Steering wheel wobble under breaking and screeching.

[Des73]

Greetings,
I have just bought a 9 year old (02) 104k E53 auto diesel x5 and I am mostly really impressed but I have some questions.

I have just taken it on a long 300mile round trip (Portsmouth to Devon) this weekend and have noticed a couple of issues I am hoping to find some answers too, although I have a niggly suspicion they are going to be expensive

1. Under hard breaking, and when dropping past 60-55mph (only) I get some wobble through the steering wheel. Car is fine and smooth but you can feel and see the wheel vibrating. Is this warped discs? I do not get it under any other circumstances or at any other speed, driving around town you dont get it and I thought if brakes were warped you get the problem continuesly?
I have seen on here it could be deposit build up on the discs so I may have to get the car jacked up and spin the wheels as suggested as warped discs will rub.

2. This next problem happened twice but is my serious issue. Under acceleration up a hill while fully loaded (3 adults a baby and weekend baggage) I heard a noise similar to a fan belt slipping/cat screaming. It was intermittent for a few seconds like it was hunting for a gear before changing down and then accelerating as I expected.
Any ideas on this? I have found a few on here from turbo to cat and manifold problems, which is a little worrying.
As I say it doesn’t happen every time, just a couple on the whole round trip and I cannot get it to happen on demand when I repeat accelerating up a hill, but I would like to know what it may possibly be.

3. After 2 days of owning the car the tailgate lock failed. We had to get in via the manual release and the lock was oiled and tightened up but I don’t know how long it will last, and is this a known issue?

Is it best to get them looked at or wait until they get worse?

I am not expecting miracles from a 9year old car and as mentioned at the beginning I am mostly really impressed as it really doesn’t drive like an old car. I even say that after having to give up my immaculate highly modified Golf GTI for this Chelsea tractor due to the new addition to the family
On the whole the car seems to have been looked after, nothing hanging off, nothing been messed with. Its all tidy and clean underneath and in the engine bay. The back seats look brand new, and there are a few creases in the drivers seat but no worn leather.

Cheers,
Des.

[mizen296]

hi there if not break discs try ball joints i had this problem and changed ball joints and perfect since

[Smeeagain]

Hi - can you tell us the cost you were charged for changing the ball joints?

cheers


Smee

[scooby1doo1]

I would say for number 1 your problem will be warped discs, best replace pads as well not just disc, 2 and 3 not to sure.

[Smeeagain]

I had warped discs and replaced the pads too and still had the wobble

[Dalemax]

Hi
Just brought a E53 diesel auto 2 weeks ago when braking from 60-65 the steering had a terrible wobble, had it put in a garage and had to have new disc and pads and also the problem was due to a worn lower suspension arm. New brakes all round and the arm and the car drives purfect now. Minus £350.0 lol

[X5Sport]

Ah, welcome to BMW Ownership.......

And don't forget an entry in the Newbies Section. If you don't add pics too, Sanj will be along with his

Richard

[Sanj]

Huh! I heard some newbie isn't adding pics!

Very warm welcome Des!

[JimmySpeed]

Number 1 is less likely to be warped discs based on the fact that it only happens at 65-55 and not above or below. Warped disks will do it at higher speeds downwards.

I would suggest its a front suspension issue - tension strut bushings and/or ball joints and then also control arm bushings and/or ball joints. Tension struts are most likely culprits for braking wobbles between 60-40 just like yours, at 104k your bushes and balljoints will be very sh*gged if not done already.

Lemforder tension struts with bush is £100 per side, Lemforder ball joint is £45 per side, but ECP seem to be doing deals recently on Lemforder parts giving discounts over the counter that aren't advertised. (Did with me twice at 2 separate branches?) You can just get the old pushes pressed out of the tension struts and have new bushes put in your old ones, but alot of garages don't wanna mess around doing this and also the hole in your old arm where the ball joint goes can wear over time.

Labour at an Indy should be around £60+ depending on their hourly rate. If your joints and bushes are goosed then you will probably need an alignment too because if it has had an alignment on worn parts, everything would have been sitting off from where it will sit on new parts.

Sorry, can't help on 2 or 3 either

[JimmySpeed]

6 is the tension strut 15 is the ball joint that goes into the tension strut, 10 is the control arm (wishbone as BMW call it) and its ball joint is built in

At your mileage you may find need to replace all of it but a decent Indy can check the car on ramps and tell you whats worn.

[Dan1502]

Is it simple to check if it's the discs? I have a wobble that doesn't seem to be particularly speed dependent but is most noticable at motorway speeds. My X5 is very low mileage (about 19,000). I'm just thinking that the independent that used to service my Porsche has a fancy maching for facing discs in situ so I could take it there if it needs doing but am just wondering how you can be sure it's the discs.

[JimmySpeed]

[quote=""Dan1502""]Is it simple to check if it's the discs? I have a wobble that doesn't seem to be particularly speed dependent but is most noticable at motorway speeds. My X5 is very low mileage (about 19,000). I'm just thinking that the independent that used to service my Porsche has a fancy maching for facing discs in situ so I could take it there if it needs doing but am just wondering how you can be sure it's the discs.[/quote]

You feel the brake pedal pulsating when the wheel is vibrating. If you still aren't sure, the Porsche mechanic with the on car disc skimming lathe wshould be able to measure brake disk run-out I would imagine. (if he skims then i'm guessing he has the equipment to diagnose them)

[Dan1502]

From memory I think I can feel the wobble through the peddle but will double check.

[JimmySpeed]

[quote=""Dan1502""]From memory I think I can feel the wobble through the peddle but will double check.[/quote]

You will feel the pedal pushing back against your foot in a pumping motion. Any disc run out will travel back to the pedal unless your pedal assembly is very much dampened or your brake fuid is so cooked it just absorbs the pulsing.

[Dan1502]

Thanks. As far as I recall it has done this pretty much since I bought it. It's not that bad but is there so I should get it sorted. Is this kind of thing likely to be covered by warranty or classed as where and tear and does the warranty situation differ depending if it turns out to be brakes or suspension? Bear in mind it has only done about 19,000 miles despite being a 2004 car.