Where's the best place to get a new/rebuilt driveshaft?

[Sean]

What's the difference between serviceable u-joints and non-serviceable ones? Do the serviceable ones have to be greased all the time?

I'm looking at a couple - Mesa Performance and Driveline Service of Portland.

Mesa is going to be $325 + $15 to ship it over here + $100 core charge. Then the shipping of the core is paid for.

Driveline of Portland wants about $408 and the shipping is free both ways.

What's everyones take on a good replacement driveshaft?

Lets get a discussion started! :)

[browntown]

I've heard nothing but good things about driveline of portland. Apparently BMW's have something odd about the way they're welded, spin friction welding or something. Regardless, it's something most shops can't handle.

[jlevie]

I've had nothing but good experiences with Driveline Services, so they'd get my vote.

[Sean]

Spoke to Driveline Service of Portland again today and they said that the u-joints have to be greased every 12,000 miles. I don't know about you guys - but do you grease your ujoints every 12,000 miles? At the rate I'm going, I'll put 20,000 miles on my car a year, and I HATE the idea of having to get underneath my car twice a year just to grease my damn ujoints - specially when one of those intervals will fall in the dead of winter when I have no garage to work on.

So, I called Mesa, and sure enough, their drivetrains are sealed and require no greasing. True, Driveline Service has 5 year / 50,000 mile warantee and Mesa only has 1 year - but I'd rather not have to grease them.

What's your guys' take on this?

[MR 325]

Dude, you WANT serviceable ujoints, or at least I would.

[Sean]

Dude, you WANT serviceable ujoints, or at least I would.

Can you explain to me why I would want to grease ujoints every 12,000 miles? I don't want to get under my car that often.

Serviceable means they can be replaced when they go bad? How much does that cost, it would probably run like $200 anyway, wouldn't it???

[StereoInstaller1]

If I were looking at spending $400 on a driveshaft, I would check on OE prices.

Dealer was $600ish with new CSB, last I checked. BMA has to be better than that.

If not that, I would go serviceable. If you do your own oil changes, 12K is only every 3 changes. If you don't do your own, have the tech do it with the oil change.

JMO,
Luke

[Sean]

OK, here's the thing. First, when I do oil changes, I never have enough room to remove my center exhaust piece and the head sheild - it's usually like 6-7 inches off the ground - just enough to reach the drain plug.

Second, I still don't understand why I should buy a serviceable u-joint driveshaft over a non-service u-joint driveshaft? If BMW originally used a non-serviceable driveshaft, why should I go with a serviceable one now?

Also, Luke - driveshaft PN is 26 10 1 226 733 and it's not showing up on BMA?

[Hick]

If you have someone replace the non serviceable with serviceable u-joints it will not cost as much as an OE driveshaft. Serviceable mean that you have to periodically pump grease into the joint vs having one that needs no attention. The saying has nothing to do with replacing the joints.

Its pretty simple to pump grease into the joint; it does not need to come off the car and you can feel around for the zerk fitting snap on a grease gun and give it a few good pumps in order to service the u-joint.

[Sean]

Ok, gotcha. However, in this case, the non-serviceable driveshaft thru Mesa is actually cheaper than the serviceable one thru Driveline Service of Portland.

So really, there's no benefit other than saving money? Is life length different?

[Sean]

Well, I'm going to order from Mesa tomorrow. Seems ridiculous to me to spend more on one that I have to service...so....yea.

[Hick]

Whatever, quality does come into play and other companies may charge less for the same unit you are going to buy. Im just telling you what is usually the case.

[Sean]

true true. We'll see how it pans out. Mesa driveshaft is installed.

Also, the "give" that I thought was in my differential was actually NOT the differential - it was my old driveshaft! SO - that ujoint has been going bad for quite some time! Kind of enlightening. :)