MFactory CF Drive Shaft

[E90who]

For anyone considering this mod, like others have said, it is a zero-downside swap. I have it installed on my 6MT car with solid subframe bushings. I would also say the same thing about those bushings - an absolute must for any e9x.

I've found that the effects swapping to this driveshaft are best noticed when the clutch is being operated or modulating throttle. 1st gear starts and shifts are most improved, but I also found getting on/off throttle to me much smoother and more immediate. I wasn't able to perceive any significant accelerative performance increase, but I wouldn't say that it isn't helping.

Somehow I haven't upgraded my diff bushings yet, will likely do that next. Curious if anyone else has the driveshaft on stock diff bushings.

[AC/DC]

One of the best mods I've done this far. I don't even think about it.

[Richbot]

I have stock diff and subframe bushings.

I can't tell if my car is faster or not. I didn't vbox it before/after or anything like that. I do know my car feels significantly stronger in 3rd than the stock 2011 DCT coupe I test drove for a friend recently, despite the shorter 3rd gear on the DCT. My manual sedan has a few mods but it's still got primary cats etc. ie not enough to have expected to feel noticeably stronger - that's the kind of stuff that normally isn't butt-dynoable. I was expecting my car to feel about the same or weaker. And the DCT car had the same clunkiness I didn't miss from my old stock driveshaft during transitions on/off throttle. Soooo there, science, lol

[pbonsalb]

These cars seem to vary considerably in power so I would not assume your car is faster because of the lighter shaft. Any gains are a pretty minimal reduction in drivetrain loss. But the lighter and one piece shaft does feel a little better. It probably feels more than a little better than a worn out stock shaft. I have had mine for about 3 years, with 75D subframe and 95A diff bushings in my 6MT E90. Other mods I have done made a bigger difference in my opinion, like x-pipe, tune, Euro MDM, the 75D subframe bushings (I did them before the carbon fiber shaft).

[eurovibe]

Originally Posted by MFactory

We have them on-the-shelf now. There won't be another group buy for them.

You guys have any in stock right now?

[MFactory]

Yes, they are in stock

[SAMM3Y]

Originally Posted by MFactory

Yes, they are in stock

Pm me a price shipped for 6mt to 95765? Thanks

[dmitriyo]

What guibo, if not stock, are people using with these?

[pbonsalb]

I would not use a stiffer guibo. No need and it may cause vibration. Use BMW or the company that makes them for BMW or another company that makes a stock replacement that is well proven. Some of the cheap ones are too flexible and some will come apart.

I reused my original flex disk when I installed the original version of the CF shaft. That was several years ago. Car is 12 years old and coming up on 105k miles. No issues.

[dmitriyo]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I would not use a stiffer guibo. No need and it may cause vibration. Use BMW or the company that makes them for BMW or another company that makes a stock replacement that is well proven. Some of the cheap ones are too flexible and some will come apart.

I reused my original flex disk when I installed the original version of the CF shaft. That was several years ago. Car is 12 years old and coming up on 105k miles. No issues.

Makes sense! Thanks for that.

[wyatth]

Definitely OE/OEM would be best. The OE piece is quite robust, I removed one at 80K from my E46 and it looked new, and many here have said the same around 100K.


Question for those with DCT - does this really magnify the clunkiness of the transmission at low speeds? Mixed reviews on that part. I like the idea of this DS and it seems like a bigger winner for 6MT, but not looking to make the DCT even clunkier (not that it needs to be smoother either, I quite like the DCT with the GTS software).

[SAMM3Y]

I received mine in 4 days from Hong Kong just a couple of weeks ago which amazed me during the current global situation. Very pleased

[Redd]

Originally Posted by wyatth

Question for those with DCT - does this really magnify the clunkiness of the transmission at low speeds? Mixed reviews on that part. I like the idea of this DS and it seems like a bigger winner for 6MT, but not looking to make the DCT even clunkier (not that it needs to be smoother either, I quite like the DCT with the GTS software).

I did not notice any additional clunkiness with the CF DS with my DCT. If anything, it eliminated the M-clunk caused by the stock center driveshaft joint.

I am also using the stock giubo. I bought a new unit when I installed my CF DS at 110k kms, but the original giubo was practically new. I wouldn't replace the giubo without inspecting the old one first. High chance you can re-use it.

[Richbot]

The giubo that they use on this car is only going to fail eventually due to material weathering/aging. It's a horse. Mine was also new-looking and feeling compared to the brand new one I bought to put on "while I was in there"

[JetBlack_M3]

What's up guys. I just installed an Mfactory carbon driveshaft on my 6mt M3. I purchased it off my buddy which it came off his car. Immediately noticed a difference. Its much more responsive and more connected. Only issue I've noticed is that it has a major vibration above 120+. It was loud and shaky. I am running solid delrin diff. mounts with solid subframe mounts. There was no vibration prior to installing this. Anyone ever have this issue? Improper install, balance is off, maybe bolts not tight enough?

I had a local shop do the install. I assume maybe it wasn't correctly and maybe threw the balance off. Any help is appreciated. Thank you in advance

[Lienrocs]

Originally Posted by JetBlack_M3

What's up guys. I just installed an Mfactory carbon driveshaft on my 6mt M3. I purchased it off my buddy which it came off his car. Immediately noticed a difference. Its much more responsive and more connected. Only issue I've noticed is that it has a major vibration above 120+. It was loud and shaky. I am running solid delrin diff. mounts with solid subframe mounts. There was no vibration prior to installing this. Anyone ever have this issue? Improper install, balance is off, maybe bolts not tight enough?

I had a local shop do the install. I assume maybe it wasn't correctly and maybe threw the balance off. Any help is appreciated. Thank you in advance

I had a vibration as well past about 90. One of the bolts on the trans side was loose. There's no way to get a torque wrench in there so just make sure they're all effing tight and you'll be good to go, most likely.

[wyatth]

Well that’s good and bad to hear.
What version or how old is the shaft?

MFactory should do another GB.

[amrazM]

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

I received mine in 4 days from Hong Kong just a couple of weeks ago which amazed me during the current global situation. Very pleased

china is probably keeping their surplus kn95 for the next wave

[JetBlack_M3]

Originally Posted by Lienrocs

I had a vibration as well past about 90. One of the bolts on the trans side was loose. There's no way to get a torque wrench in there so just make sure they're all effing tight and you'll be good to go, most likely.

I'll give it another look today thank you. Did you use Loctite?

[JetBlack_M3]

Originally Posted by wyatth

Well that’s good and bad to hear.
What version or how old is the shaft?

MFactory should do another GB.

I believe it's the 2nd gen. Previous owner had no issues with it. I'm gonna check to make sure all bolts are tight. It was scary loud and shaky lol

[wyatth]

I could be all sorts of backwards, but I thought V2 had the yellow lines swerving across the shaft. Either way, many are happily running V1s so hopefully it just needs to be retightened.

[Richbot]

Scary Loud = something's got to be loose.

Mine got a new giubo and there was some faint resonance right after it was installed, only at high rpm and at WOT, not speed dependent, so it wasn't strictly coming from just driveshaft revs but from vibrations in the powertrain. That's gone now, I thinkthe new giubo polymer needed some time to work harden/soften up/whatever.

Remember, if the carbon tube has ever had anything impact it, that can be A Really Bad Thing. Check for impact damage. If it was dropped the wrong way during install - that could be enough

I believe V2 had kevlar reinforcement/retention bands (the yellow lines he's talking about)

I used green loctite