Installed new CV axle, hub won't bolt up

cameronbates1

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I recently bought a 2003 3.0i with the 6 speed. An hour after I purchased it, the driver side rear CV shaft totally shredded itself. Took it to the place I had my PPI done and they said it looked like the bolts that go into the diff weren't tightened to spec and backed out. Annoyed he didn't catch that during the PPI, but whatever. Given my mechanic quoted me at nearly a grand to install a new one, I decided to do it myself since I'm not stranger to car repairs.

Everything went smoothly getting the new axle in, bolted to the diff, and the spline through the hub.

Unfortunately I ran into problems when I tried to bolt the wheel hub back up to the suspension parts and the adjustable rear link. The hub pushed all the way back into the car is still 4-6 inches away from the bolt holes, top and bottom. I tried ratchet strapping the hub to work it closer, thinking that the CV shaft wasn't compressed enough, but was only barely able to get the bottom bolt for the rear link on. The top one was now even further away.

From everything I've seen, I have the correct part for the car, but I'm at a loss for where to go from here.

I did notice when I was taking out the old axle that it was the wrong part. It fit and bolted up, but the axle nut was 32mm as opposed to the 36mm I was anticipating. Do I need to figure out what the old, incorrect part was to install, and just ensure to install it correctly?
 
4-6" in car terms is about a country mile. I'd suggest that the previous owner has put a different diff in, hence the completely different driveshafts, and then never tightened the diff bolts properly.

BMW are particularly good with part consistency too. Very rarely is a fastener changed during the life of a car. So the axle bolt backs up the above.

I'd start with asking for a refund. Frankencars and loose important bolts usually don't bode well unless its sold as a project. Who knows what's been tinkered with.
 
Unfortunately the guy I bought it from titles jumped and is lost to the wind now. I'm best off recouping my losses and finding the right axle at this point.
 
Start with looking at the E46 3 series as that's closest in terms of DNA. If you haven't found it, RealOEM.com is a brilliant source of data for cross referencing.
 
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