E46 318Ci - noise from the rear. Differential?

[Fun Bus]

Have had my 2004 318Ci M-Sport coupe for nearly a week now and there is a noise from the rear which I can only describe as a 'whine'. It's done 71k miles and had an Inspection II done by a main dealer in January 2009. Has anyone a possible idea what I could be referring to?!

[TheEnd]

I could only see if being the diff if it has been losing its oil. BMW diffs seem to go on forever. I say it was more likely to be a wheel bearing if anything.

Depending on your own skills, what i would do is get the back lifted up and have the wheels spinning under 5th gear idle and listen to see where the noise is coming from, but obviously, be safe.
We all remember Ferris Bueller...

[BIG BAVARIAN]

Fun Bus said:

Have had my 2004 318Ci M-Sport coupe for nearly a week now and there is a noise from the rear which I can only describe as a 'whine'. It's done 71k miles and had an Inspection II done by a main dealer in January 2009. Has anyone a possible idea what I could be referring to?!

Check the diff casing/drain plug for drips or leaks,sounds like its lost all of its oil

[Fun Bus]

Think I'll be contacting the dealer then and talking to them about it. Not a main dealer but should look after me. I thought it was me being new car paranoid but after a few more miles knew that something was not quite right.

ETA: And tonight I had the EML light show upon starting and stay on. Oh god, I hope it all words out!

Edited by Fun Bus on Saturday 26th December 18:20

[obscene]

TheEnd said:

I could only see if being the diff if it has been losing its oil. BMW diffs seem to go on forever. I say it was more likely to be a wheel bearing if anything.

Depending on your own skills, what i would do is get the back lifted up and have the wheels spinning under 5th gear idle and listen to see where the noise is coming from, but obviously, be safe.
We all remember Ferris Bueller...

I can't remember the noise but when I had a rear wheel bearing go it made a funny noise at certain speeds/corners so I'd suggest having them looked at.

[BIG BAVARIAN]

I bought a peake code reader, best £120 i ever spent, paid for itself many times over(my 318ci is 10 years old),the dealers charge between £50-75, just to put it on the diagnostic machine, around here.

Edited by BIG BAVARIAN on Sunday 27th December 11:25

[Fun Bus]

Well, the bearings in the rear diff have gone. Thank god for a warranty.