Second Hand Nissan Primera Drive Shaft

The Nissan Primera P11 generation ran from 1996 to 2002, so both years sit within the same generation, which is a good starting point. Fitment ultimately turns on the engine code rather than the year alone, so make sure the engine codes match between the donor car and yours — you'll find yours on your V5 or via a VIN check. Supply that engine code and your gearbox type (manual or automatic) to the breaker, who can confirm whether the shaft will cross over.

The P12 generation Primera ran from 2002 to 2007, with a facelift introduced in 2005, so there is a production boundary mid-generation to be aware of. Whether a drive shaft from a pre-2005 P12 crosses to a post-2005 car without issue is something you should confirm with the breaker against your registration, as ancillary and mounting details can change around a facelift even when the basic engine family stays the same. Give the breaker your exact engine code, gearbox type, and reg so they can check their parts against your specific vehicle.

For a mechanical component like a drive shaft, the trim level — whether S, SE, or SVE — does not affect fitment; what matters is that the engine code, fuel type, and gearbox type match between the donor car and yours. Trim differences on the Primera are largely cosmetic or relate to interior and electrical equipment, so you shouldn't pay a premium for a shaft pulled from a higher-spec car. Confirm the engine code match with the breaker and you can disregard the trim badge entirely.

Yes, NS (nearside, left) and OS (offside, right) drive shafts are not interchangeable — they are different lengths on most front-wheel-drive layouts, including the Primera. Always specify which side you need when contacting a breaker, and double-check by measuring your existing shaft or confirming with the breaker using your registration. Getting the side wrong is one of the most common ordering mistakes with drive shafts.

Not necessarily — fuel type determines the engine fitted, and different engines can require different drive shaft specifications even within the same model year and generation. The engine code is the detail that matters most here, so check yours on your V5 or via a VIN check and supply it to the breaker rather than relying on petrol or diesel as a description alone. A breaker can then match the shaft to your exact engine and gearbox combination.

The P11 ran from 1996 to 2002 and the P12 from 2002 to 2007, and these are distinct generations with different platforms, so a drive shaft crossing that generation boundary is not a straightforward swap. You should route this question directly to the breaker, providing your registration, engine code, and gearbox type, so they can assess whether the spline count, length, and CV joint specifications actually match. Don't assume compatibility just because both cars carry the Primera name.