Clicking noise coming from front wheels - BMW 1 Series Coupe Forum / 1 Series Convertible Forum (1M / tii / 135i / 128i / Coupe / Cabrio / Hatchback) (BMW E82 E88 128i 130i 135i)

1speedbike · 07-19-2011, 12:10 PM

Just had my service department check out this clicking noise I've been having on my car for the past few weeks. It's always on the outer wheel when I make a turn, and it's speed-dependent.

It's not the CV-Joint (first thing I thought of), or anything to do with the suspension. The dealer suggested it might be the rims I have, but they are Breytons in the exact same size and offset as stock. I do have hankook tires on 225/40 up front 255/35 rear. Those are the only things I can think of that are making that noise!

It almost sounds like a baseball card in some bicycle spokes, or even a lawn sprinkler. It's not terrible, but it just makes me nervous. The dealership can't come up with anything.. nothing's loose, everything's all good.

Any ideas? Is it the tires somehow? But how would they make such a weird noise??

Red Bread · 07-19-2011, 12:13 PM

It's the brake backing plates, the bolts need to be retorqued. I've had good luck just rechecking the torque on the lug bolts too.

1speedbike · 07-19-2011, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bread

It's the brake backing plates, the bolts need to be retorqued. I've had good luck just rechecking the torque on the lug bolts too.

They also checked the brakes today at the dealership. I complained about the clicking noise but also about squeaking brakes so they checked the pads and the sensors. Would they have unscrewed and retorqued them during that check?

I'm about to go back for the car, so lemme know!

alpnwhite96 · 07-19-2011, 01:07 PM

My car used to do this too, but hasn't in quite a while now.

1speedbike · 07-19-2011, 02:29 PM

Just got back from the dealership.. the noise is gone! I guess whatever they did when they did nothing fixed it haha. Probably the brakes as Red Bread said. Anyway I'm glad I don't have to worry any more

fourtailpipes · 07-19-2011, 04:44 PM

sounds like wheel bearings to me. i've gone through a few sets of wheel bearings, and they always click on the outside (loaded) wheel when turning.

ianc · 07-19-2011, 05:51 PM

Many people have had this problem; there was another big thread about it awhile ago, but no real solutions offered. I asked my dealer about it and he just trotted out the 'aftermarket suspension' and 'cracked undertray' card and waved his hands at me...

ianc

1mor · 07-19-2011, 07:29 PM

I had that with the stock suspension and after installing coilovers. Finally went away when I replaced the wheels

ianc · 07-19-2011, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Finally went away when I replaced the wheels

Some people theorized that it was actually the roundel inserts in the wheels that were making the clicking noise. Sounds plausible to me, but I never took the trouble to remove them to test,

ianc

nates1 · 07-20-2011, 01:48 PM

If you have slotted discs, the clicking may be the heat shield rubbing during turns.

1speedbike · 07-20-2011, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianc

Some people theorized that it was actually the roundel inserts in the wheels that were making the clicking noise. Sounds plausible to me, but I never took the trouble to remove them to test,

ianc

whatever it was for me, it's gone now. all they did was swap out my wheels with stock rims and tires to see if the clicking was still there. it wasn't. so it was definitely something on the wheels or tires. don't think it was the roundels because they didnt touch them at all. they also checked the brakes because they were squeaking and they could have opened them up and re-screwed/re-torqued them. It wasn't anything in the suspension so it wasn't anything "dangerous" i don't think. so either the rims, the tires, or the brakes..

SquashAZ · 07-11-2012, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1speedbike

whatever it was for me, it's gone now. all they did was swap out my wheels with stock rims and tires to see if the clicking was still there. it wasn't. so it was definitely something on the wheels or tires. don't think it was the roundels because they didnt touch them at all. they also checked the brakes because they were squeaking and they could have opened them up and re-screwed/re-torqued them. It wasn't anything in the suspension so it wasn't anything "dangerous" i don't think. so either the rims, the tires, or the brakes..

New lugs fixed my issues. Not sure why but its fixed.

1speedbike · 07-11-2012, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquashAZ

New lugs fixed my issues. Not sure why but its fixed.

I don't wanna be a negative nancy, but wait it out a bit. When my wheels were put back on, the sound was gone at first, but slowly and surely it would creep back with increasing frequency and volume over a few days. I didn't get new lugs or anything, but every time the wheels were taken off and then put on again, this would happen. At first I'd be singing hallelujah! Then I'd be kicking myself!

This isn't to say that don't I sincerely hope your issue got resolved! I really do hope everything's fine now. Good luck, and let us know!

mike the snake · 07-11-2012, 06:48 PM

My wheels used to click as well when I first got my car. I installed new wheels and tires and the clicking went away.

My thought is that it is the rotors or rotor hats. Many many people have reported the sound going away after simply taking the wheels off and reinstalling them. I think it is probably the wheel lugs being unevenly torqued, causing the rotor hats to warp or flex.

One thing you can do is make sure the wheels are hand-torqued, not air ratcheted on.

kensington · 09-21-2012, 07:19 AM

I have this exact issue on mine too. Took the wheel off, retorque with a calibrated torque wrench to 85-90 ft lbs. Went away for about 2 weeks. Then yesterday when taking a corner fast it came right back again a bit louder. Only on right hand turns. Im going to take the wheels off and retorque again when im back from vacation. If that doesnt fix it im going to take it in.

cdde323 · 09-21-2012, 11:44 AM

I can confirm wheel theory, I had the click (6+ months of it)... got new wheels and tires... then I didn't have the click (immediate effect).

1speedbike · 09-25-2012, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kensington

I have this exact issue on mine too. Took the wheel off, retorque with a calibrated torque wrench to 85-90 ft lbs. Went away for about 2 weeks. Then yesterday when taking a corner fast it came right back again a bit louder. Only on right hand turns. Im going to take the wheels off and retorque again when im back from vacation. If that doesnt fix it im going to take it in.

That's what would keep happening to me. BMW or someone else would take the wheels off, or just retorque the lugs, the issue would go away for a while, and then come back. The harder you corner, the louder and quicker the problem comes back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdde323

I can confirm wheel theory, I had the click (6+ months of it)... got new wheels and tires... then I didn't have the click (immediate effect).

Yep, the noise would only come on for me when I was running my Breytons + Hankooks. Went through last winter and this summer with two sets of different wheels since then, and the noise hasn't come back.

kensington · 10-31-2012, 07:20 AM

Quick update...4 weeks ago I took the wheel off and put just a tiny bit of wheel bearing grease on the surface of the wheel where it contacts the rotor. The clicking has completely gone away. After driving it a lot since then, including a long cruise in the hills, it hasnt come back.

Terry989 · 10-31-2012, 12:18 PM

Good observation - - - and may be the root cause of many of the clicking issues people see. I always use anti-seize on all wheel to rotor contact surfaces and have not had the clicking issue.

katsooba · 10-31-2012, 12:41 PM

check out a post i made in the 1m forums, i fixed my 135i clicking noise the way i described.

i dont have many msgs, just go through my history on the said forum

fixed mine and a friends 135i with the same method.

tHegeRm · 10-31-2012, 01:49 PM

Were you running spacers??

07-19-2011, 12:10 PM	#1
1speedbike Colonel Drives: 2008 BMW 135i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NJ, NYC, Baltimore Posts: 2,915 iTrader: (14)	Clicking noise coming from front wheels Just had my service department check out this clicking noise I've been having on my car for the past few weeks. It's always on the outer wheel when I make a turn, and it's speed-dependent. It's not the CV-Joint (first thing I thought of), or anything to do with the suspension. The dealer suggested it might be the rims I have, but they are Breytons in the exact same size and offset as stock. I do have hankook tires on 225/40 up front 255/35 rear. Those are the only things I can think of that are making that noise! It almost sounds like a baseball card in some bicycle spokes, or even a lawn sprinkler. It's not terrible, but it just makes me nervous. The dealership can't come up with anything.. nothing's loose, everything's all good. Any ideas? Is it the tires somehow? But how would they make such a weird noise?? __________________ Year 1 of the 1
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07-19-2011, 02:29 PM	#5
1speedbike Colonel Drives: 2008 BMW 135i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NJ, NYC, Baltimore Posts: 2,915 iTrader: (14)	Just got back from the dealership.. the noise is gone! I guess whatever they did when they did nothing fixed it haha. Probably the brakes as Red Bread said. Anyway I'm glad I don't have to worry any more __________________ Year 1 of the 1

07-19-2011, 05:51 PM	#7
ianc Ex '87 Carrera Drives: '10 TiAg 6MT 135i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Redwood Shores, California Posts: 708 iTrader: (0)	Many people have had this problem; there was another big thread about it awhile ago, but no real solutions offered. I asked my dealer about it and he just trotted out the 'aftermarket suspension' and 'cracked undertray' card and waved his hands at me... ianc __________________ "I will tell you there is a big difference between driving money and driving blood, sweat and tears." - PorscheGuy79 "I got 328 loaner and was impressed with performance. It feels much faster than my 135i." - MOCKBA

09-21-2012, 11:44 AM	#16
cdde323 asshole Drives: 135i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 61 iTrader: (1)	I can confirm wheel theory, I had the click (6+ months of it)... got new wheels and tires... then I didn't have the click (immediate effect). __________________ 2010 BMW 135i, 1988 Mazda 323 GTX, 2009 Honda Ruckus, Legs. Notice: I am an asshole and I judge books by their cover; if you drive an automatic (DCT included) or convertible and unless you're a women, I assume you're not the kind of car person I respect or want to know. I offer you a preemptive apology for hurting your pride and/or feelings for any comments I make to this fact.

10-31-2012, 12:41 PM	#20
katsooba Private Drives: bmw 135i Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Israel Posts: 97 iTrader: (0)	check out a post i made in the 1m forums, i fixed my 135i clicking noise the way i described. i dont have many msgs, just go through my history on the said forum fixed mine and a friends 135i with the same method. __________________ 135i N55 / custom charge pipe / M3\M1 Bushings

07-19-2011, 12:13 PM	#2
Red Bread Colonel Drives: My wife's car Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 2,951 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW X1 35i [0.00] 2009 Schwinn Madison [0.00]	It's the brake backing plates, the bolts need to be retorqued. I've had good luck just rechecking the torque on the lug bolts too.

07-19-2011, 01:07 PM	#4
alpnwhite96 Second Lieutenant Drives: 135i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 295 iTrader: (0)	My car used to do this too, but hasn't in quite a while now.

07-19-2011, 04:44 PM	#6
fourtailpipes Major Drives: OPCs Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Work Posts: 1,156 iTrader: (0)	sounds like wheel bearings to me. i've gone through a few sets of wheel bearings, and they always click on the outside (loaded) wheel when turning.

07-19-2011, 07:29 PM	#8
1mor Got Boost? Drives: 135 (Sold) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: 818 Posts: 587 iTrader: (3)	I had that with the stock suspension and after installing coilovers. Finally went away when I replaced the wheels

07-20-2011, 01:48 PM	#10
nates1 New Member Drives: 2010 135i and 2010 Ford Raptor Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 8 iTrader: (0)	If you have slotted discs, the clicking may be the heat shield rubbing during turns.

07-11-2012, 06:48 PM	#14
mike the snake First Lieutenant Drives: 135i Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Sonoma County, CA. Posts: 391 iTrader: (1)	My wheels used to click as well when I first got my car. I installed new wheels and tires and the clicking went away. My thought is that it is the rotors or rotor hats. Many many people have reported the sound going away after simply taking the wheels off and reinstalling them. I think it is probably the wheel lugs being unevenly torqued, causing the rotor hats to warp or flex. One thing you can do is make sure the wheels are hand-torqued, not air ratcheted on.

09-21-2012, 07:19 AM	#15
kensington Private First Class Drives: 08 135 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Tulsa, ok Posts: 143 iTrader: (0)	I have this exact issue on mine too. Took the wheel off, retorque with a calibrated torque wrench to 85-90 ft lbs. Went away for about 2 weeks. Then yesterday when taking a corner fast it came right back again a bit louder. Only on right hand turns. Im going to take the wheels off and retorque again when im back from vacation. If that doesnt fix it im going to take it in.

10-31-2012, 07:20 AM	#18
kensington Private First Class Drives: 08 135 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Tulsa, ok Posts: 143 iTrader: (0)	Quick update...4 weeks ago I took the wheel off and put just a tiny bit of wheel bearing grease on the surface of the wheel where it contacts the rotor. The clicking has completely gone away. After driving it a lot since then, including a long cruise in the hills, it hasnt come back.

10-31-2012, 12:18 PM	#19
Terry989 New Member Drives: 2009 128i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: San Jose, Ca Posts: 22 iTrader: (0)	Good observation - - - and may be the root cause of many of the clicking issues people see. I always use anti-seize on all wheel to rotor contact surfaces and have not had the clicking issue.

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