[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Hi everyone. I went through a really large puddle of water today unfortunately and I'm having an issue. When turning the wheel at full lock and taking a slow turn, the car makes a terrible electrical whining. Also, when steering is at full lock and reversing, the car judders and shakes. Not sure if this is pointing to the transfer case or something else. Has anyone experienced similar issues?

[tturedraider]

Off the top of my head I would be wondering about the electric power steering unit.

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Off the top of my head I would be wondering about the electric power steering unit.

Would it cause shaking and judder like that if it was that? Also, wouldn't I get some sort of fault codes?

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

So I went outside to the lot on my lunch break to do some troubleshooting and discovered that the tires seem to be rubbing on the fender walls. The wheels look like they shifted and hit the walls when at full lock. What would cause something like this? It makes sense that the issue only arises when turning the steering wheel and the noises only occur at full lock and slowly accelerating. No noise if I let the car roll while turning, but the second I give it a little gas I get judders and shaking.

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

I'm wondering now if the 15mm spacers I'm running with my PSAS tires at 245/40/18 ET35 (ET20 with spacers) is causing a rubbing issue. Never had rubbing before though so very strange that it would start now.

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Got it up on the lift at a mechanic and we can’t see anything broken, but the front drivers wheel is pushed forward more than the passenger side wheel. Could this be an alignment issue? Mechanic says he wants to start with an alignment and take it from there. Does that sound like a good plan?

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Removing spacers did not resolve the issue, car still stutters and hops and jolts when in a slow turn. Loses power when reversing and pulling out from a stop, almost feels like clutch is slipping on a manual car.

[YASBBYM3]

Based on your handle I have to ask, RWD or AWD?

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Originally Posted by YASBBYM3

Based on your handle I have to ask, RWD or AWD?

AWD

[YASBBYM3]

Originally Posted by XxThe_RemedyXx

AWD

And do you get all the shutter & shakes if turned fully in the other direction?

Wheel forward?

Scanned for error codes?

And sure you didn’t hit anything in the water? In a number of places in the Tri-State area the water filled streets lifted the manhole covers off which people didn’t realize.

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Originally Posted by YASBBYM3

And do you get all the shutter & shakes if turned fully in the other direction?

Wheel forward?

Scanned for error codes?

And sure you didn’t hit anything in the water? In a number of places in the Tri-State area the water filled streets lifted the manhole covers off which people didn’t realize.

Stutter and shakes in either direction… Driving the car straight no issues, but at low speeds there is hesitation accelerating, albeit slight but noticeable enough that something is different. No error codes at all. I scanned for transmission errors also, nothing. Definitely didn’t hit anything, just went right through the water.

[johnung]

You have to have something broken in that corner of your suspension. A buddy of mine with a 340ix had a very similar problem. Turned out he broke a suspension component when he hit a pothole. You may have hit a pothole previously, and running through the water recently was just enough to finish the job.

Just putting the car on a lift and getting a visual is often not enough. Everything appears normal just hanging there. My mechanic troubleshoots suspension issues with pry bars and a mallet. He really gets in there and tries to put enough force to see how things move in every direction. He also checks the torque on every fastener.

Also check the bottom of the strut housing carefully. A known issue is that they crash down through the knuckle holding them.

Good luck!

[YASBBYM3]

Just from the wheel forward and the rest, it just seems like it would be related to AWD which is why my first question for clarity. Agree with johnung above could be strut related. But the stuttering combined with left wheel forward just seems to be xdrive related on first blush.

[toxik]

did the shop not want to keep the car to investigate further? clearly something is broken, if i were in your shoes I’d just leave my car with the shop until they can troubleshoot and find the problem

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Originally Posted by toxik

did the shop not want to keep the car to investigate further? clearly something is broken, if i were in your shoes I’d just leave my car with the shop until they can troubleshoot and find the problem

I took it straight to BMW today and left it there for diagnosis. I didn’t feel comfortable with a 3rd party shop. I rented a car. We’ll see what they say on Monday when they determine what’s going on.

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Dealer called. Need a new transfer case and front thrust arm bushings.

[toxik]

Originally Posted by XxThe_RemedyXx

Dealer called. Need a new transfer case and front thrust arm bushings.

this was from driving through water? im curious how that ruined the transfer case.

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Originally Posted by toxik

this was from driving through water? im curious how that ruined the transfer case.

No idea honestly. I do have comprehensive coverage under my insurance so I'm hoping this is covered. Car was totally fine before driving through the water. Who knows, it was a really bad pocket of water, more like a running river than just some water pooled up. I was coming around a bend and didn't see it at all until it was too late.

[toxik]

Originally Posted by XxThe_RemedyXx

No idea honestly. I do have comprehensive coverage under my insurance so I'm hoping this is covered. Car was totally fine before driving through the water. Who knows, it was a really bad pocket of water, more like a running river than just some water pooled up. I was coming around a bend and didn't see it at all until it was too late.

good luck with the insurance, if you find out more info let us know

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Originally Posted by toxik

good luck with the insurance, if you find out more info let us know

Will do, thanks bud.

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Insurance denied the claim stating it is mechanical fault and not water damage. I purchased a used transfer case assembly from a low mileage 320i xDrive (OEM part) and it will be delivered to my mechanic this Friday to get installed. Insurance sucks.

[Wires]

I'd be questioning the dealer diagnosis. If the wheel is rubbing, and clearly looks like the left is pushed forward further, it looks like something messed up in the front suspension (which would align with you hitting a puddle).

If that wheel is dragging on the fender, backing up or driving forward isn't going to be very smooth.

Personally, I'd have more faith in a 3rd party mechanic that just fixes cars, vs the BME dealership that cannot sell cars due to shortages and needs to make up revenue.