E30 Zone

Hi All,

Need some diagnostic input.

Driving home today and I got a sudden noise almost a rattle that got progressively worse. Not a grinding noise almost like something resting against the prop.

a. Its coming from the centre of the car (I think).
b. Does not rattle when stationary
c. Not the engine stills revs ok
d. Car still drives, accelerates as normal except noisily
e. constant rattle when driving
f. I got under the car in the road and the prop still felt solid
g. Exhaust appears solid.

It was sudden, would a worn prop bearing give some level of wheel wobble as thats the only other thing I have found recently?

Really clueless as to where to go with this and work commitments may mean that I have to garage the car and get something normal.


Any ideas pointers things to check would be great.

Cheers

Gareth

I have just changed my prop bearing and guibo today because of a similar intermittent fault.

Mine was a farely powerful vibration that was too fast to be wheel balance which came and went at random at anything above 40, there was no noise with it until Monday when there was a sudden high pitch howl then a bang and the sound of things bouncing off the heat shield.

The old bearing seams ok, slight bit of play but still smooth... a test to 'some' mph shows it's fixed.


I would only fit genuine parts here as it's not the nicest job I’ve ever done and they come with a 2 year warrantee... They do cost over £100 the pair though.

mine would knock against the transmission tunnel on acceleration when the centre bearing went. cheap part to replace and easy enough to fit if it is.

Are the rear beam bushes on good condition.

I've got the same sort of symptoms on the tourer at the moment.
The prop is rubbing against the tank due to fooked beam bushes.

HTH

GBE30 wrote:Hi All,

a. Its coming from the centre of the car (I think).
c. Not the engine stills revs ok
d. Car still drives, accelerates as normal except noisily
e. constant rattle when driving
g. Exhaust appears solid.

I'm getting these on my touring too Gareth.

I got a mechanic to put it on a ramp as a quick favour to check it. He says is was the Cat inside rattling.

Its annoying I know. I've knocked around underneath as much as I can, tapping bits, no clue either myself.

Thanks for the input guys, its hard to see what it could be, the car drives smoothly, to me surely if the prop bearing was shot I would feel it, no clonking just a rattle of sorts.

I will ring a mate tomorrow and see if he can take a look at it in his workshop, I feel like a muppet when I dont have a car, almost like I am missing a body part!!!!!!

Fortunately I can still get to work ok, due to car sharing but its still pants! Walk to the shops???? pwah ok then.....