What is a gland nut?
I just put together a good propeller shaft out of two on the 540. The one from the auto was good. That came with the 6 speed package has a bad center bearing. I used the rear shaft of the auto with the good center bearing and the shorter front shaft of the 6 speed to make one so I didn't have to buy a center bearing.
There are six M14 bolts (M12 bolts for the 525) on the guibo side (three for the shaft and three for the gear box output) and six M10 studs rear of the CV joint on the diff. side.
'01 540it, 6/01
'03 325i 5 speed, 9/02
'10 535ix. 9/09
'10 mini 6 speed
'15 mini countryman 6 speed