2013 535i xdrive vibration - common problem?
Discussion
This is now turning into a real mystery, and is very frustrating and its all over google as a F10 defect.
My wife's 5 series has developed a vibration that I can feel in the steering and seats - at all speeds.
Just put winter tires on but it was also doing it on the summers - have had both sets balanced 5 times in total so defo not the wheels and or rims.
Had the suspension components checked too and they all appear to be fine, I was told to live with it as apparently that's how all the xdrives drive, which is rubbish as it didn't when new.
It's there all the time, regardless of speed. Can't be the brakes as it doesn't vibrate upon braking at all.
I'm a little annoyed as we could have given it back at the end of the lease last month but decided to keep it instead, and now this.
Drive/prop shaft? Wheel bearings? Any advise would be hugely appreciated.
Cheers
My wife's 5 series has developed a vibration that I can feel in the steering and seats - at all speeds.
Just put winter tires on but it was also doing it on the summers - have had both sets balanced 5 times in total so defo not the wheels and or rims.
Had the suspension components checked too and they all appear to be fine, I was told to live with it as apparently that's how all the xdrives drive, which is rubbish as it didn't when new.
It's there all the time, regardless of speed. Can't be the brakes as it doesn't vibrate upon braking at all.
I'm a little annoyed as we could have given it back at the end of the lease last month but decided to keep it instead, and now this.
Drive/prop shaft? Wheel bearings? Any advise would be hugely appreciated.
Cheers
Few reasons
1) Have you changed from OEM tyres that the car came with? I have read a few stories that even smallest changes and the Xdrive does not like it and causes issues
2) Who have you had the balancing done by? I used to have an F10 and 3 BMW garages said they were balanced and no buckles. Eventually went to a 3rd tyre specialist with a hunter machine and showed me 2/3 kinks on 2 of the wheels and balancing was way off
3) check your tyre pressures. I currently have a 335i and something changed very quickly, very loud noise in the car, like a bellowing sound around 6-75mph, even got a vibration at 70. I thought I kinked a wheel again and so I checked the pressures first, one rear was sitting at 20 so filled this up to 48 (my cars recommended) and its back to normal now.
Run flats and BMW and general are very very fussy when it comes to wheels, tyres and geo set up.
I would still make a small bet its your alloys/balancing. F10 alloys were made of chocolate in my experience. Plenty people with the 6GC complain of kinks and buckles on the 20 inch alloys too. Shame because I have a merc with 20s and never ever had an issue, rock solid alloy.
1) Have you changed from OEM tyres that the car came with? I have read a few stories that even smallest changes and the Xdrive does not like it and causes issues
2) Who have you had the balancing done by? I used to have an F10 and 3 BMW garages said they were balanced and no buckles. Eventually went to a 3rd tyre specialist with a hunter machine and showed me 2/3 kinks on 2 of the wheels and balancing was way off
3) check your tyre pressures. I currently have a 335i and something changed very quickly, very loud noise in the car, like a bellowing sound around 6-75mph, even got a vibration at 70. I thought I kinked a wheel again and so I checked the pressures first, one rear was sitting at 20 so filled this up to 48 (my cars recommended) and its back to normal now.
Run flats and BMW and general are very very fussy when it comes to wheels, tyres and geo set up.
I would still make a small bet its your alloys/balancing. F10 alloys were made of chocolate in my experience. Plenty people with the 6GC complain of kinks and buckles on the 20 inch alloys too. Shame because I have a merc with 20s and never ever had an issue, rock solid alloy.
Edited by XMT on Tuesday 20th December 16:32
eddharris said:
Had the suspension components checked too and they all appear to be fine, I was told to live with it as apparently that's how all the xdrives drive, which is rubbish as it didn't when new.
While xDrives doing that would hardly make it OK, it is complete nonsense. I have owned 2 xDrive, 4 sDrive, and driven dozens of each if you include loan cars for the day. There is no noticeable vibration caused by xDrive. Sounds like a feeble dealer looking for excuses.Thanks both.
Yes, disagree with the dealer about the whole xdrive thing, we've had it since new and it drove fine. Just recently did my wife start to notice it and I didn't think much of it for now as I was about to put winters on.
The winter wheels aren't oem but are BMW recommended - hub centric and fit perfectly. The tires are non runflat Michelin x Ice 3s.
The balancing machine the tire place used is a hoffman, apparently its ace based on reviews.
They've checked the wheels and tires 5 times but it was also doing it on the original summer wheels and tires.
The more I drive it the more I think the problem is noticeable less in the steering and more in the seats.
Could a problem driveshaft cause the issue?
Cheers
Yes, disagree with the dealer about the whole xdrive thing, we've had it since new and it drove fine. Just recently did my wife start to notice it and I didn't think much of it for now as I was about to put winters on.
The winter wheels aren't oem but are BMW recommended - hub centric and fit perfectly. The tires are non runflat Michelin x Ice 3s.
The balancing machine the tire place used is a hoffman, apparently its ace based on reviews.
They've checked the wheels and tires 5 times but it was also doing it on the original summer wheels and tires.
The more I drive it the more I think the problem is noticeable less in the steering and more in the seats.
Could a problem driveshaft cause the issue?
Cheers
VerySideways said:
Yes, could be exactly that - especially if it's not related to which wheels you're using or whether you're using the brakes or not.
Propshaft could be damaged, or one of the prop bearings could be causing the vibration. Certainly worthy of further investigation...
Reading back on your original post I would also agree it might very well be. Propshaft could be damaged, or one of the prop bearings could be causing the vibration. Certainly worthy of further investigation...
I would persist with the dealer it is an issue and to look into it or try a different dealer.
The dealerships are filled with F10's so go out in any of them with the tech to prove to them yours does have an issue.
Trouble with dealers is unless they see something physically broken easily or the computer says something is broken, they cant be bothered: you need to force them
Even if it is the driveshaft or something causing this, if your tyres are not BMW star-marked, they may try and pin the blame on those. I have heard of the odd instance of tyres causing this, although since it happens on your summer and winter set, this seems highly unlikely.
Are your summer tyres BMW star-marked? If so, you may have to wait until they are back on before BMW stop hiding behind this excuse and will investigate properly.
Are your summer tyres BMW star-marked? If so, you may have to wait until they are back on before BMW stop hiding behind this excuse and will investigate properly.
Thanks for all the replies, but the mystery now deepens.
I have it booked in next Thursday but being an impatient and curious bar steward, I had a friend look at it, it's defo very noticeable.
BUT, the vibration is also present when idling, we could feel it in the door handles, seat bottom and back.
Now the driveshaft isn't spinning when idling so where the hell is this coming from??
We checked the mounts and they all appear fine, I say appear as we played around with jacking up the engine and transmission a little without much change.
I suppose that rules out the wheels and tires but also now the driveshaft, unless I have two problems, bad wheels and mounts.
Thoughts?
I have it booked in next Thursday but being an impatient and curious bar steward, I had a friend look at it, it's defo very noticeable.
BUT, the vibration is also present when idling, we could feel it in the door handles, seat bottom and back.
Now the driveshaft isn't spinning when idling so where the hell is this coming from??
We checked the mounts and they all appear fine, I say appear as we played around with jacking up the engine and transmission a little without much change.
I suppose that rules out the wheels and tires but also now the driveshaft, unless I have two problems, bad wheels and mounts.
Thoughts?
eddharris said:
Thanks for all the replies, but the mystery now deepens.
I have it booked in next Thursday but being an impatient and curious bar steward, I had a friend look at it, it's defo very noticeable.
BUT, the vibration is also present when idling, we could feel it in the door handles, seat bottom and back.
Now the driveshaft isn't spinning when idling so where the hell is this coming from??
We checked the mounts and they all appear fine, I say appear as we played around with jacking up the engine and transmission a little without much change.
I suppose that rules out the wheels and tires but also now the driveshaft, unless I have two problems, bad wheels and mounts.
Thoughts?
It could be an engine/gearbox mount that has failed prematurely....??I have it booked in next Thursday but being an impatient and curious bar steward, I had a friend look at it, it's defo very noticeable.
BUT, the vibration is also present when idling, we could feel it in the door handles, seat bottom and back.
Now the driveshaft isn't spinning when idling so where the hell is this coming from??
We checked the mounts and they all appear fine, I say appear as we played around with jacking up the engine and transmission a little without much change.
I suppose that rules out the wheels and tires but also now the driveshaft, unless I have two problems, bad wheels and mounts.
Thoughts?
XMT said:
It could be an engine/gearbox mount that has failed prematurely....??
Thanks, that's what I'm thinking although its only done around 40k miles and been very gently driven.Roads are pretty good here in Ontario so would be shocked but not surprised I suppose.
Took the car back to the dealer for one more check of the tires, turns out one of the Michelin's has a 'hop' in it.
As I've switched two already they suspect it was a bad batch and so I'm swapping over to Hankooks.
Doesn't explain the excessive vibration when idling though.
eddharris said:
After another inspection, turns out it's apparently both wheel bearings and a bent hub on the passengers side.
How the wheel hub bent and why both bearings have gone after only 40k miles is beyond me.
Anyway, thought I'd update for anyone that may encounter something similar.
Just wondering but you said it also vibrated when idling?How the wheel hub bent and why both bearings have gone after only 40k miles is beyond me.
Anyway, thought I'd update for anyone that may encounter something similar.
ninjag said:
Just wondering but you said it also vibrated when idling?
The Mrs has kerbed it a couple of times, that could explain it.The vibration was traced back to an engine mount, passenger side one is weak (2nd opinion from a very well regarded specialist).
Edited by eddharris on Sunday 25th December 20:23
eddharris said:
ninjag said:
Just wondering but you said it also vibrated when idling?
The Mrs has kerbed it a couple of times, that could explain it.The vibration was traced back to an engine mount, passenger side one is weak (2nd opinion from a very well regarded specialist).
Edited by eddharris on Sunday 25th December 20:23
ninjag said:
Looking forward to hearing back as vibrations have been annoying me also.
Actually, I just realized something.I changed the air filter myself, an Amazon Fram special. This filter was missing the extra foam pad at one end, noticed the idling issue but didn't think anything of it as no codes were thrown.
Was at the dealer yesterday and got them to install an OEM, idling problem gone.
Interesting.
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