[ryanb328]

(I'll try to keep this short and easy to read - I have searched and have not found this particular set of symptoms).

2007 328XI 6MT 120,000 miles

- 0-50MPH is smooth coasting or accelerating
- 50-70MPH there is a shake/vibration/shudder/shimmy in the steering wheel and also in the body of the car (if I have a bottle in the cupholder the liquid will be noticeably shaking) while coasting but if I get ON the throttle it is instantly smooth
- 70-90MPH there is the same shake/vibration/shudder/shimmy when I get ON the throttle, but it is instantly smooth if I get off the gas and start coasting
- 90MPH+ it is smooth coasting or accelerating

I had a visually bent RR rim and semi-seized caliper which was causing a separate vibration that covered this one up, replaced RR caliper, rim and both rear rotors/pads and it got rid of that.

Tires are new (less than 100 miles but put on by PO), I'm getting them balanced on Friday as I'm not sure they're balanced right.

Any ideas? I think its strange that 50-70 it happens OFF the throttle, and 70-90 is reversed with 0-50 and 90+ being trouble free.

Thanks!

[marvinstockman]

For 50 to 70 problem and as a start, and even though tires are new, rotate them front to back, as you could have a bad belt. Can you ask the PO when problem started.

For 70 to 90, it might be the inner drivers on the front axles.

[tom9192]

This sounds exactly like what I had at 142k miles. It is the driveshaft wearing out and causing these vibrations at certain speeds, primarily while under load.

$430 and a Saturday morning and the vibration was totally fixed. Highly recommend Driveline service of portland.

How I came to this conclusion on my car:
-Its not the wheels/tires, because the vibration for that would be directly related to speed and irrelevant of whether the car is accelerating or not
-Not anything forward of the clutch as anything there would be directly tied to engine RPM
-Not brakes as that would only happen when braking

So this basically leaves the driveshaft as the only possible explanation

[ryanb328]

Originally Posted by tom9192

This sounds exactly like what I had at 142k miles. It is the driveshaft wearing out and causing these vibrations at certain speeds, primarily while under load.

$430 and a Saturday morning and the vibration was totally fixed. Highly recommend Driveline service of portland.

How I came to this conclusion on my car:
-Its not the wheels/tires, because the vibration for that would be directly related to speed and irrelevant of whether the car is accelerating or not
-Not anything forward of the clutch as anything there would be directly tied to engine RPM
-Not brakes as that would only happen when braking

So this basically leaves the driveshaft as the only possible explanation

Thank you for the reply! So you replaced the whole driveshaft?

[oVeRdOsE.]

yeah, had the same issue, drive shaft.

You have 2 on the xi.

Go under the car and inspect u-joint, and see if there's any play by rotating by hand the shaft.

Do the same for the rear one.

Inspect also the giubo on the rear shaft (rubber coupler).

Unless you have serviceable u-joint on the drive shaft, you need to :
-replace the whole shaft with new
- Go to rebuilt shop so they can press new u-joint .


Fortunatly, mine were serviceable, cost 10$/u-joint on rock auto.


If you're planning to keep the car, try to find a after market drive shaft, most of them are serviceable, and it will be wayyy cheaper on the long run.

[tom9192]

Originally Posted by ryanb328

Thank you for the reply! So you replaced the whole driveshaft?

Yea, I replaced it with a rebuilt one which was much cheaper. 30k miles in and no complaints.

I tried to inspect mine before replacement for any wiggle or movement that would indicate failure, but didn't notice anything.

Neighbors made some snark comments when they saw me doing this on the side of the street

[oVeRdOsE.]

Originally Posted by tom9192

Yea, I replaced it with a rebuilt one which was much cheaper. 30k miles in and no complaints.

I tried to inspect mine before replacement for any wiggle or movement that would indicate failure, but didn't notice anything.

Neighbors made some snark comments when they saw me doing this on the side of the street

when you feel vibration on the high way, the play is pretty obvious .

If not, it might be the rear shaft support or guibo.

Brand new shaft, the play won't be more than few degrees of free rotation.
A bad one like mine, its something like 1/8 of a full rotation of play.

[DgjoX6M2016]

Originally Posted by oVeRdOsE.

when you feel vibration on the high way, the play is pretty obvious .

If not, it might be the rear shaft support or guibo.

Brand new shaft, the play won't be more than few degrees of free rotation.
A bad one like mine, its something like 1/8 of a full rotation of play.

I'm chasing down a vibration as well. Have 4 new axles, CSB, guibo, tires, brakes, xfer case fluid, trans fluid/filter replace, new coils.

Happens under throttle. Smooths out in upper gears.

I'm thinking torque converter/transmission at this point. 150k miles.
Ma driveshaft is spinning under throttle or not, so I don't think it's that. Also, I had it out for CSB and universal was right. Zero play.

[tom9192]

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

I'm chasing down a vibration as well. Have 4 new axles, CSB, guibo, tires, brakes, xfer case fluid, trans fluid/filter replace, new coils.

Happens under throttle. Smooths out in upper gears.

I'm thinking torque converter/transmission at this point. 150k miles.
Ma driveshaft is spinning under throttle or not, so I don't think it's that. Also, I had it out for CSB and universal was right. Zero play.

Does the vibration frequency/intensity change when you are at a constant speed but different gear?

[DgjoX6M2016]

Originally Posted by tom9192

Does the vibration frequency/intensity change when you are at a constant speed but different gear?

It doesn't seem to.

For example, had the very noticeable vibration/shake under light accel in 2nd and 3rd gear. 1600 rpm or so. No shake at all cruising at 40 mph light throttle just maintaining.

Maybe engine mounts?

[marvinstockman]

DGJO, did the problem start after you installed the axles? Been there, done that!

[DgjoX6M2016]

Originally Posted by marvinstockman

DGJO, did the problem start after you installed the axles? Been there, done that!

Hmm. That was a while ago but I do think I noticed vibration after rears were done but ignored it as I thought I was being a PITA on our high mileage car. So it has been getting progressively worse over say 30k miles. I had a shop do rear so not even sure what brand. I did the fronts with OEM.

Frustrating as engine is butter smooth. Trans shifts fine WOT (GM unit).