[dave330]

Originally Posted by nomiS330d

Who’s torx bits did you use? Did you use a breaker bar or an impact wrench? Did you use heat? Sorry for all the Q’s.

i used Halfords advanced torx bits and a breaker bar ,same as you i would normally use heat on something this stuck but was worried about the carpets, once i got them moving i just kept backing them in and out a little with plenty of penetrating lube.

[Tambohamilton]

Speaking of penetrant... Best one I have ever come across is swarfega 'duck oil'. You know it's good, because they didn't even bother making it smell nice. But seriously, I've had best luck with it, over wd40, gt85, tf2, Wynn's stuff, plus gas....

[nomiS330d]

Originally Posted by dave330

i used Halfords advanced torx bits and a breaker bar ,same as you i would normally use heat on something this stuck but was worried about the carpets, once i got them moving i just kept backing them in and out a little with plenty of penetrating lube.

I have just been to Halfords to replace the bit I snapped the other day. They swapped it with no questions asked. Bloody marvellous tools and service. The replacement isn’t the hollow tip security type the original was so should be stronger. I’m going to have another go at it a bit later today or tomorrow.
The more I drive the car the more I’m convinced (or convincing myself more like) that it’s the prop center bearing gone bad because the noise is absolutely constant regardless of load, on throttle, off throttle or coasting out of gear. I would think the noise would come and go or change depending on load if it was the box or diff.
Positive thinking right?

[Tambohamilton]

I'd agree with that, yeah

[nomiS330d]

Success! Managed to get 7 of the 8 bolts out. The captive nut on the 8th came loose so the bolt was spinning. Angle grinder came to the rescue. I’m sure 7 will be plenty so I’m not going to worry about it.
I watched a guy doing the prop bearing on an e60 on YouTube so assumed e9x’s would be the same but they’re not. E60’s have a bolt holding the 2 halves together whereas e90’s don’t, they just pull apart. Hammer and chisel took care of getting the old bearing off but getting the new one on proved a challenge until I found a tube in the garage just the right size to drive it on using the old bearing as a driver.
I did start the car and get my son to put it in 4th and hold it at 30mph while I went under it to listen. The nose of the diff sounds noisy but so does the prop bearing so I’m not confident I’ve cured it, sounds like a diff rebuild to me
Anyway, I’ve given up for the day and will finish it in the morning, only got to put the heat shields, exhaust and the brace back in so about an hours work.

[nomiS330d]

By the way, I was very surprised how quiet it was without the exhaust on! In fact, sounds pretty good when revved.........got me thinking about removing the rear silencer! The turbo whistle sounds good too!

[dave330]

i have no exhaust boxes at all on my 330d and sounds almost standard when driving normally but does sound nice under load, but not loud.

[Tambohamilton]

Bummer... Fingers crossed it's actually improved when you drive it.

Also interested to see if you do anything to your exhaust. My 3 year old son thinks my car "sounds like a far away tractor"