E39 wheel wobble

[LHDisbest]

Hopefully someone will be able to help me, my old E39 523iSE manual that i've now sold has developed a severe wobble/vibration seeming coming from the back, the guy who bought it has been on the phone wondering what it could be before getting it looked at.

Is this just wheel balance of could it be something more sinister?

Thanks in advance.

[fluffnik]

All the time or only under particular circumstances?

Bushes tend to be speed/surface dependent.

[LHDisbest]

fluffnik said:

All the time or only under particular circumstances?

Bushes tend to be speed/surface dependent.

I drove it and it's pretty bad, if you remember i had a slight shimmy at the back when i had it, balanced the wheels and it went away.

It seems to be worst at 30mph plus, no noise from the diff but difficult to diagnose without a ramp.

[sniff diesel]

5 Series seem very susceptible to wheel balancing - maybe something to do with the type of wheel offset they use. Worn trailing arm bushes can give similar symptoms though.

[TheEnd]

at 30mph, i'd be looking more towards the prop centre bearing.

they are suspended in a rubber web which can tear and throw the prop out of true a little.

[fluffnik]

LHDisbest said:

fluffnik said:

All the time or only under particular circumstances?

Bushes tend to be speed/surface dependent.

I drove it and it's pretty bad, if you remember i had a slight shimmy at the back when i had it, balanced the wheels and it went away.

It seems to be worst at 30mph plus, no noise from the diff but difficult to diagnose without a ramp.

Can you stop it by braking or accelerating? cornering?

The fluid filled bushes control (mainly) toe and get fluttery under light loads if they leak - loading them up firms them up.

[LHDisbest]

It's like a low speed shake at 30 and it's like being in a vibrating chair at 70+

This may not be a cheap job then chaps.

[fluffnik]

TheEnd said:

at 30mph, i'd be looking more towards the prop centre bearing.

they are suspended in a rubber web which can tear and throw the prop out of true a little.

Could be, but wouldn't that feel more like the whole car being shoogled rather than the rear axle?

A sticky CV joint is possible too but would tend to be noticeable from lower speeds.

[fluffnik]

LHDisbest said:

It's like a low speed shake at 30 and it's like being in a vibrating chair at 70+

This may not be a cheap job then chaps.

That does sound quite propshafty...

[LHDisbest]

fluffnik said:

LHDisbest said:

It's like a low speed shake at 30 and it's like being in a vibrating chair at 70+

This may not be a cheap job then chaps.

That does sound quite propshafty...

How glad am i it's not mine anymore.

How much is that to fix then? £200-300?

[Kinky]

I dread reading these threads and thinking "feck - that'll happen to me soon"

And see the £££ all stacking up!

[LHDisbest]

Kinky said:

I dread reading these threads and thinking "feck - that'll happen to me soon"

And see the £££ all stacking up!

Seems i punted it at the right moment. The guy i sold it to thinks it's his fault he's broken it.

He's a nice old guy, i don't want this to cost him the earth to fix it.

[Kinky]

I must confess J - it's not one I've come across before.

[TimR69]

Not sure if this will help but I drove a low mileage E39 535 recently and it developed a massive vibration from the front.
Cause was a sticking front caliper brought on by limited use.
At the owner's suggestion I kept on driving until it sorted itself.

[SJobson]

My 540i Touring had an awful wobble when one of the wheels was buckled (caused by a pothole). Worth checking that they're all round.

[TheEnd]

LHDisbest said:

fluffnik said:

LHDisbest said:

It's like a low speed shake at 30 and it's like being in a vibrating chair at 70+

This may not be a cheap job then chaps.

That does sound quite propshafty...

How glad am i it's not mine anymore.

How much is that to fix then? £200-300?

REPLACEMENT n/a 652110170 PROPSHAFT CENTRE BEARING E46/E39 M51/M52 ENGINES
MANUAL £24.95

That's if it is the centre bearing, though.

[bull996]

i spent into the thousands on mine. Sold it unfixed. bought another (newer) e39 and the same happened. Sold that too and good riddance BMW.

[LHDisbest]

Well chaps, the jury is in.

The prop center bearing is needing done, along with all the bushes at the back which has knackered both rear tyres.

It also needs new headlamps due to condensation for the MOT and needs bits for the handbrake as well.

A quick £600 has been quoted just to get it fit for the MOT.

I now feel a bit guilty for selling it to the guy now.