R56 Bad noise/engine mount
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1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
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Bad noise/engine mount
So I just got my car back from the dealer (it's first time in) it was for a simple problem with the TPMS being deactivated, as well as an issue with the drivers side window not wanting to close all the way (No the simple reset did not work).
Before it went in I noticed a clunking noise coming from the drivers side front. I figured it was the strut mount since I could feel and hear some sound resonating throughout the strut while revving in drive. It went away after going to the dealer for service. I assumed that having lifted up the car for service had unbound the bearing in the mount or something. It all seemed odd since I had istalled the lowering springs myself and I checked everything during the process. I even gave the bearings a quick re-lube in the strut mounts when they were off in the spring compressor.
So just the other evening out of the blue, my car started making a very noticeable growling/grinding noise out of the drivers front. Totally different noise then before. It was so bad I even considered calling a tow truck. I ended up using the drive back home as diag. time. It was only while accelerating from a stop, really easy and hard acceleration both triggered it. It would also change while going through corners. It was so bad I thought an axle was rubbing, or a wheel bearing was going bad. In neutral (underway) it didn’t make a peep, so that ruled out all the drive line.
When I got home it was in fact even making the noise in park, and neutral at a stop. It did however change when power braking in drive and in reverse which indicates a motor/trans mount. I gave everything a quick once over in the dark but figured I would wait till the morning. I have already replaced the passengers side mount/bracket due to a crack, so know it was good.
In the morning I Grabbed the engine from either side and shook it around. Oh wow was I surprised. The large 18mm bolt on the passengers side was so loose that the motor had dropped about and inch, and the nut was sliding around in the aluminum mount (3/4in of play, fore aft, and side to side). I had to take out the ECU and jumper post box to get to it since it is a fairly high torque nut and a 1/2" universal wouldn’t clear.
I had never touched that side meaning it came from the factory with either an improperly torqued, or never tightened drivers side trans mount. I went through and checked the rear mount as well after discovering this. It was good and tight but I was still shocked. It was to the point where it was ready to drop the trans onto the sub frame. I am not so happy about this, but the issue is resolved. Not confidence inspiring. The people I had in the car that evening didn’t really notice it, even when I pointed it out. So the average driver probably would have driven it to the point of failure.
Just wanted to let everyone on the forum know to help with potential future diag. I could not see where or what was contacting the subframe or firewall to make all that noise. The engine was sitting an inch lower or so but I figured there would be contact marks or scratches. The car is way too new to need to be replacing mounts so I was puzzled for a bit.
Good job BMW!
Before it went in I noticed a clunking noise coming from the drivers side front. I figured it was the strut mount since I could feel and hear some sound resonating throughout the strut while revving in drive. It went away after going to the dealer for service. I assumed that having lifted up the car for service had unbound the bearing in the mount or something. It all seemed odd since I had istalled the lowering springs myself and I checked everything during the process. I even gave the bearings a quick re-lube in the strut mounts when they were off in the spring compressor.
So just the other evening out of the blue, my car started making a very noticeable growling/grinding noise out of the drivers front. Totally different noise then before. It was so bad I even considered calling a tow truck. I ended up using the drive back home as diag. time. It was only while accelerating from a stop, really easy and hard acceleration both triggered it. It would also change while going through corners. It was so bad I thought an axle was rubbing, or a wheel bearing was going bad. In neutral (underway) it didn’t make a peep, so that ruled out all the drive line.
When I got home it was in fact even making the noise in park, and neutral at a stop. It did however change when power braking in drive and in reverse which indicates a motor/trans mount. I gave everything a quick once over in the dark but figured I would wait till the morning. I have already replaced the passengers side mount/bracket due to a crack, so know it was good.
In the morning I Grabbed the engine from either side and shook it around. Oh wow was I surprised. The large 18mm bolt on the passengers side was so loose that the motor had dropped about and inch, and the nut was sliding around in the aluminum mount (3/4in of play, fore aft, and side to side). I had to take out the ECU and jumper post box to get to it since it is a fairly high torque nut and a 1/2" universal wouldn’t clear.
I had never touched that side meaning it came from the factory with either an improperly torqued, or never tightened drivers side trans mount. I went through and checked the rear mount as well after discovering this. It was good and tight but I was still shocked. It was to the point where it was ready to drop the trans onto the sub frame. I am not so happy about this, but the issue is resolved. Not confidence inspiring. The people I had in the car that evening didn’t really notice it, even when I pointed it out. So the average driver probably would have driven it to the point of failure.
Just wanted to let everyone on the forum know to help with potential future diag. I could not see where or what was contacting the subframe or firewall to make all that noise. The engine was sitting an inch lower or so but I figured there would be contact marks or scratches. The car is way too new to need to be replacing mounts so I was puzzled for a bit.
Good job BMW!
Last edited by 19krpm; Feb 25, 2012 at 08:55 PM.
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