The 85 I have is a grey market car from canada. It has 687,000 km on it but the previous owner took very nice care of it. I would not be surprised if the engine has been replaced, because the pilot bearing was a standard 35mm.

After doing some measurements, I came up that the half shaft I have from a 240d only has to be shortened by about 1-7/8", not the 4" that I have read in so many places. Since I have the original 300d half shaft as well, and I plan to try the shorten job myself I technically have 2 chances. If I screw up the first one, I'll probably take/send it somewhere for the second.

The shift linkage is also kinda a mystery. All the threads I read said you had to cut, shorten and weld the shift linkages to get them to fit. All I had to do was add more threads to the existing ones with a die, and cut about .500" off the end of the threads. Fit like a glove.