vibrating sound from rear of e46 330d under acceleration

[torqueofthedevil]

Recently i have noticed a strange vibrating sound coming from the rear of my e46 330d under acceleration. Its not like something rattling, sounds and feels more like when you drive over a rough road surface. It only seems to happen, or i only notice it when at about 70 +. I dont know why but also seems to happen only when im accelerating off boost. (edit, that might actually be when the engine is struggling in a high gear before it decides to drop a cog). like when the engine is straining a bit more. Definately coming from the back though.

worried it could be the diff going, or axel even.

but hopefully something as simple as bearings, bushes or ball joints etc.

any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Edited by torqueofthedevil on Friday 25th September 17:57

[torqueofthedevil]

jz325i said:

I would start by checking the diff and subframe bushes.

I doubt it's the axel. And if it's the CV joints you'd hear click click click.

Not sure what the E46 chassis is like in terms of strength, but the E36 rear chassis would slowly tear in the more powerful ones.

---

Disclaimer: These are just my opinions. I do not give advice. You should seek professional advice if you have any concerns or queries.

cheers. its done 130 k and was remaped at about 100k so the torque could be pulling it apart. if it was a diff problem can it be repaired or does it entail a new diff and ££££ ?

[The_Doc]

is it an auto?

I had a similar problem with drivetrain vibration at 70mph and holding onto gears at other speeds.

-> Gearbox dying.

--> Reconditioned auto box £1700

---> Quote from BMW for new gearbox ~£3000

now fixed and perfect again.

[torqueofthedevil]

The_Doc said:

is it an auto?

I had a similar problem with drivetrain vibration at 70mph and holding onto gears at other speeds.

-> Gearbox dying.

--> Reconditioned auto box £1700

---> Quote from BMW for new gearbox ~£3000

now fixed and perfect again.

yes an auto....not liking the sound of this.

[Remagel2507]

Had this problem recently changed both Axle and gearbox luckily was covered by aftermarket warranty - is essential on a car like this

[The_Doc]

torqueofthedevil said:

The_Doc said:

is it an auto?

I had a similar problem with drivetrain vibration at 70mph and holding onto gears at other speeds.

-> Gearbox dying.

--> Reconditioned auto box £1700

---> Quote from BMW for new gearbox ~£3000

now fixed and perfect again.

yes an auto....not liking the sound of this.

sorry, mine went at 113k, get someone to look at it.

[dxb335d]

Sounds like transmission rumble to me. Nothing really to concern yourself with unless your running past the torque limits of the box?!

[jamoor]

torqueofthedevil said:

jz325i said:

I would start by checking the diff and subframe bushes.

I doubt it's the axel. And if it's the CV joints you'd hear click click click.

Not sure what the E46 chassis is like in terms of strength, but the E36 rear chassis would slowly tear in the more powerful ones.

---

Disclaimer: These are just my opinions. I do not give advice. You should seek professional advice if you have any concerns or queries.

cheers. its done 130 k and was remaped at about 100k so the torque could be pulling it apart. if it was a diff problem can it be repaired or does it entail a new diff and ££££ ?

The torque is pulling it apart from the remap.

The_Doc said:

is it an auto?

I had a similar problem with drivetrain vibration at 70mph and holding onto gears at other speeds.

-> Gearbox dying.

--> Reconditioned auto box £1700

---> Quote from BMW for new gearbox ~£3000

now fixed and perfect again.

(the below is my understanding, i am not an expert)

This - the torque converter has a lockup clutch, this is a plate with a friction material that pushes against another plate, like this


The brown stuff in the pic, the remap pushes so much torque through a box that's already poor, during lockup, when accelerating it puts the frictino material under alot of strain, this strain causes it to disintigrate and fall off, the vibrations are when the lockup clutch isnt gripping properly and its the vibration of it slipping along.
The fallen off friction material gets cycled through the box and destroys the clutch packs etc.

Essentially a transmission rebuild is required soon, start saving now and keep driving it until it's dead, although you should take it to a garage to eliminate other possibilities.

Contact Driver transmission in Birmingham, complete rebuild for £1350+vat, and excellent service too.
I have also used Tranzfix in Barnsley, but they are more expensive.

Edited by jamoor on Monday 28th September 09:35

[torqueofthedevil]

update to the above....

took the car to local indy. They don't think it is the transmission but then i dont think they could get it to make the vibration when they took it out for a spin. They think its the engine mounts?!?!?

I can not see how it would be that. firstly why would it only happen under acceleration in top gear?

I think the problem is as somebody has suggested above. the car pulls absolutely fine in all gears with NO vibration. Then in top gear i believe the lock up clutch is activated and it is slipping as the friction matterial is deteriorating.

This explanation seems to fit the symptoms better than engine mounts. Maybe im wrong - what do you think????

would be cheaper...£250 vs £1700!!!

[jamoor]

torqueofthedevil said:

update to the above....

took the car to local indy. They don't think it is the transmission but then i dont think they could get it to make the vibration when they took it out for a spin. They think its the engine mounts?!?!?

I can not see how it would be that. firstly why would it only happen under acceleration in top gear?

I think the problem is as somebody has suggested above. the car pulls absolutely fine in all gears with NO vibration. Then in top gear i believe the lock up clutch is activated and it is slipping as the friction matterial is deteriorating.

This explanation seems to fit the symptoms better than engine mounts. Maybe im wrong - what do you think????

would be cheaper...£250 vs £1700!!!

I am 99.9% sure it's that, did you take it to an indy transmission specialist?

I can recommend someone in Barnsley to take it to if you want?

Edited by jamoor on Sunday 8th November 22:15

[MitchT]

jz325i said:

Not sure what the E46 chassis is like in terms of strength, but the E36 rear chassis would slowly tear in the more powerful ones.

E46s are even worse for this. Quite a common problem.

[torqueofthedevil]

MitchT said:

jz325i said:

Not sure what the E46 chassis is like in terms of strength, but the E36 rear chassis would slowly tear in the more powerful ones.

E46s are even worse for this. Quite a common problem.

would this be easy to look for, i.e. somewhere that is easy to see?

[torqueofthedevil]

jamoor said:

torqueofthedevil said:

update to the above....

took the car to local indy. They don't think it is the transmission but then i dont think they could get it to make the vibration when they took it out for a spin. They think its the engine mounts?!?!?

I can not see how it would be that. firstly why would it only happen under acceleration in top gear?

I think the problem is as somebody has suggested above. the car pulls absolutely fine in all gears with NO vibration. Then in top gear i believe the lock up clutch is activated and it is slipping as the friction matterial is deteriorating.

This explanation seems to fit the symptoms better than engine mounts. Maybe im wrong - what do you think????

would be cheaper...£250 vs £1700!!!

I am 99.9% sure it's that, did you take it to an indy transmission specialist?

I can recommend someone in Barnsley to take it to if you want?

Edited by jamoor on Sunday 8th November 22:15

cheers for the offer, i might take you up on that, i might try the cheaper options first, e.g. engine mounts, transmission fluid + filter, chassis tears! then if its not them at least the car is gonna be a bit better. My old man used a good auto transmission place in hudds - any experience round there?

one thing i thought though - surely there would be sensors to indicate if the torque converter clutch plate was slipping - it would be very easy for a computer to register that this was happening but there are no warning lights on and no faults came up on the diagnostics.

[jamoor]

torqueofthedevil said:

jamoor said:

torqueofthedevil said:

update to the above....

took the car to local indy. They don't think it is the transmission but then i dont think they could get it to make the vibration when they took it out for a spin. They think its the engine mounts?!?!?

I can not see how it would be that. firstly why would it only happen under acceleration in top gear?

I think the problem is as somebody has suggested above. the car pulls absolutely fine in all gears with NO vibration. Then in top gear i believe the lock up clutch is activated and it is slipping as the friction matterial is deteriorating.

This explanation seems to fit the symptoms better than engine mounts. Maybe im wrong - what do you think????

would be cheaper...£250 vs £1700!!!

I am 99.9% sure it's that, did you take it to an indy transmission specialist?

I can recommend someone in Barnsley to take it to if you want?

Edited by jamoor on Sunday 8th November 22:15

cheers for the offer, i might take you up on that, i might try the cheaper options first, e.g. engine mounts, transmission fluid + filter, chassis tears! then if its not them at least the car is gonna be a bit better. My old man used a good auto transmission place in hudds - any experience round there?

one thing i thought though - surely there would be sensors to indicate if the torque converter clutch plate was slipping - it would be very easy for a computer to register that this was happening but there are no warning lights on and no faults came up on the diagnostics.

I have had 2 cars fail (530d, 330d) same transmission, neither gave any codes or warnings, if you take it to the place in barnsley he can usually tell by test driving it.

[MitchT]

torqueofthedevil said:

MitchT said:

jz325i said:

Not sure what the E46 chassis is like in terms of strength, but the E36 rear chassis would slowly tear in the more powerful ones.

E46s are even worse for this. Quite a common problem.

would this be easy to look for, i.e. somewhere that is easy to see?

Not sure 'cause I've only read about it on here, but I guess if you get the car on a ramp you'd be able to find the tear(s) easy enough. Try googling for images of "E46 subframe tear". I turned up this...

[585bhp]

Hi All,

We have the same problem here on a 320i E46 auto, almost exact symptoms. trouble is we cant get to Barnsly that easily, Anybody know where about in a good transmission house is around the Milton Keynes Area....

[aaronpain]

Hi there, I have EXACTLY the same issue with my 2003 330d sport. What was the final solution for you???? I have changed the Gearbox oil and filter, and just about to change the Engine mounts.

Really don't want to see £1500.00+ VAT leave my bank for a re-con gear box.

[torqueofthedevil]

I've not sorted it yet! I started this thread 6 months ago aswell!

Basically if you adapt your driving style you can stop it happening - I know that might not be a satisfactory answer but like you, I have not been thrilled at the prospect of shelling out 1500 quid recently.

I took it to a well respected BMW Indy and they changed the engine mounts - I had been following the advice on this thread and was almost certain it would be the transmision and even more likely to be the damaged / slipping clutch/locking plate. But i thought they would know better. They changed the engine mounts at a cost of about 500quid (think they may have done some other work too if that sounds a bit too expensive) and absolutely nothing changed. My only consolation is that maybe they needed doing anyway so at least thats another thing which has been upgraded.

Since I started this thread ive done 10,000 miles and its still ok. Maybe a bit easier for it to slip into vibrating but not too much. You will learn where in the rev range and in which gear not to put the power on too harsh. Also put it into tip tronic and into 4th for a bit more acceleration without the rumble! If nothing else it has increased my mpg!

I do plan to get it sorted at some point and then i expect it will be like having a new car again where i can use that final 25 - 30% of the power but for the time being i can live with the occasional vibration.

How many miles has yours done? How did you change the transmision oil - i thought they were a sealed system?

Sorry if that wasnt the answer you were looking for but it has worked for me so far...

Dan

[aaronpain]

Hi Dan,

Thank you for getting back to me, although yes...that wasn't what I really wanted to hear, but I had imagined that was the verdict.

Mine has done 90,000. I guess I had heard the noise for about 6-8 months and never paid much attention to it, like you I first thought it was a road surface issue, until one day my wife said if you ease-off it disappeared. (I bought the car for her) Since then (4 months ago) it appears to have got worse. I took it to a garage to have the oil changed in the box, which cost £350.00 and it made no difference at all. I'm having the engine mounts changed next week, well...I'm booked too but if it did nothing for you perhaps I might not bother.

I'm just so disappointed that on a 'Luxury car with only 90K on the clock I need a new Gearbox!!!

Not a happy bunny!

Feel free to mail me direct, and I'll send you my number if you want anything answered if I can help!

Aaron.

[jamoor]

Oil changed for £350 is a joke, mine cost around £60.