Driveshaft Clunk??

B

BigM52GuyLol

Newbie
Joined
Mar 27, 2026
Points
3
Noise shown in video: https://youtube.com/shorts/mStfHmAGjwE?si=hdLgB4lUDVxur01w
Hey lads I really could use some help on this issue with my z3. For starters it’s a 2000 z3 2.8 with a 5 speed gear box and it’s got about 75,000 miles (120,000 kilometers) on it. I acquired the vehicle a few months back and put about 1600 miles on it. The car has had a clunking noise the entire time. And it’s not 1 clunk it’s a few clunks in a row. It only happens when I push the clutch in while moving. Clutch in at neutral no clunk. Clutch in while I’m in 1st gear at 3000 rpms, and it makes the clunking noises. It’s most noticeable in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. It can sometimes be heard when clutching in and shifting to 4th and 5th. The clunking noise seems to happen louder when pushing the clutch in quickly. The clunking noise also seems to happen when I quickly blip the throttle on and off in lower gears like 1-2-3. If I’m rolling up to a stop in 2nd gear and clutch in when I’m coming to a dead still, sometimes it’ll clunk especially if I’m quick on the clutch. The car will sometimes clunk on downshift if don’t get the rev-match just right or I’m a few rpm off. The car also feels quite jerky when it’s clunking. Also to note if I really beat on it, clutch out in 1st rolling and gas it to redline and shift no clunk. It only clunks in those other situations. I’ve replaced my guibo (proper orientation) and center support bearing. My differential seems to be in good order, there doesn’t seem to be any play and I can’t recreate the clunk on the jack stands. The differential bushing also seems to be in good shape. CV axles seem to be in good shape as well. The driveshaft u joints don’t seem to have any play when I twist the shaft by hand but I’m not sure if that’s the proper way to check. I know many talk about how these cars clunk, but I really think something is off with mine. It’s quite noisy and makes people stare sometimes lol. But it also just feels like something is mechanically off and or broken. It seems impossible to get a smooth shift in the lower gears, I’ve never experienced this in other manual transmission vehicles. I am a huge fan of the car and definitely want to get this thing fixed ups
 
Have the same. I've narrowed it down to weirdly broken duall-mass flywheel or driveshaft joints.
 
I got the same exact noise under same conditions and I do believe it’s the driveshaft joints. I just replaced my clutch and flywheel and that did not fix it. Would need to replace entire driveshaft to remedy
 
It's a combination of wear in the driveshafts (diff to wheels), wear in the diff itself (sun/planet gears) and often the splines in the prop shaft that need greasing and the collar nut doing up good and tight. Cars from 1999 on are more prone to this because they're basically E46 types and they just don't last as long. With the car on the ground or the handbrake on, try and turn the propshaft - you'd be surprised how much free play there is in the diff and driveshaft CV joints.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Lee
Last time I checked my diff there was very little play in it, it seemed to be well within spec. Also I did regrease the splines on my prop shaft along with tightening up the spline nut real good. Any chance it could be the u joints on my driveshaft? I’m really not sure.
 
My recently picked up 2000 2.8 84k miles also does exactly as you described. I find if you only use one pedal at a time - come fully off the accelerator before pressing the clutch, come fully off the clutch before pressing the accelerator - prevents the noise to a good extent.

In my research I've found reference to "guibo clank" which is 'a flex disc between the gearbox output flange to the driveshaft', according to AI. Also found forum posts referencing this as if it's a known thing? But less explanation of exactly what it is.

Also saw it in a Youtube video which I can't find any more, two guys talking about a recently picked up z3 "and it's got the classic guibo clank".

It's my main suspect at the moment so I'm gonna look into getting it swapped out.
 
Hmm maybe that explains why the previous owner provided me a guibo with my clunky 2.8!

We might finally be onto something here....
 
1780655881165.webp


This is apparently the part.

BMW Z3 Driveshaft Flex Disc Replacement | E36 (1996-2002) | Pelican Parts DIY Maintenance Article

Vibration in your drivetrain? This tech article shows you how to replace the most common culprit, the driveshaft flex-disc, also known as the Giubo.
www.pelicanparts.com
 
Finray said:
My recently picked up 2000 2.8 84k miles also does exactly as you described. I find if you only use one pedal at a time - come fully off the accelerator before pressing the clutch, come fully off the clutch before pressing the accelerator - prevents the noise to a good extent.

In my research I've found reference to "guibo clank" which is 'a flex disc between the gearbox output flange to the driveshaft', according to AI. Also found forum posts referencing this as if it's a known thing? But less explanation of exactly what it is.

Also saw it in a Youtube video which I can't find any more, two guys talking about a recently picked up z3 "and it's got the classic guibo clank".

It's my main suspect at the moment so I'm gonna look into getting it swapped out.
Click to expand...
Finray said:
View attachment 364277

This is apparently the part.

BMW Z3 Driveshaft Flex Disc Replacement | E36 (1996-2002) | Pelican Parts DIY Maintenance Article

Vibration in your drivetrain? This tech article shows you how to replace the most common culprit, the driveshaft flex-disc, also known as the Giubo.
www.pelicanparts.com
Click to expand...
I replaced my guibo and was certain to install in the correct orientation, and it didn’t fix or even quiet down the clunk noise whatsoever. I also replaced the center shaft bearing which also didn’t fix it at all. I’m about ready to just put a new driveshaft in the car. I wouldn’t waste your time replacing it unless yours is obviously torn to bits!
 
BigM52GuyLol said:
I replaced my guibo and was certain to install in the correct orientation, and it didn’t fix or even quiet down the clunk noise whatsoever. I also replaced the center shaft bearing which also didn’t fix it at all. I’m about ready to just put a new driveshaft in the car. I wouldn’t waste your time replacing it unless yours is obviously torn to bits!
Click to expand...
AHH! I thought we might finally be getting somewhere!
 
Could it be a worn dif mount bush or spot welds where dif mount bush bracket attaches to the boot floor?
 
Neil Wilson said:
Could it be a worn dif mount bush or spot welds where dif mount bush bracket attaches to the boot floor?
Click to expand...
Oh god I hope not. Haven't plucked up the courage to check those welds yet.
 
Neil Wilson said:
Could it be a worn dif mount bush or spot welds where dif mount bush bracket attaches to the boot floor?
Click to expand...
My spot welds are fine so I don't think it is that. I am dropping my rear subframe soon ish so I will change the bush and see if it improves
 
By the way, it's Giubo not Guibo.

Pronounced JooBo not Gweebo.

It's derived from Giunto, Italian for joint and it was patented by Tony Boschi hence GiuBo.


These don't cause a problem unless obviously ruined. Start off by greasing the prop splines. Undo the collar nut, remove the two 13mm centre mount nuts and pull the centre of the prop down to expose the splines. Plenty of grease on those, reassemble and tighten the collar nut up FT.
 
Smudgemanuk said:
My spot welds are fine so I don't think it is that. I am dropping my rear subframe soon ish so I will change the bush and see if it improves
Click to expand...
My spot welds are fine but upon removal 80% of the rubber bush was delaminated from the outer metal ring resulting in significant movement on the bush and stress on the mounting bracket which is spot welded to the boot floor. It was then a simple job fitting the AKG polyurethane replacement bush. The difference is very noticeable
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top