Me and my mechanic are stumped

sharadn · 08-07-2023, 05:28 PM

2006 325xi wagon with 113k miles. I have a rotational noise which I thought was coming from the front and which seems to get worse on hard right hand turns. I thought it was a left wheel bearing but could not definitively diagnose it so I brought it in to a local indie. He confirmed that he did not think it was a wheel bearing and said that all the wheel bearings were very quiet. I have pulled all the brakes and the rear CV axles in the hopes of identifying the source of the noise but I cannot figure it out and neither can my mechanic. It kind of sounds like the scuffing a brake pad against the rotor but I have checked this and I don't hear it with the car on jack stands. The frequency also seems to coincide with a rotation of a wheel. I wonder if it could be a bearing in the diff but I don't know how to diagnose it. My mechanic did not think it was due to tires but I wonder if he is correct. He did move tires around but the noise is still there. You have to go slow to hear it because at speed there is too much road noise. Anyone have any ideas of where to go from here? If I have a problem I would like to resolve it before it gets worse.

GarageGrunt · 08-11-2023, 08:08 AM

For clarity, did you pull the front axles and check the CV joints there as well? Also, when you pull the brakes, are you pulling them off and spinning the wheels and listening for the noise or just inspecting?

sharadn · 08-11-2023, 08:16 AM

I did not pull the CV axles. I did pull the brakes and spun the wheels while listening with the electronic stethoscope. I did not hear any noises that would tell me that I needed to pull the CV axles as this is a major effort. It is definitive that the front driveshaft needs to be replaced. I will replace this and see if there is an improvement. If not my next move will be to replace the tires. They are getting very loud with road noise and are close to the end of their lifespan. If these two things don't resolve it then I will be back here asking more questions.
Here is the link to the electronic stethoscope, I found it very help for diagnosing and eliminating the issues:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0796N3G4Z...roduct_details

justrokkit · 08-11-2023, 11:57 PM

What kind of sound is it?

sharadn · 08-12-2023, 07:20 AM

Code:

It kind of sounds like the scuffing a brake pad against the rotor

AWD Addict · 08-14-2023, 02:00 PM

There's a heat shield type thing that could be the culprit. Some kind of shroud. I literally just had to bend mine back to stop the rotational sound.

sharadn · 08-14-2023, 02:13 PM

Thanks for the heat shield suggestion. I will look for that while repairing the driveshaft.

sharadn · 08-17-2023, 02:04 PM

I just received the driveshaft and will install it shortly. Does anyone know if there is an orientation on this? Both ends look the same to me with the exception that there is a weight on one end.

sharadn · 08-18-2023, 07:25 AM

I just received the driveshaft and installed in. It seems to have eliminated the noise. Thank you Efthreeoh! If I have troubles with this driveshaft I will report back here but since it has a 12 month warranty and the bearings can be replaced I am not too worried.

thatsclassified · 12-14-2023, 10:20 PM

Like a bit of a whining sound or whistle maybe? Try turning your cabin air fan off. Like your heating/cooling fan thingy. Now do the right hand turn.

If the sound stopped, just take out your blower motor and hit the middle spindle thing with some rust prevention spray. Like wd40 but a little thicker.

Turn the blower a bit so the lube works its way down the spindle. Hit it from both ends.

Let me know how it goes.

08-07-2023, 05:28 PM	#1
sharadn Private First Class 32 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2010 bmw 328i xdrive wagon Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: 21144 iTrader: (0)	Me and my mechanic are stumped 2006 325xi wagon with 113k miles. I have a rotational noise which I thought was coming from the front and which seems to get worse on hard right hand turns. I thought it was a left wheel bearing but could not definitively diagnose it so I brought it in to a local indie. He confirmed that he did not think it was a wheel bearing and said that all the wheel bearings were very quiet. I have pulled all the brakes and the rear CV axles in the hopes of identifying the source of the noise but I cannot figure it out and neither can my mechanic. It kind of sounds like the scuffing a brake pad against the rotor but I have checked this and I don't hear it with the car on jack stands. The frequency also seems to coincide with a rotation of a wheel. I wonder if it could be a bearing in the diff but I don't know how to diagnose it. My mechanic did not think it was due to tires but I wonder if he is correct. He did move tires around but the noise is still there. You have to go slow to hear it because at speed there is too much road noise. Anyone have any ideas of where to go from here? If I have a problem I would like to resolve it before it gets worse.
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08-11-2023, 08:08 AM	#2
GarageGrunt New Member 3 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi Join Date: Aug 2023 Location: South Carolina iTrader: (0)	For clarity, did you pull the front axles and check the CV joints there as well? Also, when you pull the brakes, are you pulling them off and spinning the wheels and listening for the noise or just inspecting?
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08-11-2023, 08:16 AM	#3
sharadn Private First Class 32 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2010 bmw 328i xdrive wagon Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: 21144 iTrader: (0)	I did not pull the CV axles. I did pull the brakes and spun the wheels while listening with the electronic stethoscope. I did not hear any noises that would tell me that I needed to pull the CV axles as this is a major effort. It is definitive that the front driveshaft needs to be replaced. I will replace this and see if there is an improvement. If not my next move will be to replace the tires. They are getting very loud with road noise and are close to the end of their lifespan. If these two things don't resolve it then I will be back here asking more questions. Here is the link to the electronic stethoscope, I found it very help for diagnosing and eliminating the issues: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0796N3G4Z...roduct_details Last edited by sharadn; 08-11-2023 at 08:18 AM.. Reason: added link to stethoscope
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08-11-2023, 11:57 PM	#4
justrokkit Private 14 Rep 81 Posts Drives: SGM E91 xDrive Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	What kind of sound is it?
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08-12-2023, 07:20 AM	#5
sharadn Private First Class 32 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2010 bmw 328i xdrive wagon Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: 21144 iTrader: (0)	Code: It kind of sounds like the scuffing a brake pad against the rotor
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08-14-2023, 02:00 PM	#6
AWD Addict Chief Executive 300 Rep 2,886 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi 6spd Coupe Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boston iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 335xi [0.00]	There's a heat shield type thing that could be the culprit. Some kind of shroud. I literally just had to bend mine back to stop the rotational sound.
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08-14-2023, 02:13 PM	#7
sharadn Private First Class 32 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2010 bmw 328i xdrive wagon Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: 21144 iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the heat shield suggestion. I will look for that while repairing the driveshaft.
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08-17-2023, 02:04 PM	#8
sharadn Private First Class 32 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2010 bmw 328i xdrive wagon Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: 21144 iTrader: (0)	I just received the driveshaft and will install it shortly. Does anyone know if there is an orientation on this? Both ends look the same to me with the exception that there is a weight on one end.
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08-18-2023, 07:25 AM	#9
sharadn Private First Class 32 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2010 bmw 328i xdrive wagon Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: 21144 iTrader: (0)	I just received the driveshaft and installed in. It seems to have eliminated the noise. Thank you Efthreeoh! If I have troubles with this driveshaft I will report back here but since it has a 12 month warranty and the bearings can be replaced I am not too worried.
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12-14-2023, 10:20 PM	#10
thatsclassified New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2006 e91 Join Date: Oct 2023 Location: BC, Canada iTrader: (0)	Like a bit of a whining sound or whistle maybe? Try turning your cabin air fan off. Like your heating/cooling fan thingy. Now do the right hand turn. If the sound stopped, just take out your blower motor and hit the middle spindle thing with some rust prevention spray. Like wd40 but a little thicker. Turn the blower a bit so the lube works its way down the spindle. Hit it from both ends. Let me know how it goes.
	Appreciate 0 Quote