Q on a 540i propshaft

[Barkie]

As some of you know, I just bought a 540. Busy replacing/repairing what I can at the moment. When engaging drive or reverse I can hear a metallic sound. Put it up on a lift today and the sound is coming from the center bearing/coupling. Do you only get this from the dealers or is there any other means of getting this!

 

[DieselFan]

Is it the rubber flex disk that sits on between the gearbox and prop?

 

[Barkie]

Cannot see it as its under the covers of the car. Think to replace the rubber and the bearing

 

[DieselFan]

Cannot see it as its under the covers of the car. Think to replace the rubber and the bearing

I'm assuming this is what you're looking for. I have 2 available for your car.

One is in great condition. Rubber has no tears. Another has a few tiny tears.

R800 for the better one. R400 for the other one. Both are oem. Will send you part number and pics if you're interested. Costs about R1600 from the dealer iirc

Let me know.

 

[DieselFan]

Oh is yours manual or auto. I think they're different. Mine are for an auto but I can double check on realoem tomorrow if yous is a manual.

 

[Barkie]

Mine is auto, is it worth doing all that work for a second hand one, I'm not trying to be funny!

 

[DieselFan]

It's a couple of covers and 5 bolts on either side of the prop and the two holding the U joint in the centre of the prop. It's not a big job. Just giving you the option. The one looks new.

 

[Barkie]

Thanks, where are you

 

[DieselFan]

I'm based in cape town

 

[Barkie]

I'm in EC, damn far from you. Will get back to you

 

[DieselFan]

Yeah can get a quote on postage if you like. Not sure what our post office is like at the moment but that should be fairly reasonable.

I'll do 850 shipped if you decide you want it.

 

[Barkie]

Thanks, the PO is a bit in shambles at the moment

 

[JayDrft]

Barkie,

What Dieselfan is offer is a bargain...keeping in mind the cost of an oem coupling, its a fair deal, even for a 2nd hand one..if its second hand, it will only fail if you are hard on the loud pedal(spinning, burnouts etc).

However - what you mentioned is that it makes a metallic sound when engaging...when you are driving at slower or higher speeds and the box changes - is there any noise generated when changing?

Usually when universal joints are worn on the prop, it makes the metal to metal cluck sound when changing or engaging gears. The propshaft coupling will be felt, rather than heard...

Take some time and get your covers off - will need to do it at some stage. Inspect the coupling, and when in neutral, you should be able to grab the prop andtwist it, you should be able to hear a cluck noise if the universals are shot.

Hope it helps.

 

[Barkie]

@ JayDrft, thanks a lot. Its a good deal I know. When we turn the drive-shaft we can hear the same metallic sound. You are right, think I will strip down 1st and see whats cooking. How difficult is it to DIY the universal. No vibration at all, car is very smooth. on part throttle I can just hear it on shifting. However I think it's getting worse on engaging drive and reverse. Do not know if it can fail completely, but if it will be a big mess! I do not have a lift at home, have high ramps, hope I can manage with that.

 

[DieselFan]

@ JayDrft, thanks a lot. Its a good deal I know. When we turn the drive-shaft we can hear the same metallic sound. You are right, think I will strip down 1st and see whats cooking. How difficult is it to DIY the universal. No vibration at all, car is very smooth. on part throttle I can just hear it on shifting. However I think it's getting worse on engaging drive and reverse. Do not know if it can fail completely, but if it will be a big mess! I do not have a lift at home, have high ramps, hope I can manage with that.

You would be able to slide under and remove the covers to inspect. As for how hard the job is. Well when I removed the coupling from the gearbox I couldn't loosen the bolts with hand tools I had to use a air impact. Not sure if mine was just over tightened or what tools you have available. A long wrench should do it. But I don't know how much space you will have for leverage under the car. Other than that should be a fairly simple DIY. When I think about it you probably don't have to drop the whole prop just the bolts at the guibo. Could be wrong but if you're going to tackle it yourself that's where I would start. Then loosen the ones above the u joint if you need more space or something.

 

[Fordkoppie]

Barkie - you said in your initial post that it was the center bearing.

That would mean its item no #7 in this diagram.

The propshaft splits in 2 and then the bearing with the mounting can come out. make sure you mark the splines, so that you put it back together with the same alignment.

Dieselfan is trying to sell item no #2.

The universal joints Jay spoke about are sealed units and cannot be replaced. Some prop shops will tell you they can, but trust me - you are better off buying a new one than letting those idiots tamper with the propshaft. It WILL vibrate afterwards.

It's a couple of covers and 5 bolts on either side of the prop and the two holding the U joint in the centre of the prop. It's not a big job. Just giving you the option. The one looks new.

If you are happy with only 5 bolts, so be it, but I would much rather prefer all 6 meant to be there.

And its a massive operation. First need to take off the entire exhaust system, then no less than 3 heat shields and then only the propshaft.

 

[DieselFan]

He said centre bearing / coupling. Which is why I said if this is the part you're looking for... Wasn't thinking properly about the exhaust. It can still be done at home though, would be a lot easier with a lift. People have done far worse.

Yes I got that wrong. I'm not selling them with bolts. It's 3 in the coupling for the gearbox and 3 in the coupling for the propshaft.

Anyway Barkie if it is your coupling and if you are interested in taking it, I've had them for awhile and they'll still be here if you do decide you need one.

 

[Barkie]

@ Fordkoppie, yes I said center bearing. seems that I will rather FEEL that than hear it, might rather be the universal. What is the best way forward. Looking like the universal is part of the actual shaft or do I just picture it wrong here

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Is this what we are looking at!

<a href="http://s915.photobucket.com/user/BARKHUBH/media/inv_003396_02_zpsmavw1sad.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac353/BARKHUBH/inv_003396_02_zpsmavw1sad.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo inv_003396_02_zpsmavw1sad.jpg"/></a>

 

[Fordkoppie]

Best way forward would be to first get under the car and pinpoint the problem