pick up an E30 specific 318is g240 gearbox after one came up cheap locally, these have a longer output shaft than the standard g240. I did this primarily to simplify which prop shaft I required for my build.
According to the forums, I could use a 325i propshaft which would be a direct and perfect fit for this combo, and these prop shafts are relatively easy to source compared to some of the more unusal models.
Getting under the E30, I measured the overall length of prop shaft I needed which turned out to be 147cm with the rubber flex disc guibo already installed, and the measurement between the gearbox flange and the centre bearing mounting holes is 62cm.
I had 3 prop shafts, the original 316i prop, a pre-facelift 320i manual prop shaft, and a newly acquired 325i manual propshaft from a facelift.
Interestngly the early prop shafts are a smaller tube than the later ones, this is apparently because the later ones used a thinner walled tube, so bigger isn't necessarily better in this case.
Another key thing to note between the facelift and pre-facelift drive shafts is the center bearing. The bearings are quite different between the two, and while you can install either on any BMW E30 prop shaft, which chassis you have because the centre bearing mounting holes are positioned differently. You must use the correct centre bearing.
I measured each prop shaft which is not quite as easy as it sounds thanks to the 10cm splined section. I ended up using the slotted centre bearing mounting hole as the central point.
The rear diff side of all E30 prop shafts are the same length, and of course thje centre bearing mounts to the chssis and is immoveable. So really if you've got the right prop shaft bearing the only concern is the front half of the shaft and whether it fits up between the CB and the gearbox output flange.
I include a table of E30 prop shaft lengths in the video.
The 316i prop is way too long, which was anticipated. The 320i prop shaft is too long by 1cm, which means it would have potentially fit with a normal 316i g240 gear box. Fortunately the 325i drive shaft was the perfect length so I went ahead and fitted it up to the car.
You might notice that the 325i prop shaft is looking brand new. when I received it i found that the universal joints were extremely notchy, more than I was comfortable with. I looked into how to change the UJs myself, but as they are staked in from factory, similar to the steering linkage which I struggled with, I opted to send it off for a full refurb with Dunning and Fairbanks Ltd who refurbish prop shafts. They replaced the UJs, rebalanced it and gave it a fresh paint job.
It's crucial that you use a balanced prop shaft or you will get a bad vibration which may result in the prop shaking lose and flailing under the car, destroying the chassis. It's not worth the risk.
To tighten up the the prop shaft, you need to be able to rotate the shaft. because the car is currently fitted with an open diff, I was able to just jack one rear wheel up to rotate the shaft by hand.
I also fitted the heat shields that protect it from the exhaust.
For more helpful how-to guides and restorations: www.spannerrash.com/
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#bmwe30 #e30build #m52 - Авто та транспорт
![E30 M52 Short Gear Linkage Guide [M50 with Getrag g240] Z3 1.9 Shifter Upgrade + New Bushing | 050](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PdT95ZjqJns/mqdefault.jpg)
![E30 M52 Short Gear Linkage Guide [M50 with Getrag g240] Z3 1.9 Shifter Upgrade + New Bushing | 050](/img/tr.png)
Getting close now mate! Keep it up 👍
Cheers Dan, appreciate it.
Daren't ask, but hope you got your paintwork figured out mate. 🤞
very pleasant and chill to watch, keep up the good work 👍
Cheers, glad you enjoyed it!
Amazing! Thank you for all the informative bits!!! You’re doing an amazing job!
Thank you so much! I do try to pack everything I find out into each vid. Hope it's useful for you. 😃
Nice job mate. I had D and F re-con my E46 propshaft, not cheap, but cheaper than new and just as good. Very quick turnaround as well.
Thanks mate, yeah I was pretty pleased all in all. Hopefully I can just not worry about it for a very long time now its renewed. 😃
E36 325i is also an option with this engine and gearbox combo.
Interesting, I didn't actually know that!
Both front and rear section fits up nice with centre bearing in the right place?
Really useful to know if so.
I am around the same stage with my E30 M52 swap. I am using the original Getrag 240 from the regular 318i and have been trying to source a 325i manual prop to use ..but seeing this , its back to the drawing board! Maybe its best to get the prop front section shortened on my 318i prop ...
In theory you should be able to use a 320i manual prop shaft as a direct fit. I think it'll work!
The 325i prop will be too short, that's for use with the 318is g240 specifically.
Hope that helps!
Awesome stuff man. It’s like we have similar taste. Im doing a manual swap on my 88 325is - I have e38 style 5s waiting for me to complete the 5 lug upgrade- I’ll be doing what you did. I purchased the rear stuff already but a buddy is giving me the front suspension of his e36 M3. So- I might end up installing that up front. During your research- did you ever run across a definitive answer if that setup would work with the style 5s?
Thanks mate, seems like we'll both end up with sweet E30's then. 😃
Hmm good question, I'm not sure about that actually because E36 M3 front suspension was never an option for me due to the cost and rarity.
If it pushes the front wheels out a lot further you might have an issue with E36 Style 5 wheels, but I've no clue whether it does. Sorry I can't be of more help with that.
If you find out, let us know though because that sounds interesting.
@@SPANNERRASHno worries, you’ve helped me out tremendously. You explain stuff so well. I’ll have to get that M3 stuff and see how it goes. I’ll report back- but it will be a while before I do. I have kids so not a lot of free time. 😂
I wonder what shaft i will have to use on my future m57 swap
Hopefully with it being a 6-pot too the same!
I don't know if a Getrag g240 will appreciate that amount of torque though. 😆
👌🍻
Cheers Steve!
After I put Bilstiens and eibach springs with kumho victa racer tires, long time ago 😂 ua-cam.com/video/GaRU7XPd-Vw/v-deo.html&si=k52_LlXrhDQctuFO
Did you preload the csb ? Next week i will swap my drum trailing arms for disc non bent ones😂. Also i have bought a serated camber and toe correction kit that i plan to install too...
Hi Marios, if I didn't mention in the vid its because there's some debate about that. Lot's of sources so put should be pushed towards the front of the car slightly some say no preload is required.
I fitted mine just like the one that came off (that was probably original to the car). I think there is maybe very slight forward preload onto the original mounting witness marks, but barely anything.
Let's see if I have a problem, if I do, I can always revisit it.
What do you think it should be mounted like?
Nice I did consider welding on camber/toe correction to my rear beam too, maybe another thing I will revisit. Let's see what an alignment says first though! 😄
Hope your new disc arms work out well.
Hello m8, i tried messaging you on Instagram. Although we can also chat from here. I want to ask you about my 6pot swap that i am planning to do soon.
@@mariosnikolaou5212 Hi Marios, sure I will be happy to help in any way I can, so feel free to ask. 😁
I am putting an m50b25 vanos. I would like to use the 240 that came from my 316i because the 318is ones are really expensive and also using the 240 from the m40 means cheap gearbox and no need for altering the shifter angle etc. The prop that i need is a 320i one? How many mm it must be. Can the dual mass m50 flywheel fit the 240 gearbox? Thanks in advance.
@@mariosnikolaou5212 Aha, yes that's a perfectly reasonable plan. I have kept mine too as it gives me reassurance to have spares on the shelf. I don't know for sure that my 318is gearbox is good yet.
Using the g240 from a normal 316i should be just the same apart from you need a 320i manual prop shaft. It should be a perfect fit, 148cm in length. Check out the table in the vid here: 5:37
I believe the M5X dual mass flywheel will fit fine, but I'm not 100% sure about that so might be worth asking on E30zone or R3v for confirmation. I think in this case you would need to use an M5X starter motor too to mesh with the flywheel teeth. But again I'm not 100% sure.
Hope that helps.
How strong is the getrag 240? I also have an e30 and planning on going with the Honda k24 swap but was unsure how strong the 240 box is as I’ve actually got one sat on my workshop…any advice appreciated 🤙🏼🚀
Can't quite speak from experience yet, but generally been told they are very robust and should be plenty strong for what I'm doing around 200hp NA.
I think they run into trouble when used in higher torque applications though so if I was adding a turbo I might have a bad time.
If you're doing an NA K24 I'd have thought you'd be fine!
@@SPANNERRASH cheers for the reply, and I’m planning on sticking a turbo in there aiming for 350-400bhp so I’ll maybe try a getrag 260 but will have to research into the prop shaft setup like you have done
@@MasterCaster97 Ahh yes sounds like you might need to look for a more robust solution, maybe an E36 ZF.