Just learned i missed something when replacing my E46 Driveshaft...

"sefeing, actually bought an E46" (sefeing90)
11/06/2019 at 11:25 • Filed to: e46, BMW, driveway mechanic

The damn screws holding the shaft to the diff. 4 little reverse torx screws...

Started having a noise / droning come back around 55-60, which was what happened before i replaced the shaft. It’s been super quiet the last few weeks, and this drone just came up.

So... did some research on forums, etc and apparently I wasn’t supposed to re-use these ZNS screws that are self-locking, so they’ve likely loosened a bit and are causing some vibrations.

Just ordered some new ones from FCPEuro, but I’m getting a bit stressed because I have to figure out a time to replace these before early Saturday morning when I have to drive my mom & fiance to Philly from NYC so she can go dress shopping.

My options are:

1. miss some work today & run up to a BMW dealership in midtown to get them ($$$, and time), and replace them this evening

2. L et me order be delivered from FCP, and take off some time Friday during the day to try to do it myself in my buddy’s driveway (NYC is going to be COLD Friday, missing work)

3. S ee if my local indie guy can do it for me, and I’ll just pay his rate OR

4. Wait till friday night, when it’s COLD and have a friend help / moral support.

All in all, I’m stressed out b/c of this timeline, so this is mostly a rant post. It’s my fault for not double checking the manual when doing the replacement. The car’s been running great otherwise, but I don’t want to destroy a driveshaft that I JUST put in the car and lost time is my biggest worry.

What would YOU do?

DISCUSSION (22)

E90M3 > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/06/2019 at 11:34

I’d park my BMW with the problem and drive my other BMW.

Tripper > E90M3
11/06/2019 at 11:40

Tripper > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/06/2019 at 11:40

Get your inde to do it. You’re under the gun already, don’t add more stress by trying to run around and DIY last minute.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > E90M3
11/06/2019 at 11:47

but... i... only have the one :(

Tripper > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/06/2019 at 11:47

I seen an opportunity here...

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Tripper
11/06/2019 at 11:49

Yeah, if the part is here in time (tomorrow, usually FCP is pretty damn fast to NYC) I think I’m gonna have him do it. I’ve never actually used him for anything, yet, but it’s the closest shop to my apt, literally around the corner and he seems like a nice, honest guy and gets decent reviews online. I’ve seen other E46's on his lifts. Plus, how much can you mess up torquing 4 screws?

If they don’t arrive until later on Friday, I’m bound to doing it at night w/ a buddy.

Tripper > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/06/2019 at 11:51

I bet it will. I’ve had a steady flow from FCP euro for the last few weeks. Unfortunately its all boring suspension components that I won’t get to install for months.

E90M3 > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/06/2019 at 11:51

Sounds like you need to rectify that.

dumpsterfire! > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/06/2019 at 11:55

What would I do?

Kinja'd!!!

But driving around with people I care about in the car...changes things a little.

Tripper > dumpsterfire!
11/06/2019 at 11:58

“But driving around with people I care about in the car...changes things a little”

So, red Loctite then? jk

Montalvo > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/06/2019 at 12:02

As a fellow NY oppo with a BMW i feel for you. At least it is only a mechanical issue and not some electrical gremlin.

Shane Moore > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/06/2019 at 12:03

Not what would I do but what DID I do? While certainly not the same car but back in HS I replace the transmission in my thunderbird and it had the same “don’t use the bolts again“ bolts where the driveshaft met the rear end. I didn’t know that at the time, assembled and later got the strange noise/vibration mostly on deceleration . I removed them, added a little loctite (red I believe) and it worked no problem. Now this should last a while (2 years before I replaced the clutch) but if you want to just use this as a fix to get through your trip, you can replace it with the proper bolts when you get back.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > dumpsterfire!
11/06/2019 at 12:16

questionable at best, haha

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Montalvo
11/06/2019 at 12:17

counting my blessings here, and praying to the bavarian gods

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Shane Moore
11/06/2019 at 12:19

yeeeeep, that sounds exactly like what I’m getting. Since the bolts will get here quick, I may as well just swap them in/out. Getting the car up in the air is the biggest time consumer, since I have to drive to a buddy’s place to do it since I live in an apartment - other than that, it’s not the worst. Just have to make sure the lights we have work since it’ll be dark

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > E90M3
11/06/2019 at 12:22

if you can convince my fiance, I’ll take an M3 plz.

Shane Moore > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/06/2019 at 12:27

Yeah after I posted that and thought what would now me do as an “adult”. Don’t know how far that drive is but if I had the means to fix it right I would. Good luck!

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Shane Moore
11/06/2019 at 12:34

haha, appreciate it. I’m going to get it done, one way or another - whether that’s just bearing the cold Friday evening or just sucking it up & paying a shop

Montalvo > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/06/2019 at 18:38

I prayed and they smit ted me. I got to pay another $2000. At this point I have paid a good portion of what my car is now worth in services.

pip bip - choose Corrour > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/07/2019 at 03:39

locti te and a rattle gun?

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Montalvo
11/11/2019 at 12:00

Honestly, same. But I really do like the car.

Similar situation - I just found my driver’s rear lower control arm is bent (the one that sucks b/c you have to move the diff to access the bolt), so I think im going to have a shop do it anyway because it needs an align m ent.

Any recco’s for BMW shops in NYC that aren’t an arm & a leg?

Currently quoted 480 or so for parts / labor / alignment

(120 alignment, 120/hr labor (probably 1.5 hr) and the rest parts) - BMW said the part is ~200, which this confirms, as does FCP, but if you order the lemforder part, it’s $30...

Montalvo > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/11/2019 at 14:45

In NYC? No idea, I commute in on the LIRR for work. Out east by me I have heard the two below do solid work though they are not necessarily regular repair shops. Best of luck finding a good shop.

http://www.nybimmers.com

https://www.tkxperformance.com