The Blue Phoenix - E46 325i

[JPolen01]

Well I think he actually blends his own oil or something like cause maeng gives no fucks.

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This sounds exactly like something he would do.

[Senor_Taylor]

Welp, I officially fucking hate this car. On my way back to Copper after picking Matt up for an MM "study session" the driveshaft started whirring and clunking around on the floorboard. I jacked the car up properly and everything so I have no clue what happened. We had the car packed with people and "books" and even a guy in the trunk, so leaving the car wasn't an option. We limped the car back from near Pheasant to Copper all at under <20mph with the noises and everything and the wails of drunken women. Best part is I don't even have time to figure out what's wrong with these wonder peace of German ingenuity until Monday. Yay.

[Sully]

So you overloaded the shit out of an old car and it broke so it's the car's fault? Or the Germans fault? Seems legit.

Idk e46's but do they still have a guibo? Sounds like it's toast if it does.

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[Senor_Taylor]

Don't be a dick, please. There was no one in the car when the first clunk. Matt road with me and listened to the noise and we agreed it was suspension before ANYONE got in it.

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[Senor_Taylor]

Ryan posted this in the group chat and Matt says this is it 100%. I'll wake up really early tomorrow and look at it.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?766844-Thumping-noise-from-floorboard-in-E36-M3">http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showt ... -in-E36-M3</a><!-- m -->

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[*insertusernamehere*]

So you overloaded the shit out of an old car and it broke so it's the car's fault? Or the Germans fault? Seems legit.

Idk e46's but do they still have a guibo? Sounds like it's toast if it does.

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Yeah definitely thought it front and rear sway bar end links or some bushing or something. But the more we drove, before there was even weight in the car, Taylor hit a bump and it all started and just went downhill. I'm 80% sure based on the sounds and where it came from that it was the driveshaft bouncing around in whatever capacity. The sound was rotational and it was proportional to the speed. My roommate (not James) thought the car was gonna blow up she said she could feel the hits under her bum so I really wanna say its the CSB.

Also that link Taylor posted is a legit perfect description of what was going on. It was kinda scary tbh I thought the driveshaft was gonna come through the floor and murder one of the girls in the back seat. I wanted to tell Taylor to pull over but at the same time I was like...it...can...make it.....?

Prayed to self: driveshaft please dont stab Taylors gf please don't stab Taylors gf please don't stab my roommate please dont stab my roommate....wait who's the girl with the pizza?

#iamdrunk

[rherold9]

#pizza #collegelife #whatsalcohol

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[Senor_Taylor]

#drunk

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[Sully]

Csb is what I meant. It's been awhile since I've bmw'd

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[SlimKlim]

Definitely sounds like a CSB

[WRXtranceformed]

Ouch looks like you're gonna have to possibly buy a new driveshaft @ ~$400. Hopefully it's something cheaper but it doesn't sound like it.

Reason #3235 why broke college kids shouldn't buy old German cars?

[Jake]

No need for a new driveshaft.

It's the center support bearing and/or guibo.

Guibo: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/driveshaft-flex-disc-guibo-bilstein-26111209168">https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/drives ... 6111209168</a><!-- m -->

CSB: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-driveshaft-center-support-with-bearing-e46-febi-26127501257">https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-dr ... 6127501257</a><!-- m -->

You can see the guibo (look at the link to see what a good one looks like) where the driveshaft mates with the transmission. As they fail, they get big cracks in them. Some will even start to show the threads within the rubber, like this:



Guibo is a pretty quick fix. CSB is more involved but can be DIY'd in a few hours.

[WRXtranceformed]

Is what the guy in that thread said true?

You can replace the center bearing, but unless you also replace the driveshaft with a new or reman part (the u-joints aren't field replacable) the new center bearing will soon fail in the same way.

If so replacing the CSB sounds like a bandaid on a bigger problem if you plan on keeping the car for a bit

[Jake]

I don't know what he means by "will soon fail" but I and many others have replaced just the CSB and run for additional miles/years with no hassles.

In some cases, the U-joints can get bound up or otherwise ruined, and then you're suddenly in the market for a driveshaft. But it's not like every time the CSB goes out, you're buying a driveshaft with it.

I think the biggest problem is that people see really cheap replacement parts and assume they will last as long as the OEM stuff. Surprise! The BMW CSB is $75 and you found one on Rock Auto for $6? Yeah, it may only last you two months.

[Sully]

I spent many of the months I owned my m3 chasing down a thumping sound/feeling from the rear end. Thought it couldn't be csb cause I had just done it. Did all the rear bushings and it was still there. Finally pulled the trigger on a new driveshaft thinking it was the u joints. Upon removal of the old one, it was my "new" csb that had failed worse the one I had taken out. Can't remember if I bought a budget one but it could have also been my fault. May have damaged it during install or put too much preload on the rubber portion when bolting it down.

Moral of the story, it's always the csb

[Senor_Taylor]

For some reason, I thought Chan had replaced the Guibo. I guess I remembered wrong.

[Sully]

For some reason, I thought Chan had replaced the Guibo. I guess I remembered wrong.

He could have. Csb is more likely with the symptoms anyways. Might as well take a look at both. With how bad it is, just looking at it will tell you what you need to know

[D_Eclipse9916]

Based on the noise, I am betting CSB over Guibo.

FYI - I ran T6 Rotella in all my BMW M3s, E46 330i race car, street cars etc (hell including my diesel truck). Mobil 1 is garbage in everything but 1 or 2 weights.

For the use you guys are seeing, throw whatever is one sale at Advance with a purolator filter. That's what I did with my old gas truck, corvette and with Jess' Compass. You aren't stressing any modern oil in autocross or mountain runs.

The E46 M3 I use LiquiMoly or TWS just because #S54eatsbearings

[Senor_Taylor]

Thanks, DJ!

I took Tuesday off from work so I can take everything out. I'm not really sure how Copper Beech will like me having my car on jackstands. I would take it down when I was done, but it hurts my back trying to carry my floor jack in and out of my house.

IF it is the CSB and the guibo is good, what do y'all think I could get away with replacing and not risking something else breaking in the future and where should I get it?

[SlimKlim]

Just do the CSB and get it from Pelican Parts or FCP Euro.