190e driveshaft assembly replacement


I am having to replace the complete driveshaft assembly of a 1992 2.3 8v 5 speed (car was run over something, bending the front shaft) and was sent one from a donor car that is very different from the one we took out from under this one. I am wondering if there is more than one assembly for 5 speeds? The front one on ours measures 34" to where splines go into and is 2 1/8" in diameter. The one sent is only 28 3/4 and is also smaller in diameter 1 3/4". The carrier bearing housing bracket is bigger on the one sent as well. The rear driveshaft from our car is 24" long from the back of the flange to the ujoint center and the one sent is 28 1/4".
Can anyone enlighten me ?

Has anyone got an explanation for the variances in 190E 2.3 5-speed driveshafts? A buddy of mine has a 1986 190E 2.3 5-speed and his drive shaft has a harmonic balancer or some other damping device at the interface with the transmission shaft connection. This device has failed and the local dealer has suggested a new front driveshaft assembly is needed (car has 250,000 or more miles). My buddy had a California used parts supplier ship him a replacement shaft from a 5-speed. It showed up and has a completely different forward shaft connection to the transmission output shaft. More like a straight shaft with a connecton to a flex disc. Anyway, this has led to significant confusion, so any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

All I can contribute is that I KNOW the 16V has a different length driveshaft, and I think it's longer than the one on my 190E 2.6 five-speed. The 16V has a direct drive five-speed that I recall is shorter overall than the five-speed used in six cylinder 201s and 124s.

Also, the early four-cylinder 190s used a slightly different transmission, which may be different overall length, but I believe the later four-cylinder 190s were "upgraded" to the beefier six-cylinder five-speed.

In this situation you should probaby visit your local dealer parts department and ask them to look up the different numbers, and get an accurate description, including length, if possible.

Duke