[GearHead335i]

Hey guys, I've been trying to pin point the vibration on my e90. It started when I noticed a significant vibration on the highway that felt like it was getting worse as I drove longer. Got new front tires, mounted and balanced and made sure everything was tight, it was better but not fixed. I did a brake job and noticed when I spun the right passenger side rotor backwards it had a faint squeaking or screeching sound. Buddy told me it hold most likely be the wheel bearing bc of highway vibrations too. Fast forward 2 weeks, the screeching stopped but vibration still there.

So This week I have noticed when I am taking off from a start if I hit the gas every so slightly, it has a signisficant vibration that ends at about 10mph. If I take off more abruptly it isn't as noticable. Also does the same in reverse if gas is hardly pressed from a stop.

My question is, does this all tie in together? The low speed vibration and the highway rhythmic vibration? Could it be my center support bushing or gumbo? Vibration is coming from the floor more than the wheel or seat.

Also it does seem to even out and the smoothest highway speed is at 83mph and when I saw rhythmic it is a whoom, whoom, whoom, noise with about a 2 second interval. Any advice would help!

[GearHead335i]

No one?

[Achappell8]

Does the car shudder at all under acceleration?

[GearHead335i]

No not really

[frenchi]

Check the joints on the front driveshaft...next will be cv joints and last front diff. Could be bearings but the noise will change on speed and left right directions.

[GearHead335i]

It does actually vibrate a bit more on right and left directions, your referring to wheel bearings? Or center support bearing?

[frenchi]

I mean wheel bearings will change pitch on left right .....center bearing on e90 is not common at all. Cv joints,thrust arms,front diff...

[GearHead335i]

It's been raining the past 2 days and for whatever reason the highway wobble is increasingly worse in the wet weather. Any input?

[GearHead335i]

Looking like it was the front axles, having them installed this weekend, i'll let you guys know how it goes.

[Achappell8]

Thanks for the update! Excited to hear if this resolves your issue

[HydroStream6]

I have a similar vibration and a slight clunk when taking off from a stop sometimes. I'm replacing the tension rod bushings with urethane ones. I'll let you know if it solves the issue.

[ProAktion]

I have a vibration as well but it is only between speeds of 35 and 55 mph. No matter what gear I'm in. BMW dealer looking at it tomorrow. 2008 335i sedan. 187xxx miles. I'll update as well. Tires are new. Cannot feel it in the steering wheel.

[ProAktion]

Originally Posted by ProAktion

I have a vibration as well but it is only between speeds of 35 and 55 mph. No matter what gear I'm in. BMW dealer looking at it tomorrow. 2008 335i sedan. 187xxx miles. I'll update as well. Tires are new. Cannot feel it in the steering wheel.

Well the dealer was unsure of the issue. Recommendation was to keep driving and see if it gets worse rather than start throwing parts and labor in it.

[GearHead335i]

Originally Posted by ProAktion

Well the dealer was unsure of the issue. Recommendation was to keep driving and see if it gets worse rather than start throwing parts and labor in it.

How bad is the vibration? And I know what you mean how you car feel it in the steering wheel but where would you say it's most persistent
? The seat? The Rear half of the car? The armrest or shifter? Does it get worse as you drive longer?


Picking up car at 5pm tonight! Had them do a secondary cat delete too!

[ProAktion]

Most persistent in the floor. I'm thinking the drive shaft myself. Nothing in the steering wheel. It is a soft vibration right from start up but get more pronounced as I drive. What is the dealer doing to yours?

[GearHead335i]

I don't use the stealership lol. My mechanic installed the two front axles and deleted the secondary Cats. Axles seem to have definitely help the problem but didn't completely fix it. I'm thinking a combination of drive shaft flex disc (guibo) and control arms.

So when you say gets more pronounced as you drive you mean the longer you drive right?

[ProAktion]

Originally Posted by Quinnhogue7

I don't use the stealership lol. My mechanic installed the two front axles and deleted the secondary Cats. Axles seem to have definitely help the problem but didn't completely fix it. I'm thinking a combination of drive shaft flex disc (guibo) and control arms.

So when you say gets more pronounced as you drive you mean the longer you drive right?

Correct.

[GearHead335i]

Axles certainly helped and will help the problem. Unfortunately 3-5 miles down the road the inner boot for the passenger side ripped and grease went everywhere causing the car to smoke profusely. A lot of people say to get the OEM Boots if you do end up getting aftermarket axles. Grabbing new boot tomorrow. DONT LOWER AN XI TOO MUCH!

[Deep_Blue]

What size tires? Staggered? If your front and rear tire circumferences are too different it can mess up your front transfer case. Calculate your diameter to double check.

[anjuna]

check your front and rear driveshaft universal joints.

This can be done pretty quickly.

If you have a bad U joint, it will vibrate at speed, squeak at low speed, and exhibit a lot of problems you have listed.

I personally had this issue on a X3 AWD. Rear driveshaft u joint was almost seized and hummed at highway speeds and squeaked at low speeds.

[GearHead335i]

Yeah bc the axles helped but still have some driveshaft play/vibration. Found out that my right front wheel was/is bent pretty bad too so these issues 1 on top of another is making "operation stop vibration" quite difficult.