Wheel bearing noise?

Jdub679 · 04-28-2012, 05:19 PM

Does anyone have any ideas about what can produce a grinding noise? It occurs in any gear, does not seem to be related to speed (I can't hear it above the road noise over 45ish mph), is not related to turning, seems to occur with the car in gear, and less so with the car out of gear. I can't localize the sound, but if I had to guess, I would guess front of the car (transmission area maybe), or towards the passenger right side. And I can't seem to record the sound either. Can only be heard with the windows closed. Radio off. It's faint, but it's definitely there.

Is the wheel bearing on 335i's a common wear item? My car has <14k miles, stock suspension. 6MT

I apologize if this is the wrong section to post it in. But any advice or direction would be appreciated.

CenCal X3M Comp · 04-28-2012, 11:36 PM

It could be your tires. Mine made a oscillating drone sound which sounded it came from the right wheel. I swapped the front left to the right and vice versa, it made a little difference but after a few thousand the noise came back. I recently replace them with michelins pilot rft and the noise is now gone.

Jdub679 · 04-29-2012, 02:51 PM

Did the drone sound like metal on metal? Because that's what mine sounds like.

StealYourFace · 04-29-2012, 04:25 PM

One of mine is starting to growl too. I'll have to jack it up and wiggle with wheels around with a jack handle to figure out which one it is. Usually on other cars the growl would change in sound depending on which direction you turn at speed, but I can't hear which one it is.

With 113,000 miles I should just have both the fronts done and be done with it.

Rmk392 · 04-29-2012, 04:50 PM

since your car is 2011 and well under warranty why not go to dealer.. if you want post a video of it and we can tell you if its a wheel bearing. Grinding noise is not what I would describe a bad wheel bearing as, atleast with my previous cars.

Jdub679 · 04-29-2012, 09:40 PM

Yea, I'll definitely bring it up to my dealer at my next service (in less than 4k miles anyways). But it doesn't seem like a big enough issue right now to bring it in just for that.

Also, I'd like some direction to point the service guys in when I get there.

Jdub679 · 05-04-2012, 02:28 PM

Just had a thought. . . could this be transmission noise from the dual mass flywheel?

04-28-2012, 05:19 PM	#1
Jdub679 Captain 88 Rep 644 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335i coupe M Sport Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (1)	Wheel bearing noise? Does anyone have any ideas about what can produce a grinding noise? It occurs in any gear, does not seem to be related to speed (I can't hear it above the road noise over 45ish mph), is not related to turning, seems to occur with the car in gear, and less so with the car out of gear. I can't localize the sound, but if I had to guess, I would guess front of the car (transmission area maybe), or towards the passenger right side. And I can't seem to record the sound either. Can only be heard with the windows closed. Radio off. It's faint, but it's definitely there. Is the wheel bearing on 335i's a common wear item? My car has <14k miles, stock suspension. 6MT I apologize if this is the wrong section to post it in. But any advice or direction would be appreciated.
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04-28-2012, 11:36 PM	#2
CenCal X3M Comp Second Lieutenant 88 Rep 207 Posts Drives: 2024 X3M Comp Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Central Cali (and Sometimes Brazil) iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW M4 [0.00]	It could be your tires. Mine made a oscillating drone sound which sounded it came from the right wheel. I swapped the front left to the right and vice versa, it made a little difference but after a few thousand the noise came back. I recently replace them with michelins pilot rft and the noise is now gone.
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04-29-2012, 02:51 PM	#3
Jdub679 Captain 88 Rep 644 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335i coupe M Sport Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (1)	Did the drone sound like metal on metal? Because that's what mine sounds like.
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04-29-2012, 04:25 PM	#4
StealYourFace Lieutenant Colonel 261 Rep 1,794 Posts Drives: F30 328i M 6mt, E36 M3 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Shakedown Street, Buffalo NY iTrader: (1)	One of mine is starting to growl too. I'll have to jack it up and wiggle with wheels around with a jack handle to figure out which one it is. Usually on other cars the growl would change in sound depending on which direction you turn at speed, but I can't hear which one it is. With 113,000 miles I should just have both the fronts done and be done with it. __________________
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04-29-2012, 04:50 PM	#5
Rmk392 First Lieutenant 28 Rep 367 Posts Drives: E92 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	since your car is 2011 and well under warranty why not go to dealer.. if you want post a video of it and we can tell you if its a wheel bearing. Grinding noise is not what I would describe a bad wheel bearing as, atleast with my previous cars.
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04-29-2012, 09:40 PM	#6
Jdub679 Captain 88 Rep 644 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335i coupe M Sport Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (1)	Yea, I'll definitely bring it up to my dealer at my next service (in less than 4k miles anyways). But it doesn't seem like a big enough issue right now to bring it in just for that. Also, I'd like some direction to point the service guys in when I get there.
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05-04-2012, 02:28 PM	#7
Jdub679 Captain 88 Rep 644 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335i coupe M Sport Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (1)	Just had a thought. . . could this be transmission noise from the dual mass flywheel?
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