[Brett_Musberger]

Hello/ first time poster here

2011 328i xdrive automatic

Noise on acceleration that is in time with speed- NOT engine rpm

Louder when it’s cold

Happens mostly 20-40 mph

Heard in drive or coasting in neutral

No change when turning left or right

Sounds like an old- school v- belt and sheave squeal

Don’t hear or feel any grinding in pedal or steering wheel or auto shifter

Almost sounds like metal dragging on rotor? Pads are healthy

Any ideas?

Thanks for reading

[Brian86]

Yikes, that's an unusual sound.

Is there oil in you transfer case and differentials?

[dmatre]

What tires and what condition? I've had tires sound exactly like a bad wheel bearing or bad diff.

[Brett_Musberger]

Bought car recently- has General tires in it- healthy tread. Sounds metallic to me

[Brett_Musberger]

Diagnosed today. Center support bearing for driveshaft. 893 bucks- yikes

[lookalikehuuh]

Originally Posted by Brett_Musberger

Diagnosed today. Center support bearing for driveshaft. 893 bucks- yikes

$893 F that! time to get yourself some tools and DIY for like $100

[Brett_Musberger]

Any DIY out there for this repair?

[TunafishE93]

Passenger yelling?

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by Brett_Musberger

Any DIY out there for this repair?

https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tec..._Replacing.htm

It requires removal of the exhaust. It's also apparently challenging to properly remove and install the bearing on the driveshaft. Figure 10 disturbs me. "To install the new bearing, tap it on using a hammer, this method usually works fine." This goes against everything I learned about bearings.

Since you have to remove the driveshaft, you might as well replace the flex disc (Giubo) while you're in there.

I don't have that same noise, but one of my plastic damper rings disintegrated and I'm getting a clunk when changing directions. I bought a new bearing and the damper ring to replace along with bolts and gaskets for the exhaust, but COVID temporarily suspended the access I had to a lift. Without a lift I'm not doing it and just waiting. If it needed to be done now, I'd rather pay an independent mechanic to replace it since it's no fun to drop the exhaust and driveshaft with the car on jack stands.

[Brett_Musberger]

Thanks for the link. Having installed literally hundreds of bearings- I’m alarmed that this would be the technique listed. A proper installation tool can be quickly fabricated for this purpose or a bearing install kit with dead blow hammer.

I watched a video on YouTube that shows a removal without dropping the exhaust. This would be my preferred execution. The bearing is $50 or so online- so considering tackling this myself. Still in the fence. If I DIY- I’ll post learnings from the endeavor

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by Brett_Musberger

Thanks for the link. Having installed literally hundreds of bearings- I’m alarmed that this would be the technique listed. A proper installation tool can be quickly fabricated for this purpose or a bearing install kit with dead blow hammer.

I watched a video on YouTube that shows a removal without dropping the exhaust. This would be my preferred execution. The bearing is $50 or so online- so considering tackling this myself. Still in the fence. If I DIY- I’ll post learnings from the endeavor

Yeah, if I had a pipe or socket that might work to tap the center race onto the shaft.

Do you have a link to the video? I don't see how you could remove the center bearing without removing the exhaust and heat shield. I don't remember any other way to access it as the exhaust is completely blocking it.

[Brett_Musberger]

YouTube video link above

If time allows- please review and let me know if this is feasible

Thanks

[PhaseP]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tec..._Replacing.htm

It requires removal of the exhaust. It's also apparently challenging to properly remove and install the bearing on the driveshaft. Figure 10 disturbs me. "To install the new bearing, tap it on using a hammer, this method usually works fine." This goes against everything I learned about bearings.

In the picture they show tapping on the inner race with hammer. That should be fine. Tapping on the outer race would likely dent the race surfaces, which would cause early failure.

[PhaseP]

Scratch what I wrote above. Looking at that bearing pictures again, that is the outer race, not inner race being strike.

[Brett_Musberger]

Agree. Inner race is under the boot. Picture is misleading

[Brian86]

www.car-part.com

Salvage yards are bursting at the seams with e9x. So many look like they were driven into the yard.

I picked up an entire driveshaft for $60 off a 100k mile car.

No salvage yard is going to separate the center bearing. They will probably leave the flex disks on as well. Just request that they not pull the two half's apart to maintain the assembly balance.