Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: E46 humming noise on acceleration

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    Estonia
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    1999 E46

    Cool E46 humming noise on acceleration

    hello


    My car is making humming noise from rear when pressing gas. The sound gets louder as speed goes up. As soon as i release the gas pedal and car is just cruising the humming sound stops immediately. This sound reminds me worn bearing or smt similar. I was suspecting wheel bearing but in that case it should hum all the time not only when gas is pressed. So next logical place would be differential. Is there any bearings in differential or any other bearing thats connected with power output?

  2. #2
    Pelican Parts's Avatar
    Pelican Parts is offline Senior Member Supporting Vendor
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Harbor City, CA
    Posts
    4,242
    My Cars
    '02 E39 Touring
    Pull the car's code; this will give you a definitive place to start looking/troubleshooting. Best of luck!
    Your Trusted Source For DIY and Parts
    FREE SHIPPING over $99 click here
    BMW Parts | DIY Tech Articles | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Promos
    888.280.7799 | 6am - 5pm PST



  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Lawrence Kansas
    Posts
    1,236
    My Cars
    2004 325XI/2008 GL320
    I would suspect the pinion bearing in the differential, or more probable is a bad u joint.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Arlington, VA
    Posts
    9,934
    My Cars
    2018 BMW M240i
    Driveshaft related.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Chicagoland area
    Posts
    4,372
    My Cars
    EXOTICS
    Check rear differential fluid level, inspect for leaks.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Norwich, Connecticut.
    Posts
    486
    My Cars
    E46 wag. E36 convertible
    Is there a central, or mid-way, drive shaft differential on the series 3? Drive shaft issues, 'Germans' use something other than 'American universal joints' that more resemble cv joints...but are not. My A6 had dried out grease spun out to the sides from over the 14 years...after repacking, all was well...60k ago.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Chicagoland area
    Posts
    4,372
    My Cars
    EXOTICS
    Flex joint aka a Guibo,
    Center mount aka Center Support Bearing.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Lawrence Kansas
    Posts
    1,236
    My Cars
    2004 325XI/2008 GL320
    The driveshaft is being loaded in one direction when the throttle is applied and then unloaded when coasting.

    When a U-joint in one of these cars is bad, it will cause the shaft to vibrate when coasting and go away when the throttle is reapplied. Could be flex disc as well, but its definitely in the driveshaft.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    Estonia
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    1999 E46
    Quote Originally Posted by MIKYZZ4 View Post
    Check rear differential fluid level, inspect for leaks.
    No leaks, differential is clean

    Quote Originally Posted by MIKYZZ4 View Post
    Flex joint aka a Guibo,
    Center mount aka Center Support Bearing.
    Both swapped out last week, no changes
    Also had my wheels balanced + alligned


    Saw the price of pinion bearing and its like 3x more expensive than new used diff, today i am trying to go underneath the car and maybe record the drive shaft & differential for more information and then make up my mind if i should buy a new differential or maybe a rear part of drive shaft because the vibration/sound/whine/clunks are really coming from the area where diff meets drive shaft.

    Daaarn i cannot wait to solve the problem, its really the last thing on my bimmer needs to be fixed, finally :x:x:x
    Last edited by gurmaan9; 07-19-2017 at 02:21 AM.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    42 deg lat -70 deg long
    Posts
    43
    My Cars
    Yes, please.
    Maybe the rear wheel bearings or the rear differential/component in the differential.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    Estonia
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    1999 E46
    Everyone whose bet was drive shaft are correct.

    Rear U-joint is very loose, gonna buy new one and update this thread soon

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Lawrence Kansas
    Posts
    1,236
    My Cars
    2004 325XI/2008 GL320
    Quote Originally Posted by gurmaan9 View Post
    Everyone whose bet was drive shaft are correct.

    Rear U-joint is very loose, gonna buy new one and update this thread soon

    I will gladly take a bow. Glad you got it pinpointed.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    Estonia
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    1999 E46
    Yep, the car is super, SUPER quiet now
    Cannot tell if im driving 50mph or 110mph, so quiet and smooth

Similar Threads

  1. Humming noise on 99 e46 323i
    By tmanderson116 in forum General BMW Mechanical Help sponsored by RM European Auto Parts
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 03-06-2008, 09:33 PM
  2. engine sometimes makes a weird noise on acceleration
    By spiv in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 08-23-2007, 07:36 PM
  3. Brief whisle noise on acceleration
    By spaghettininja in forum 1996 - 2003 (E39)
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 03-14-2007, 10:24 AM
  4. Humming Noise on Startup / Airbag Light
    By LAWLence in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 02-05-2007, 11:37 PM
  5. Squeaking noises on acceleration
    By phatchink in forum 1996 - 2002 Z3 (E36/7, E36/8)
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 10-21-2006, 05:14 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •