Very odd problem with my BMW (and it's not the indicators!)

[gerrymoore]

Last few days my car has started 'shaking' very badly after it warms up. The whole car feels 'wrong' and I feel it in my legs rather than the steering. Had cars for 50 years and never had this? I hit a pothole about two weeks ago but can't find anything wrong with wheels or tyres. No play in the suspension that I can find. Car is 435D Xdrive 8 speed auto and it actually feels frightening to drive when it starts with the shakes. Took it to a mechanic friend and he was stumped too. I'm getting the alignment checked later and I've already had all the wheels removed and rebalanced. Tyres are almost new with 7mm treads. The kwik fit guy who is doing the 4 wheel alignment thinks it may be brakes binding when hot?? Car has only done 18K miles. Any (sensible please) suggestions?

 

[mtt.tr]

the infamous bmw shake

Normally bushes

 

[voipio]

How bad was the pothole? Was it bad enough to make your fillings rattle? Seems most likely to be a suspension problem. Does the engine shake on tickover when it feels "wrong"?

 

[gerrymoore]

Shouldn't be bushes at 18K?? Pothole was bad but been over worse ..engine is smooth as silk. Car feels/drives perfect when cold ..shaking starts at around 8 - 10 miles then continues. Don't feel safe to use the car at the moment.......

 

[Munkul]

what tyres have you got on there? Are they the proper ones? Some high end BMWs are super, super fussy about tyres, if you fit non star-marked tyres the TC systems have an absolute hissy fit and will make the car undriveable.

Other mechanical ideas... Perhaps flywheel damper or propshaft doughnut, have these been ruled out?

 

[mtt.tr]

Rim damaged?

 

[Al Strachan]

my money is on the prop doughnut as suggested.

 

[gerrymoore]

Grateful for the replies.....
First the tyres... I took off the runflats and fitted a set of Japanese Falken tyres - they are 225 19 front and 255 19 rear ..pressures are spot on and they have been on for about 2000 miles without a problem. The car is XDrive with a transfer box so where would the doughnuts be ...presume on the two rear axles (used to have rubber ones on my Lotus Elan many years ago!!) Would they only start to go 'wrong' when hot? I'll get them looked at this afternoon when it's on the ramp.

As I said there is a very slight judder in the steering but the 'shake' is felt through my bum and legs mainly. My mechanic friend said it was front end but I think it's rear end ... never felt anything like it before?

 

[fixedfixer]

We hit a pot hole earlier this year, burst tyre. Visual no damage to rim - but on tyre balancing machine you can see the wheel rim is now oval! Big £’s for new wheel and tyre. Could be the rim is damaged.

 

[Rannsachair]

Does touching the brakes have an impact on the vibration?

 

[Munkul]

I fear for your transfer box and those tyres

435d xdrive judder

435d xdrive judder

f30.bimmerpost.com

I missed the bit about it being an xdrive, however the rear prop doughnut should be on the back of the gearbox. Not sure if they fit a front one. The half shafts will be solid.

My guess is that it's the tyres being part worn causing xdrive confusion. Best case you change the tyres and it sorts it. Worst case - the damage has already been done to the xdrive transfer box. It's an electronic clutch setup, not a regular differential.

I HIGHLY doubt it's anything wrong with the wheels themselves now. Unless somehow water is in the tyres (improbable, but not unheard of - and can cause no end of hard-to-pin-down problems)

Here's the basis for my guess:
- xdrive 4 series with known issues with transfer boxes and also certain tyres
- non star marked tyres with a small amount of wear on them
- staggered width tyres (this is part reason for star marking - they must have the correct circumference, weight and wear rate - all to avoid transmission wind up and subsequent xdrive confusion)

 

[Memmeddu]

Something similar with mine but it's the friction disc which slips and try to kill the engine at low RPMs .
Other explanation in my case is that I would have to expect to see a connecting rod flying out the engine

 

[Nomad]

I've had front bushes go on a bmw (very common) - it felt fine until it got up to motorway speed then it tried to shake the car apart. Scary.
Is it only when you're moving? My last problem was a misfire - obvious even when stationary. Maybe get the engine codes read (I got a £20 "OBD2" code reader online and it's been very useful)?

Sounds can be deceiving. Not BMW but I stopped on a motorway many years ago to investigate a noise that sounded like it was coming from the back wheel - eventually worked out it was the windscreen wipers hitting the roof pillar nothing to do with the wheels !

 

[jenki]

Honda's have a problem with their rear diffs on CRV's which shows as a shudder usually when reversing the solution is an oil change and flush for the rear diff could it be anything similar for your car? It would be about right for the diff/diffs getting hot after 10 miles or so.

 

[500e]

The is it back or front bit is a nightmare!
Not the same but had it on a Transit years ago About 4 miles it started to growl & vib from back we jacked up & ran it no noise ran down road with 2 fitters in back both said Dif striped no fault found, put new bearings in any how, great no noise for 4 miles it's back we then drove it with different people in back DIF they say, all stand round must be prop shaft then transmitting noise 3 shaft UJs later still the same now no one is happy, take to our local Gear box guys foreman climbed in has a listen says DIF we point out it is rebuilt new bearings etc now we have 6 people looking fraught + substantial cost the apprentice was standing by it when it was going to be parked & said there is a squeak from front wheel jacked up front NS wheel bearing was Shot to hell.
No wheel shake steering felt ok no hot smell no real noise when spun by hand but transmitted / echoed through vehicle. Every one

 

[p0689109]

Hate to say it but have you checked the wheel nuts are torqued to the correct torque!

 

[gerrymoore]

Ok guys...I had Falken tyres on my 320D no problems but it wasn't Xdrive. They are all showing 7mm of tread so should be same circumference all round. I use the Carly app and have checked and no faults on transmission...tyre pressures are spot on and wheel nuts torqued to spec.

I don't drive like an idiot (IAM member too) but, having had the car for nearly two years, I have put the gearbox into 'sports' mode a few times in the last few weeks...it could be that and the tyres?? The brakes are fine and make no difference once it's shaking......no judder or other problems. This only happens when the car is warmed up...I've just been into town and back around 7 miles and no problems at all.....

Although I dislike the ride of runflats I certainly don't want to risk gearbox or transfer box problems. Might look in to some Goodyears or go back to Bridgestones. Just want the car right as planning a long trip to Italy (when we can) and don't fancy breaking down 1000's of miles from home!

I'll see what the alignment does this afternoon......

 

[RonMig]

The only new car I've had, had to have a wheel replaced because the dealer didn't tighten them properly after the first service...
= elongated holes & wrecked...
And they were steel, not alloy...

 

[zx9]

Hitting the pot hole makes me think a snapped spring, they can go dramatically and take out the tyre or they can snap on the very top coil and be very hard to detect.
I don't see how noise or vibration from a snapped spring would be mileage or temperature dependent though so put that one down to thinking out aloud, it will be interesting to hear what it turns out to be.

 

[Al Strachan]

i have an (f31) 335d - pretty much the same car, and i frequent the FB groups etc.

From a purely observational stance, you never see any issues with the x drive, and lots of people run mixed tyres, non RFT, different staggered wheel sets etc without issue. That not saying it's not a serious transfer box problem or similar, but i'm guessing a simpler fix is more likely.

its just finding it!

Al