XSeries-forum

I've not really had the opportunity for extended driving since my acquisition, the X6 has always been massively underused, so the cheaper X5 kind of made sense to replace it.

However, it was serviced this week and i thought i'd get out and enjoy it. I have worries now though! On nice smooth roads from about 45 mph, there is a rumbling sort of wine. I'd say front right and a wheel bearing, but its more central on the car. Transfer box known issues dont seem to be the problem. The tyres on it were nasty and mixed, a wheels refurb and new rubber for them is in handl. Full lock turns are incident free and there are no extraneous gearbox noises or jumping, just this wine/hum that increases with speed, but is absent at lower speeds.

I don't regret buying this car yet, and i hope whatever this issue is doesn't change my views.

Any pointers from the wise ones as what it might be and what i should do?

When were the fluids last changed? I had some odd things with my X6 that vanished after all if the transmission fluids front to back were replaced. That being said you aren’t seeing any jerkiness at low speed. I was but only on near mirror finish tarmac in one car park.

If it sounds more central then it might be the support bearing in the rear prop shaft starting to rumble? You’ll need a hydraulic press to press the bearing off the shaft, and a correct sized mandrel to drive the replacement home. BMW have a special tool used with the press to make sure the centre joint comes off cleanly.

So it is going to bite me regardless, it seems. It won't be going to a main dealer for sure but i need to find a good indy sooner than i thought I'd need one. The Bosch autocentre it went to this week was primarily for the central locking issue. All they said on that subject, was a new key was needed, which i know isnt the case.

It's probably just a wheel bearing , should be easy to find once off the ground and it's very hard to pinpoint in the car .

I thought a wheelbearing from first hearing it. But the recent service facility blamed the 'iffy' tyres. The car has my X6's winter rubber set on temporarily, when the refurbed wheels and new (budget) tyres are fitted, i hope i, or the service facility can pinpoint it. Its a bearing noise imo but which or where is the trick.