Front Propeller (Drive) Shaft warranty extension and Failure/Replacement Discussion

[neo61uk]

For anyone who may need it in a future
I'm gonna answer my own question

Correct way of fitting the propshaft to front differential :

Brand new M8 ZNS3 Bolts with ribs x 4

Torqe 20Nm
Tightening Angle 45deg

So torque down to 20Nm using torque ratchet and than rotate another 45deg using standard ratchet.

Good luck

[Hack213]

Originally Posted by neo61uk

For anyone who may need it in a future
I'm gonna answer my own question

Correct way of fitting the propshaft to front differential :

Brand new M8 ZNS3 Bolts with ribs x 4

Torqe 20Nm
Tightening Angle 45deg

So torque down to 20Nm using torque ratchet and than rotate another 45deg using standard ratchet.

Good luck

So what shaft is the best replacement ? 2008 x5 4.8 , or is custom made one the best option

[Ricky Bobby]

Adding my experience - 2013 X5 35D, production date 5/2013


Its been one of my worries owning this car after reading these stories, then I saw that what started out as 21k cars turned into 130k+ vehicles being recalled. Then I read that the date range stops 2 months short of E70 production, April 11, 2013. My wifes was built on 5/18/2013 -



So I researched parts diagrams and looks like the driveshaft which was superseded, was used from April 2010, until FEBRUARY 2013 - So there are vehicles included in the recall which use the "new" superseded driveshaft? Seems like there really is no rhyme or reason to this, and I think they will expand the recall more in the future.




At 68k miles I got under my wifes X5 on Friday, and I could feel noticeably more play in her driveshaft, which you can see on the videos I shot for my SA, just by gripping the shaft and wiggling up/down and side to side.



I went on my 106k mile E53, and did the same thing, gripping my driveshaft, BARELY any play whatsoever - coming from my knowledge of U-joints on trucks etc I always was under the impression they should be tight and no play discernible.


My SA said to bring the vehicle in, his shop foreman could see the play, but would confirm when its in there. It would be covered under my CPO, but not under any recall as my VIN falls outside the range.


Kind of disappointed in how they came to the conclusion of this recall, but happy to still have my CPO - (in service date was June 2013, so I still have another 9+ months left of it, I won't be over 100k by then) - I am hoping to give myself peace of mind and have it replaced under CPO for the $50 deductible - the nice thing is that the driveshaft on the diesels (and I think the 35i too?) is a very affordable part, approx $200 list from BMW, around $150-160 with discount, plus 4 bolts, and once the plastic shield is removed, its 4 bolts and R&R can be done within an hour.