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Thread: Mystery noise. Front End. Sound like....

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
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    Colorado
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    2004 BMW X3 2.5

    Mystery noise. Front End. Sound like....

    Mystery Noise. 2004 X3 2.5 - 192,000. Front end noise that sounds like wheel bearings, but it's not. Kind of like studded tires sound on pavement. Happens only when moving - whether in gear or not. (automatic transmission). In the last 4 years the entire drive train has been replaced or rebuilt, so hard to imagine it's anything from the front drive shaft all the way back to the rear diff. Plus all those parts you can hear up on the lift. This - the sound disappears on the lift. Can only be heard while driving, which makes it a challenge to determine what's the cause.

    My mechanic is not sure where to look next. He is thinking of pulling the center console, so it can be driven while he is looking deeper in to the drive train.. He wonders about the transmission or something related to the front axles and their attachment into the transmission that might only make the noise while loaded. It started subtly about 4 weeks ago and gradually increased in loudness - and went from only hearing it at slow speeds, to hearing it all the time. The BMW Mystery is upon us again. Suggestions much appreciate!!

    PS... The transmission feels great!! The car drives great!! But the sound is very concerning in that it has increased in loudness and I live in too rural of a place to just drive it until it breaks...I could get stuck in the middle of nowhere quite easily!

  2. #2
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    Cupped tires

  3. #3
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
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  4. #4
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    Or swap a set from another vehicle. At the very least, you have to eliminate that as a possibility first, before you go digging for god knows what that noise is.
    Quote Originally Posted by B4SH View Post
    If anyone knows, it's this guy who knows literally nothing about everything.
    Quote Originally Posted by fcvapor05 View Post
    Do you even OT? The mean 401k around here is probably about $6, what with all the shiny cars and $1,000 watches and donations to get other members' Volvos running.


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    The ones that make significant noise, you can usually feel the bumps if you run your hand around the tire contact areas.
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