Driveshaft Being Replaced

[Lerxst M3]

Well, after having a rather decent vibration start cropping up on me I decided to bring the car in to Momentum BMW SW in Houston today. After a test drive and a look on the lift, it was determined that I needed my drive shaft replaced.

I have no idea what would have caused it to start to vibrate (somehow got out of balance?). Hoping that this will cure my rattling console cover (lol...explains my previous thread I think now).

Anyone have any ideas or ever heard of this happening on our vehicles? Luckily I am CPO at 56,500 miles and my $50.00 deductible will take care of it.

Curious to know if this is the beginning of things to come...and hoping not.

Any ideas from you all would be appreciated. I have never tracked it and I frequently drive spiritedly but i don't abuse her.

[Vic311]

Stuff happens as the car gets older...glad you are covered.

[Lerxst M3]

Originally Posted by Vic311

Stuff happens as the car gets older...glad you are covered.

While I agree that stuff happens as the car gets older, I'm hoping someone can share a thought or two of why this driveshaft would need to be replaced when the car really isn't that old.

Anyone?

[Lerxst M3]

SA told me that the new driveshaft is $900.00 and the labor to install would be in the $1500.00 range. Since I am still CPO this will only be the $50.00 deductible.

The new shaft will arrive Monday morning and they said I should have the car back tomorrow afternoon.

Hoping this will bring my vibration level back down to nothing. I will post up results when I get it back (hopefully) tomorrow.

I will say again...if you're in Houston, Momentum BMW SW is the place to go.

[jjw2331]

I know you are covered for the parts and repairs but damn...

That's an over charge quote if you weren't

[Lerxst M3]

Originally Posted by jjw2331

I know you are covered for the parts and repairs but damn...

That's an over charge quote if you weren't

Seemed high to me as well. However it was an off the cuff question from me that he didn't research so he may have been wrong. lol

[kscarrol]

Just to clarify, it is $900 for the parts and $1,500 total including labor, correct? I would find $1,500 of labor to be very high...

Glad the OP's car is CPO!

[Lerxst M3]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Just to clarify, it is $900 for the parts and $1,500 total including labor, correct? I would find $1,500 of labor to be very high...

Glad the OP's car is CPO!

I'll find out for sure tomorrow when I pick her up but I MAY have misunderstood him on the labor now that I think about it. I would say $1500 total sounds more like what it should be.

But $CPO-fiddy sounds even better.

[Superfly_M3]

At those prices, it might even make sense to buy a used complete rear end with axles, diff, the works, swap it, and part out your own stuff. Not to mention you can upgrade that hard to get to rear sway bar.
I think I saw complete rear end go for arournd $3500.

Originally Posted by connorcp

SA told me that the new driveshaft is $900.00 and the labor to install would be in the $1500.00 range. Since I am still CPO this will only be the $50.00 deductible.

The new shaft will arrive Monday morning and they said I should have the car back tomorrow afternoon.

Hoping this will bring my vibration level back down to nothing. I will post up results when I get it back (hopefully) tomorrow.

I will say again...if you're in Houston, Momentum BMW SW is the place to go.

[jjw2331]

Originally Posted by connorcp

I'll find out for sure tomorrow when I pick her up but I MAY have misunderstood him on the labor now that I think about it. I would say $1500 total sounds more like what it should be.

But $CPO-fiddy sounds even better.

Definitely. You should also feel better that driveshafts are not a common issue with this car compared to idle control valves or differential grinding noise.

If I keep this car past 50k, threads like these are pushing me to get an extended warranty.

[DBH]

Originally Posted by connorcp

SA told me that the new driveshaft is $900.00 and the labor to install would be in the $1500.00 range. Since I am still CPO this will only be the $50.00 deductible.

The new shaft will arrive Monday morning and they said I should have the car back tomorrow afternoon.

Hoping this will bring my vibration level back down to nothing. I will post up results when I get it back (hopefully) tomorrow.

I will say again...if you're in Houston, Momentum BMW SW is the place to go.

Let's see, $1,500 in labor - even at $150/hr that's ten hours. So, if they get the part Monday morning, you definitly ain't gettin' it back Monday afternoon!

I think $1,500 TOTAL sounds better.

[M3PO]

I'm curious what happened with this. A bad u-joint is the only thing that would warrant a new driveshaft (center support bearing and guibos can be replaced) but it's far too early for that.

[Lerxst M3]

Originally Posted by M3PO

I'm curious what happened with this. A bad u-joint is the only thing that would warrant a new driveshaft (center support bearing and guibos can be replaced) but it's far too early for that.

They told me the 'center U joint' had play and that was causing the vibration. Smooth as silk now.

[M3PO]

Originally Posted by connorcp

They told me the 'center U joint' had play and that was causing the vibration. Smooth as silk now.

Thanks for the update! That's what I thought it was but it's far too early for that, hopefully your issue was a fluke.

[Lerxst M3]

Originally Posted by M3PO

Thanks for the update! That's what I thought it was but it's far too early for that, hopefully your issue was a fluke.

As I am hoping the same thing too. The car had the diff replaced in December of 2011 and I wonder if they may have mishandled it (driveshaft) during the replacement.

I guess anything is possible but I am sticking with fluke. lol

[LOVEM]

Originally Posted by DBH

Let's see, $1,500 in labor - even at $150/hr that's ten hours. So, if they get the part Monday morning, you definitly ain't gettin' it back Monday afternoon!

I think $1,500 TOTAL sounds better.

ONLY Happens @ MOMENTUM BMW south west

[kwike92]

Originally Posted by connorcp

SA told me that the new driveshaft is $900.00 and the labor to install would be in the $1500.00 range. Since I am still CPO this will only be the $50.00 deductible.

The new shaft will arrive Monday morning and they said I should have the car back tomorrow afternoon.

Hoping this will bring my vibration level back down to nothing. I will post up results when I get it back (hopefully) tomorrow.

I will say again...if you're in Houston, Momentum BMW SW is the place to go.

$1500 for labor ??? lol

[Lerxst M3]

Originally Posted by LOVEM

ONLY Happens @ MOMENTUM BMW south west

They had it back to me by 1:30 the same day the part came in (Christmas Eve). I was a happy camper with the service.

[DARK_M3]

Have you always used protection on that shaft? You don't know where it's been. Lucky they caught the problem early.

[SHADY1]

I don't track my M3 and my rear drive shaft bearing went bad a few months ago good thing I had a extended warranty I have 80,000+ miles on my M3
I am glad your M3 is fixed and back on the road good stuff

[TVMA Doc]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Just to clarify, it is $900 for the parts and $1,500 total including labor, correct? I would find $1,500 of labor to be very high...

Glad the OP's car is CPO!

BMW quoted me "4 guys about 3 hours" to replace the front windshield. $1,500 sounds about right for a BMW dealership quote...
(the glass guy we went with was the one used by all of the local dealers and it took him 40 minutes by himself)

Indy shops would probably do it for half that or less?