U-joint / Driveshaft: replacing with "used"

[Gilly32]

my u-joint went out in my E30 awhile ago and thats when i found out about the "non-service-able" u-joints and driveshaft. i knew a guy who had a machine shop and he DID somehow press the old one out and get a new one in.

im currently having the same "ping" noise in my 97' 740il and with some assumptions and research i have found a lot saying im in the same boat with this one: non-service-able.

new ones are around $500(USD)
used ones i have been finding are around $150-200(USD)

my question is has anyone tried buying a used one? obviously the chance of ending up in the exact same boat at any moment is a possibility but is there really NO way out of this with out dropping 500 bucks?

my friend is no longer around or id have him do it but i know you CAN service them.

cheers

[georgebest]

my u-joint went out in my E30 awhile ago and thats when i found out about the "non-service-able" u-joints and driveshaft. i knew a guy who had a machine shop and he DID somehow press the old one out and get a new one in.

im currently having the same "ping" noise in my 97' 740il and with some assumptions and research i have found a lot saying im in the same boat with this one: non-service-able.

new ones are around $500(USD)
used ones i have been finding are around $150-200(USD)

my question is has anyone tried buying a used one? obviously the chance of ending up in the exact same boat at any moment is a possibility but is there really NO way out of this with out dropping 500 bucks?

my friend is no longer around or id have him do it but i know you CAN service them.

cheers

Where do you see new ones for $500? Cheapest I could find was close to a thousand.

[007008]

used is a crap shoot, lower mileage the better of course.
My rebuilt one came from.....
http://driveshaftspecialist.com/Impo...gaAsfAEALw_wcB

[Gilly32]

Where do you see new ones for $500? Cheapest I could find was close to a thousand.

just from a simple google search...i didnt dive too much into it because it appeared i was looking at the same situation as my E30. it did say " refurbished " so who knows .

[sirbevo]

used is a crap shoot, lower mileage the better of course.
My rebuilt one came from.....
http://driveshaftspecialist.com/Impo...gaAsfAEALw_wcB

+1

I swapped mine out with a rebuilt one from this place and it has been flawless. Not a bad price either.

Basically you either get a new one for big $$ or rebuilt one from Driveshaft Specialists. I believe mine was $475

[Gilly32]

so BMW just makes ( or at least until 2001 ) their driveshafts like this?

how are other places " refurbishing " them?

im pretty sure my friend who did this to my e30 just pressed them out and put tiny weld tabs around the new one again ( he was an absolutely brilliant pro welder fyi )

found some for much under $500 that i might roll the dice with and see what i can do with this stock one.

[masbury]

Big thumbs up for Driveshaft Specialists of Texas. They did the driveshaft in my 850 a few years ago. Great work, service and people. The best $500 (roughly) you will ever spend...
They completely rebuild all the joints and spin balance the assembly which is super important!

[RIboater2]

Just be sure it's the mid U joint that went. Or could even be the center carrier which is serviceable.
If it's the rear, that one is also serviceable. It's held on with just a snap ring. I've done it.

[007008]

The U-joints are staked meaning the bearing cups are crimped in place, no snap rings holding them. It takes a special machine to do this again once the cups are replaced.

[RIboater2]

The U-joints are staked meaning the bearing cups are crimped in place, no snap rings holding them. It takes a special machine to do this again once the cups are replaced.

I meant to say rear CV joint. which is attached with a snap ring.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-OES-Gen...item51d8419b24

[Gilly32]

i'll be replacing the center carrier once i get under the car do fix this driveshaft issue. i am still driving the car daily so i need to get something figured out before it breaks down or becomes undriveable.

is it a good idea to replace the CV any time the driveshaft is serviced?

also the guys in TX...you have to send them your driveshaft eh?

[clarkitect]

i'll be replacing the center carrier once i get under the car do fix this driveshaft issue. i am still driving the car daily so i need to get something figured out before it breaks down or becomes undriveable.

is it a good idea to replace the CV any time the driveshaft is serviced?

also the guys in TX...you have to send them your driveshaft eh?

Looks like you just need to send the core back after the new one is installed. Shipping both ways included. That's a great price.

[Gilly32]

Looks like you just need to send the core back after the new one is installed. Shipping both ways included. That's a great price.

i havent had time to look too much into the details with them. i wasnt aware that they sent you a built one first and shipping is covered. thats not a bad deal at all

[CPHES]

+1 for Texas Driveshaft - yes, you pay a core fee, and get it back when you return. Excellent experience with them