Hello to all,

My 540i/6 (115k miles) started making a clanging noise (coming from the rear of the car) happens in reverse, too. Took the car to the shop and they are saying it is the drive shaft. Also, they are saying it is a non-serviceable part and just needs replacement. Somewhere around $1500 total (parts and labor).

Does this sound about right pricewise? Also, should I be replacing my drive shaft this early? I'm a pretty conservative driver (most of the time) so it seems pretty early to be needing replacement.

Thanks in advance.

Did they say what about the driveshaft was bad? Bushing, balance? The shaft assembly is listed at somewhere around $780 from BMW, but pretty much all of the individual components are available through realoem.com and can be replaced. I would find out exactly what is wrong with it.

Thanks for the response. Actually no, when we talked it was real quick late Wednesday and we just made arrangements to talk on Monday. He did say something to the effect "that I could grab the back end of it when it was loose, shake it and you can hear stuff moving around inside".

I trust the mechanic completely. But, I have spent 1000s in repairs on this car in the last 6 months and I'm disappointed.

Thanks for reading!

Thanks for the response. Actually no, when we talked it was real quick late Wednesday and we just made arrangements to talk on Monday. He did say something to the effect "that I could grab the back end of it when it was loose, shake it and you can hear stuff moving around inside".

I trust the mechanic completely. But, I have spent 1000s in repairs on this car in the last 6 months and I'm disappointed.

Thanks for reading!Yeah, join the club - I paid $5,000 for a new engine alone! That does not include the thousands I've spend in go-fast and look-good parts. In the car's defence, The engine was my fault - I drove through a flooded intersection with a cold air intake behind the front bumper. Sucked up water like a straw an threw a rod right through the block. It wasn't even a foot deep! I didn't even think about it until it was too late.

No way, I feel your pain!! In the last 6 months I have replaced:

Wheel Bearing (both front)
Power Steering Pump
Water Pump
Some hoses
3 Window Regulators
Clutch
Driveshaft
Tie rods

And in addition to the other work I am having done. I have a shifting problem they are looking into and apparently it would require a transmission replacement because BMW says the parts needed are no longer available. They want $6,000. I dunno, I think it may be time to sell the car and move on.

That sucks. As far as the transmission goes, that sounds like a load of horse$hit. A manual transmission is actually very basic inside and really only consists of gears, bearings,seals,shafts, and syncros. Most shifting problems stem from worn syncros in manual transmissions. Rebuild kits are available for most any transmission out there today and replace syncros, bearings and seals. Hard parts are also available. Even though a BMW trans re-build at a reputible trans shop still might cost more than the standard manual transmission, it won't cost nearly what your guy wants to charge. There is no need to replace the entire unit unless there is catostrophic damage. It's just easier for them and they make more $ on the job.

.....available through realoem.com

Nothing is available from realoem.com

Nothing is available from realoem.comsorry, I meant it can be found or referenced there. It can be purchased from Pelican or Pacific or anywhere else. I like Pelican.

What kind of shifting problem are you having? You're in the right place for some free advice!

Thanks for the info! I'm definitely going to sit down with them on Monday and figure this out with the additional info.

My shifting problem goes like this:
From the beginning (20k miles) shifting from 1 -> 2 and from 2 -> 3 has always been terrible. Doing 1-2 was very knotchy and irritating. Doing 2-3 would sometimes result in not being able to get into 3rd (almost like there was something blocking it) very very annoying. Did not matter if I was driving fast or slow. Reverse is always stiff and knotchy, but I'm not really concerned about that. All other gears shift perfectly.

Fastforward 4 years (100k miles), the shifter and bushings have worn so badly that the throw has now lengthened. Lengthened so much that the leather boot actually started popping out, causing my vavona console to crack badly (damn!). Researched A TON of info on SSKs (Thank you BIMMERFORUMS.COM) and decided to go with the OEM M5 shifter and new bushings. My guy installs them and WOW what a difference. However, the pre-existing problems are worse, probably due to the shorter throw, new bushings, etc.

Here is the really weird part. After getting the M5 shifter, shifting at low RPM (below 2k) is VERY difficult, shifting above 4000 rpm is as SMOOTH AS SILK. I am not kidding, if I am in a hurry that shifter knows it and aims to please, but I don't shift above 4k all of the time. It is also noticeably worse when cold.

One thing I forgot to mention. If I shift into 3rd and let out the clutch really slowly, the stick will pop into neutral after a slight grinding noise.

And I believe when I talked to the shop on Wednesday they did tell me that they felt it was the Syncros and they were getting flak from BMW about ordering them.

I went with the M5 shifter too. Great comprimise between luxury and sport. Usually the shorter the throw, the more notchy it is. That's the price you pay for shorter shifts.

Either way, as I said in your other thread, it's the syncros - the shifter will not fix that problem.

imo, i would find used m5 driveshaft and lsd rear end and swap all that in.

The e39 is in NO way a reliable car. It will nickel and dime you to death. Things break on these cars constantly and by the time you have replaced everything, the first thing you replaced needs replacing again. Its an on going cycle. The car is great in what it can do but you really pay the price in repairs. The actual car itself is the cheapest part of the equation in owning an e39.

Well guys, thought I'd post something positive here. I've had my 540iA for almost 4-months now and have had a VERY reliable experience. The biggest problems I've had so far have been leaky valve covers and a leaky heater valve/aux. water pump, which set me back $1500 (included a full inspection and other servicing though). If I had already been in possession of my Bentley, I could've saved some bucks 'cause I would've taken care of the valve covers and the heater valve/aux. water pump on my own 'cause it isn't such a difficult DIY. Neither repair was critical according to my Indy but mostly PM as I just decided it was better to take care of the problems now than to have other issues down the line.

I'm not gonna lie, she has some very minor electrical gremlins as well (my environmental presets don't always return and the Nav sometimes says I have 320 miles left on my 61 mile commute) but otherwise my 2000 E39 540iA Sport has been VERY RELIABLE and IMO, repair costs have been within acceptable limits for a 7-year old car with 96k on the OD!

As I stated earlier, just adding something positive about the E39 and her reliability! And BTW, if you are getting quotes for repair in the same range as buying an entire replacement vehicle, trade in your old clunker and get a well maintained M5 or another 5-series! You'll be happier and will have a whole new set of fun projects to spice up your life!!!! LMAO

As far as the drive shaft goes, It's most likely your center support bearing. It's faily common and should cost around four-five hundred bucks to have replaced.. good luck..