E46 - transmission vibration when accelerating through 40mph
Discussion
As per title really, had the car six years without issue, but recently under reasonable to hard acceleration I get a juddering from what feels like the propshaft/driveshaft at around 40mph which you quickly drive through. Doesn't really happen without acceleration, happens in second or third at the same road speed.
Been into the garage once, who confirm nothing appears to be wrong with the propshaft and not to worry about it.
I'm not urgently worried, but it's clearly not right or going to fix itself. Thoughts welcome.
X-reg 5sp 330ci
Been into the garage once, who confirm nothing appears to be wrong with the propshaft and not to worry about it.
I'm not urgently worried, but it's clearly not right or going to fix itself. Thoughts welcome.
X-reg 5sp 330ci
All good suggestions I will pass on, might book the car in with a local german car specialist a some point. (Andrew D Kirk Engineering Services, Wirral)
The car has had a new central bearing a year or so ago, when I asked for the rubber coupling to be done but it wasn't, by the same garage who have checked over the prop and 'found no issue' they are usually very good and I get on with the proprotor, although they do more work on newer cars.
The car has had a new central bearing a year or so ago, when I asked for the rubber coupling to be done but it wasn't, by the same garage who have checked over the prop and 'found no issue' they are usually very good and I get on with the proprotor, although they do more work on newer cars.
Could be unrelated, but the other thing I have noticed is on a couple off occasions while driving a low speeds, often after turning a corner, I get a bit of a metallic scraping noise a bit like a stone in a disk brake which changes if you apply the handbrake. Half feels a bit like a wheel bearing. Might be something completely different!
dhutch said:
Could be unrelated, but the other thing I have noticed is on a couple off occasions while driving a low speeds, often after turning a corner, I get a bit of a metallic scraping noise a bit like a stone in a disk brake which changes if you apply the handbrake. Half feels a bit like a wheel bearing. Might be something completely different!
Brake disc backplates get rusty/bent on the E46 and may be the cause. helix402 said:
Maybe prop centre bearing.
Pretty confident it's 100% this.Having owned 3 E46s now and now every time I have had vibration under acceleration at any speed it's always been the doughnut on the prop being cracked and needing replacing. They last about 60-80k miles on an M3, longer on others. they endure quite a bit of vibration so naturally are a service item. Not expensive either.
dhutch said:
Could be unrelated, but the other thing I have noticed is on a couple off occasions while driving a low speeds, often after turning a corner, I get a bit of a metallic scraping noise a bit like a stone in a disk brake which changes if you apply the handbrake. Half feels a bit like a wheel bearing. Might be something completely different!
Brake disc shield rubbing, they are common for becoming loose or the holder corroding. Pinpoint which wheel its coming from or get a garge to check all 4.Edited by robbiekhan on Sunday 22 January 00:47
dhutch said:
Could be unrelated, but the other thing I have noticed is on a couple off occasions while driving a low speeds, often after turning a corner, I get a bit of a metallic scraping noise a bit like a stone in a disk brake which changes if you apply the handbrake. Half feels a bit like a wheel bearing. Might be something completely different!
It could be the handbrake mechanism inside the rear disc - the backplate corrodes and the pins that hold it in place pull through, then the brakeshoes start moving about. If 1 of the two pins do it you get noises, if both do you get jamming and horrible loud bangs.Lots good good suggestions.
The car has just thrown all the brake warning lights on ( ! ) (ABS) and stability control. So clearly something up there, which last time was a wheel bearing which had taken out the ABS sensor.
Will get it booked in next week armed with the above knowledge of common things it could be.
The car has just thrown all the brake warning lights on ( ! ) (ABS) and stability control. So clearly something up there, which last time was a wheel bearing which had taken out the ABS sensor.
Will get it booked in next week armed with the above knowledge of common things it could be.
It will likely be the other wheel sensor, they are common to fail if not been changed in a few years. I did mine 2 years ago, got cheap ones off ECP to start with but they failed randomly, so bought OEM ones and been fine ever since. With these things always stay OEM as they will last many years unlike the cheaper stuff that can fail much sooner.
dhutch said:
Yeah, mean it feels very propshaft. And it's come in suddenly, but I don't know how the propshaft would have got bent.
Under acceleration in third gear etc the propshaft was knocking etc.My speacialist garage had only seen this fault a couple of times. I guess hard acceleration by aprevious owner may put pressure on the drivetrain and prop?
I changed the prop rubber etc before I spent £700 to order a new prop from Germany which solved it straight away. I think there are specialists who could have a go at balancing the shaft.
skylarking808 said:
Under acceleration in third gear etc the propshaft was knocking etc.
My speacialist garage had only seen this fault a couple of times. I guess hard acceleration by aprevious owner may put pressure on the drivetrain and prop?
I changed the prop rubber etc before I spent £700 to order a new prop from Germany which solved it straight away. I think there are specialists who could have a go at balancing the shaft.
Fair enough. I'm not always mega gentle, but certainly it doesn't get thrashed and I would be amazing if I've bent it driving it, it's cold and wet for a start. My speacialist garage had only seen this fault a couple of times. I guess hard acceleration by aprevious owner may put pressure on the drivetrain and prop?
I changed the prop rubber etc before I spent £700 to order a new prop from Germany which solved it straight away. I think there are specialists who could have a go at balancing the shaft.
No obvious signs of rusted off weights either.
dhutch said:
Currently trying to solve the ABS issue, on a fix one thing at a time type issue. Front left shows 2-4mph fluctuation when sat still in the garage watching live, so sound like a cheap wheel sensor from before failing.
Any recommendations on where to get a good?
Autodoc ATE sensor.Any recommendations on where to get a good?
dhutch said:
Currently trying to solve the ABS issue, on a fix one thing at a time type issue. Front left shows 2-4mph fluctuation when sat still in the garage watching live, so sound like a cheap wheel sensor from before failing.
Any recommendations on where to get a good?
Almost definitely a failing sensor & what Helix said Any recommendations on where to get a good?
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