E90 BMW Vibration

[antonmnster]

Car is a 2007 335, rolling up on 198,000 miles. Been trying to chase down this vibration for quite a while. It seems to be a couple times faster than the wheel speed, sounds and feels almost like an aircraft prop. You can sort of notice it accelerating around 27-30 mph and really notice it 65-70 mph. It seems to lessen the faster you go, which seems odd.

A year and a half ago when the trans was out to replace the rear main seal, I looked at the driveshaft. It seemed good - tight u joints, solid rubber around the support bearing. Nothing obvious. This year I ended up replacing both CV shafts, one when I mauled it replacing a wheel bearing and the other just for yucks.

I'd like to run this car down to Kentucky over New Year's but I'd be happiest if I could figure out this annoying problem.

Should I throw a driveshaft at it? Maybe even a junkyard part?

 

[FordBroncoVWJeta]

Have you checked for a bad hub?

 

[Lolvoguy]

At that mileage, I would have thrown a new/rebuilt shaft on there REGARDLESS of how the ujoints "seemed".
Both of my e30's had replacement shafts, center bearings and guibo's installed around 150k miles.

All vibrations stopped.

 

[d00df00d]

Yeah, I'm on board with the new/rebuilt driveshaft idea.

 

[Egg_Head]

I assume this is an X series, did you use BMW CV components?

 

[Audios]

Check the wheels balance for bent wheels, super common with the run flats. There was also a big recall/TSB with the front driveshaft U joints seizing up, so may want to start there if its an xi, beofre going after the big money rear shaft for $1500 plus labor. Front shaft lits for about 1050, but there should be cheaper aftermarket options from GKN.

 

[MCompact]

Check the guibo or center bearing first, then the driveshaft.

 

[antonmnster]

The center bearing and guibo looked fine when the trans was out 18 months ago. It's RWD (no need for AWD in Minnesota, c'mon!)

The hubs seem ok. Same vibration with summer tires and snow tires, and each has been replaced a few times.

I'm thinking driveshaft since it's about the only thing left.

 

[MCompact]

Sometimes a driveshaft throws a balancing weight- and if you are lucky you might find in on one of the heat shields or underbody panels. A long shot, but it has happened.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Driveshaft. A lot of high mileage BMW's do pretty much the same thing. I haven't seen one totally fail. Need a new rear driveshaft assembly. I recommend
http://www.driveshaftspecialist.com/Import html/BMW.html

 

[FordBroncoVWJeta]

Originally Posted by antonmnster

The hubs seem ok. Same vibration with summer tires and snow tires, and each has been replaced a few times.

Hubs will vibrate no matter what shape the tire is in. They are easy to diagnose it very easily.

 

[Trav]

Take it to a drive shaft shop if you have one nearby. They can install new joints and re-balance the whole assy. The one I use charges me $100 to balance, I do my own joints.