[BigDaddyDragon]

Almost 12 hours ago while traveling 55mph on a recently surfaced highway, with the cruise control set, I hear this intermittent, non-rhythmic grinding sound similar to a tire rubbing against a fender guard. I pulled over and looked all around the vehicle thoroughly and found nothing. After pulling back on the road as soon as I'd get to 45mph it would start again. I decided to return home after the 3 time of this happening. I started looking on the web as I have done in the past to point me in the right direction, problem being the more I look to narrow my search the less my problem associated with a solution.

I have no vibration at any time.
I can only hear the sound, it can't be felt. (Got 2 friends to ride to
locate where the sound originates and verify I'm not loosing it).
No steering pull to either side.
Very irregular pattern or any pattern to say.
Swerving does not stop it or make it worse.
It does not occur during turns at all.
Brakes, rotors and pads are normal.
No play on any of the wheels
Also I checked the ebrake lines over the shaft and the bracket is.
enact.

As I said this just started today with no warning. I work offshore so fortunately I have 6 days until I go back but I have to track problem and get parts here within that time. That said I would welcome 1000 suggestions better than paying 1 estimate invoice for something I can do myself.

I have a video but having trouble attaching.

[IllSic_Design]

Check the under panels of the car. When I didn't put on my under engine panel once, the trans panel that it attaches to would start flapping in the wind/making noise starting right at about 40-45mph.

[Fritzer]

It's one of your underpanels. This exact same thing happened to me and I damn near pissed myself.

I was going about 65mph on the Interstate(coincidentally, to a BMW dealership), and I shifted into 6th and accelerated to 70mph. A few seconds after I shifted I started hearing very loud banging and knocking from the transmission tunnel. I immediately slowed down and down shifted, and then sound went away. Got back up to speed, sound back. Did that a couple times trying to figure out wtf was happening. I thought it was my 6th gear rolling around in pieces in my transmission, but I just happened to shift at the right speed that the sound would start.

I had my main underbody panel removed because I was just servicing my car. When I would get to about 70mph, the wind resistance was enough to bend one of the axillary transmission underbody panels low enough to scrap on the groud as I was driving along. Going at highway speeds, it's very loud. Look under your car, I would bet that is exactly what is going on.

[BigDaddyDragon]

I meant to post yesterday but a whirlwind of other crap came up directly after I followed advisement. Thank you IllSic_Design and Frizter! So Friday all day and part of Saturday morning I spent on a creeper under the car looking for and buttoning up whatever I could find. It wasn't until my daughter walked up with my newborn grandson that I pulled myself from under the driver's door and kicked the panel a certain way and I heard it...a loose washer on a panel screw right right, alongside the drive shaft. I was both ashamed and completely relieved after the test drive with no noise...almost relieved until my battery died and left me stranded in an Academy parking lot. Oh well, next problem knock out. Again thanks for the excellent and spot on help!

[Fritzer]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyDragon

I was both ashamed and completely relieved after the test drive with no noise...

I know this feeling well....

Glad you got it fixed, sorry to hear about the battery! What timing!