Odd sound

[choppedliver]

On the drive home today with the roof down I went through the corners near home sharply and noticed from left and right front (I think) a sort of crackling (sort of like electricity crackle) when under load in the corner.

I've not noticed it before and you could make it happen very briefly by some side so side swinging of the wheel. I've not had more time to drive further but it did seem a little odd.

The car stops fine and the handling seems normal, but I'm guessing it's something loose? Though happening the same on both sides is weird. It's not loud and I doubt you'd notice in the coupe.

Any ideas?

B

[woosh]

did you try searching the forums?

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=667440

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=704094

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533949

[choppedliver]

Originally Posted by woosh

did you try searching the forums?

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=667440

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=704094

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533949

Graaah, I tried but didn't think of it as clicking or ticking and I'm not sure it's any of the supposed things. I don't have RFTs, the brakes are 3 months old (new disks, pads etc) so I think ignoring it will work .

B

[Smiley1175]

Clicking sounds as you go round corners is usually a sign of bearings. You can ignore it but eventually it'll impact braking.

Not saying this is what you're experiencing but something to ask at the next service.

[skycat]

Check the under floor bracing front and rear as the 1 series and 3 series soft tops always have this issue, there is so much body movement the braces just work loose just give all the bolts 1/2 a turn and you will probably sort it out.

[choppedliver]

Originally Posted by skycat

Check the under floor bracing front and rear as the 1 series and 3 series soft tops always have this issue, there is so much body movement the braces just work loose just give all the bolts 1/2 a turn and you will probably sort it out.

Will check. and see what happens.

Thanks

B

[choppedliver]

Originally Posted by Smiley1175

Clicking sounds as you go round corners is usually a sign of bearings. You can ignore it but eventually it'll impact braking.

Not saying this is what you're experiencing but something to ask at the next service.

It will be serviced soonish so I can get that checked then. Thanks

B

[choppedliver]

Originally Posted by choppedliver

Will check. and see what happens.

Thanks

B

Just checked all the bolts and they are really tight. Couldn't even get a mm of movement out of them, I guess it could be bearings. I'll do some more listening today and see what's what.

B

[choppedliver]

Interesting driving today.

This morning no noise at all, regardless of how I drove (car was cold).
This afternoon after the motorway crawl it was there. It was more obvious the harder the turn, but even slow car park turn it was there (briefly, and about the same volume) and oddly when I had full lock when reversing into the garage.

The chief suspect I think is something mechanical, something to do with the wheels/suspension so I'm guessing bearings? The cars only got 40k on it, but I guess they could be shot.

Pete, any idea what it costs to do bearings? If of course my diagnosise is correct?

Thanks

Byron

[softy180]

Just my 2 cents but next time you take it out see if the noise is there with your foot on the brake, it could be a brake pad that's sitting a bit loose in the calliper, just a thought, I have never seen it on a BM but its not hard to eliminate as a possible cause.

[choppedliver]

Originally Posted by softy180

Just my 2 cents but next time you take it out see if the noise is there with your foot on the brake, it could be a brake pad that's sitting a bit loose in the calliper, just a thought, I have never seen it on a BM but its not hard to eliminate as a possible cause.

I tried that briefly and no apparent change.

B

[130iWanted]

Do the Golf Tee mod and see if it goes away.

I had a similar problem and it turned out to be the variable back pressure flap in my exhaust...

Clicking = wheel bearings. Just had mine replaced and its gone

[robbieredknapped]

Originally Posted by 130iWanted

Do the Golf Tee mod and see if it goes away.

I had a similar problem and it turned out to be the variable back pressure flap in my exhaust...

Clicking = wheel bearings. Just had mine replaced and its gone

Did you have to replace both front ones or just the one side ?

[choppedliver]

Originally Posted by robbieredknapped

Did you have to replace both front ones or just the one side ?

And how much?

I should say that on a car with 39k on the clock, replacing wheel bearings is pretty poor. If that's what it is.

Thanks

Byron

[woosh]

Originally Posted by choppedliver

And how much?

I should say that on a car with 39k on the clock, replacing wheel bearings is pretty poor. If that's what it is.

Thanks

Byron

Mine had 30k on it when the noise started to appear. Something about 'washing the vehicle and letting water spray at the wheels too much' was something a mechanic mumbled to me IIRC

[BrokenVert]

id say look and see if you front plastic undertray is in one piece, when those break they start flapping around and they make a hell of a lot of noise.

[choppedliver]

Looking in those other threads i think I might try taking off the front wheels, checking the backing plate and putting a bit of grease between the wheel and the brake hub. I can't see how the grease will work but why not.

I do get my cars cleaned every 2 weeks at the car wash so perhaps this is removing the grease (the front wheels get mega dirty from brake dust).

We shall see.

Byron

[choppedliver]

It's back!

I got Pete to check it, when I got the oil done about 6 weeks ago and nothing obvious was noted. Wheel bearings seemed unlikely.

We took off the wheels and put a thin film of oil between wheel and hat and checked the wheel nut torque settings. The sound seemed to dissapear for a week or so.

It's been washed once since and I knew it had come back, but on a quick fang today on some twistie roads it was very obvious.

I guess I can get the dealer to look at it when it goes in for the cable recall.

B

[Eddie135]

Originally Posted by woosh

Mine had 30k on it when the noise started to appear. Something about 'washing the vehicle and letting water spray at the wheels too much' was something a mechanic mumbled to me IIRC

I got this odd sound as well when everytime I turn my steering wheel the clicking sound is there. BMW mechanic help me greased out the front bearings and the sound is gone.

They say I wash my car too often and water got inside the bearings.

After 12 months, the clicking sound is back, bringing my car in for checking next week.

Hope they can solve the clicking sound.

[choppedliver]

Originally Posted by Eddie135

I got this odd sound as well when everytime I turn my steering wheel the clicking sound is there. BMW mechanic help me greased out the front bearings and the sound is gone.

They say I wash my car too often and water got inside the bearings.

After 12 months, the clicking sound is back, bringing my car in for checking next week.

Hope they can solve the clicking sound.

That sounds like my issue as well. I get it washed every 2 weeks. Interesting that they can just grease the bearings. Sounds like I need to talk to Advan.

Byron

[RadiuM]

hard to hear on my video but if you listen closely in the first few seconds you can hear mine make a crackling noise.


I took the rims off myself, inspected, put them back on and it stopped. Never had the issue again. Maybe they do the wheel nuts up to tight, or loose? *shrug*

[choppedliver]

Originally Posted by RadiuM

hard to hear on my video but if you listen closely in the first few seconds you can hear mine make a crackling noise.


I took the rims off myself, inspected, put them back on and it stopped. Never had the issue again. Maybe they do the wheel nuts up to tight, or loose? *shrug*

I spoke to Advan and we think it's not bearings as they are sealed for life. The suggestion was to fiddle with the wheel nut tension. I know they are right as Advan retorqued them last time I was in and it did go away for a month or so.

I'm gonna leave it again until something breaks.

B