Competent driveshaft shop needed for 1M conversion

[drwillb]

As the title states, I need a driveshaft shop that is not afraid to tackle a BMW driveshaft.

I'm ready to do the rear end swap but the shop I had lined up started getting flaky and asking for all sorts of measurements and then the whole cut and weld thing became a problem.

Seems to me that the front half should not get any changes at all and the rear half (M3 donor) just gets shortened to whatever then new overall length is. Easy Peasy.

If anyone has a lead on a NJ shop that would be ideal.

Plan B is to have a 1 piece shaft made up but I have not heard anyone give feedback on those. I know these are used on the track but how do they stand up with daily use and salty roads, etc.

Plan C is to have a 135 LSD made up, keep the stock driveshaft, get the HPA 1M rear shock adapters so I can run 1M suspension all around, do the control arm and bushing upgrade, and deal with the above later.

Plan D is run the stock open diff on the track, get the HPA 1M rear shock adapters so I can run 1M suspension all around, do the control arm and bushing upgrade, and deal with the above later.

PS: I will be at Watkins Glen in 12 days so time is a big issue

[drwillb]

Plan E: buy a 1M driveshaft since this is made to fit an M3 diff with the N55 tranny. My 2012 135i with M3 rear subframe will match those specs.

Being a "frequent flyer" at my local dealer, I've earned a healthy discount tier. By the time I add up shipping costs, aggravation, parts, and labor in order to make a Frankenshaft I'll be close in cost to a brand new, shiny 1M driveshaft.

[hot-j]

I have a 1M driveshaft. 17k miles on it. Pm me if interested

[Traf]

Both N55 and N54 prop shaft will work.
I did it by using a N55 prop shaft cutting it to 1339mm and changing the end to the M3 diff one, been working flawlessly.
The M3 diff is shit but thats another story.

[drwillb]

I went with plan E: buy a 1M driveshaft

It'll take 2 weeks to get here but should bolt right up.

[nacaruh]

I'm planning on going through a local specialist for my driveshaft. I agree with you, it should be a pretty straightforward task. The driveshaft just needs to be cut/weld/rebalancing. I told them what car, and they didn't seem to have an issue.

[dbronnik]

Beyer Motor Works in AZ did mine

[Traf]

GKN did mine, who better than GKN to do driveline work.

[Dackelone]

Probably any good trucker machine shop could also do it. You'd be amazed at what some of those shops can perform.

[drwillb]

The friction weld thing on the BMW shafts is what these guys don't like. I don't know the technicalities of this but I guess it's nothing like 'Murican shafts.

My goal was to find a shop within driving distance in order to minimize down time and shipping charges. I couldn't find anyone local-ish.

Moot point since I've already received my factory 1M shaft.

[d k]

Why not call the driveshaftshop.com ?

[drwillb]

A factory 1M shaft is sitting in my garage waiting for the BIG DAY (more like WEEKEND) when I do the rear suspension.

Thank you for all the suggestions.

[ShocknAwe]

Probably too late but MFactory makes a dry CF 1 piece driveshaft for the 1M. Somewhere between 10 and 15 lbs weight reduction and stronger, retains OE mount and guibo.

[drwillb]

I considered CF but just don't know enough about them. Do they hold up to daily driver duty with winter salty roads? That was my big concern.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by drwillb

I considered CF but just don't know enough about them. Do they hold up to daily driver duty with winter salty roads? That was my big concern.

It's a good question. I know BMW is using CF driveshafts now. The manufacturer says they DO hold up, but yknow, they would.

That said, if you have a product from Mfactory that fails, they fix it. Other than down time, it's not a huge risk.

[highbrowed]

Originally Posted by drwillb

A factory 1M shaft is sitting in my garage waiting for the BIG DAY (more like WEEKEND) when I do the rear suspension.

Thank you for all the suggestions.

Did you ever get this installed? About to undertake the conversion myself and am wondering if a 1M driveshaft will bolt up to a 6MT N54 135i with a swapped M3 3.15 LSD.

[drwillb]

I think the answer is, no.

1M has N54 with an N55 tranny and there is a small difference in length of the tranny compared to an N54 tranny. I don't know if that difference is small enough to be taken up by the splines on the shaft and still function properly.

The 1M shaft is a direct bolt on for N55 135's because overall engine/tranny length is the same as 1M. That's why I wound up buying a factory 1M shaft.

I've got an M3 driveshaft and brand new CV Joint for sale if you are interested.

[Traf]

Originally Posted by highbrowed

Did you ever get this installed? About to undertake the conversion myself and am wondering if a 1M driveshaft will bolt up to a 6MT N54 135i with a swapped M3 3.15 LSD.

I have the same configuration as you and this is what i did.
I used a 135i N55 prop shaft and had it cut to 1339mm if i recall correctly and weld the M3 end. I calculated this so i could swap the forward part of the shaft with my N54 one, but then i would have to have it balanced again, so i used it like that and no problem at all.
Better cut it too long than too short, it has been working pretty good for me.

[highbrowed]

Originally Posted by Traf

I have the same configuration as you and this is what i did.
I used a 135i N55 prop shaft and had it cut to 1339mm if i recall correctly and weld the M3 end. I calculated this so i could swap the forward part of the shaft with my N54 one, but then i would have to have it balanced again, so i used it like that and no problem at all.
Better cut it too long than too short, it has been working pretty good for me.

Thanks for the reply! Can you give me a ballpark what you paid a driveshaft shop to fab this baby up for you?

[Traf]

Originally Posted by highbrowed

Thanks for the reply! Can you give me a ballpark what you paid a driveshaft shop to fab this baby up for you?

160€