Untraceable vibration

Untraceable vibration

Author
Discussion

SymJack

Original Poster:

40 posts

50 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
Hi, I’ve got an e46 330i touring and I’ve been chasing a vibration for about six months, so far I’ve had the front wheel bearings replaced, front discs and callipers, front control arm rear bushes, springs/shocks all round. The wheels have been balanced 10 times by 8 different garages, 4 new tyres, driveshaft flexi disc, centre bearing & cv joint replaced. Also replaced wheels in case they were buckled.
The front control arms were replaced about 4 years ago.
The car has been checked over by 3 garages for worn bushes etc, I’ve also had 4 wheel alignment done.
The front was better after the work done on it but the vibration feels like it’s coming from the rear, it’s at its worst above 65 mph and doesn’t go at higher speeds.
So far I’ve spent £4100 and still got the same vibration.
Anyone with any ideas please?
Thanks in advance.

helix402

7,913 posts

189 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
Has prop balancing been checked? Floor cracked near subframe?

SymJack

Original Poster:

40 posts

50 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
Prop balance wasn’t checked, but all parts were marked before dismantling and no balance weights were missing but maybe worth getting it checked.
No sign of any cracking in the boot floor/subframe mounts.

PistonHead007

265 posts

38 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
You could try the differential bushes that hold it in the subframe.

SymJack

Original Poster:

40 posts

50 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
Car going back into garage next week, checking rear bushes, and rear driveshafts cv joints. I’m into deep financially to back out now. 🙄

Dynion Araf Uchaf

4,685 posts

230 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
have you tried part exchanging it?

SymJack

Original Poster:

40 posts

50 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
My only concern there would be that I end up spending a small fortune fixing someone else’s castoffs.

Dynion Araf Uchaf

4,685 posts

230 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
SymJack said:
My only concern there would be that I end up spending a small fortune fixing someone else’s castoffs.
that's not a concern though, as you are quite clearly capable of doing so.

SymJack

Original Poster:

40 posts

50 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
I wouldn’t even consider selling or part exchanging it with the fault.

SymJack

Original Poster:

40 posts

50 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
If I was that way inclined I would have sold it months ago.

bucksmanuk

2,332 posts

177 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
Manual or automatic?

d_a_n1979

9,681 posts

79 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
SymJack said:
Hi, I’ve got an e46 330i touring and I’ve been chasing a vibration for about six months, so far I’ve had the front wheel bearings replaced, front discs and callipers, front control arm rear bushes, springs/shocks all round. The wheels have been balanced 10 times by 8 different garages, 4 new tyres, driveshaft flexi disc, centre bearing & cv joint replaced. Also replaced wheels in case they were buckled.
The front control arms were replaced about 4 years ago.
The car has been checked over by 3 garages for worn bushes etc, I’ve also had 4 wheel alignment done.
The front was better after the work done on it but the vibration feels like it’s coming from the rear, it’s at its worst above 65 mph and doesn’t go at higher speeds.
So far I’ve spent £4100 and still got the same vibration.
Anyone with any ideas please?
Thanks in advance.
Wow; sounds a ball ache frown

To me; it still sounds like it's doff/prop/bearing related

I'd deffo replace the diff bushes; I'd also check that the guibo has been fitted the correct way, with the arrows pointing forward as they should. This is often overlooked

Worn bushes don't always show when they're 'inspected'...

As an example; my Japanese import E39 touring; I replaced the rear subframe bushes (which I'd highly advise to do on your E34 also); remove them all but all looked ok until fully removed and the front 2 had completely split!

That couldn't be seen until removed!

Replaced them all with Meyle HD ones and the cars handling and ride was transformed massively!

SymJack

Original Poster:

40 posts

50 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
bucksmanuk said:
Manual or automatic?
Auto

SymJack

Original Poster:

40 posts

50 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
I’ve been thinking back to when this all started, I had a leak on a tyre valve where it goes through the alloy wheel. To replace it the garage deflated the tyre and pushed the sidewall in to access the valve, all didn’t got to plan and the tyre got quite deformed and they had hell of a job to get the tyre back into shape. All was well until a few weeks later when the vibration started, it’s quite possible I suppose that the sidewall was damaged and weakened.

I-am-the-reverend

928 posts

42 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
Propshaft balance weight. You'll find a rusty patch where it fell off.

deutsche.diagnostics

152 posts

20 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
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Where is the vibration?

Steering wheel or arse?

SymJack

Original Poster:

40 posts

50 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
From the back end, I can feel it through the seat.

SymJack

Original Poster:

40 posts

50 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
I-am-the-reverend said:
Propshaft balance weight. You'll find a rusty patch where it fell off.
Balance weights were all present and correct when inspected.

d_a_n1979

9,681 posts

79 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
quotequote all
SymJack said:
I-am-the-reverend said:
Propshaft balance weight. You'll find a rusty patch where it fell off.
Balance weights were all present and correct when inspected.
I still stand by it'll be one / some of the rear bushes; especially the diff and rear subframe bushes...

SymJack

Original Poster:

40 posts

50 months

Friday 21st April 2023
quotequote all
She’s back on the lift next week so will have a good poke/ lever around. It maybe worth trying it from forward to reverse and see what moves. Thanks 😊