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

[Graves]

Originally Posted by lemetier

It was to be:

Dec 17 : 20 (5ea F80/2/3) random unsold allocations would have the Steel Driveshaft installed to allow for Production Conformy EU6d-Temp RDE testing and certification conducted.

April 18 - All allocations without customers assigned would have Steel driveshafts fitted to enable refitting of PPF if they were not sold by July.

July 18 - All F8x would be fitted with Steel shaft and further, PPF and new DME type installed in all cars under EU6d-Temp Emissions standard from the factory.

In March, it was decided to cease F80 production for all markets except US/CAN effective last week and WLTP/RDE Certifation was no longer necessary. It was stated they would not be installing the steel shaft on F80 due to the 9figure cost to re-certify the type.

All of this is what I was tracking as well. Who the hell knows. At the end of the day it really doesn't matter anymore. If it has it, it has it.

[ThumpersM3]

I'll end up getting over it , I ordered my car in February of this year and my name has been on the car the whole time. Thing is that gets me is , for the US without the particulate actually being installed yet, They sure saved a grand or 2 by putting the steel shafts in . i priced the carbon shaft and retails over $4000 US dollars! steel maybe $1k-2k maybe?
I'm sure this will blow over at one point or another, in reality ,I guess it's a pretty low number of cars.Don't want to bash the car or BMW ,I love the car ,with or without carbon DS . just a bit disappointing when I though I was paying for it.

[kyrix1st]

I'm just waiting for BMW to quietly drop CFRP drive shaft on the next generation.. and say nothing

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by Graves

All of this is what I was tracking as well. Who the hell knows. At the end of the day it really doesn't matter anymore. If it has it, it has it.

It makes sense for BMW to keep this as far under the radar as they can, as to not get the hardcore angry. But then again, it might be to late, we are angry!

[Graves]

Originally Posted by shortseller

It makes sense for BMW to keep this as far under the radar as they can, as to not get the hardcore angry. But then again, it might be to late, we are angry!

I absolutely am in my feels about it. But, it's my first BMW so what would I know.

[JibSTir13]

Does the new M5 sport a steel or carbon shaft?

It may provide a hint as to what the next M3/M4 use.

But not definitive since the M5 is AWD and unknown for the next M3/M4 (so far the rumors/posts are saying RWD).

[shay2nak]

Originally Posted by ThumpersM3

Been in the auto business 30 years, I know what a steel driveshaft looks like. remember i said I can see the center bearing , the CFDS is one piece and does not use a center support bearing.

Originally Posted by SEXY-BEAST

How is what possible? We put our cars up and inspected them.

You guys misunderstood. I was just trying to lighten the discovery of the steel driveshaft. That's why I used

The how is it possible remark was for the fact that an older build November M3 had the steel driveshaft vs a newer built March M4. Pretty much everyone who had one built last year had the CFDS. Mine was October and had CFDS.

[Jim B]

The quickest way to tell if it's steel, use a magnet on it. If it's steel, the magnet will stick.

[PawnStar]

Originally Posted by Jim B

The quickest way to tell if it's steel, use a magnet on it. If it's steel, the magnet will stick.

That happens to me all the time with girls. Now I know...

[diavliyo]

Photo ?

[FlyingLow78]

Originally Posted by Jim B

The quickest way to tell if it's steel, use a magnet on it. If it's steel, the magnet will stick.

This is correct, unless it’s made of non-magnetic stainless steel. I used to work with the stuff and we would sort various steel types by confirming with a magnet.

You can tell the CFRP prop shaft by the color - it’s a shiny yellowish hue.

[SEXY-BEAST]

Originally Posted by shay2nak

The how is it possible remark was for the fact that an older build November M3 had the steel driveshaft vs a newer built March M4. Pretty much everyone who had one built last year had the CFDS. Mine was October and had CFDS.

March 2017 production

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

It is a fair bit more complex than this. Have a read of post #553

Ultimately, the effect of drivetrain rotational mass is not about throttle response but rather about total acceleration. But as a mentioned earlier, the effect of the CF vs steel driveshaft is rather negligible. For me, the main difference lies in the stiffness of the shafts that will make the drivetrain more elastic (less sharp and responsive in transitions) with a steel driveshaft.

You do know that BMW use a rubber donut to mount driveshaft to gearbox output flange? Nothing rigid in that, and together with diff mounts would make the difference in shaft stiffness negligible.

[Atomicchicken]

Originally Posted by Graves

Here's some info.

Does that mean that all M3 CS will also have steel driveshafts? I read over the official press release and they mentioned that it would start production in march and they never mentioned the use of carbon for the driveshaft but they did go out of their way to highlight the use of carbon fiber throughout the car and stress the weight savings measures.

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/globa...cs?language=en

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by Atomicchicken

Does that mean that all M3 CS will also have steel driveshafts? I read over the official press release and they mentioned that it would start production in march and they never mentioned the use of carbon for the driveshaft but they did go out of their way to highlight the use of carbon fiber throughout the car and stress the weight savings measures.

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/globa...cs?language=en

CS, GTS models do not need to comply to the new regulations because they are limited production models. Unless BMW “secretly” removes CFRP driveshaft due to cost, they will stay.
That being said, I am told that diameter of the CFRP driveshaft is in fact smaller than its steel variants except for shaft end flex discs, so I would assume that particulate filter does not play significant role in this switch as gasoline particulate filters are usually in the catalyzers.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

CS, GTS models do not need to comply to the new regulations because they are limited production models. Unless BMW “secretly” removes CFRP driveshaft due to cost, they will stay.
That being said, I am told that diameter of the CFRP driveshaft is in fact smaller than its steel variants except for shaft end flex discs, so I would assume that particulate filter does not play significant role in this switch as gasoline particulate filters are usually in the catalyzers.

I think it is more a question of the CF driveshaft’s resistance to the heat radiated from the particulate filters’ proximity than the actual physical space needed to fit the filters (i.e. the CF driveshaft needs more clearance than a steel one).

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I think it is more a question of the CF driveshaft's resistance to the heat radiated from the particulate filters' proximity than the actual physical space needed to fit the filters (i.e. the CF driveshaft needs more clearance than a steel one).

Looks much smaller to me. Since the F82/3 are getting "Far From Engine" OPF's instead of "Close to Engine" OPF's, clearance definitely is an issue.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by lemetier

Looks much smaller to me. Since the F82/3 are getting "Far From Engine" OPF's instead of "Close to Engine" OPF's, clearance definitely is an issue.

I also believe the steel driveshaft has a smaller diameter than the CF one, no argument here. I however doubt that the few mm gained was need to “physically” fit the particulate filter. I think it is more a question of the CF shaft resisting to the heat radiated from the proximity of the particulate filter. I am just speculating here...

[Graves]

My car goes on the lift tomorrow for inspection in preparation of delivery to me next week. I'll let y'all know when I know.

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by Gleyderade

If BMW really is replacing the CFDS with a SDS, shouldn't the base price drop?

[Graves]

Originally Posted by shortseller

Instead, it went up $1,000. Smh.

[shortseller]

Just finished my 1200 mile break in service. Asked my tech to look and verify the driveshaft material, it’s NOT carbon fiber, it’s metal on my 2018 F80ZCP with DCT.