[Brian86]

It's only been mine for the past 18k miles.

I'm truly stunned at how well built this car is. I had really only planned on it being a beater but the wagon showed me otherwise. It's a brilliant automobile.


Now if I can just find that darned driveline/axle vibration that's been eluding me.

[jsunma]

👍🏼 So...get on with it. Describe the vibration (we all have them) & let's solve that!

[Brian86]

The vibration:

Mild severity, Comes and goes over time at 65+, seems to match axle speed. Both of which suggest wheels/tires, but at the same time I feel it more in the floor than the steering wheel. Perhaps the rearward facing strut rod pushing the vibration directly into the floorpan? The vibration seems pretty consistent on both winter and summer tires and with wheel rotation... but it's difficult to judge

New front driveshaft, half shafts, wheel bearings (Cardone, GSB, Timken respectively), 90k mile salvage yard rear driveshaft with two new flex disks (febi), 80k mile salvage yard transfer case (original had a chewed up yoke due to failed rear ujoint on front driveshaft). Front diff input is tight.

When I get some spare time... that is I'm not fixing the e36 TT car...

Drop the front driveshaft to see if that has an effect.

I have 8x #156 wheels (summer/winter) and I plan to really go to town with a powered wire brush cleaning the mating faces on the wheels and hubs. I'll also get the summer tires rebalanced. 4x of them came on the car and 4x of them were out of a salvage yard. There is quite a bit of aluminum corrosion on the mating faces.

There is a lot of mechanical complexity on the front of the Xdrive. I'm concerned that there is something going on in the embarrassingly tiny front differential, or the carrier bearings for the front halfshafts are worn out. I also keep telling myself that the halfshafts don't have the rotational momentum to create vibration, and differentials shouldn't wear out as long as there they are never run dry.

[e90yyc]

Brian86

As you might know, I’m in the process of trying to pin down a rather elusive vibration in my 328xi. I feel it worse at about 65 as well, but I am also feeling something at around 40. Steering wheel shakes a bit as well but not terribly.

Is it possible the front diff could be causing what you’re feeling? So far we’ve replaced many of the same parts. I’m closer to 200k miles though, and am still on original half-shafts and front/rear driveshafts. New rear D/S giubos and csb.

Like you, I removed my front driveshaft and it made no difference, save for not having to hear the pinion bearing whine. I’ve got a used rack and used front diff ready to be installed. Major job so I’ve been delaying it.

I’ll be staying tuned. Congrats on 300!

[lookalikehuuh]

Congrats! I'm starting to feel left out with a measly 220K on my "daily" that has only gained like 3k in the last couple of years.

If gas wasn't so damn expensive in Cali I would go start driving around just so I could join the club of you guys in the 300k and 400K range now.

[jacbo]

Love to see this. Have you got a parts replaced breakdown from previous owners?

[Efthreeoh]

Just more evidence that the E90 is an well-built and durable automobile capable a long and high-mileage service life.

[tgyberg]

Awesome! Such great cars

[Brian86]

Maintenance history is mostly a mystery. It had CBM oil changes at a dealer up to about 200 (well, 186 specifically) and a few minor fixes (coils, window regulator, ect).

Prior owner had it from about 200 - 280, where it received an alternator and starter and a few other odds and ends. It has the wrong alternator (Valeo instead of Bosch.. or maybe the other way around) so the computer can't talk to it, however it doesn't seem to matter.

I have a strong impression that the car got the 'fix it when it breaks' treatment. I had a catastrophic oil separator system failure... which was disappointing since somebody had the manifold off to change the starter 50k miles prior. CCV is an important 'while your in there' item at even moderate mileage. The only exception is oil which appears to have been synthetic and on-schedule for it's entire life.

As far as I can tell the water pump is original, although I'd have no way of knowing if an indy changed it some time ago. (yes, I have a new one in a box ready to go on) Same deal with the oil filter housing. I doubt any of the crankcase seals have ever been opened up.

The engine and gearbox drive perfectly. Not so much as a lifter tick. There is some unhealthy pump whine from the AC compressor. I'm on M1 0w40 at 10k intervals, and it drinks a quart about every 3,500. Oil pan gasket leaks. Original T-case was doing it's job perfectly as well.

[Brian86]

re: e90yyc

BMW seems to use some really high quality halfshafts. You'll probably never need to change them. Eventually a front boot will split as mine did. I was planning on a re-pack and re-boot... but for $60 each I took a shot with the GSB. I've have them on the rear of my e36 for some time. I'm superficially pleased with the softness and thickness of the boots GSB boots. I did keep the originals. I'm going to be very unhappy if the halfshafts are causing vibration.

My rear wheel bearings also need to be replaced.

I hope it's not the front diff. I can't imagine it causing steering/chassis vibration. I've had some really bad rear ends in cars in years past (a certain mk2 supra comes to mind). They can make some god awful noise but I've never suffered vibration from them. If it does need a diff... I guess that's a good excuse to do the oil pan gasket as well :/

The weather has finally gotten nice. I'd like to really go over the paint and clean the wheels this weekend if nothing else comes up. I saw some real potential in the paint when I washed it last year. It even inspired me to buy new OE exhaust tips.

[Greyfox]

Congrats.

I had a vibration like that. Ended up being tire pressure. Played around with the difference between front and rear for several months. And it seems every time I put new tires I go through it again.

[Mosaud1998]

wow this is the 3rd post I've seen of an E9x having 300k miles+

[Brian86]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

Congrats.

I had a vibration like that. Ended up being tire pressure. Played around with the difference between front and rear for several months. And it seems every time I put new tires I go through it again.

Ya know, it does seem to change with tire pressures. Just yesterday after the oil change I tweaked them down for warmer weather and my ride to work seemed unusually smooth.

The rocker plate has some pretty bonkers recommendations, 32 front, 39 rear in the wagon. Maybe 39 rear with 4 fat guys and two kegs of beer in the back, but 39 seems silly for one passenger. I rarely follow the mfr numbers and find something, usually lower, that rides and handles best.

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by Brian86

Ya know, it does seem to change with tire pressures. Just yesterday after the oil change I tweaked them down for warmer weather and my ride to work seemed unusually smooth.

The rocker plate has some pretty bonkers recommendations, 32 front, 39 rear in the wagon. Maybe 39 rear with 4 fat guys and two kegs of beer in the back, but 39 seems silly for one passenger. I rarely follow the mfr numbers and find something, usually lower, that rides and handles best.

Remember... those pressures are for run flat tires

I think I'm running 36 front and 41 rear at the moment and I need to adjust because coasting down hill i hear gear slap in the front end.

[e90yyc]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

Remember... those pressures are for run flat tires

I think I'm running 36 front and 41 rear at the moment and I need to adjust because coasting down hill i hear gear slap in the front end.

Based on your experience with the E91, any idea what non-RFT pressures for an e90 might be? I haven’t searched the forum yet, but thought I’d bounce that off you first.

[Brian86]

I've been running about 31\34 in mine. That still feels like a little too much in the rear. Go-flat tires, 205\55-16 conti DWS. I can't stand run flats.

Anybody know the F\R axle weights on an e91x? The hatch assembly is really heavy, plus the long roof. I'd imagine it is pretty even, or perhaps slightly rear bias even in 4wd.

Actually bumped them up to the sill plate 32\39 today just to see what happens. Vibration seemed about the same, but it clonked the rear over bumps pretty hard. I think I'll go with 31\31 tomorrow.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by Brian86

I've been running about 31\34 in mine. That still feels like a little too much in the rear. Go-flat tires, 205\55-16 conti DWS. I can't stand run flats.

Anybody know the F\R axle weights on an e91x? The hatch assembly is really heavy, plus the long roof. I'd imagine it is pretty even, or perhaps slightly rear bias even in 4wd.

Actually bumped them up to the sill plate 32\39 today just to see what happens. Vibration seemed about the same, but it clonked the rear over bumps pretty hard. I think I'll go with 31\31 tomorrow.

RWD e91s are officially 49:51 F:R. Never paid any attention to the Xi since I don't own one.

I might hit 50K on my car this summer, LOL. I run it at the "under 100mph" tire pressure settings, with Z speed rated NON runflat tires and am very pleased with the ride quality.

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

Based on your experience with the E91, any idea what non-RFT pressures for an e90 might be? I haven’t searched the forum yet, but thought I’d bounce that off you first.

It all depends on the tires. I was running a square set of General AS05 17x8.5 with 245/45R17 and ran 37.5 front and 42 rear. Got great mileage out them.

Now I'm on DWS06 and still playing around with pressures. But I really haven't done any long distance driving yet. Think I'm going to end up with 38F & 41R.

One trick we use to do is take some silver spray paint and paint a line across the tread and let dry. Then go for a short drive and then look at the wear to see if it is even across the tread or worn more on edges or center. Edges increase air pressure, Center decrease pressure.

If you have an XI then you have to play with the difference between front to rear. As I said, because I've haven't gotten the difference correct, I can hear the front diff or front CVs when going down hill. My car has always done that for some reason if it's not correct.

[BoldenJ]

Congrats, these cars don’t disappoint

[jacbo]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

One trick we use to do is take some silver spray paint and paint a line across the tread and let dry. Then go for a short drive and then look at the wear to see if it is even across the tread or worn more on edges or center. Edges increase air pressure, Center decrease pressure.

thats a great idea, will need to give that a go. im usually only person in the car and i don't have run flats so im sure the recommended pressures are not optimal.

[Brian86]

There is something to the tire pressure thing. At 31/31 it's considerably smoother.

Reinforces the thought that my vibrations are rooted in wheel/tire/axle problems.

[Brian86]

Bringing this back from the dead.

The last of my vibrations are definitely wheel/tire related.

I got around to power sanding the corrosion off the faces on all 8x of my wheels a few weeks ago, and had the summer tires rebalanced. This resulted in a further moderate improvement on the summer tires.

It's pretty cool this weekend so I swapped the snow tires on to experiment and cleaning the faces got the snow tires almost perfectly smooth (except the one with the big bend). This was without rebalancing.

It's like everything else when maintaining cars, doing the basics right. 15 years and 300k miles of heat cycling against rusty cast iron takes it's toll on aluminum.

Still debating what to do with the summer DWS. Conti tires are usually pretty bulletproof but I'm not sure they aren't causing problems. I may have them dismounted and take the wheels to a straightening shop to have them worked over.