Your fleet running reports

[integrale_evo]

I’m really starting to lose patience with the x5

I still have a horrendous vibration under power, slight at 18mph, really bad between 30 and 35mph and worse the more throttle you give it.

I thought it might be the transfer box not liking the worn front tyres. Had some fresh ones put on on Saturday. Zero difference, didn’t alter the speed it happens in the slightest.

Today I removed the front propshaft, making it rwd only. The facelift x5 like mine always drives the rear wheels, with a chain and electronically controlled clutch sending power to the front when needed. With the prop removed there’s basically zero load or drag on the clutches.

Still vibrating just as badly.

I’ve been under it a few times and just can’t feel any unwanted movement or feel any play anywhere. Changed the rear differential oil the other week and all looked fine, no burnt smell, no chunks, no metal paste.

Unfortunately it’s at the age where nearly everything is old or worn but probably hasn’t been replaced yet.

It was still there to a degree with the winter wheels, but definitely worse with the fat 20s. Makes me wonder if it could even be a rear damper struggling at a certain resonant frequency. It’s so big and heavy a standard push down bounce test doesn’t do anything at all!

I’m trying not to scattergun parts at it and only replace parts I know are more worn than it like, and I don’t have an infinite pot of money (or time!)

[V8Granite]

As a fellow planet killing owner.....

Engine mounts, fluid filled ones can hold the weight but then go hard against the broken mount under load.

Subframe fully tight? I think you did the rear bushes but is the front all tight, needs fully jacking up on the body for this as it's a pain to check. Mine felt tight and couldn't move it at all, new front bushes solved it.

How is your gearbox and transfer box supported ? Can you lift them together and see if the bushes are loose ? Again the weight of it all can be hard to move when load is applied on the ground.

Propshaft phasing ? On the Defender I had under load vibration when I'd not clocked the UJs correctly, I assumed the front and rear were the same and didn't check.

Cost and hassle chart, this is very time hungry so will be a £20 part

Dave!

[mik]

I’m really starting to lose patience with the x5

I still have a horrendous vibration under power, slight at 18mph, really bad between 30 and 35mph and worse the more throttle you give it.

Any point trying to fling a go-pro underneath it to try and see what’s vibrating?

If it’s a damper then it might be visible from another car following / alongside?

[Mito Man]

I’d still think driveshaft, maybe a bush or even an axle? You’d think it would have to be a component that rotates.

Speaking of X5s I ordered a set of TRW front control arms for it from Germany (they made the originals). They were only £80 a side and I ordered separately to get over the stupid import duty. Anyway I see they’re now made in Malaysia. BMW markings ground off so it is the real deal. Lemforder sold the new nuts and bolts for it which were also made in Malaysia.
Looking online this is a common complaint and appears that the factories moved 2 years ago and parts are not as good.
Merkel really fucked Germany didn’t she?

[Jimexpl]

I’m really starting to lose patience with the x5

I still have a horrendous vibration under power, slight at 18mph, really bad between 30 and 35mph and worse the more throttle you give it.

I thought it might be the transfer box not liking the worn front tyres. Had some fresh ones put on on Saturday. Zero difference, didn’t alter the speed it happens in the slightest.

Today I removed the front propshaft, making it rwd only. The facelift x5 like mine always drives the rear wheels, with a chain and electronically controlled clutch sending power to the front when needed. With the prop removed there’s basically zero load or drag on the clutches.

Still vibrating just as badly.

I’ve been under it a few times and just can’t feel any unwanted movement or feel any play anywhere. Changed the rear differential oil the other week and all looked fine, no burnt smell, no chunks, no metal paste.

Unfortunately it’s at the age where nearly everything is old or worn but probably hasn’t been replaced yet.

It was still there to a degree with the winter wheels, but definitely worse with the fat 20s. Makes me wonder if it could even be a rear damper struggling at a certain resonant frequency. It’s so big and heavy a standard push down bounce test doesn’t do anything at all!

I’m trying not to scattergun parts at it and only replace parts I know are more worn than it like, and I don’t have an infinite pot of money (or time!)

Soon after I bought our E70 X5 it had a vibration that increased with speed. Got it looked at by a BMW specialist and had the only wheel bearing that noticable play in it (a front one) replaced and it was still there. Convinced myself it was the front diff, so bought a replacement and geve the car to my trusted mechanic in Leicester to swap out. He ignored me and checked the bearings again - the other front one had no play, but was ever so slightly rough to turn with the wheel removed. Swapped the inner and outer bearing and everything was ok with the world again.

[scotta]

I’m really starting to lose patience with the x5

I still have a horrendous vibration under power, slight at 18mph, really bad between 30 and 35mph and worse the more throttle you give it.

I thought it might be the transfer box not liking the worn front tyres. Had some fresh ones put on on Saturday. Zero difference, didn’t alter the speed it happens in the slightest.

Today I removed the front propshaft, making it rwd only. The facelift x5 like mine always drives the rear wheels, with a chain and electronically controlled clutch sending power to the front when needed. With the prop removed there’s basically zero load or drag on the clutches.

Still vibrating just as badly.

I’ve been under it a few times and just can’t feel any unwanted movement or feel any play anywhere. Changed the rear differential oil the other week and all looked fine, no burnt smell, no chunks, no metal paste.

Unfortunately it’s at the age where nearly everything is old or worn but probably hasn’t been replaced yet.

It was still there to a degree with the winter wheels, but definitely worse with the fat 20s. Makes me wonder if it could even be a rear damper struggling at a certain resonant frequency. It’s so big and heavy a standard push down bounce test doesn’t do anything at all!

I’m trying not to scattergun parts at it and only replace parts I know are more worn than it like, and I don’t have an infinite pot of money (or time!)

Soon after I bought our E70 X5 it had a vibration that increased with speed. Got it looked at by a BMW specialist and had the only wheel bearing that noticable play in it (a front one) replaced and it was still there. Convinced myself it was the front diff, so bought a replacement and geve the car to my trusted mechanic in Leicester to swap out. He ignored me and checked the bearings again - the other front one had no play, but was ever so slightly rough to turn with the wheel removed. Swapped the inner and outer bearing and everything was ok with the world again.

This is why I now have a 128ti. Mine did EXACLTY this. it spent 3 months with BMW and they could not fix it. Brand new wheels helped but it was still there. They tried many different things. Bushes, Arms, gearbox flush. still the same.

In the end I got so fucked off with it I traded it.

[Mito Man]

Good point with the bearings. I think cars with ball bearings behave very differently when the bearings fail vs the older taper bearings. I've never had play or noise changing with direction on a bad bearing but they did all increase in noise/vibration with speed.