26 11 000 Completely removing and installing propeller shaft (inserted - rear flexible disc) (without vibration absorber)

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 6 other vehicles, including the 2016 BMW 328i xDrive, 2016 BMW 328d xDrive, 2015 BMW 328i xDrive, 2015 BMW 328d xDrive, and 2014 BMW 328i xDrive. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Special tools required:

00 9 120
00 9 130
33 5 070
33 0 080

IMPORTANT: On four-wheel drive vehicles with defective, non-engaging drive, it is imperative that the following information is taken account of.

Additional work when replacing the propeller shaft. See 26 ADDITIONAL WORK ON FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES AFTER DRIVING WITH DEFECTIVE (NON-ENGAGING) DRIVE .

IMPORTANT: The three-hole flange to the rear axle differential is balanced with the flexible disc and propeller shaft.
Three-hole flange, flexible disc and propeller shaft may not be disassembled.
The propeller shaft may only be released at the sunk nut at the rear.
The recessed nut must be opened in clockwise direction.
Replacement of the sunk nut on the rear axle differential is mandatory!
The sunk nut already has a screw locking.
After the propeller shaft has been screwed into the rear axle final drive (sunk nut), a hardening time of at least 2 hours is absolutely necessary.
The hardening time may be extended at lower temperatures!
Failure to comply with these instructions may cause serious damage!

Necessary preliminary tasks:

Remove rear UNDERBODY PROTECTION .
Remove complete exhaust system . See 18 00 020 REMOVING AND INSTALLING COMPLETE EXHAUST SYSTEM (N47 D16/20 K/U/O/T 1) or 18 00 020 REMOVING AND INSTALLING COMPLETE EXHAUST SYSTEM (N20, N26) .
Remove heat shields.

IMPORTANT: Adhere without fail to the installation and bolt-tightening sequence.
Installation sequence:

Join propeller shaft to transmission
Join propeller shaft to rear axle final drive
Join center mount

Screw-fastening sequence:

Flexible disc to transmission
Three-hole flange on rear axle differential
Center mount

IMPORTANT: To avoid buzzing sound after refitting the propeller shaft:

The flexible disc connection (1) on front and rear of propeller shaft must be marked in one plane before releasing with flexible disc (2) and three-bolt flange (3).
During installation the three-bolt flange (3) must be forced back together again with the flexible disc (2) in the same position.
Replace ZNS bolts and self-locking nuts.

Fig 1: Identifying Flexible Disc Connection Of Propeller Shaft (Front And Rear)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Loosen screws.

Installation note:

Replace ZNS bolts and self-locking nuts.
Grip mounting bolts of flexible disc at nuts and tighten down by way of bolts.

Fig 2: Locating Flexible Disc ZNS Bolts
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: Instead of conventional rubber flexible disks, F series also use aluminum flexible discs, which are also called EGG (constant velocity joints).

Fig 3: Identifying Conventional Rubber Flexible Disks

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation note:

Check centering mount.

If necessary, replace damaged CENTER BEARING .

Grease centering mount.

Grease: BMW Service Operating Fluids. See PROPELLER SHAFT - OPERATING FLUIDS .

Fig 4: Identifying Centering Mount
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation note:

Tighten down screws/bolts to specified torque.

Secure angle of rotation special tool 00 9 120 with magnets 00 9 130 to vehicle underbody and screw down further according to angle of rotation.

Tightening torque 26 11 1AZ .

Fig 5: Securing Angle Of Rotation Special Tool (00 9 120)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Slacken screws (1)

Tightening torque 26 11 5AZ .

Using a suitable tool (2), secure propeller shaft at center universal joint against turning.

Remove screws of center mount fully only after opening insert nut.

Fig 6: Securing Propeller Shaft Using Suitable Tool

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: The bi-hexagonal flange nut (1) must not be used for counter-hold.
Failure to comply with this instruction may result in serious damage to the rear axle final drive.

Fig 7: Removing Bi-Hexagonal Flange Nut

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: The sunk nut must be opened clockwise - see direction of arrow in illustration.
Turning the recessed nut in anticlockwise direction will automatically tighten the recessed nut further and significantly damage the bi-hexagonal flange nut.
If the insert collar of the flange nut was damaged, the propeller shaft can no longer be secured using a new sunk nut and the rear axle differential must be replaced.

Loosen recessed nut clockwise with special tools 33 5 070 and 33 0 080.

Tightening torque 26 11 6AZ .

Remove retaining clip (1) and gasket (2).

Installation note:

Retaining clip and gasket must be replaced.

Fig 8: Identifying Clip And Gasket

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Remove insert nut (1).

Installation note:

Insert nut must be replaced.

The sunk nut is equipped with a screw locking.

Prior to the first journey, a minimum hardening time of 2 hours must be complied with.

Failure to comply with these instructions may cause serious damage!

Fig 9: Identifying Insert Nut

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Before installing propeller shaft:

Clean insert collar (1) on flange nut and spline teeth on bevel pinion (2).

Top up insert collar (1) with grease.

Grease: BMW Service Operating Fluids. See PROPELLER SHAFT - OPERATING FLUIDS .

Fig 10: Identifying Collar And Bevel Pinions

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Clean thread (1) of joint hub to remove adhesive residues.

Clean hub teeth (2), then coat with grease.

Grease: BMW Service Operating Fluids. See PROPELLER SHAFT - OPERATING FLUIDS .

IMPORTANT: Thread of joint hub must not be fouled with grease.

Fig 11: Identifying Joint Hub Thread And Hub Teeth

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Place insert nut (1) with seal in insert collar of flange nut.

Install retaining clip (2).

Fig 12: Identifying Flange Nut And Retaining Clip

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: Adhere without fail to the installation and bolt-tightening sequence.
Installation sequence:

Join propeller shaft to transmission
Join propeller shaft to rear axle final drive
Join center mount

Screw-fastening sequence:

Insert nut
Flexible disc to transmission
Center mount

IMPORTANT: The bi-hexagonal flange nut (2) must not be used for bracing.
Failure to comply with this instruction may result in serious damage to the rear axle final drive.
Insert nut must be screwed into place within 5 minutes .

Fig 13: Installing Bi-Hexagonal Flange Nut

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Slide propeller shaft (1) to the limit position onto insert nut and secure.

Secure propeller shaft at center universal joint with a suitable tool against turning.

Tightening torque 26 11 6AZ .