325es odd noise - BMW Forum

baram23 · 09-07-2004, 11:01 AM

I've got a 325es that's making a whining noise at between 2k - 3k rpms, goes away when I take my foot off the gas or when i turn the steering wheel a bit. It doesn't seem to effect the car's driveability, but I'm wondering what it is and how much $$ it's gonna be to repair.

Thanks in adv. for your help.

M-technik-3 · 09-07-2004, 11:13 AM

Sounds like two issues. A wheel bearing and low diff fluid or gearbox fluid. Check the diff and gear box both can be done on a lift easy. top if needed then take car for spin noise gone great.

Start with simple stuff but don't just throw parts at it as you might never find it.

RealBMW 02 · 09-07-2004, 12:34 PM

ya, checking fluids is always the first thing that you want to do when you hear a noise. It probably isn't a wheel bearing if the noise is dependent on engine rpm. Wheel bearings usually make a clunking noise when stopping. Could also be your power steering pump. I have heard those make some pretty weird noises that are variable with engine speed. Where does it sound like the noise is coming from? You said it goes away when you turn the wheel some, so its actually probably nothing to do with the tranny or rear end, but check those fluids anyway. well, good luck. keep us updated on what you find

Oxbrain · 09-07-2004, 06:04 PM

Take a look at the boots over the wheel bearings. I had something like that happen on my car(geo) only happened during acceleration and went away with minor steering. One of the boots was slightly loose and rubbing on something.

gotKRAUT · 09-07-2004, 06:45 PM

check the tranny and differencial fluid and check the drivline...shack it...it shouldnt move but your mounts could be going bad....

gotKRAUT · 09-07-2004, 06:45 PM

check the tranny and differencial fluid and check the drivline...shack it...it shouldnt move but your mounts could be going bad....

baram23 · 09-08-2004, 01:10 AM

thank you all for your advice

any recommendations for lube should i use in the diff?

M-technik-3 · 09-08-2004, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by baram23@Sep 8 2004, 01:50 AM
thank you all for your advice

any recommendations for lube should i use in the diff?

Says right in owners manual but it's SAE 90 or GL-5 1.7 liters total.

baram23 · 09-08-2004, 03:01 PM

Thanks for the info, unfortunately I don't have the owners manual. The dude I bought this from didn't know where it was, but for $500 USD I'm not gonna bitch too much.

baram23 · 09-11-2004, 01:31 AM

OK - found the source of the problem. Looks like wheel bearing is going bad in the rear passenger wheel. I was on the phone w/ phaedrus in san francisco while driving on the highway and the guy at the counter recommended that i slalom the wheel a little bit left and right and note whether the noise decreased depending on the direction. It gets worse when aiming right and less so when aiming left as he thought it would. Pulled off the highway and noticed there was some play in the wheel if it was pushed back and forth into the car.

Gonna take it in and have this fixed as well as get the diff fluid changed since it'll be up on a rack anyway.

Thanks a lot for your advice guys, gotta give you all props.

M-technik-3 · 09-11-2004, 06:03 AM

Your welcome. You might want to consider an independant BMW workshop as labor will normally be less.

baram23 · 09-11-2004, 03:25 PM

Yeah, taking to phaedrus bmw in san francisco, they come pretty highly recommended by some friends. I'd like to try to do as much of the work as I an myself, but I don't have a garage available right now.

BMW Lover · 09-12-2004, 12:48 PM

yeah i have had experiance with that also, independent places are alot of the time cheaper for everything becasue they dont have as wide of a customer database as the actual bmw dealerships do.