Dull drone noise - possible diff?

x5matt · Post by **x5matt** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 10:18 pm

Hi Guys

I was wondering if any of you could offer an opinion?

54 plate 3.0d with 69k on the clock, i have had a couple before so i have gone round the houses before posting but would appreciate any suggestions.

I have noticed a very slight drone coming from the rear of the car, its a little vibration and lasts for around 3 seconds then goes. It happens on rotation if you follow what i mean? ony happens occasionaly and is no way (as yet constant)

Now in my previous x's , i had the rear sub frame bushes done, so i knew the noise they created on set off/ stop etc so im guessing its not this, im thinking -

Rear bearings???? - If its this i am happy
Rear diff??? - Not so happy!!! would a diff oil change help? never had one done before
Propshaft bearings? - have had a look underneath and its bone dry with no vissible leaks etc.
Gearbox!!!! - this is the one i am worried about, drone and a little vibration normally in 4th upwards,

Now a couple of q's -

I had the gearbox oil changed on my old x and will be doing the same, but have i missed the boat already?

All suggestions would be helpfull?

BL02WAS · Post by **BL02WAS** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 10:24 pm

wheel balance issue??? tyres possibly cupped, i have an e46 which when bought had simikar issue when up at speed but wouldnt always do it, vibration etc, turned out to be tyres.

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x5matt · Post by **x5matt** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 10:28 pm

Hi WAS

i will be honest i never thought of going down the wheel balacing route, i never though of that, intresting though as i have just had 2 rear tyres fitted last week, i am picky so i watched over them while they balanced to make sure they did it properly, will double check.

thanks for that

BL02WAS · Post by **BL02WAS** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 10:39 pm

Sounds too much of a coincidence, possible weight fallen off, sometimes, tyres just need pulling off and fitting after say a rotation on the rim to where it was sat originally, but this definitely solved my issues, sometimes did it and other times wouldn't, only after I was up to speed, but couldn't drive through it when doing it like a normal balance issue, but then when decelerating would stop it once down to much slower speed, get it looked at, assail as tightening wheel nuts as they possibly slack, basically give the easy options the first go.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:26 am

Sounds to me like a brake pad issue.

I take it it is always from a standstill?

If the pads don't retract fully, when you pull away the pad may be catching and vibrating against the disc for a couple of seconds before it moves back out of the way.

If it's that, a brake service should cure it.

Just my opinion so feel free to ignore

g60renshaw · Post by **g60renshaw** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 1:02 pm

Its not the compressor for the self leveling supension is it?

Jay

x5matt · Post by **x5matt** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 8:02 pm

would the compressor do that?, i have had a good drive of it today and tried to get it seen to but could not get a slot in anywhere. I did here a wurrrrrrr frm the compressor a couple of mornings ago. this is when i first started it and presummed it was working a bit harder to get the car up, you have me thinking now, as i do feel it has been looking a bit low latley from the back, i guess im just para now!!! i guess ill have to have it up on a ramp again and stop trying to second guess it, juts no time!!! arghhhhhh

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 11:01 pm

In past I heard from a contact in the trade that there is a prop shaft coupling that can fail...............total hearsay so cant comment further.

x5matt · Post by **x5matt** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 11:23 pm

Hi Guys

Just thought i would update : a little worried about this now, my gut feeling is its the gearbox!!

I get a slight drone whine in 1 and 2 nd gear even at low speed, it disappers after that and the gearbox has no issues changing etc.

I went through a 'process of elimination' as recommened by the previous posts - so first of all had all the tyres re balanced, i have also had all the brake pads replaced and today i spent over a hour under the car when it was on my mates ramp checking what i could for leaks/cracks etc on the diff, rear bearings, rear bushes etc, but nothing stood out.

It is now booked in for a trans fluid change next week , im not convinced this will resolve as i beleive a whine is a whine and if it is the gearbox the damage must already have been done.

Im clinging on to the faint hopes of many on the US sites who believe gearbox whine is a result of low tranny fluid?? im shocked at how many gearbox failures they seem to have and also the fact that many on the sites have stated the gearbox on the x5 is really only desinged to be good for 70K? My old x5 was on 97k when i sold it with no gearbox problems , but having said that i did change the gearbox fluid on 57k when i bought it.

This x is now on 71k and has never had the fluid changed, the slight vibration and whine does only occur from a standing start from 1st - 2nd and then dissappers, any other ideas??

thanks

motormender · Post by **motormender** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:13 am

i have the same thing so will be watching this post to see how you get on. i first thought propshaft center bearing but it looks fine so keep us updated.
dave

BlackX5 · Post by **BlackX5** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:20 am

I would get the rear diff fluid changed too mate. I have a dull drone and vibratiom from rear too which is most prominant between 40-50mph.

x5matt · Post by **x5matt** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 6:16 pm

[quote=""motormender""]i have the same thing so will be watching this post to see how you get on. i first thought propshaft center bearing but it looks fine so keep us updated.
dave[/quote]

Thanks guys - will do. AWB also mentioned the propshaft centre bearing and i was a little inclined to that as AWB is the 'guru' and usually spot on, i will ask for the diff oil to be changed also - its not mega bucks, i understand there is a uprated diff oil that you can use? any suggestions? also how much are we looking for centre bearing cost wise???

will keep the post updated untill resolution ( hopefully not a gearbox)

out of curiosty what millege are your x's on, im on a 05 with 71k

x5matt · Post by **x5matt** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 12:27 pm

Hi Guys

Update as promised!!

I have just spent the morning at Northwest BMW (indy) and watched as they changed the diff oil and the gearbox oil. The dull drone in first and second gear has been ongoing for a couple of months now and i suspected the gearbox

just to point out that after the change and although only on limited miles as yet , there is no noise in 1st or 2nd, the gearbox seems smoother , gear changes are ok and it feels smoother at the diff (if you get what i mean). Will keep you guys updated, but the worry is what Chris (bmw northwest) told me - i usually take his word but would like to throw it open to the forum.

Chris beleives its the gearbox, he says that the oil/diff change may subdue the noise short term but will come back and the damage is alreday done.

He states that the problem is the Torque Convertor which is a known issue on these cars - he states that its gradually breaking up deposisting iorn fillings into gearbox etc and will give up. He states that he does around 7 a year and its a complete Gearbox rip out - recon - change torque convertor and back in all for a tidy sum of Â£2500 all in. He asked me if it hold first gear longer in the morning - i told him no , he says thats the first sign but reckons io will need a new gearbox in the near future!

over the years i ahve had alot of bmw's m3's, m5's, 535d's 3 x5's etc so im not shy of paying for reapairs, but to be honest im sick of it, if this turns out to be a Â£2500 job then the x goes before then- Chris actually told me to get rid of it now!!! My car is a 1 owner car with 71k on the clock , serviced by bmw on time evry time, i had the porefacelift model before and was told to go for the facelift this time, as its -

A better car!, teething issues ironed out from last time!, etc etc but now i get told , the gerarbox is a issue , this that the other is a 'known issue' i give up

The centre propshaft bearing which i also suspected was ruled out by chris stating that the car would vibrate all the time if this was teh case.

What do you guys think????????????? get rid??????????

J_K · Post by **J_K** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 12:41 pm

Do the X's have the large rubber donut on the prop like the 5 series?
These can make a dull groaning sort of noise if put under load.
All you'll see is some cracks appearing in it. That means it gone.

All my knowledge is with 5 series E39's. I could be way off and it doesn't even have one but the 5 series and the X5's seem to share quite a few components.

lezmtaylor · Post by **lezmtaylor** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 3:32 pm

A slight hijack:
The box on my 2002 4.4 failed at about 50k (fortunately under bmw used car warrantee) in 2007 and BMW put a new box in (was shipped in from Germany).
My question is this : Have these older boxes been modified/uprated to eliminate this fault at a later date? if so, when does it date from and is there a part no. on the box to refer to?
Lez

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