E46 winey grumbly vibration, stop when turning righ

E46 winey grumbly vibration, stop when turning righ

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Discussion

GriffG

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

78 months

Friday 13th October 2017
quotequote all
As per title really folks, there a winey grumbly vibration in my 2002 330d e46.

It doesn't matter if I'm going 40mph or 60 the sound is the same and isn't related to my revs, I had a mot a few months back and the guy said it all good underneath.

But it's got progressively worse over the last few months, I thought it could be the steering coupling as it made a couple of clunks when I turned it with the engine off so I changed that but it's no difference.

The only other thing is that it goes away when I'm turning right, and I can make it go away when driving by turning the wheel left and right to wiggle the car down the road, every right wiggle it stops.

There is also sometimes a bit of clunking if I'm going slow and over a few bumps but I'm not sure if it related

Any help would be appreciated as I can do the work if I know what it is but I'm no good at diagnosing car issues!!

lucido grigio

44,044 posts

162 months

Friday 13th October 2017
quotequote all
Probably OSF wheel bearing.

On leftt turns,right front bearing is under more load and vice versa.

GriffG

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

78 months

Friday 13th October 2017
quotequote all
Could be a good shout that, should you change both at the same time or is it ok to just do one side, I've done 190k so it's had a bit of use!

lucido grigio

44,044 posts

162 months

Friday 13th October 2017
quotequote all
No,just change one,other could last one more or ten more years.

If the bearing is gone and quite noisy,just Jack front of car up and spin front wheels in turn.
Ignore any pad disc rubbing noise but difference in noise between sides should be obvious. .

GriffG

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

78 months

Friday 13th October 2017
quotequote all
Cheers mate, I'll check in the morning by spinning the wheels, just checked euro car parts, £180 for oem, ouch!

GriffG

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

78 months

Friday 13th October 2017
quotequote all
https://m.buycarparts.co.uk/fag/2332063

Anyone heard of these? Half the price of Euro car parts!

Super Slo Mo

5,368 posts

197 months

Friday 13th October 2017
quotequote all
When the wheel is off the ground, grab it top and bottom and waggle it back and forth (ie pull the top toward you as you push the bottom away and vice versa).
A worn bearing will show as a definite clunk or as play when you do this.
I agree with the previous posts, OSF bearing has had it probably.

GriffG

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

78 months

Friday 13th October 2017
quotequote all

GriffG

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

78 months

Wednesday 18th October 2017
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Me again!

Changed the wheel bearing and all vibration and whining is gone, top marks ph!

however I still have the clunking / knocking when I’m going very slow and over bumpy ground. Sounds like the drivers side again but I don’t know if that’s just sound traveling around the car?

Any more ideas?

essayer

9,010 posts

193 months

Wednesday 18th October 2017
quotequote all
Anti roll bar bushes / droplinks
easy to check

GriffG

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

78 months

Wednesday 18th October 2017
quotequote all
Cheers mate, I assume it’s jack it up and have a shake of all the arms and links?

SebringMan

1,773 posts

185 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
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GriffG said:
Cheers mate, I assume it’s jack it up and have a shake of all the arms and links?
Yes but you'll need to jack up both side of the car, as in the front left and the front right. Without this the ARB will be under tension and may not show the play.

Eddie Strohacker

3,879 posts

85 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
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Good tip for checking the control arms without the huffing & puffing. Not definitive by any means, but will only take a second or two.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83Pw3V8pMeI

GriffG

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

78 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
SebringMan said:
GriffG said:
Cheers mate, I assume it’s jack it up and have a shake of all the arms and links?
Yes but you'll need to jack up both side of the car, as in the front left and the front right. Without this the ARB will be under tension and may not show the play.
Good tip, I would have only jacked the one side up! Cheers!

GriffG

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

78 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
Eddie Strohacker said:
Good tip for checking the control arms without the huffing & puffing. Not definitive by any means, but will only take a second or two.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83Pw3V8pMeI
Thanks for that! I’ll check but I don’t think it the control arm bushes, only because I changed them a while back, so it would be a premature failure I would have thought but you never know!

Herbs

4,912 posts

228 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
GriffG said:
Eddie Strohacker said:
Good tip for checking the control arms without the huffing & puffing. Not definitive by any means, but will only take a second or two.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83Pw3V8pMeI
Thanks for that! I’ll check but I don’t think it the control arm bushes, only because I changed them a while back, so it would be a premature failure I would have thought but you never know!
Track rod ends is a usual culprit as well

SebringMan

1,773 posts

185 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
GriffG said:
Thanks for that! I’ll check but I don’t think it the control arm bushes, only because I changed them a while back, so it would be a premature failure I would have thought but you never know!
If they were cheapies they will be gone again.

Another way to check is to put your foot on the front of the wheel with the car on the ground and give them a good firm push with your foot. If the wheels moves back the bush or one of the balljoints on the lower arm are shot.

lucido grigio

44,044 posts

162 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
My wheel bearing diagnosis was correct.

I'm a better mechanic on the internet than in reality.

Yay me !

GriffG

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

78 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
SebringMan said:
GriffG said:
Thanks for that! I’ll check but I don’t think it the control arm bushes, only because I changed them a while back, so it would be a premature failure I would have thought but you never know!
If they were cheapies they will be gone again.

Another way to check is to put your foot on the front of the wheel with the car on the ground and give them a good firm push with your foot. If the wheels moves back the bush or one of the balljoints on the lower arm are shot.
They were mehel or meyel hd, oem so fingers crossed!

GriffG

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

78 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
lucido grigio said:
My wheel bearing diagnosis was correct.

I'm a better mechanic on the internet than in reality.

Yay me !

Top advice! Much appreciated!