The tunnel insulation is rubbing on the drive shaft

**gtomek** · 04-12-2006, 01:03 PM

I just bought my 1999 M3 with 60k on it and while poking around to get to know my new car I found that the insulation in the transmission tunnel is hanging down from its attacment points and is rubbing on the drive shaft. This has worn away the coating on the drive shaft in this area.

And now that I have messed with it I have a ticking noise that increases and decreases with vehicle speed. God it is annoying...

Anyone have this happen? Is there a good fix for it? It looks like there are no fasteners missing.

Oh.. and a bit more info - the engine in this car has been replaced. Perhaps when it was more of a race car the owner had the insulation out and put it back in later - poorly?

**mr12v** · 04-12-2006, 01:52 PM

same here, i put a 1/4" self tap screw with washer to hold it in place. Both of M's have had this happen to them.

**themadhatter** · 04-12-2006, 02:31 PM

I just pushed mine out of the way, haven't had a problem since.

**fatboycowen** · 04-12-2006, 03:03 PM

Mine is the same, i left it. It doesnt make noise.

**JClark** · 04-12-2006, 03:22 PM

Cut it, zip tie it, or screw it back up there.

**gtomek** · 04-12-2006, 06:27 PM

thought about sticking a screw in it on both sides... didn't want to put holes in the body that weren't E-Coated by the factory though to prevent rust. One of the guys at work thought maybe an Al bar bent to fit from fastener to fastener to hold it up? I hope this is what is causing the ticking noise so if I fix it, it goes theway...

**tangled** · 04-12-2006, 06:30 PM

I thought this thread was about something else.

**Theodore** · 04-12-2006, 07:00 PM

Noticed this on mine too... Mine has just polished the paint to a nice shine though, not down to metal. Will try some of the suggestions, but don't like the idea of a self tapping screw...

**pwn** · 04-12-2006, 08:16 PM

i cut mine out where it was rubbing.

**BrandonM3** · 04-12-2006, 09:18 PM

I used GE Silicon II adhesive to glue it back to the body. Been good to go for about a year. Take care of it though, it will start to rub the driveshaft paint off, which would lead to rust issues.

**JaredM3** · 04-12-2006, 09:33 PM

Snip Snip!!!

**joel210** · 04-12-2006, 10:18 PM

just cut it

**apirkle** · 04-12-2006, 10:49 PM

I just noticed this today when I was changing my oil for the first time (bought the M3 a few weeks ago) and went to inspect the guibo. My drive shaft paint is rubbed off and there is a 1-2" wide swath of bare metal. Should I bother trying to repaint it? If so, any suggestions on the right paint/process?

Noticed a bare spot on the rear axle as well; a connector for the brake wear sensor (I think) had come out of its clip and was rubbing.

**95beema** · 04-12-2006, 11:31 PM

Both my M's had this problem. I actually looked at buying new trans tunnel insulation but it is expensive. Needless to say sissors did the trick. I cut mine out right in front of the shifter. On a side note one of my M's shift way better because the crap was rubbing on it too.

**endonuky** · 04-13-2006, 12:29 AM

Just cut out the worst part. What I did with the remainder is I made an opening in the insulation and pushed it up, and held it there overnite while I had the car on jackstands. I used Polyurethane construction adhesive thru the opening to the metal and out thru the insulation and wider on the outside like a mushroom, used a piece of wood to hold it up tight while it set.

I did this 3 years ago, and I live in the Northeast, it is still holding after much rain and heat and many very hot track days.

Hope this helps. This is a solution where you will not have to drill holes in the car.

Phil

**M52 POWER!** · 04-13-2006, 03:44 AM

Yes I to had this problem and is IMO the worst design flaw BMW put into the e36. Right above the fabric insulation in the tunnel is the A/C drain! It literally just drips onto the insulation material! Over time the material brakes down and droops down hitting the driveshaft.

My solution? I just ripped the entire piece of insulation out. I didn't notice any added NVH what so ever, and was happy the nastly moldy waterlogged material was out.

**gtomek** · 04-13-2006, 11:24 AM

On re-painting it.. I definetly recommend sanding with 400 grit, priming, and then painting with any color outdoor spray paint meant for weather/high heat. Thanks for the info so far. I may try to remedy this over the weekend. Anyone else had a ticking noise though?

**Casebrius** · 04-13-2006, 11:29 AM

put a glob of jbweld on it and stick a rag in there to hold it up while it cures

**iateyourcheese** · 04-13-2006, 11:43 AM

I saw this just this past weekend when I replaced my guibo. It was rubbing on the driveshaft and the guibo itself. I tried gluing it with some two ton epoxy but the material was so dirty it wouldn't adhere. So now my car is a few ounces lighter.

**turbo8765** · 04-13-2006, 01:26 PM

I pushed mine back up, it immediately fell back down when driven so I just cut it. I think I may go back in and just remove the whole thing.

**Theodore** · 04-13-2006, 02:19 PM

How much heat will it let in if removed? I'm assuming its not really going to do any harm removing it, but how much extra heat are you feeling in the cabin?

**bimmerman1982** · 04-13-2006, 02:33 PM

So would it be a bad idea to take a staple gun and just staple that insulation back up?

**95beema** · 04-13-2006, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by bimmerman1982

So would it be a bad idea to take a staple gun and just staple that insulation back up?

What staple gun do you have that penetrates metal?

**gtomek** · 04-13-2006, 03:39 PM

the insulation is there for sound and heat.. not sure how hot it would get...

And if someone can staple the thing up into sheet steel then you can come and do it to mine too. That's one strong staple!

**turbo8765** · 04-13-2006, 04:15 PM

...it's actually the stapler featured in the film office space...

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