Noob help request vibration issue not wheels/tires issue

acthad · 10-11-2009, 05:18 PM

Hi,
What possible issues can I have with the drive line of an 06 325xi Auto Sport package. I am experiencing a low speed vibration, it feels like the rear end of the car is slightly bobbing up and down enough to feel through seat of the car vs the steering wheel. It clears up at higher/highway speeds, but at local speeds it is pronounced. The car tracks straight, handles decent albeit a little floaty with new snow tires on it currently, and rebalanced 17" wheels. The tires are the non-staggered set up with 225-45/17's on it.

The car is still under warranty, so I hope they can fix it, but wanted to see if anyone had a similar issue with their drive line. I am the second owner so I do not know what the previous owner ran over hit with the drive wheels.
Thanks in advance.

GMWNashville · 10-11-2009, 09:39 PM

more than likely...still out of balance or has high roadforce...

acthad · 10-12-2009, 08:38 AM

The previous set of tires still had the same symptoms, not sure on what you mean by high road force?

I forgot to mention the vibration is only when under load/on the throttle, the problem goes away when coasting. Tires are new and wheels have been rotated and the problem still persists.

Previous owner was a bad driver, bought the car as is with remaining factory warranty. All the rims had curb rash, and the corner causing the issue's rim was the worst but it wasn't cracked or totally bent to the naked eye.

Again it is now in the front passenger corner vs its original location(rear passenger corner). So I hope the dealer can just claim whatever they find under warranty. Bought the car thinking it had a bad tires, boy learned my lesson.

acthad · 10-12-2009, 05:58 PM

The vibration dominates 25-40 mph then dissipates, but persists all the way to highway speeds. I tried coasting the vibration is still there, as I warm up the tires with a longer drive it doesn't feel as wobbly at low speeds when the tires are ice cold. I tried coasting in neutral but the vibration was still there.

It can be felt in the steering wheel as well. The noise from it seems like white noise along with the quietness of the new tires, only chopping up the sound of the tires rolling when the vibration is dominant.

I am starting to think it is the new snow tires I put on, I think they need a break in period, then a rebalance needs to be done. 1-2 of the rims may be slightly bent by the PO. Boy you get what you pay for! Learned my lesson!

Thanks for your assistance everyone!

GMWNashville · 10-12-2009, 06:58 PM

yea it sounds like a bent rim...by high roadforce i mean each tire has a high and low spot...no tire is completely round. some worse than others. couple that with a bent rim and it can cause a vibration just due to the wheel and tire combo not being round.

FCP Euro · 10-12-2009, 07:33 PM

+1, either a bent rim or bad tire on that front passenger side. If the vibration moved from the back to the front when you rotated the tires, it has to be a rim/tire issue. The thing that stinks is that these are two things which is not covered under the warranty.

acthad · 10-13-2009, 04:56 PM

Cancelled on the wheel re-balancing, I am sure it is drive line. Vibrations are too inconsistent in how much and when it happens. My tranny shifts too hard randomly as well, maybe it is a center support bearing issue, or a diff bushing issue.

Strangest thing was I jacked up all 4 whees to check for play with the wheel bearings, and then it drove with a lot less vibration, but as it warmed up it came back. So probably the rubber part warming up loses its rigidity and then it vibrates again. What a PITA.

FCP Euro · 10-13-2009, 09:16 PM

The only odd things is that you mentioned that the vibration moved from the back of the car to the front when you rotated the tires? If it was drive line, it should still be vibrating in the rear.

acthad · 10-13-2009, 09:30 PM

Went back to Discount Tire and they found out that 3 of my wheels are bent!

Wished they would have mentioned it the first time they mounted the tires last weekend.

Well I guess I get the excuse to get some new shoes, but I have to beg the dealer I bought it from to cough up some cash to satisfy me as a customer.

Anyone have this happen to them before, post used car remedy resolution?

Thanks again everyone for your help! Love my e90 more knowing a board like this one is here to assist!

10-11-2009, 05:18 PM	#1
acthad Private First Class 8 Rep 118 Posts Drives: 14 228i MSport Step Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Noob help request vibration issue not wheels/tires issue Hi, What possible issues can I have with the drive line of an 06 325xi Auto Sport package. I am experiencing a low speed vibration, it feels like the rear end of the car is slightly bobbing up and down enough to feel through seat of the car vs the steering wheel. It clears up at higher/highway speeds, but at local speeds it is pronounced. The car tracks straight, handles decent albeit a little floaty with new snow tires on it currently, and rebalanced 17" wheels. The tires are the non-staggered set up with 225-45/17's on it. The car is still under warranty, so I hope they can fix it, but wanted to see if anyone had a similar issue with their drive line. I am the second owner so I do not know what the previous owner ran over hit with the drive wheels. Thanks in advance.
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10-11-2009, 09:39 PM	#2
GMWNashville Colonel 172 Rep 2,373 Posts Drives: 19 G05, 16 F80, 10 E70x5D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (2)	more than likely...still out of balance or has high roadforce...
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10-12-2009, 08:38 AM	#3
acthad Private First Class 8 Rep 118 Posts Drives: 14 228i MSport Step Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Thanks The previous set of tires still had the same symptoms, not sure on what you mean by high road force? I forgot to mention the vibration is only when under load/on the throttle, the problem goes away when coasting. Tires are new and wheels have been rotated and the problem still persists. Previous owner was a bad driver, bought the car as is with remaining factory warranty. All the rims had curb rash, and the corner causing the issue's rim was the worst but it wasn't cracked or totally bent to the naked eye. Again it is now in the front passenger corner vs its original location(rear passenger corner). So I hope the dealer can just claim whatever they find under warranty. Bought the car thinking it had a bad tires, boy learned my lesson.
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10-12-2009, 05:58 PM	#4
acthad Private First Class 8 Rep 118 Posts Drives: 14 228i MSport Step Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Correction of symptoms The vibration dominates 25-40 mph then dissipates, but persists all the way to highway speeds. I tried coasting the vibration is still there, as I warm up the tires with a longer drive it doesn't feel as wobbly at low speeds when the tires are ice cold. I tried coasting in neutral but the vibration was still there. It can be felt in the steering wheel as well. The noise from it seems like white noise along with the quietness of the new tires, only chopping up the sound of the tires rolling when the vibration is dominant. I am starting to think it is the new snow tires I put on, I think they need a break in period, then a rebalance needs to be done. 1-2 of the rims may be slightly bent by the PO. Boy you get what you pay for! Learned my lesson! Thanks for your assistance everyone!
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10-12-2009, 06:58 PM	#5
GMWNashville Colonel 172 Rep 2,373 Posts Drives: 19 G05, 16 F80, 10 E70x5D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (2)	yea it sounds like a bent rim...by high roadforce i mean each tire has a high and low spot...no tire is completely round. some worse than others. couple that with a bent rim and it can cause a vibration just due to the wheel and tire combo not being round.
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10-12-2009, 07:33 PM	#6
FCP Euro Lieutenant 10 Rep 462 Posts Drives: Volvo 850 T5 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Old Saybrook, CT iTrader: (0)	+1, either a bent rim or bad tire on that front passenger side. If the vibration moved from the back to the front when you rotated the tires, it has to be a rim/tire issue. The thing that stinks is that these are two things which is not covered under the warranty. __________________ sales@fcpeuro.com FCP Euro - European Car Parts Specialists
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10-13-2009, 04:56 PM	#7
acthad Private First Class 8 Rep 118 Posts Drives: 14 228i MSport Step Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Think its driveline now Cancelled on the wheel re-balancing, I am sure it is drive line. Vibrations are too inconsistent in how much and when it happens. My tranny shifts too hard randomly as well, maybe it is a center support bearing issue, or a diff bushing issue. Strangest thing was I jacked up all 4 whees to check for play with the wheel bearings, and then it drove with a lot less vibration, but as it warmed up it came back. So probably the rubber part warming up loses its rigidity and then it vibrates again. What a PITA.
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10-13-2009, 09:16 PM	#8
FCP Euro Lieutenant 10 Rep 462 Posts Drives: Volvo 850 T5 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Old Saybrook, CT iTrader: (0)	The only odd things is that you mentioned that the vibration moved from the back of the car to the front when you rotated the tires? If it was drive line, it should still be vibrating in the rear. __________________ sales@fcpeuro.com FCP Euro - European Car Parts Specialists
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10-13-2009, 09:30 PM	#9
acthad Private First Class 8 Rep 118 Posts Drives: 14 228i MSport Step Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	OK it's the wheels Went back to Discount Tire and they found out that 3 of my wheels are bent! Wished they would have mentioned it the first time they mounted the tires last weekend. Well I guess I get the excuse to get some new shoes, but I have to beg the dealer I bought it from to cough up some cash to satisfy me as a customer. Anyone have this happen to them before, post used car remedy resolution? Thanks again everyone for your help! Love my e90 more knowing a board like this one is here to assist!
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