bmw e39 clicking noise

[bimmer_e39]

Hi all, can anyone pls. give a definitive answer about the cause of this clicking noise
p.s: this clip is not mine, but i have the same clicking noise with my 525d

Watch on youtube.com

[manowar]

Can't really hear it because of my rubbish laptop speakers but judging by the fact that the driver's going back and forth, is it the metallic tinkling noise made whenever there's a change of drive direction? If so, it's the CV joint at the diff end of the prop shaft. Had this fail on my car, though I ended up changing the whole prop shaft as it was easier.

Nice looking car you've got there by the way!

[bimmer_e39]

yes, you are right, it is that clicking me crazy noise, i was told that it is the U joint!
but last summer i bought a used prop shaft and when i tried to mount it, it was shorter, it appeared that it is a 530d one, and i greased the CV Joint on mine (Liqui Moly LM47 grease)a nd mount it back, no noise until last month.. do you think that it is a good idea to get a used prop shaft? and could it be from the U Joint -which i dought- ?

thank you, and your car looks so nice too

[manowar]

I am fairly certain the UJ was at fault on mine, everything on the shaft seemed to be in good condition and tight with no play - except for the UJ, which had slightly more play than it's replacement - and if you twisted it hard/quick enough with the shaft held in a vice, you can just about recreate the noise it makes under load on the car.

If you can get a UJ separately then that might be a good route to take, although there is a large bolt which holds it onto the shaft which I think may have been a torx bolt but I was unable to unscrew it as it was very tight. Probably quite easy for a mechanic with the right equipment though. But check the size of the UJ... I had slightly embarrassing situation because the UJ on my initial replacement prop was a different size - mine being 86mm, other types being 80mm. I thought I had done enough research, but on the e39 there seems to be about 10 different types of prop shaft. Aside from the obvious manual/auto differences, each one is very similar - but not quite!

[bimmer_e39]

the right U joint for the e39 prop shaft is GKN u728/4 i have it already,becouse when the prop shaft was off i checked it and it has a slight play (about 1mm), not sure if it worth to change it or to change the prop shaft

[manowar]

I'm 90% certain the noise was caused by the UJ alone. I think it's worth just changing the UJ if the rest of the prop shaft is in good condition, no play on the centre joint or stiffness/noise from the centre bearing.

[manowar]

I've just realised, my terminology has drifted during this conversation. Technically, I think the joint (at the end of the shaft) in question is still a CV joint rather than the Universal joint which is the type in the centre of the prop near the bearing. I'm sure we're talking about the same thing though!

[bimmer_e39]

the U joint is the one in the of the prop (near the bearing), CV joint is in the end of prop (connected to the diff.)
so, the CV joint was causing the noise in your car, or the U Joint ?
thank you

[manowar]

Yep, the CV joint was the culprit, the big grease filled one connected to the diff.

I'm not sure of the UJ can be changed actually. IIRC, one half's welded onto the shaft.

[bimmer_e39]

it is so hard to determine if it is the CV joint or the U joint is causing the noise, so, i bought a complete drive shaft and install it.
problem solved
p.s: it has a sticker with the bmw original part number and another sticker with some codes and dated dd/mm/2006, anyone know about this?

[bimmer_e39]

cant edit!
*knows
thanks for the precious answers guys