M3/M4 to Get Steel Driveshafts Beginning Nov. 2017. Sales top 68,000 to date.

[zzirgrizz]

Originally Posted by Thescout13

If your build week is week 43, that means your car in on track to finish production by at least October 29th. Basically production week equals the last week of your cars production.

Do you have a source on that? My friend is a manager at BMW dealership and he said that's not the case. That's when the car actually starts production.

[Habber]

Originally Posted by DonutRanger

Do you have a source on that? My friend is a manager at BMW dealership and he said that's not the case. That's when the car actually starts production.

BMW told me my build week was week 37 but I had my VIN in week 36 and my car was indeed released to port on week 37 so production week should be week that it is completed.

[zzirgrizz]

Originally Posted by Habber

BMW told me my build week was week 37 but I had my VIN before that and my car was indeed released to port on week 37 so production week should be week that it is completed.

I see. I guess it just varies then. Or my friend was misunderstood. Thanks

[bmrwrld]

Originally Posted by Sassicaia

BMW cared enough to make it part of their marketing when launching the car.

I guess, Not a reason I bought my M4.

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by DonutRanger

Do you have a source on that? My friend is a manager at BMW dealership and he said that's not the case. That's when the car actually starts production.

Yeah my source is the head of VIP Individual Ordering for BMW NA, and Fritz at BMW Individual in Germany. Not to mention that when I just tracked my production, my VIR said week 35 and car went into production week 33 and finished in week 35. So maybe your friend is mistaken? I am sure it varies for others. Some cars get VINs 2-3 weeks before the production week but do not actually go into production until the production week and are built within 3/4 days. Individual orders can take longer.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by DonutRanger

Do you have a source on that? My friend is a manager at BMW dealership and he said that's not the case. That's when the car actually starts production.

RULE #1 of M-CLUB:
Never EVER, never, under any circumstances, EVER listen to a dealer.

[Ibiza]

Originally Posted by DonutRanger

Do you have a source on that? My friend is a manager at BMW dealership and he said that's not the case. That's when the car actually starts production.

I will 3rd this that the manager is wrong, as my contact at the PC to schedule a specific date for a F85 pick-up told me a specific build week, as the vehicle would finish production by then.

[kyrix1st]

Could do the trick of lowering the vehicle sales price then add the "performance bits" to match the original price and performance in the relevant market. Assumption here though is that BMW will continue with manufacturing CFRP driveshafts.

[sleeprequired]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

Could do the trick of lowering the vehicle sales price then add the "performance bits" to match the original price and performance in the relevant market. Assumption here though is that BMW will continue with manufacturing CFRP driveshafts.

I’m not 100% sure I’m understanding you but I’ll give it a shot. Bmws position is they’re being removed to make space for a particulate filter, they will not be selling any of them except the gts (CS?) with carbon fibre drive shaft. It’s worldwide and it’s not going to be an option.

This I have confirmed in writing that as of November all m3’s cop the steel drive shaft. Only the GTS doesn’t because of some production limit exemption.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by sleeprequired

I’m not 100% sure I’m understanding you but I’ll give it a shot. Bmws position is they’re being removed to make space for a particulate filter, they will not be selling any of them except the gts (CS?) with carbon fibre drive shaft. It’s worldwide and it’s not going to be an option.

This I have confirmed in writing that as of November all m3’s cop the steel drive shaft. Only the GTS doesn’t because of some production limit exemption.

You probably mean CS here. Since the GTS has already finished its production run all with CF driveshafts, it is a moot discussion point.

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

Could do the trick of lowering the vehicle sales price then add the "performance bits" to match the original price and performance in the relevant market. Assumption here though is that BMW will continue with manufacturing CFRP driveshafts.

Yes CF driveshafts will still be produced, but I don’t follow the logic of incentives for cars that have the steel unit installed.

Originally Posted by sleeprequired

I’m not 100% sure I’m understanding you but I’ll give it a shot. Bmws position is they’re being removed to make space for a particulate filter, they will not be selling any of them except the gts (CS?) with carbon fibre drive shaft. It’s worldwide and it’s not going to be an option.

This I have confirmed in writing that as of November all m3’s cop the steel drive shaft. Only the GTS doesn’t because of some production limit exemption.

I still do not know why you’re being told AUS is being impacted as it’s an EU5 country until 2020 (after production ends). Not All M3/4 worldwide receive the steel unit in November. It’s a gradual roll out over months for specific market destination vehicles.

[SO17]

Originally Posted by lemetier

Yes CF driveshafts will still be produced, but I don’t follow the logic of incentives for cars that have the steel unit installed.



I still do not know why you’re being told AUS is being impacted as it’s an EU5 country until 2020 (after production ends). Not All M3/4 worldwide receive the steel unit in November. It’s a gradual roll out over months for specific market destination vehicles.

Do you have any idea if UK cars will receive the steel driveshaft in November ? I ordered an Individual paint car back in June and the production week has been gradually pushed back and back. It's now at production week 47. Dealer says it may pull forward but I can't see that happening in all honesty. It's not a deal breaker, more curiosity.

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by SO17

Do you have any idea if UK cars will receive the steel driveshaft in November ? I ordered an Individual paint car back in June and the production week has been gradually pushed back and back. It's now at production week 47. Dealer says it may pull forward but I can't see that happening in all honesty. It's not a deal breaker, more curiosity.

My understanding is individual customer order cars under EU6c/d won’t switch until sometime in 2018.

[sleeprequired]

Originally Posted by lemetier

Yes CF driveshafts will still be produced, but I don’t follow the logic of incentives for cars that have the steel unit installed.



I still do not know why you’re being told AUS is being impacted as it’s an EU5 country until 2020 (after production ends). Not All M3/4 worldwide receive the steel unit in November. It’s a gradual roll out over months for specific market destination vehicles.

No I’m certain of this. I’ve had it confirmed by bmw Australia and Germany. Directly.

My car is week 43 build and will only just sneak in the carbon fibre shaft.

[sleeprequired]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

You probably mean CS here. Since the GTS has already finished its production run all with CF driveshafts, it is a moot discussion point.

Thanks you are probably right. I was reading in an article. I could have sworn the article mntioned gts but maybe it was cs

[SO17]

Originally Posted by lemetier

My understanding is individual customer order cars under EU6c/d won’t switch until sometime in 2018.

Thanks !

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by sleeprequired

No I’m certain of this. I’ve had it confirmed by bmw Australia and Germany. Directly.

My car is week 43 build and will only just sneak in the carbon fibre shaft.

If that’s the case, that means there is some market reallocation not yet disclosed that will be done, but it’s going to mean those cars will have to come back to have the PPF retrofitted as the sulfur content is too high in AUS fuel. If you want to PM me the German rep’s name, I can confirm if they’re in a position to give an accurate response and a bit more info.

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by SO17

Thanks !

That’s definitely not 100% due to the Brexit instability. Right now things are subject to extreme last minute changes.

[SO17]

Originally Posted by lemetier

That’s definitely not 100% due to the Brexit instability. Right now things are subject to extreme last minute changes.

Interesting. I'll have to wait and see then, I suppose.

[Absurdium]

Are we able to confirm the mentioned specification of the driveshaft from a while back now that we're closer to the proposed switchover date? If the specs are true, wouldn't the new stainless steel shaft potentially be more effective in terms of minimizing drivetrain loss depending on if the shaft is 56mm or 75mm? I = mr^2 so with 56mm, the new shaft would actually reduce the rotational moment by 30% over the CF... assuming CF reduces weight by 5.5lbs for a shaft that weighs about 20lbs. With 75mm, the new stainless steel shaft would indeed be inferior, by about 7%. However I have a hard time believing BMW revised the new shaft to just minimize the footprint of the shaft by <10mm... Of course this is only in regards to drivetrain weight reduction benefit, not the stiffness benefit of the CF. I feel like the problem may be that BMW initially over-marketed the CF driveshaft, or that the engineering division wanted the stiffness factor more than reducing drivetrain loss, but the marketing division wanted to hype the weight reduction without considering the physics.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Absurdium

Are we able to confirm the mentioned specification of the driveshaft from a while back now that we're closer to the proposed switchover date? If the specs are true, wouldn't the new stainless steel shaft potentially be more effective in terms of minimizing drivetrain loss depending on if the shaft is 56mm or 75mm? I = mr^2 so with 56mm, the new shaft would actually reduce the rotational moment by 30% over the CF... assuming CF reduces weight by 5.5lbs for a shaft that weighs about 20lbs. With 75mm, the new stainless steel shaft would indeed be inferior, by about 7%. However I have a hard time believing BMW revised the new shaft to just minimize the footprint of the shaft by <10mm... Of course this is only in regards to drivetrain weight reduction benefit, not the stiffness benefit of the CF. I feel like the problem may be that BMW initially over-marketed the CF driveshaft, or that the engineering division wanted the stiffness factor more than reducing drivetrain loss, but the marketing division wanted to hype the weight reduction without considering the physics.

You are oversimplifying the maths and physics a bit too much. The CF drive shaft has a lower polar moment of inertia than a steel one, this has been demonstrated. Further, a CF driveshaft is also stiffer than a steel one contributing to less elasticity in the drivetrain.

[Absurdium]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

You are oversimplifying the maths and physics a bit too much. The CF drive shaft has a lower polar moment of inertia than a steel one, this has been demonstrated. Further, a CF driveshaft is also stiffer than a steel one contributing to less elasticity in the drivetrain.

In which way did I simplify the physics? You could argue that the CF could possibly have a different weight distribution but a CF driveshaft is hollow just like a steel one. Also, how has it been demonstrated that the CF driveshaft specific to the F8x has a lower moment of inertia than the new steel one if there hasn't been any solid specs release on it? : I agree that for two shaft of similar diameters, a CF shaft's weight reduction would have a greater effect on reducing the moment than a thinner steel shaft as I have demonstrated in my post should the new shaft be 75mm. But since the thickness of the new shaft has not been confirmed, isn't my point of the new shaft being potentially better in terms of minimizing drivetrain loss valid?

As for the benefit of a stiffer material, I totally agree that the CF would have benefits that the steel one cannot reproduce. However, I've mentioned that in my post and that wasn't what I was questioning; I am just talking about minimizing drivetrain loss due to unsprung weight.