[ksteryous]

Just got my car (2007 328i) back from the dealer today where I had taken it to get it fixed. There is a very noticeable clunk noise that occurs when I shift to reverse. It happens every time whether I'm shifting from Park or whether I'm in Drive, level ground, unlevel ground, cold car, or warm car. Every time I shift to reverse.

After looking at it, they said it was operating properly, and gave me an explanation of the transmission being under "load" as though I were parked on a hill for instance. I then reiterated that it happens every time whether the car is under "load" or not. And I also asked why I didn't hear it on any of the other BMW's that I've driven, and I just got a blank stare.

Any ideas out there what it could be? This is not just a faint click when shifting, but an obvious clunk. Please don't tell me this is normal.

Thanks.

[teemuturunen]

rear differential or drive shaft center bearing

[e90-ZeRo]

How come your thread gets answers and mine doesn't!? haha

[ksteryous]

Originally Posted by TyPe-ZeRo

How come your thread gets answers and mine doesn't!? haha

Funny, I did a search before posting and didn't come up with anything, but now I found your thread. Sounds like we have the exact same problem. Have you taken yours in yet?

[lonestar22]

arent u supposed to set the ebrake before letting off the brake on a hill in an automatic to keep the strain off the transmission? otherwise leading to a clunk when shifting out of gear?

[WS6FirebirdTA00]

I know this is an old post, but I had the same issue and they replaced the rear end.

[k20a216]

Let's revive this thread.
I'm having the same problem on my 08 335i.
WS6Firebird: did it happen every time you put the car into reverse?

[GMWNashville]

theres an SIB to cover some of the cars...others like the 335's which have a different driveshaft its usually the rear diff itself...

[xxp0loxx]

Originally Posted by volkswackin

theres an SIB to cover some of the cars...others like the 335's which have a different driveshaft its usually the rear diff itself...

would you mind linking said SIB?

[06325sportsedan]

this really sounds like it could be a cheaper fix than everyone is saying it could be a differential but i would lean more towards a bad u-joint in the driveshaft

[TiAg335i]

This is normal.

[Jaylyons1]

Another revival for this one. I searched around and a lot of people say a clunk is normal when shifting into reverse or drive with the auto.

I have the 6 speed 07 328i. I wouldn't really call it a clunk. More like a 'tink' if that makes sense. It doesn't happen all the time, but it will make this sound not only when shifting and driving easy, but staying in the same gear and slowly accelerating and letting it slow back down. One 'think' when it catches for decelerating and one for accelerating.

I just wanted to check and make sure this is normal for the 328i. I had a 335i that was an auto and didn't really notice this sound. I also had an 08 M3 that was a 6 speed, but I figured since it was another animal, maybe it was different. Any thoughts?

[60av8tor]

Doesn't help your issue any, but my 08 is silent - while shifting from park to reverse, while driving, etc - not a single noise...

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by Jaylyons1

Another revival for this one. I searched around and a lot of people say a clunk is normal when shifting into reverse or drive with the auto.

I have the 6 speed 07 328i. I wouldn't really call it a clunk. More like a 'tink' if that makes sense. It doesn't happen all the time, but it will make this sound not only when shifting and driving easy, but staying in the same gear and slowly accelerating and letting it slow back down. One 'think' when it catches for decelerating and one for accelerating.

I just wanted to check and make sure this is normal for the 328i. I had a 335i that was an auto and didn't really notice this sound. I also had an 08 M3 that was a 6 speed, but I figured since it was another animal, maybe it was different. Any thoughts?

My car has this same problem. I don’t yet have an answer for it. I've had it for the last 35,000 miles or so (I'm over 158,000 total miles). From in the car it sounds like the diff and I can sometimes feel it in the shift lever. It's gotten a bit worse over time, but not terrible. I've investigated it as much as I can. I have a lift so I can easily get under the car to check it out. I'm pretty sure it is the drive shaft. Most 3-series driveshafts have a splined slip joint to allow for removal of the driveshaft with the center bearing intact. The slip-joint is locked in place with a collar nut once the driveshaft is fitted between the trans and diff and center bearing remounted to the chassis. My car sounds like the slip-joint is loose (I’m thinking the nut is loose) and the splines are banging on each other.

I haven't taken the time to fully investigate my theory because to gain full access to the drive shaft you have to remove the exhaust and heat shields. I've moved the heat shields fore and aft to get better access to the drive shaft and work around the exhaust, but it is still not as good as exposing the whole thing. I was hoping the heat shields could be removed without dropping the exhaust, but they can’t. I figure if it is something really bad it would have broken by now or gotten way much worse. Maybe I’ll drop the exhaust this weekend (I’m changing trans and diff oils) and check it out further and report back.

[Jaylyons1]

Originally Posted by ENINTY

My car has this same problem. I don’t yet have an answer for it. I've had it for the last 35,000 miles or so (I'm over 158,000 total miles). From in the car it sounds like the diff and I can sometimes feel it in the shift lever. It's gotten a bit worse over time, but not terrible. I've investigated it as much as I can. I have a lift so I can easily get under the car to check it out. I'm pretty sure it is the drive shaft. Most 3-series driveshafts have a splined slip joint to allow for removal of the driveshaft with the center bearing intact. The slip-joint is locked in place with a collar nut once the driveshaft is fitted between the trans and diff and center bearing remounted to the chassis. My car sounds like the slip-joint is loose (I’m thinking the nut is loose) and the splines are banging on each other.

I haven't taken the time to fully investigate my theory because to gain full access to the drive shaft you have to remove the exhaust and heat shields. I've moved the heat shields fore and aft to get better access to the drive shaft and work around the exhaust, but it is still not as good as exposing the whole thing. I was hoping the heat shields could be removed without dropping the exhaust, but they can’t. I figure if it is something really bad it would have broken by now or gotten way much worse. Maybe I’ll drop the exhaust this weekend (I’m changing trans and diff oils) and check it out further and report back.

Awesome, look forward to hearing what you find!

[e90pilot]

I've had a similar problem. I have a manual but mine was driveshaft related. The dealer thought I needed a new one but it turns out the splines that go into the diff just needed to be re-packed with grease. The clunk or "tink" you hear could be the drivetrain taking up the slop between the splines.

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by e90pilot

I've had a similar problem. I have a manual but mine was driveshaft related. The dealer thought I needed a new one but it turns out the splines that go into the diff just needed to be re-packed with grease. The clunk or "tink" you hear could be the drivetrain taking up the slop between the splines.

So your post got me thinking that there are no "splines" that go into the differential. So I looked at the parts schematic on RealOEM to make sure what was what. Not sure why I didn't think to do this before, so thanks.

Anyway, there are no splines that are in the diff, that are servicable at least. The E90 driveshaft is a bit different then what I expected (no lock nut on the shaft). So the rear section of the driveshaft has splines that fit through the center bearing and into the front section of the driveshaft. I suspect that what the dealer did was lube those splines. Seems like an easy thing to try, so I will do this service and report back. Probably won't be this weekend though.

Thanks for info!

[e90pilot]

Interesting. Thanks for the correction.

[bhoang]

revive again? anyone ever found out what it was ??

my 08 328i also "clunks" when shifting into reverse and "clunks" when i take off in drive.

automatic

[DUI Elite]

Originally Posted by Jaylyons1

Another revival for this one. I searched around and a lot of people say a clunk is normal when shifting into reverse or drive with the auto.

I have the 6 speed 07 328i. I wouldn't really call it a clunk. More like a 'tink' if that makes sense. It doesn't happen all the time, but it will make this sound not only when shifting and driving easy, but staying in the same gear and slowly accelerating and letting it slow back down. One 'think' when it catches for decelerating and one for accelerating.

I just wanted to check and make sure this is normal for the 328i. I had a 335i that was an auto and didn't really notice this sound. I also had an 08 M3 that was a 6 speed, but I figured since it was another animal, maybe it was different. Any thoughts?

Ahhh! Omg this is the exact description of the noise i hear too!

06 325i 77k miles. Its driving me nuts. I had the seal for one of the sensors on the trans replaced at 50k miles but i dont think its the trans. It almost sounds like mounts or the diff. I've been sound free until recently.

Im trying to figure out if its normal. Might have my indy take a look

[DUI Elite]

Those that resolved the problem, what should I have my indy shop take a look at / possibly "repack with grease"

[e90pilot]

Center support bearing. I think that's what they call it.