Vibration in E46 330d

[Ayen 1]

Hello everyone, this is my first post here and looking for some inspiration.

I have owned from new a E46 330D sport saloon (204bhp) and it has been a fantastic car, and still very much is, feels like its hardly run in after 49K miles. However I have recently noticed at high speed a strong vibration, not throught the steering wheel but the whole car. Its prevalent in 6th gear at speeds above 90 but is also evident but of lesser amplitude in 5th gear at similar speed.

My first thought was that it could be a faulty injector as it feels like a cylinder isn't firing properly, but why only at high speed? Under hard acceleration in any gear there appears to be no indication of any problems, no vibraion and no smoke. Although there is a little blue smoke when she starts from cold, but soon clears.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? I'd welcome any suggestions or advice.

[dannylt]

Why blame the engine first? Cheapest thing would to check all the wheel balances first I would have thought.

[dcb]

dannylt said:

Why blame the engine first? Cheapest thing would to check all the wheel balances first I would have thought.

After that, I'd check the tracking.

If the vibration is mostly through your hands
or your bum will tell you if it is mostly the front
or the back of the car.

[Dino D]

What about suspension bushes. Known to wear out on these on the higher milers, but your mileage is quite low.

[Ayen 1]

Thanks for your comments.

I guess there could be a problem with wheel balance but it would have to be the rears as there is no vibration comming through the steering wheel, its as steady as a rock.

[rlk500]

I would check the little things like wheel balance etc first, then have a look at the prop shaft coupling, or gearbox/engine mounts could be just starting to fail. Easy way to check prop is to rev the car while stationary, you will feel the car shaking if it is that, if it's only when moving then more likely to be the mounts.

[olf]

90mph???

Are you crazy? Thats a ludicrous speed to be doing!

[The_Doc]

olf said:

90mph???

Are you crazy? Thats a ludicrous speed to be doing!

Yeah, how do you stick to that, my 330d won't stay out of 3 figures.

[Ayen 1]

rlk500

Some interesting comments there thanks, I'll take a look into it. Do you know if the engine/gearbox mounts have a reputation to deteriorate/fail quickly?

Edited by Ayen 1 on Tuesday 21st November 19:29

Edited by Ayen 1 on Tuesday 21st November 19:29

[agent006]

Does it occur at different throttle positions? Does accelerating through it produce a different response to decelerating through it from a higher speed? Does it stop if you put the clutch in?

[Vee]

Get the prop dunut investigated, although it normally goes at around 100k+.
On my 330d it was replaced at 120k - car is now over 140k & going strong.

[rlk500]

No experience of the gearbox or engine mounts failing prematurely, but I have an E46 and lets face it, the front suspension arms are made of chocolate along with things like the window regulators, so it wouldn't surprise me if other parts were manufactured to a similar "quality".......