m4 squeaking at low speeds

[undred orse]

Hi all,
I've just taken delivery of a new M4 which I am really pleased with. Its a fantastic car and I'm enjoying every drive except for one thing.

When I pull away or at low speeds, say under 10-15mph, there is a squeal or squeak rom the back of the car. It seems a bit worse if a corner is being turned or coming out of/into a junction. The noise clears as speed increases and doesn't get worse during the phase when it is present. It is however very noticeable in and out of the car when it is present.

The car is already booked for the 1200 mile service in a couple of weeks but if there is an issue I'd rather get it sorted first. Any guidance or thoughts would be very welcome as I have no previous experience of M cars and any particular issues or traits.

Thanks.

[E-bmw]

Likely to be a pad dragging slightly on the disc.

When you next hear it just lightly use your left foot on the brakes & see if it stops/changes.

[ubbs]

It’s small stones stuck between the discs and the back plate, I was getting this on the m2 which shares a similar set up, sounded like small pebbles in a tin can put your hand through the wheel spokes and flick the plate behind the disc rotors see if anything drops out.

[E-bmw]

No, he definitely said "squeak/squeal" rather than "pebbles in a tin can".

[undred orse]

Thanks for the replies.

I've tried applying the brakes lightly when the noise happens but there is no effect. The noise continues and doesn't get any quieter which I would have thought would happen if it is a dragging brake pad.

I'm also pretty sure its not the stones issue. I had that with a previous car and this sound is very different. I have checked the backing plate as suggested anyway with no result.

I am a bit concerned and hoped it was a "they all do that" sort of issue. The noise does seem consistent in when it happens and the loudness in that it seems to stop rather than fade away and is as loud at a couple of mph as at the point it goes which is approx. 15mph.

Any more thoughts very welcome in the hope that I can suggest something o the garage rather than hope they track it down.

Edited by undred orse on Thursday 26th July 11:31

[s2000db]

I bet it’s a stone also, they eventually drop through the shield and jingle around the axle.

[Chamon_Lee]

could it be some sort of transport block/packaging has not been removed?
Id take it to the dealer and tell them you want to take a tech out to check the noise.

Or call out BMW roadside assistance and they will at the very least jack up the car and have a look at the discs etc etc

[MWM3]

I imagine it'll be the diff and most likely normal.

M cars can sound a bit 'mechanical' at first if your coming from a normal car.

Edited by MWM3 on Thursday 26th July 22:16

[ubbs]

MWM3 said:

I imagine it'll be the diff and most likely normal.

M cars can sound a bit 'mechanical' at first if your coming from a normal car.

Edited by MWM3 on Thursday 26th July 22:16

I’ve had the low speed diff grind on an e46 m3, this is different can sound like stones in a can or as it was today a metal on metal sound whilst turning into my street

[MWM3]

ubbs said:

I’ve had the low speed diff grind on an e46 m3, this is different can sound like stones in a can or as it was today a metal on metal sound whilst turning into my street

I was replying to the OPs issue rather than the tin can brake rattle. Had the tin can issue on both my M3 and this week for the first time on my M2. Truly horrible noise but thats not what the OP described.

[undred orse]

Yes, I'm pretty sure its not the stones issue.

I'm also fairly sure its not just a mechanical noise in the sense you mean as I appreciate that they can be a little more noisy in this regard.

This is the sort of squeal that immediately makes you think "what the hell is that? What's wrong?" rather than just a mechanical but normal sounding noise. I would be surprised if the car was meant to produce such a sound that to anyone in the street signals fault.

Anyway it is still there now after 350 miles so I'll see what the dealer says at the 1200 mile service if it doesn't get worse.

Thanks for all the replies.

[Wills2]

Mine has made all sorts of random noises over the last 2.5 years and 80,000 miles had the stones in the shields for the first 4 weeks but just bent back the shields so that's not happened again, I've had thumps/bangs/squeals/thrums and other noises none of them ever last and simply stop for no reason.

I noticed a low speed squeak on start up at very low speeds a few weeks ago it stopped when you gently applied the brakes or when the speed increases, I that has also stopped now no idea why or what it was.

If the car drives fine I wouldn't sweat it.

Edited by Wills2 on Saturday 28th July 10:58

[undred orse]

Update - nothing was found at the 1200 mile service and the problem seems to have just about cleared with it happening only occasionally now.

There is one other issue I'd be grateful for advice on. This is my first M car although I have had reasonably powerful rear drive cars and mid engine cars in the past. On this car on roundabouts in particular and to a lesser extent on corners there seems to be a "shimmy" if I lift off the power. It feels like the back and front are about to lose grip and the whole car seems to want to slide into a drift. I'm not talking about high speeds at all when lifting off brings its own issues/response but at low speeds of approx. 20mph and above.

I first noticed it when I pulled onto a roundabout and the car ahead slowed down as it was going around and I lifted off as a result.I tried it deliberately at the same roundabout and speed a couple of days later to exactly the same effect and I have tried since on a more open bend and roundabout with the same result. It feels very unsettling and that the car is not stable. I'm not too concerned by it but I am worried that if my wife is driving and it happened she will be scared by it as there is a definite feeling of the back in particular being unstable.

Is this normal or should I get the car checked. I have never felt anything similar before. When it has happened the car has been in comfort suspension mode.

Thanks and sorry if I am just being incompetent/stupid.

[The JM]

undred orse said:

Update - nothing was found at the 1200 mile service and the problem seems to have just about cleared with it happening only occasionally now.

There is one other issue I'd be grateful for advice on. This is my first M car although I have had reasonably powerful rear drive cars and mid engine cars in the past. On this car on roundabouts in particular and to a lesser extent on corners there seems to be a "shimmy" if I lift off the power. It feels like the back and front are about to lose grip and the whole car seems to want to slide into a drift. I'm not talking about high speeds at all when lifting off brings its own issues/response but at low speeds of approx. 20mph and above.

I first noticed it when I pulled onto a roundabout and the car ahead slowed down as it was going around and I lifted off as a result.I tried it deliberately at the same roundabout and speed a couple of days later to exactly the same effect and I have tried since on a more open bend and roundabout with the same result. It feels very unsettling and that the car is not stable. I'm not too concerned by it but I am worried that if my wife is driving and it happened she will be scared by it as there is a definite feeling of the back in particular being unstable.

Is this normal or should I get the car checked. I have never felt anything similar before. When it has happened the car has been in comfort suspension mode.

Thanks and sorry if I am just being incompetent/stupid.

That does not sound normal. Check tire pressures, try on a different roundabout to make sure it is not the surface and then get the car checked by the dealer if it still happens. The M3 normally feels like it is on rails at any speed suitable for road driving.

[Pioneer]

Turn all the aids off, they cut in too early and give this sensation. Had it with the wife's M4CP. This specific car drives much better if you just drive like you did years ago before we 'needed' a 8-core i9 for every function

[mikeN54]

Pioneer said:

Turn all the aids off, they cut in too early and give this sensation. Had it with the wife's M4CP. This specific car drives much better if you just drive like you did years ago before we 'needed' a 8-core i9 for every function

Agree, with any oddities like this, first thing is turn off the stability fully then try the same manouvre.

If it goes you know it's just the computers being a bit keen... if not its a mechanical trait.