New noise from vehicle

[X5-D-Sport]

Hello people, wishing you all a great 2025.

X5 D-Sport 2005 auto.

Strange new noise, seems to come from the centre of the car underneath.
Happens ONLY when put into drive/reverse at the moment the vehicle begins to move...
the sound is only momentary.

the sound, sounds like some one tapping a break disk a few times with a small T-Spoon... or dropping a few bits gravel onto a brake disk.
More of the tinkling than anything.
It has got a tinsy bit louder over the last 12 months, but it may also be that I now listen for it..

I am pondering that it could be dry roller bearings at the Transfer-Box output.... but surely that would have catastrophically failed by now.

I also wondered if it could be the ally heat shield rattling, but it is too clear a tinkling sound for that.
I also pondered it could be a break pad sensor swinging onto a brake disk, but I checked all that & nothing loose.

Any one got any ideas on this one.

[henrym3]

Central prop bearing, one of the uj bearings. Things like this are really difficult to isolate. You can easily get into throwing parts at it. You need to get underneath and rattle and shake stuff and hope you get lucky. Or drive about for the next 6 months while it drives you mad and then falls off. You could probably get better advice than this.

[X5Sport]

I’d go for rear drive / prop shaft bearing as well. You need to get underneath and just check the play in the UJ and the prop shaft centre support bearing.

From your description of the sound, heat shielding rattle is also possible - and a lot cheaper to sort - but a mission to the underneath will be required to see if anything is loose down below.

Why it only appears in reverse is a puzzle though. Bearings should make a noise in either direction, unless it’s something that only catches in one direction (like an errant shield piece).

[X5-D-Sport]

Hi Richard, the sound appears only when drive for Rev or FWD is loaded momentarilly, and the vehicle only "just" starts yo move fwd or backwards... never is a continuous noise...

Centre UJ joint on prop makes sense re location..
It has been doing it for the last 20,000 miles and may even be lucky that the centre joint mount is just a tad loose.

Will update when we get under it on Friday

[henrym3]

Over the years I’ve found that the underneath heat shields deteriorate at the mounting points and can hang, I have made various shaped large plastic washers to overcome the problem, they work well. Cheaper than a new shield.

[X5-D-Sport]

Hi Henry,
I know my shield is just sat on the exhausts & no remaining fit points, but the noise is that of tight pinging bearings

[Alan Gunn]

Try a bit of spray lubricant on the prop joints and the likes.
It might just stop it and give you a clue to the problem.
Was just a thought.

[Greydog]

Great advice from Henry and Alan
First the heat shields until nothing is loose or able to move you will never know for sure
Next Alan's tip easy to do but do them one at a time or you won't know which one needs attention

[henrym3]

Well, Friday has come and gone did you get underneath and investigate or like me now a days I have at least 10 good excuses on the tip of my tongue of more important things that I need to do which.require much less effort.

[X5-D-Sport]

Hi Henry,
Didnt get under it today, but hoping to tomorrow.

I got ideas of a Dodge Challenger for my next vehicle.

[X5Sport]

And you think that’ll be more reliable?

Does it come with a free fuel bowser and tow bar……

[X5-D-Sport]

Just a pipe dream lol

[henrym3]

Didn’t you hear the news, the new chancellor is going to reduce the fuel prices by 50p. Oh wait, that was last night’s dream.

[X5-D-Sport]

I think Hell must have frozen over.... or you were dreaming Sir...

[Leslie]

Yes newer dodge challenger hellcat 700 hp oit the box from its 6.2 v8 supercharged engine dream big lol