Drive Shafts

[BeardyJon]

Wondering if I could get some opinions as I'm hearing conflicting ones from different mechanics on this.

Took the car into Peter Vardy BMW in August to have the roof wiring fixed when it got stuck open and as part of their health check, they advised me of a number of things they recommend that I fix/replace. Most of the stuff is not necessary (they wanted £800 for a new windscreen simply because its not a BMW OEM one, f**k that), however there were a couple things that they said could be urgent.

One of them was that the drive shafts were corroded and needed replacing, as well as the ABS sensors. Total for the job was quoted as £2,233.46. That was pretty staggering to hear, so obviously I'm hesitant to proceed. I took it to Kwik-Fit for its Service and MOT and asked them for an opinion. They said there's no need to change them and that the corrosion they saw was normal for the age and mileage of the car.

I'm wary of the stealers, as they always try to get money out of me for stuff that doesn't actually need doing. The Kwik-Fit is usually very reliable and trustworthy and they guys there have often gone the extra mile when I've been in. I also don't think they have any incentive to pressure me to change them since that's not something I think they'd do (?), but, also not sure their expertise on this particular issue.

SO. What do you all think? Anyone got any ideas?

This is the current condition of the drive shafts:



Obviously the paint is peeling off, and there's a lot of surface rust. But is that normal, or a cause for concern?

 

[Chippie]

IMHO I’d say it looks worse than it is, although I must admit there is a lot of corrosion under there, personally I’d wire brush all the loose paint and rust from underneath and treat it with one of those rust killing kits, and then apply a couple of coats of under seal or black Matt hammerite paint.

 

[Christopher72]

That picture increased my heart rate. My 2011 doesn't have any notable rust, but it was never in a corrosive climate, and it never leaves the garage unless it's top-down weather. Is that an expected level of rust on these?

I am also wondering how you took the photo with a cell phone that included itself in the picture!

 

[B21]

That picture increased my heart rate. My 2011 doesn't have any notable rust, but it was never in a corrosive climate, and it never leaves the garage unless it's top-down weather. Is that an expected level of rust on these?

I am also wondering how you took the photo with a cell phone that included itself in the picture!

Mirror?

 

[B21]

It does look (for an E89) pretty bad surface rust with pitting..so given the main dealers 'standards' it understandable from their perspective..

I'd suggest you start a preventative maintenance program with something like Lanoguard to try and stabilise the situation..and before that as Chippie suggested some wire brush / hammerite type paint!

 

[BeardyJon]

That picture increased my heart rate. My 2011 doesn't have any notable rust, but it was never in a corrosive climate, and it never leaves the garage unless it's top-down weather. Is that an expected level of rust on these?

I am also wondering how you took the photo with a cell phone that included itself in the picture!

It rains a lot in the UK and they salt the roads in winter too so I'm guessing that's why. I've kept the car garaged for the last 6 years so it's only ever exposed to the weather when I take it out. I only do 3500-4000 miles a year though so I was a bit alarmed when I got under the car and saw the rust, which I was able to thanks to the Kwik-Fit guy who put the car up on the ramp and showed me what's going on. Kind of unsettling to stand underneath the car while it's on a ramp though.

I'm going to find it a bit difficult to treat the rust issues myself as I don't have ramps/jacks etc to get under the car, and the logistics of doing that work in an underground car park make it difficult even if I did. Anyone got any suggestions for places I could take it for treatment?