Driveline grumbling

[325SME]

After a bit of advice please people. Got a bit of a grumble from underneath the car and as its consistant with road speed rather than engine speed I believe is from the driveline. I've ruled out the wheel bearings as the sound comes in at about 30 mph and gets louder til about 75mph then tails off and doesn't increase with cornering and I don't think its the diff as its only from 30mph upwards. What other bearings etc are there on the propshaft/driveshaft/diff that could be the cause? Would that rubber doughnut thingy be responsible? Any advice would be appreciated as the noise is getting irritating now and I haven't got access to another car!!

Cheers
Steve

[Gwynleym10]

Hi steve!

Has your gearbox got enough oil in it? Filler plug (big hex thing) on the side, oil should be level with it.

[325SME]

Hi steve!

Has your gearbox got enough oil in it? Filler plug (big hex thing) on the side, oil should be level with it.

Hi Gwyn!

Might be worth a peek, though there's no sign of any leaks from this or the diff and the sound appears to be coming from behind. I did have a problem on my old 325i where there was an oil leak from the rear sea and the box would heat up but this isn't happening this time around.

Cheers mate!!

[325SME]

Bump....

Anymore ideas?

[Simon13]

hmmm the only thing left from your description to me would be the bearing in the middle of the prop. U have to take both heat sheilds off to get a look at it. Bit of a pain to change too! If u don't have access to ramps

While your there u can cheack the big rubber bush by the gearbox to see if it has split

[325SME]

hmmm the only thing left from your description to me would be the bearing in the middle of the prop. U have to take both heat sheilds off to get a look at it. Bit of a pain to change too! If u don't have access to ramps

While your there u can cheack the big rubber bush by the gearbox to see if it has split

Thanks Simon, I think I'll check that out. Is this an exhaust off job by the way? How much are we looking at for the bearing and the bush? Might be worth doing both anyway....

[Simon13]

the bearing u can get a genuine one from GSF for Ԛ£21.44 on my reciept! i don't know on the rubber dohnut.

Taking the exhaust off is a must! makes life sooooo much easier, i have a 3 piece so it wasn't too bad for me. U have to take the prop off at one end also. U need circlip (sp) pliers to get the centre bearing off the prop mate

[Richy325iTouring]

if its the donut you will feel a knocking noise on at certain revs as it will throwmore
had to change a few now

could be the center bearing on prob or the bearing as the prop enters the diff

i'll fone you sometime tomorrow and see what the guys over the gearbox center suggest it it

[Dan318-is]

prop bearing pal, i would put money on it

[Templ8e30]

:yeahthat:

Never had a centre bearing go on me but have had the diff input bearing break up, made a growling/scraping sound for a few weeks at any speed/load before it got so loud that you could hear it outside the car !.

Can only suggest the centre bearing.

You may need a bearing puller to get the bearing off as some are quite tight.

Cheers,

Iain T

[325SME]

Thanks lads, much appreciated!!!

[Simon13]

when my centre bearing went. I didn't notice any pre warnig noises and it seized and the prop would bang on the heat sheilds when driving which was very noticible!! that was on my 318iS with little torque compared to a 325!! It puzzled me for ages as i was 19 and still very much a novice and took me a week of driving to work it out!

[Colin]

Jesus. Iam 43 and I still know jack s~*t

[325SME]

Ok, gonna have a look at this next weekend but before I order the bearing is there anything else that i will need or might be worth doing while the exhaust is off and I've got access?

Simon13, by the way, do you have a part number on that GSf receipt mate?

Cheers

Steve