[hugo_w]

Hi!

I recently bought a 325i e90 manuall with 300k km (186k miles) on it (RWD). It's in mosly good condition, or well; quite good condition for the amount of distance it has been driven.

Upon first test driving it along with the previous owner before purchase I noticed a small amount of vibration, I only drove the car up to about 60 kph/35 mph when testing it. All I could think about at the time was that perhaps there was some bad balance in the wheels which were giving the vibrations and I didn't think much more of it at the time.

On my journey home I noticed that the vibrations were quite bad at highway speeds, which weren't too werid since wheel balance issues often get worse at highway speeds. What I noticed next was that the vibrations only came when I applied throttle. And the more load; the more vibrations.

A few days later I went over to a friends garage to investigate under the car to see if there was any vissual evidence as to where the vibrations could be coming from. We noticed that the driveshafts where in really bad condition, where the driveshaft connects to the differential it was not as stiff as it should be. There was quite a lot of play side to side. I bought new driveshafts and had them replaced with good quality branded once, both sides. Took it for a test drive after swapping to new once, and the vibrations were still there...

I need some guidance as to where to look now.

The vibrations come at 40 kph/25 mph, then it becomes less until about 80 kph/50 mph, and is as most around 120 kph/75 mph (any gear as well). When I let go off the throttle at highway speeds, so just coasting, there is a very tiny bit of vibrations left. If I put the gear in neutral; all vibrations go away. The vibrations feel like coming from the rear end/middle of the car.

Any clues as to what it might be? Perhaps something that is quite usual with this platform? Anything that can help me point to the right direction is helpful, thanks! :-)

(BMW 325i N52B25 manuall RWD 2006)

[Rob21]

Since it souns like you have done the half shafts i would check the guibo for cracking and dry rot and also the center support bearing for play.