BMW E46 Project: Driveshaft Coupling Replacement (aka giubo or guibo)

This the first video in a series, where I beef up the Basket Case BMW's drivetrain. In this video, we're going to replace the driveshaft coupling. Some people call it a giubo. Some people call it a guibo. I'm calling it done!
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If you like E46's, or BMWs in general, stay tuned! I have more videos on the way.
This video uses royalty-free music from the KZbin Audio Library.
#bimmer #E46 #racecars

[@michaelblacktree]

I'm pretty sure that crusty old driveshaft coupling was the weakest link in the drivetrain. We needed to address that, before adding any more power.

[@OLearysBMW]

That little Giubo had lots of life left, still a young one. When mature, they begin growing hair. 😁

[@michaelblacktree]

LOL

[@NiccoTimo]

Yeah mine just grew hair going down the highway at 110kph, and it made the selector rod fall off 😅 stuck in fifth gear Yeah I know it had been hairy for a long time probably…

[@OLearysBMW]

@@NiccoTimo 🤣 Yep. My last one, his little hairs were smacking my selector rod. Could hear him down there being all mischievous while driving.

[@jamesgriffiths7536]

I’ve managed to do mine without removing anything other that the six bolts and guibo on axle stands

[@Oneklickmedia]

Any trick? I’m about to Jack it up in my garage tonight lol. Most show you have to remove exhaust. I haven’t seen one without it yet oddly.

[@_lmagine]

@@Oneklickmedia you can drop the exhaust at rear and canter hangers only. Then rest the back box on something about a foot in height.

[@markee8437]

This is best, most thorough vid on e46 Guibo..

[@michaelblacktree]

thanks!

[@slickyDAsloth]

About to try it on my e36. Thanks brotha! 🤙

[@michaelblacktree]

Thanks, but you might want to watch a video on the E36 just to be safe.

[@tylerlee4985]

Great video. Super helpful

[@michaelblacktree]

thanks!

[@Supraifyification]

Good video, but holy moly i wish i lived in a place like florida. Living in scandinavia is a pain in the ass, doing any sort of job on my e46 takes about 3 times as much as it should be because everything is rusted

[@michaelblacktree]

Florida does have its perks. Although the heat and humidity during the summer is brutal.

[@zacksmith5332]

Great vid

[@michaelblacktree]

thanks!

[@LCOF]

I’m having my gear linkage repaired/replaced soon. I wonder if this is a good time to get the coupling done as the mechanic will be under there anyway and the propshaft will need dropping a little anyway. 🤔

[@michaelblacktree]

If the coupling is worn, then yes.

[@bigdeal87]

Is that safe front of n ramps?! No danger that the car moves and take down the rear jacks? Thx

[@michaelblacktree]

I made sure it was safe.

[@Oneklickmedia]

I’m doing this as I seen multiple do this. Front ramp and Jack rear with Jack stand. A lot safer than two jacks I think. Plus this will free up my Jack so I can level the new driver shaft during install. Just need spend $50 on the 6000lbs ramp

[@davidg.9942]

all great and very informative but I am personally not sold on the direction of bolts when they sit on transmission site,,, as some of you pointed they might get loose if nuts are reused or improperly installed- so in that instance if the nut falls off bolt will get loose and will be hitting transmission every time driveshaft rotates around its own axis,,,on the other hand if nut is on transmission site and if it gets loose it will simply fall off without doing any damage to the transmission housing,,,,

[@michaelblacktree]

Different strokes for different folks...

[@checkbmw]

nice video, how did you separate Driveshaft from differential ? my is with rust and is stick.

[@michaelblacktree]

I just used a screwdriver to pry them apart. One of the perks of living in Florida. 😎

[@tompuddy1225]

Hi what size are the bolts that go through the doughnut

[@greedy1937]

was this a manual or auto

[@michaelblacktree]

Auto, but I think the manual uses the same setup.

[@greedy1937]

appreciate the reply brotha have great day

[@dexietyy7922]

Mines quite cracked lol how long before it goes I can’t afford to get it replaced at the moment and I don’t have facilities to do it myself

[@Oneklickmedia]

What crack? I Been driving with vibration noise when accelerating 1-3 gear for a year. It was. Stuttering noise. Then finally I think beating support crack or fell off. It’s tumbling around between heat shield/ drive shaft like a broken dryer lol. Fixing it now myself. Got used decent one $100 bucks local yard. Everything look good to my surprise. Didn’t want to spend $300 or wait another week. Plus I’m not planning to keep this car for long, maybe another 1-2 yr at 200k. 😂 It seem fairly easy if you like tight spaces under the car

[@dexietyy7922]

@@Oneklickmedia haha I’ve done it now, ended up destroying my clutch disc due to driving too hard so I replaced that along with any parts that needed doing. Wasn’t too bad on the driveway on axle Stands really, bit tight for space but I managed to get it done.

[@Oneklickmedia]

@@dexietyy7922good stuff man! Yea I literally just got done but realize I put all the bolts all same directions and this video had it 3 one side and other 3 other side. Damn wonder if that is still ok or will if cause premature wear 😂. Got tonight to think to redo it or leave it

[@dexietyy7922]

@@Oneklickmedia haha I don’t even think I put mine back right either I was in such a rush to get it fixed for work I wasn’t fussed it drives great and no strange noises or any vibration so think it’s all good!

[@dexietyy7922]

It looks like the one in your video

[@Keats.Garage]

I know it's been a while, but do you know if you can inspect the guibo without dropping anything down? I'm having a horrible vibration through 2nd gear in my 330d and I'm trying to get to the bottom of it - so far I've replaced the RTABs, and removed my rear ARB (temporarily, I've had a snapped link and also snapped 2 of the bolts while removing everything... Damn the UK is crusty AF under cars)

[@michaelblacktree]

Yes, I was able to see it with the car up on jackstands. There is a gap between the transmission mounting bracket and the heat shield for the driveshaft. You can see the giubo through that gap. You may need a bright light.

[@Keats.Garage]

@@michaelblacktree thanks, I've got such an intense rumble that I hope it'll be obvious if it's broke or not 👍

[@michaelblacktree]

Yeah it'll be obvious, if it's the giubo.

[@Keats.Garage]

@@michaelblacktree I checked it out, it looked flawless without any wear at all, it did have a clutch/flywheel done previous to my ownership so I assume it got changed then. Back to the drawing board for what it could be 😂

[@michaelblacktree]

Best of luck!

[@mry82]

It is pronounced "jew-bo," correct? I think, the few times I have heard it pronounced, that was how people said it. I assume I could google this, but might as well feed the algorithm, haha.

[@michaelblacktree]

Thanks for the comment. According to Wikipedia, that is correct. Here's the link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giubo

[@mry82]

@@michaelblacktree See how hard that was, haha. Thanks!

[@sealslayer]

The nuts should be replaced with new ones as I found out after 12 months 🫣

[@michaelblacktree]

Yes, the maintenance manual says to replace them.

[@sealslayer]

@@michaelblacktree I’m doing this again tomorrow so have new nuts and will also add some me loctite to the bolt threads for extra security. It’s such a horrible job on my e46 as it’s the msport convertible so there’s extra bracing to remove and it’s lower so harder to work safely without going too high off the ground.