[apollo]

I have over the last 4-5 months been getting a whine from the rear of my E93 LCI mostly noticeable at speeds above 40mph. Over the past 2 months it has got progressively worse. When driving around a right hand bend and therefore loading the rear left the whine gets louder and when driving around a left hand bend loading the rear right the whine gets quieter, virtually disappears.

I assumed this pointed to a failing rear left wheel bearing but just had it replaced today and there is no difference to the whine. What else could it be that would react to the car leaning one way and not the other.

Would a diff problem have the same symptoms?

[Rustymage]

You could try the rear right wheel bearing?

I don't think you want it to be anything to do with the differential...

[apollo]

Your right I certainly don't want it to be the diff, but I was always under the impression the noise got louder when the faulty bearing was loaded. Is this not necessarily the case?

[Rustymage]

Well you'd think so in terms of how it works.

But if loading up a bearing causes it to straighten up and quieten down then it would be the rear right that would be the cause. This is based on no knowledge, but I think I've read this happened to someone before.

It cases like these either a garage or lifting the car up and spinning various parts would be best. Don't just throw money at it.

I had a ford focus that I thought a bearing was shot on, turned out to be a drive shaft bearing. Cost £190 to fix. Point being, noises in a car can be deceiving!

Keep us posted.

[apollo]

Yeah mate last thing I wanna do is just throw money at it. Will take it back to garage and see if they can diagnose it

[Rustymage]

Originally Posted by apollo

Yeah mate last thing I wanna do is just throw money at it. Will take it back to garage and see if they can diagnose it

They are usually pretty good if you ask them to find the noise location. You could try jacking up the rear corners and turning the wheel to see if you can feel or hear anything?

Might be worth a shot, wouldn't take long.

[apollo]

Already tried that a few weeks back, had it up on 4 stands and had wife run it to 50mph and could identify anything out of the normal even with a auto stethoscope. Problem is the wheels are not under load when done like that

[E90-AMD]

Happened to me before, a wheel bearing replacement sorted it

[apollo]

Can you confirm if the whine got louder when the faulty bearing was loaded or unloaded?

[E90-AMD]

Originally Posted by apollo

Can you confirm if the whine got louder when the faulty bearing was loaded or unloaded?

I didn't have it off the ground to diagnose it, however the whine DID get louder when I steered at a high speed (in my case it was when I steered right)

[apollo]

So your faulty bearing as on the left then?

[E90-AMD]

Originally Posted by apollo

So your faulty bearing as on the left then?

Yes, Front Axle. Changed it with a low mileage 2nd hand and no issues since (10,000 miles ago).

[apollo]

That's my problem mate whine definitely sounds like it is coming from the rear and louder when turning right at speed, but had rear left bearing replaced and it made no difference.

[E90-AMD]

Originally Posted by apollo

That's my problem mate whine definitely sounds like it is coming from the rear and louder when turning right at speed, but had rear left bearing replaced and it made no difference.

There's not much in the back that spins other than the bearing/driveshaft/diff.

Start moving in and see if the driveshaft replacement will sort it. Otherwise it's the diff unfortunately. The 5 arms won't be the cause that.

Maybe a buckled wheel?

[apollo]

Can rule out a wheel problem as have tried another set and still have drone. Leaving it in to garage on Tuesday to see if they can pin point the problem, really hoping it isn't the diff! as car has only done 70000 with FSH.

[derek2006e92]

had exactly same thing on my old e46, it was the rear tyres making the noise

[Rustymage]

Keep us posted. Interested in this!

Good luck.

[apollo]

Originally Posted by Rustymage

Keep us posted. Interested in this!

Good luck.

Will do mate

[apollo]

Just had a call from the mechanic and it turned out to be the rear right wheel bearing. So the noise actually got louder when the bearing load was decreased and not increased. Im now one happy bunny

[E90-AMD]

Originally Posted by apollo

Just had a call from the mechanic and it turned out to be the rear right wheel bearing. So the noise actually got louder when the bearing load was decreased and not increased. Im now one happy bunny

Glad to hear that it's been sorted (and that you won't need a new diff!)