XSeries-forum

E53 Inherits Intermittent Low Drowning Noise/Light Vibration??
OK, try and diagnose this problem without costing me too much money. ) ) )........... if that’s at all possible when owning an X5.
Took a small road trip this week and hear an intermittent very low drowning noise (like someone playing one note on a tuba, very quietly??, if that’s poss. LOL) and sometimes, but not always a very light vibration with it. These symptoms were, as mentioned, intermittent from about 40-mph upwards, and as they came and went without any pattern, I wasn’t able to get any sort of natural frequency (specific speed) that these symptoms were worst at  :wall:.
I don’t know if this is part of the problem, but on examining the rear tyres the inside edge to side wall on the offside tyre is showing more signs of wear than the nearside tyre (which is showing none at all in the same location).
Thanks
Rich

Jack up each corner and check for play in the wheel bearings like they do at the MoT centre - hold the wheel a 12 and 6 and feel for play when you push, same at 3 and 9. Repeat on all corners.

First reaction would be tyres.  I have had a drone from tyres before.  Admittedly they weren't the most expensive or premium tyres but the problem went upon changing them.
Secondly I would go with wheel bearing.

Hth


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[quote="Sanj"]
Jack up each corner and check for play in the wheel bearings like they do at the MoT centre - hold the wheel a 12 and 6 and feel for play when you push, same at 3 and 9. Repeat on all corners.
[/quote]
I appreciate that wheel bearings can start to go at any time, but the car's just passed an MOT (I know that's nothing to go by), but this is intermittent and it doesn't sound like a wheel bearing??( again that's nothing to go by either), I do have the air suspension system on my X5 would this prevent me from carrying out the bearing test it each side in turn?

No - and mine was a guess based on what you were trying to describe.

Tyres is a valid first check, but hard to resolve without a fork out with no return. Bearings are either gone or not, you have play or none.

Then, if you have no joy, you have to start looking at bushes, etc. Depends if this gets louder or stays the same or just drives you nuts!

Try turning the radio up, works for me. !!!!!!!!!

Sometimes with these obscure noises , (assuming not safety related) it is the only way out.

Lez

[quote="lezmtaylor"]
Try turning the radio up, works for me. !!!!!!!!!

Sometimes with these obscure noises , (assuming not safety related) it is the only way out.

Lez
[/quote]
Come on Lez that's not much help when I'm down to the wire's and facing a new tyre bill  :wall:

Wheel bearing is my bet, even without noticeable play if the grease has gone or is going repacking them can work wonders. I experienced this with a Merc E55.
Check oil levels in the diff's is another possible place for noises?

If none of these then I guess its wheel alignment and tyres and your wallet on its way to resus!!

A wheel bearing can be very noisy and have no play in it at all, my other halfs 3 series has the same problem only described as a lot of road noise, the bearings have no play in at all and the tyres are some ultra cheap things that were on when bought so for now were just leaving it till we replace the tyres and then if it continues we shall do the bearings.

Hi All, has anyone attempted the changing of a rear wheel bearing themselves? Is there any specific tools I should get when undertaking the task? thanks

Hi,

I don't know if you sorted this, but I read somewhere else on this forum that you should also check the "bearing flange" at the same time as the bearing as both are know to wear out emit noise.

I'd be interested in knowing how you get on and whether it's easy to do a DIY job.

I too have this noise around 20mph and louder and more noticeable when turning slowly, like at a round about. The noise came when I stuck cheap (still £100 each!) and nasty tyres on all 4 wheels. Drives me mad and I feared it could be the bearings but it's just been checked for a steering wheel wobble which turned out to be bushes so the bearing issue would have been picked up then.

I opted for cheap tyres as I drive my X5 like a little old lady...save the big money for the tyres on my 530 cos I don't!!!!  >:D Never again!!! Definitely get what you pay for!!!

Habbers