It's not sounding good....!

[X6_40d_Nick]

Noticed this yesterday, thought it was my golf bats flying around the boot!!!

But emptied the boot and been out today it's still there,

When I pull away from stationary, or very low speeds there is a thudding noise from the rear axle? And a lack of smooth drive!

It's similar to the sensation that abs or traction control systems give you, but no indication on dashboard. It seems to be getting worse and it sounds awful

Once it's upto speed, it drives fine? Any ideas boys?

I've called BMWES, so will soon know.

[X5Sport]

That definitely doesn't sound good!  It could be something really simple like something wrapped round the drive shaft/caught underneath, loose underbody trim cover (there are lots of them), loose heat shielding, tyre problem (is one hotter than the others), loose wheel etc and then into complex things like CVJs, Xdrive, brake calipers, rear diff system etc etc......all of which should be unlikely at the age of your car..

Did anything show up on the Check Control?  Exclamation mark in the central display windows on the dash?  Anything on the torque display?  Just trying to think of where it might show up. 

BMW ES should find it if a fault is being recorded even if no warning message comes up.

Let us know what they find.

Richard

[X6_40d_Nick]

As its Sunday evening, they couldn't send a BMW tech. It was just a sunburnt guy chewing some gum with a flatbed recovery truck!

We discussed the problems and after nodding his head a few times, he said its most likely torque converter type fault, but he wasn't touching it.

No messages on dash or anything other than normal on the torque display screen.

To be honest, he was only here to get his recovery fee, so it's gone and courtesy car coming in morning....

[X5Sport]

Oh well, you'll know more tomorrow.  I would have expected the TC noises to be affecting all round not just the rear though, and it's in front of you anyway.....

Recovery driver probably seen too many older BMWs with gearbox/torque converter faults so assumed same.

At least it's all under warranty....even if a @+*#¥ nuisance!

[X6_40d_Nick]

After no news yesterday, apart from a quick call at 5.30pm to say that they have my car but havent looked at it yet, I now have some news...

At 2.30pm today, they called to say that the car was ready for collection, after a quick once over, no faults were found, and that the 'technician' presumed that I had been driving around for two days with either one of the rear doors or boot lid open...!!!  ::)

I quickly suggested that may not be a true fact,  ) and that the car sounded like it was about to implode and suggested that they actually test drove the car on a public highway and not fault find with a laptop!!

At 3.30pm, they called back and agreed that it did sound like a bag of spanners and are now in the process of expressing an entire rear diff and transfer box over from Germany!!!!

They will replace the Diff and then test drive, if that has not fixed it, they will then replace the Transfer Box, and if that does not fix it.....? :-[ ?

[535dboy]

Brilliant - love the first diagnostic approach!!

Are you mobile?

[weirdfish]

[quote="X6_40d_Nick"]
After no news yesterday, apart from a quick call at 5.30pm to say that they have my car but havent looked at it yet, I now have some news...

At 2.30pm today, they called to say that the car was ready for collection, after a quick once over, no faults were found, and that the 'technician' presumed that I had been driving around for two days with either one of the rear doors or boot lid open...!!!  ::)

I quickly suggested that may not be a true fact,  ) and that the car sounded like it was about to implode and suggested that they actually test drove the car on a public highway and not fault find with a laptop!!

At 3.30pm, they called back and agreed that it did sound like a bag of spanners and are now in the process of expressing an entire rear diff and transfer box over from Germany!!!!

They will replace the Diff and then test drive, if that has not fixed it, they will then replace the Transfer Box, and if that does not fix it.....? :-[ ?
[/quote]

Some of these so called technicians would never survive outside of the lap top diagnostic garage environment, nothing like, "seat of your pants" diagnostics.

[X6_40d_Nick]

Yes, the 'Open Boot' conclusion made me smile.... ) )

I'm in a BMWES (Enterprise) Hire Car, its a 330d M Sport Tourer, which incidently is nearly identical to my previous drive, making me wonder why i bothered changing to the X6. I'll be surprised if I see the X6 before the middle of next week...

[X5Sport]

FFS - BMW are completely useless if the computer doesn't give them an answer.  The open boot or door is a good one - let's clutch at straws and see what sounds best to the customer eh?  Won't be the car coz it's a BMW so it has to be a Customer error!! 

Good thing that's a warranty repair as the rear axle on an X6 is seriously expensive with its GKN Driveline/ZF designed dual electronically controlled limited slip clutches and torque control diff system!!  I bet that comes as a fairly high four-digit number before the decimal point.  First one I've heard of failing - it's the same as fitted to the X5(M), with all X6's having it. 

No doubt it will disappear into the black hole that is BMW Tech Investigations and no one outside the lab will find out what went bang.

Richard

[X6_40d_Nick]

[quote="X5Sport"]
First one I've heard of failing -[/quote]

That'll be my car then!!!!

[535dboy]

[quote="X6_40d_Nick"]
[quote="X5Sport"]
First one I've heard of failing -[/quote]

That'll be my car then!!!!
[/quote]

Somebody had to be!

[X6_40d_Nick]

Update.

Not got the X6 back yet, they are waiting on more parts from Germany. I've not been chasing as been too busy, and haven't spoken in any detail to Dealer. But think they've changed the rear diff but need some further bits. Will post more when I know what's happening....

In the meantime, I'm falling for the 330d touring, so have been looking at the new model coming out sept, 5.6secs 0-62 and 55mpg??? Mmm me thinks if X6 not 100% better soon, I'll be chopping it in...

On a more positive note, I shot a 78 this afternoon! 6 shots below my handicap....so i'm a happy bunny I am!

[535dboy]

Busy.......playing golf )

Sounds like a plan re swap into 330

[X6_40d_Nick]

Sorry for not updating this post, but no real news other than "sorry we're still waiting for parts"

But had a call earlier and now i'm hoping to collect the x6 tomoro mid morning, apparently it's back together but is currently showing a calibration fault? So they are hoping to solve that first thing in the morning....

But whilst it's been away I have been thinking about any tell tale signs that may have alluded to a forthcoming fault? And I do recall that when I was travelling over humpback bridges at anything other than snails pace (there's one on the way to the golf course, and i'm normally last to get there) I have noticed that the yellow traction control light would flicker on? Anyone else noticed anything similar? Maybe nothing just a thought....!!

[535dboy]

Plonk your order in for the 330 when you pick it up!