rear end noise

[rar]

Just acquired a 91 318is out of a yard where it had been sitting for 3+ years. Was running when abandoned. Drained fluids and put in a new fuel pump and started right up. Drives well actually, but there is a whining noise in rear between 35 & 40 mph. Goes away at 40. car is a bit sloppy when going around corners. Noise seems to be closer to passenger side if not middle.

I'm aware I'm not offering much, but trying to id what $ i'm looking at before diving in too deeply with a mechanic.

Thanks

[superj]

probably rear wheel bearings and rear sub frame bushings

[323i E30]

I'd jack up the rear, and see what happens when you spin the tires by hand. Noises, resistance and such.

[msservices]

When you say fluids does that include differential oil? I would start there, having had to rebuild mine instead of changing the oil when I first got it 15 years ago. Oil is oil, right? Not quite, having seen gear oil turned back into crude oil and then into tar and having to scrape that off my gears. Redline seems to be the go to for LSDs and I’m almost sure your car would have one?
I agree with changing the wheel bearings and the bushings at some point regardless of whether that is the culprit of the noise.
If your bushing are in fact allowing excessive movement in the rear end, then the noise could be coming from the drive shaft universal joints because they could be old and dried out, so when they are twisted past there normal angles they could be binding, squeaking, etc and the same goes for the carrier bearing.
That would lead to a new or rebuilt driveshaft, the latter could be done locally if there is a place in town that builds trucks, hot rods, etc.

[greggpshopes]

i have a 97 318i m44 and im hearing a wamp wamp wamp sound when i drive coming from the rear of the car.tje sound gets faster , the faster tje wheels spin..if i put it in nuetral and rev the ngibe it doesnt change the speed of the wamp wamp wamp.it stays tje same speed as the tires..can anyone help me?
im not sure if its thr wheel bearings or the final drive isnt torqued to rhe correct spec or tje driveline...

[jclausen]

If it's wheel bearings the pitch of the noise should change when turning

[superj]

sounds like a tire, on that one, Gregg. has your car been sitting and you just got it back on the road? or the wheels locked up at speed and put a flat spot on them

[msservices]

You could swap the tires from front to back and see if any change of symptoms occur