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[MatrixE93]

Hi I'm new here! I picked up a 2009 E93 MT last Wednesday with 28K miles, it has H&R springs and the mufflers have been removed. On the drive home I started hearing a terrible grinding noise on light acceleration and coasting. I drove about 30 miles with this symptom. I was on my way back to the dealership the next morning going about 10mph when the rear driver's side wheel fell off The car didn't drop completely, but the rotor was resting on the inside of the wheel. I recovered two of the lug bolts from the street, jacked it up put the wheel back on and had it towed back to the dealer. They've had it since Thursday morning and said they will fix anything that was damaged. Before I left I noticed the mechanic was just re-tapping threads on the hub, so I asked him to please replace any and all parts that are damaged in any way. I asked that after it is fixed it is taken to a BMW dealership for inspection.

My concern is whether or not I caused damage to the differential or other drive train components since the vibration was substantial. The car only came with a 1000-mile 30-day warranty, so I am going to ask them for an extended warranty. Any advice on what else I should make sure is replaced or serviced?

-Dan

[mccannable]

Damn. Had this happen to our accord but the front wheel. It had been in a 10k accident and was never the same. We traded in shortly after.

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by MatrixE93

On the drive home I started hearing a terrible grinding noise on light acceleration and coasting. I drove about 30 miles with this symptom.

If I were you I wouldn't tell the dealer you did that.

[Maestro]

Hey to say this, you did not get out of the car and inspect the rear wheels to understand what was going on. Really if the lugs were loose you would have notice this and could have easily avoid this.

[Timujin]

How many here inspect their lugs after buying a car? Shouldnt need have to.

[gzim335]

Originally Posted by Timujin

How many here inspect their lugs after buying a car? Shouldnt need have to.

well if u hearing noises n vibration than u should check it out

[MatrixE93]

Originally Posted by Maestro

Hey to say this, you did not get out of the car and inspect the rear wheels to understand what was going on. Really if the lugs were loose you would have notice this and could have easily avoid this.

As soon as I got home I visually inspected the wheels, checked the tire pressure and found the passenger rear tire only had 20psi (supposed to have 41psi). None of the lugs were missing, I just didn't think to check the torque. Honestly it was the last thing on my mind, I was thinking something less obvious like a poorly balanced tire or rear differential. I searched this forum for grinding and vibration symptoms and came a cross this post:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=853998
I thought for sure I had the same problem....

[KwlAznKid]

maybe the previous owner over torqued them and after some driving the lugs gave..

[JYohay]

i had this exact thing happen to me.
with tuner lugs, i believe they were either over tqd or under tqd
same thing didnt fall all the way down the car was held up by the tire in the wheel lines.
i was lucky as i was racing around the whole day too.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by Timujin

How many here inspect their lugs after buying a car? Shouldnt need have to.

How many retighten after anybody removes the wheels for any reason? Not that many, but it's necessary. Grinding noises can become dangerous, like ignoring sounds from the wheel bearings.

that's why places like Costco try to reduce liability by saying the lugs must be retorqued.

[MatrixE93]

Originally Posted by KwlAznKid

maybe the previous owner over torqued them and after some driving the lugs gave..

I like this theory the best!

[moonsin]

i had something similar happen to me beginning of the year. Car started vibrating like crazy and kept getting worse. When i got home and started inspecting the wheels i found out two of my lugs were missing from front driver side wheel and 3rd and 4th were just 2 turns away from falling off

I've been paranoid ever since and check my lugs every other week

[buster84]

Originally Posted by MatrixE93

Hi I'm new here! I picked up a 2009 E93 MT last Wednesday with 28K miles, it has H&R springs and the mufflers have been removed. On the drive home I started hearing a terrible grinding noise on light acceleration and coasting. I drove about 30 miles with this symptom. I was on my way back to the dealership the next morning going about 10mph when the rear driver's side wheel fell off The car didn't drop completely, but the rotor was resting on the inside of the wheel. I recovered two of the lug bolts from the street, jacked it up put the wheel back on and had it towed back to the dealer. They've had it since Thursday morning and said they will fix anything that was damaged. Before I left I noticed the mechanic was just re-tapping threads on the hub, so I asked him to please replace any and all parts that are damaged in any way. I asked that after it is fixed it is taken to a BMW dealership for inspection.

My concern is whether or not I caused damage to the differential or other drive train components since the vibration was substantial. The car only came with a 1000-mile 30-day warranty, so I am going to ask them for an extended warranty. Any advice on what else I should make sure is replaced or serviced?

-Dan

So were the lug nuts not tight? Or did they break off?

Also your lucky that the rim broke the cars fall. If the wheel went rolling you could have been injured and the car could have been destroyed by sliding on the ground (depending on your speed) or at the very least you would have needed new body parts, and paint.

[canusaybimmy]

Think Ill check my tires tonight...

[ChipB]

You're lucky that the hub & disc brake rotor landed on the barrel of the wheel and not the street. I'm betting that since the PO had put on after-market springs and removed the exhaust (really - the car has no exhaust? Or do you mean he changed out the exhaust?) he probably also had after-market wheels. When he sold the car he probably put the stockers back on, and either (a) failed to torque them properly, or (b) used the wrong lug bolts. Here's what happens if you use the wrong bolts:

As for possible damage, things to check include:

(a) Threads on the hub - when the last bolt pulled out after the others had backed out it may have buggered the bolts threads in the wheel hub.

(b) The mounting holes in the wheel - if the wheel was vibrating for some period of time the hole may have become out-of-round.

(c) Brake rotor - the weight of the car landing on the edge of the rotor may have caused an indent or crack, and you'll feel vibrations at speed.

[Some Asian Guy]

Originally Posted by Timujin

How many here inspect their lugs after buying a car? Shouldnt need have to.

I inspected the lugs BEFORE I bought my car. I also thoroughly looked over everything else as well. The fact that you heard a problem and continued to drive without stopping to see what was wrong makes me feel little sympathy for you.

[Dark_Knight_335]

How the hell do these things happen? This is up there with running out of gas when you get the low gas warning. SMH...

[mg4734]

Relevant....:

Sorry to hear about this

[Mardio]

Sucks man.

[MatrixE93]

Originally Posted by Some Asian Guy

I inspected the lugs BEFORE I bought my car. I also thoroughly looked over everything else as well. The fact that you heard a problem and continued to drive without stopping to see what was wrong makes me feel little sympathy for you.

Not lookin for your sympathy dude

[MatrixE93]

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

How the hell do these things happen? This is up there with running out of gas when you get the low gas warning. SMH...

I don't think its the same. Did I miss the warning light on the dash that said my wheel was about to fall off?

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by MatrixE93

I don't think its the same. Did I miss the warning light on the dash that said my wheel was about to fall off?

Did you drive 30 miles even though you knew something was instinctually wrong with your wheels? C'mon dude. Be safe.