Hey guys, just picked up a 2008 328XI coupe with a 6MT. Car has 80k miles. After swimming through various forum posts and reddit posts and being unconvinced on a diagnostic for my problem I've turned to asking the experts in the community.
From being immobile at a stop sign or traffic light, when I initiate a right turn a rubbing / occasional clunk noise may be heard which seems to be coming from the right front side. When turning left I faintly hear the noise and I still believe it to be coming from the right front side. If I am already rolling into the turn and instead stay in neutral, no noises are present. The noise is consistent with every tire rotation, so one rotation will act as if the tire "rubs" once on an invisible item. Most of the time the sound is just that, an annoying "rub", but occasionally it will clunk once through the turn.
From what I gather this is either CV joint (which I'm not sure should make noise or not through neutral, but I believe it should still make noise), Transfer case oil or Diff oils.
I am planning to change the transfer case oil and both diff. oils as I do not have any service record of them being changed previously.
On a severity sound scale I'd say it's maybe a 1-2, just there enough to be felt but not making any substantial crashing noises to where I'm thinking the transfer case is completely shot.
Tires shouldn't be rubbing, shocks are nearing end of life in front, brakes in front are about 6 months old. In all cases the noises go away when I go around a corner in neutral so I'm believing its transmission / diff related.
I'm hoping the TCASE and DIFF oils are just so past due that they're not allowing the front diff to slip enough through turns which is why I'm feeling some lock up? I can only find info on X3,X5 owners who have had to replace transfer cases by the hundreds and M3 owners who get the same symptoms in their rear diffs while turning, but not much info on the 328 coupe xdrives.
TLR - Intermittent "rubbing" and occasional clunk noise when accelerating and turning right mostly but sometimes left. Doesn't make noise when in neutral. Thanks a million guys sorry for the long-ish post
Remote diagnosis of rubbing noises and clunks is a shot in the dark at best. You need to get the car up in a lift to inspect everything in the front that rotates. BMW front half-shafts seem to have issues with the cv joints. I don’t own an “X”, but I’ve read many posts here and on other sites about front half-shaft issues. It’s odd as all modern BMWs have the same set up at the rear and those half-shafts are basically bulletproof.
Find a reputable indie shop that specializes in BMWs. Try www.bimrs.org. Also, google “BMWCCA #####” where “#####” is your zip code. That’ll give you the link to the local chapter of the BMW Car Club of america’s website. Check for recommendations.
I suggest you change all of the car’s gear lubes:
- front differential
- rear differential
- transfer case
I highly recommend Redline lubricants.
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