'18 F80 Carbon Driveshaft Retrofit

[FlyingLow78]

See Post #35 For Update

[drgmt]

You seriously care about this that much ?

[FlyingLow78]

Originally Posted by Modaddict79

You seriously care about this that much ?

For now, yes. With the right tools and experience it's not that difficult or expensive to retrofit. But, I still need to see if my mechanic is willing to take it on. This isn't something I'll be doing in my garage.

[alpina-527]

I don't think your new car has the steel prop yet.

[BigDog]

Hope your driving skills warrant the effort required here... else your time and money are probably best served elsewhere.

[FlyingLow78]

Originally Posted by alpina-527

I don't think your new car has the steel prop yet.

I really, really hope you're right!

Originally Posted by BigDog

Hope your driving skills warrant the effort required here... else your time and money are probably best served elsewhere.

When examining the logic behind almost any OEM carbon fiber part for the F80, performance gains aren't going to be readily apparent. Does the carbon DCT trim do any good for the hundreds of dollars it costs? Carbon mirror caps? Carbon splitters? At least a carbon driveshaft has tangible performance benefits compared to a steel driveshaft. The cost of the retrofit is $50 in parts and some labor, since the $3300+ prop shaft itself was amortized into the previous car.

[clutchdj]

I don’t think anyone has reported a steel driveshaft yet. just picked up an 18F80 and mine’s carbon.

[Lawton438]

Will the carbon shaft fit a car that came with a steel prop?

As I thought this was done for something to do with emissions so that the diameter of the prop was narrower with the steel as it’s stronger than carbon. To house something for the emissions

Could be a load off crap, but that’s just what I recall reading

[FlyingLow78]

Originally Posted by clutchdj

I don’t think anyone has reported a steel driveshaft yet. just picked up an 18F80 and mine’s carbon.

If you don't mind me asking, what was your production date? My salesman advised me that driveshafts started being used all the way back in September.

Originally Posted by Lawton438

Will the carbon shaft fit a car that came with a steel prop?

As I thought this was done for something to do with emissions so that the diameter of the prop was narrower with the steel as it’s stronger than carbon. To house something for the emissions

Could be a load off crap, but that’s just what I recall reading

I read something similar. Supposedly the new particulate filter is what drove the switch to steel, because a narrower driveshaft was needed to clear the exhaust. I can't say whether or not my car will have the particulate filter (but I'm guessing it won't), since the change was meant for only EU-version cars. Mine is American spec and should have the normal exhaust. Carbon driveshafts are known for being stronger (and lighter) than equivalent steel.

Here's the thread: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...bon+driveshaft

Delivery is a week away, so I'll find out a lot very soon.

[clutchdj]

January 18 if I recall correctly; I ordered it. Just dropped it of at the Detailer’s. Will look once I get it back :thumbs up:

[BigDog]

Performance is tangible if your skillsets warrant it... whether yours do or don't, I don't know... nor am I trying to convince you otherwise; merely stating a fact.

Originally Posted by FlyingLow78

I really, really hope you're right!



When examining the logic behind almost any OEM carbon fiber part for the F80, performance gains aren't going to be readily apparent. Does the carbon DCT trim do any good for the hundreds of dollars it costs? Carbon mirror caps? Carbon splitters? At least a carbon driveshaft has tangible performance benefits compared to a steel driveshaft. The cost of the retrofit is $50 in parts and some labor, since the $3300+ prop shaft itself was amortized into the previous car.

[2SNAILS]

OP i'm not sure why you keep pushing this topic so much! Not only in this thread but others as well. Not sure what kind of crap your CA fed you about the stealshaft! There's isnt one yet that has been confirmed on a MY18 build yet. Maybe you should be the first to confirm this since your so adamant about having one, until then put it to rest bc I haven't seen a single MY18 built with one. To this day they all seem to have the carbon.
Cheers

[Vectors2final]

Pretty sure the announcement was for November cars onward.

[FlyingLow78]

Originally Posted by BigDog

Performance is tangible if your skillsets warrant it... whether yours do or don't, I don't know... nor am I trying to convince you otherwise; merely stating a fact.

My driving certainly isn't anything I'd brag about, but it need not be to justify my desire to have the same performance part that my '15 M3 had. It's probably not going to make the car noticeably faster, but I still want it. None of the carbon parts I'm putting on my '18 will make it faster, but I want them just the same. My '15 was the perfect car for me and I'm getting another opportunity with the '18.

Originally Posted by 2SNAILS

OP i'm not sure why you keep pushing this topic so much! Not only in this thread but others as well. Not sure what kind of crap your CA fed you about the stealshaft! There's isnt one yet that has been confirmed on a MY18 build yet. Maybe you should be the first to confirm this since your so adamant about having one, until then put it to rest bc I haven't seen a single MY18 built with one. To this day they all seem to have the carbon.
Cheers

Hmm...I don't recall any other threads where I've mentioned this topic.

My salesman simply answered my question about whether or not my car would have the carbon driveshaft. A grand total of one sentence on the topic...I asked, he answered with what BMW told him. He hasn't actually looked, though. If my car has a CF driveshaft, then there's no need to do anything and I'll go on my merry way. If it doesn't, though, I'm retrofitting it if it seems it can be done fairly easily. Reading through the twenty-something pages of the thread in the general forum, I'm not alone in my disappointment that M3s will eventually switch to steel.

I'm not adamant about having a steel driveshaft -- I simply acknowledge that it's an unknown. At this point no conclusion can be drawn because not many people have actually checked their cars, and BMW is very ambiguous about when the switchover is going to occur. Although some have been kind enough to chime in that their recently produced cars have carbon, until someone with a week 9 build contributes, then the issue is still relevant to me. It does give me optimism that not a single steel driveshaft has been found.

This topic may gather further momentum once BMW officially switches over. I'd like to offer whatever advice I can when that time comes, since it's uncharted territory, and I'm gearing up for the mechanic-assisted DIY. I don't want to be one of the people stuck with an inferior design, and I'm not going to be alone in thinking this.

[f82fanatic]

Originally Posted by FlyingLow78

I really, really hope you're right!

When examining the logic behind almost any OEM carbon fiber part for the F80, performance gains aren't going to be readily apparent. Does the carbon DCT trim do any good for the hundreds of dollars it costs? Carbon mirror caps? Carbon splitters? At least a carbon driveshaft has tangible performance benefits compared to a steel driveshaft. The cost of the retrofit is $50 in parts and some labor, since the $3300+ prop shaft itself was amortized into the previous car.

Most of us here in the forums have little quirks/obsessions with our cars.

I totally understand yours regarding this particular piece. However, the driveshaft cannot compare directly with the carbon fiber trim because most people are probably adding it after the fact for aesthetics, not for performance.

[BigDog]

Fair enough, my yearly duty as devil's advocate has been satisfied till 2019

Originally Posted by FlyingLow78

My driving certainly isn't anything I'd brag about, but it need not be to justify my desire to have the same performance part that my '15 M3 had. It's probably not going to make the car noticeably faster, but I still want it. None of the carbon parts I'm putting on my '18 will make it faster, but I want them just the same. My '15 was the perfect car for me and I'm getting another opportunity with the '18.



Hmm...I don't recall any other threads where I've mentioned this topic.

My salesman simply answered my question about whether or not my car would have the carbon driveshaft. A grand total of one sentence on the topic...I asked, he answered with what BMW told him. He hasn't actually looked, though. If my car has a CF driveshaft, then there's no need to do anything and I'll go on my merry way. If it doesn't, though, I'm retrofitting it if it seems it can be done fairly easily. Reading through the twenty-something pages of the thread in the general forum, I'm not alone in my disappointment that M3s will eventually switch to steel.

I'm not adamant about having a steel driveshaft -- I simply acknowledge that it's an unknown. At this point no conclusion can be drawn because not many people have actually checked their cars, and BMW is very ambiguous about when the switchover is going to occur. Although some have been kind enough to chime in that their recently produced cars have carbon, until someone with a week 9 build contributes, then the issue is still relevant to me. It does give me optimism that not a single steel driveshaft has been found.

This topic may gather further momentum once BMW officially switches over. I'd like to offer whatever advice I can when that time comes, since it's uncharted territory, and I'm gearing up for the mechanic-assisted DIY. I don't want to be one of the people stuck with an inferior design, and I'm not going to be alone in thinking this.

[Vectors2final]

My September production 2018 F80 with the CF shaft. I can get better pics once my lift is installed. It's tight in there as it is, and I was not about to start removing the shields.

[stooker]

Saying that CF trim and aero don’t make a difference doesn’t prove your point, they are at least visible and make a subjective improvement to the car, if not performance improvements.

The horse has been bludgeoned to death that almost no one will be able to notice the difference between the CF and steel driveshafts, and the stiffness/strength will only make a difference for extremely modded engines.

I think you are overestimating how many people would actually go through what you are planning on doing. Anyone who truly needs a better performing driveshaft, ie has a car that is so heavily modified to need one, would likely have the resources to get a custom shaft made.

In the end, your car, your choice. If it will make you sleep better at night, then so be it. At least you have a salvaged part to use.

[allinon72]

I don't think any F80s will end up with steel driveshafts since production is ending. F82s will most definitely. Just my opinion though.

[FlyingLow78]

M

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by FlyingLow78

I sometimes struggle to articulate my thoughts into words. What I meant was that, of all the carbon parts on the car, the driveshaft and engine brace are the only two that come to mind that offer obvious performance benefits versus a cheaper alternative. Aero parts probably do as well, but they don't have to be carbon fiber to achieve a similar result.



That's a huge part of the decision. If I didn't have one I'd accept the hand I was dealt and move on. I'm not 100% certain it will fit, either, due to the stated length difference in RealOEM. Mine has a slip yoke, though, so the length can vary.

Wouldn't changing the drive shaft through some 3rd party garage instantly void your warranty?

[SO17]

My car was built the week beginning the 18th December and it has the CF driveshaft.