VAC motorsports driveshaft for m3 diff

wuX2

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Mar 21, 2018
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Bay Area, CA
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2008 135i
Saw on the N54Tech FB group that VAC motorsports is creating a n54 135i driveshaft for m3 diff and is starting the groupbuy soon. I was looking for diff options and this seems like a great way to get an OEM diff and also upgrading the driveshaft at the same time.
 

doublespaces

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Oct 18, 2016
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2009 E93 335i
Saw on the N54Tech FB group that VAC motorsports is creating a n54 135i driveshaft for m3 diff and is starting the groupbuy soon. I was looking for diff options and this seems like a great way to get an OEM diff and also upgrading the driveshaft at the same time.
Doesn't dss already do this?
 
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wuX2

Lurker
Mar 21, 2018
18
5
0
Bay Area, CA
Ride
2008 135i
Just found it. It looks like a replacement cf driveshaft. The vac one I believe will bolt up to the m3 diff, which the oem n54 135i driveshaft is too long and needs to be shaved and welded(?) to fit.
 

veer90

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Nov 16, 2016
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I really dislike VAC. They messed up my order on N54 bearings (sent me wrong sized main bearings), tried to sell me bed plate studs that don't exist, and recently messed up a relatively simple order for a fire extinguisher bracket by shipping it to the wrong address... AFTER they called me to clarify which address I wanted it shipped to.

IDK what they're doing but they need to get their act together. I certainly wouldn't trust them to get a driveshaft right on the first try whereas DSS has been doing driveshafts forever.
 
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doublespaces

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Oct 18, 2016
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Just found it. It looks like a replacement cf driveshaft. The vac one I believe will bolt up to the m3 diff, which the oem n54 135i driveshaft is too long and needs to be shaved and welded(?) to fit.

They sell a couple custom lengths that they don't advertise.
 

dyezak

Major
May 4, 2017
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Plano TX
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335is
I missed this thread but can confirm that DSS has this covered. They will do a 335i to M3 driveshaft with a 2 week ship time.
 
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derekgates

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Feb 23, 2018
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2011 335is
That's about the norm for a standard 1pc carbon fiber DS. The fact it was the same price for a custom job like this is actually really good.

Oh woah, carbon fiber?! That's impressive then. A new OEM driveshaft is more than that (which I find completely ridiculous).

I was just sad at the price because it is FAR outside of my price range. I'm barely scraping by to get a swap done, can't imagine over 3x the price for the driveshaft. Oy!
 
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doublespaces

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Oct 18, 2016
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Oh woah, carbon fiber?! That's impressive then. A new OEM driveshaft is more than that (which I find completely ridiculous).

I was just sad at the price because it is FAR outside of my price range. I'm barely scraping by to get a swap done, can't imagine over 3x the price for the driveshaft. Oy!
Yeah, I didn't realize it was carbon either, but can you imagine how much more responsive the N54/N55 DCT must be paired with a lightweight flywheel?
 
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gmagnus7

Corporal
Dec 3, 2018
174
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135i N54
A carbon fiber driveshaft and aluminium SMFW would shave probably close to 40 lbs of rotating mass off the drivetrain. That's my plan if I can find a decently priced DCT M3 rear end around me.