Has anybody had their entire propshaft replaced?

[Gee]

Hi folks,

I've got a slight metalic clicking/clonking noise as I come on and off the accelerator and most noticeably at slow speeds (1st/2nd gear). If I dial in more revs and release the clutch I don't appear to get the noise. I've had a search on here and noticed a few have replaced the donut or had it regreased but has anybody actually had the entire propshaft replaced?

My car has been into 2 garages now and they have advised that the whole propshaft needs to be replaced rather than just a part of it. I just wanted to get an idea of how common a problem this was. They have both advised that it doesn't have to be done immediately but to be honest the noise is begining to bug me!

Cheers

 

[cj10jeeper]

Interesting how they have both diagnosed an entire propshaft replacement without probably even being able to see it, given it's hidden above the exhaust and heat shield. It's also multi part prop and has a carrier bearing too.

Unless oyu have access to a cheap second hand spare given a new one is £600, I'd be looking to a specilaist propshaft company to refurb it and even then only after I had eliminated all the other donuts and carrier bearings.

Mine somewhere in the drivetrian has an intermittent click, but it's been there over 2 years so not touched it.

 

[Gee]

Thanks for the response. I asked both garages to check it out so they did drop the exhaust. The 2nd hand route was mentioned but if this is a common problem my thoughts were to replace it with a new one. I'm not sure if there are any specialist propshaft companies up this way but I will go have a search now...

Both said it's not causing any damage but it pretty much happens every time I come on and off the accelerator hence my desire to get it sorted. If I can get away without spending the £600 on the part that would be great!

 

[cj10jeeper]

OK - if they have dropped the exhaust then that sounds like a good diagnosis.

I'm sure you can better the £600 by refurbishing or second hand

Never heard of props being a weak link and you can be sure on a forum like this if 1 a year from all the combined users went bust, it would be put forward as a major dsign fault

As an offroad driver I end up with broken and snapped props all the time and there are many specilaist who do it so wrht a bit of Googling

 

[Taz]

well i have never knew it was a multipart propshaft, never heard of such a thing

 

[cj10jeeper]

well i have never knew it was a multipart propshaft, never heard of such a thing

Not uncommon to have a joint in the middle. Most likely on this application so that the prop can be kept high and level above the exhaust and then at the end dip down to the diff. Allows the car to be low.

Take a look at any rigid lorry when next in the car by one and see how they do it.

 

[Taz]

think my capri and scimitar were single piece, if i recall correctly, i changed the propshaft on the scimitar

 

[Gee]

Never heard of props being a weak link and you can be sure on a forum like this if 1 a year from all the combined users went bust, it would be put forward as a major dsign fault

I had a feeling that this was going to be the case as nobody had posted a similar case before. One of the garages thought it may be because the Alpina had more power and the prop couldn't deal with it?? I don't even know what a propshaft does so who knows

I've done some googling and there don't appear to be any propshaft specialists up here. If I buy a new one somebody can have a play with the old one to see if they can fix it!

Thanks again for the help.

 

[th30d0r3]

There's not many moving parts on the prop but it comes in two parts; the problem you're describing can be the result of only 2 things, the centre bearing (guibo) or the "doughnut" both can wear out.
The rest of the prop will be fine you will only need to replace one of those items, both if you're unlucky.

The only reason I can fathom they'd suggest the entire prop is if they're either trying to make money or have no idea how it fits together.

I have a complete 6 speed 330 Propshaft (and perhaps a doughnut) in my garage I was going to use on a swap, if that will fit the alpina (I think they use the M54) then you can borrow it since it's rare as fook I'd like it back when you're done playing, just check it and let me know.

 

[Gee]

Thanks very much for the offer but I think I'll just have to buy a new or refurbed unit. I asked about the donut and they said it was absolutely fine. The first garage did explain to me why the whole unit was required rather than a part but it was all too technical for me. I'm not saying they were experts on how the propshaft is assembled but they were pretty sure the whole unit was required.

They won't be making any money on the popshaft itself as it will have to be bought directly from BMW. They would have only got the labour side of things. Both are well respeted indy's but they don't see many Z4's or Alpina's and when they do none of them have had this fault.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Reason they say it needs replacing is the centre bearing has gone and it's not a garage replacable part. It needs a specialist prop company to cut it out. and weld a new one in on a special machine, then balance it up.

Garages can generally only undo parts, bolt in like for like, etc. due to time, equipment, expertise.