Rear Axle,- Dreaded Service Visit ... rant?

[dimabimmer]

For few months I was concerned about some "grinding/rubbing" sound coming from vicinity of rear axle/wheels ... The sound only present when "in gear, going very slowly into 90 degree turn or sharper" The sound is not necessarily always there... Sometimes it makes you think it's coming from axle, but the sound is not "metallic", so then it makes you think tires rubbing. I do not notice any such sounds when going faster,- maybe because when going fast can't make 90 degree turn, atleast not on public street


1) Made Service Appointment. Dropped the car off at 10 AM at Life Quality BMW "LQ BMW".

2) Funny See the first pic,- SA writes on work order "NOISE FROM REAR, GRINDING MOANING" (.MOANING ..she is a dirty girl )

3) I tell SA, PLEASE DO NOT WASH MY CAR!!! he says why? ....and to that I say I do not want to get swirls on car, so please make a note not to wash it!!!

4) I call SA at the very end of day to see the Service Status.... HE TELLS ME, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET TO MY CAR TODAY, IT IS IN LINE WAITING FOR OTHER CARS (some bullshit like that)

5) I go to Service Dept 10 minutes before they close, approach SA desk and tell him,- Forget it. I'm picking up my car. He says, without a moment of hesitation,- sure! bla bla bla he tells me they have 30 cars they were not able to get to today!!!! wow


MY RANT:

What is the point of appointment if they are not going to get to car that day? I arrange my day, I take some time off my busy work schedule, go out of my way, loose some dow $$$ for time lost, - all to drop off the car, all for nothing. I could've easily dropped it off at the end of day. Why they give me 10AM appointment if it is worthless? I just do not get it!

Finally they bring the car down... and ofcourse it is washed! Swirls all over CF Roof and all over the paint... FKRS!

I left Service Dept without arguing... it is not even worth it.

end rant. (for now)


Bottom line: will drive car for some time, will see, maybe sound will be gone... this M3 is still very new, just under 2800 miles


Last pic: just arrived at Service Dept... NOT A SINLGE SWIRL ... yet. Since August '10, this M3 has only seen 2 hand washes!!! Only 2!!! ...and now I got to deal with these annoying SWIRLZZZZZZZ!!!!!

[M3maniac20]

Are the last few pictures showing that they still drove it even though they didn't get to it today?

[dimabimmer]

Originally Posted by M3maniac20

Are the last few pictures showing that they still drove it even though they didn't get to it today?

Very Good Question! ...Well, I live exactly 3 blocks from LQ Service Department.

First Photo I took before leaving home to go to Serv. Dept. miles clocked at:
2795/ 960.2 @ 9:41 AM

Second Photo after driving back home into garage clocked at:
2797/ 961.7 @ 5:40 PM

Total of 1.5 miles? Did I get it right? ...thats a little much for 3 block round trip

[M3maniac20]

Yeah thats a little fishy...
People suck. I would think certainly at a BMW dealership you could avoid that kind of stuff. But I guess you have to fear that scene from Ferris Buehler's Day Off every time you hand over the keys of your baby.

[dimabimmer]

"Ferris Buehler's Day Off" gotta love it!!!!

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by dimabimmer

"Ferris Buehler's Day Off" gotta love it!!!!

Here you go..



Dave

[dwangvlee]

hi
same rubber grinding sound from right rear only and only on making sharp right turn on a very slow speed. was told by several people that this is due to high grip of the tires? is this right? ever figure out what this is from?

by the way, i told my sa not to drill the front license plate. yep, they went and did it.

[M3_FTW]

Originally Posted by dwangvlee

hi
same rubber grinding sound from right rear only and only on making sharp right turn on a very slow speed. was told by several people that this is due to high grip of the tires? is this right? ever figure out what this is from?

by the way, i told my sa not to drill the front license plate. yep, they went and did it.

It's a common issue. There is a new Diff oil that BMW now uses that gets rid of that rubbing noise. Just do a search for it

[BimmerM]

Wow, thanks for sharing that. I typically go to LQ BMW as well as BMW of Manhattan for service and never had that happen to me. I guess next time I should ask how busy are they.

[dimabimmer]

Originally Posted by BimmerM

Wow, thanks for sharing that. I typically go to LQ BMW as well as BMW of Manhattan for service and never had that happen to me. I guess next time I should ask how busy are they.

Yeap! Be ware!

I used to be pretty happy with LQ... but now... it really felt like all SA's were a bunch of thugs,- they simply don't give a flying f@ck about your car!

I will call the manager today, and if they don't go out of their way to fix the new "swirl problem" I will go out of my way and speak to BMW NA.... enough is enough!

[edcvin]

Originally Posted by dwangvlee

hi
same rubber grinding sound from right rear only and only on making sharp right turn on a very slow speed. was told by several people that this is due to high grip of the tires? is this right? ever figure out what this is from?

by the way, i told my sa not to drill the front license plate. yep, they went and did it.

I have the same exact thing. Its very random and doesnt always happen but specificially at low speeds and sharp turns...any more info on this?



-Vin

[5erman]

Well you start by not driving yourself as mad by asking for NO CARWASH and they put a sign on the windshield and do not TOUCH your car with anything. I also always inspect my car for grease marks (a e60) after they got grease/oil on my b pillar matte trim that would not come off at home when I later noticed it. I ended up fucking up the trim trying to rub it out and cost myself 300 bucks replacing it all because I did not inspect the car after I picked it up. Last off is the miels put on the car and making sure they are inproprotion to what they told me they did to the car and how much "diagnostic driving" time.

Dont sell yourself short just to not cause a fuss. If they get to know you and know you are watching then they watch more closely.

This same service station replaced my air filter but then did not clip the box on properly and left the enclosed box completely unhooked togetehr. Now who normally checks the engine compartment after an oil change and filter change. I happen to look of course and voila.

These dealers are a POS and have no common sense so you need to use your own!

[navigator]

Ask the dealer to change the differential fluid in order to fix the grinding/rubbing noise. This has nothing to do with super "sticky" tires etc. It's simply a matter of changing to the proper diff fluid. Dealers should know this.

[dimabimmer]

^^^^

Absolutely makes sense what you say....

When I told SA about Diff Fluid, he was like and didn't know anything about it

[BimmerM]

Originally Posted by navigator

Ask the dealer to change the differential fluid in order to fix the grinding/rubbing noise. This has nothing to do with super "sticky" tires etc. It's simply a matter of changing to the proper diff fluid. Dealers should know this.

Does anyone know if there is a SIB notice for this? That would help convince the dealer.

[navigator]

Not sure if there are any bulletins on this but I had this same problem after my 1200 mile service and took the car back to the dealer. They changed the diff fluid (used a different type than they did the first time) and everything was ok. No more grinding noise.
If your dealer doesn't know what's going on, i'd take it to a different dealer.

[424D57]

Could have sworn I saw a service bulletin posted for this in the technical forum but can't seem to find it.


-424D57

[424D57]

nvm above found it:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...rvice+bulletin


This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B33 01 02 dated February 2008.

SUBJECT
Grinding Noise from the Differential during Slow Cornering


MODEL
E46 M3 from start of production

E60 M5 from start of production

E63, E64 M6 from start of production

E90, E92 and E93 M3 from start of production


SITUATION
A grinding noise may be heard coming from the differential during slow cornering.

This noise is best heard during tight cornering situations.
For example : while parallel parking, driving in a tight circle, etc.

CAUSE
When the rear wheel speed differential varies during tight cornering, a slip stick effect is created on the lining and steel discs incorporated in the differential locking clutch, causing the grinding noise.

This noise typically goes away as the locking clutch discs in the differential are broken in.

The break-in time varies depending on driving habits.
For example : tighter cornering (working the locking clutch) means that it takes less time to break in the locking clutch discs.

CORRECTION
If a complaint is verified as described above on the E46 M3; E60 M5; E63 and E64 M6; or on the E90, E92 and E93 M3 vehicles, the differential oil should be replaced with a specially formulated differential oil, BMW part number 83 22 2 282 583.

Road test the vehicle. (the part I hate the most and every other technician.perhaps most of them skip this part.I would rather give you the option to perform this or at least inform you of this procedure.)

With the vehicle at operating temperature
Drive in tight circles (20 circles in each direction), allowing the special oil to coat the locking clutch discs.

The grinding noise will decrease when the locking clutch discs are sufficiently coated. Some slight noises may still be heard after driving in tight circles. Its necessary to drive the vehicle up to 600 miles before all noises are eliminated as stated by the manufacturer.

Note: Vehicles that have had the differential oil converted to this special oil should continue to use this oil whenever a service requiring the differential oil replacement is indicated.


-424D57

[saeedg48]

flush & change diff fluid .. done

every time I used to take a left turn I would feel and hear the grinding

[BimmerM]

Originally Posted by 424D57

nvm above found it:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...rvice+bulletin

Excellent! Thanks.

[dimabimmer]

Good info! Thanks!

[Seattle S65B40]

I believe my car is currently being serviced pursuant to this sib. The diff fluid is being flushed and replaced and they are replacing the rear wheel bearings.

Here's my concern (and sorry to thread jack, but didn't want to repost, since this is on point):

I never had the grinding noise reported during slow cornering. Only when the brakes were applied did I hear noises. I could drive the car around in circles all day and it would not make noises.

Should I be concerned that the dealer made this repair, even though everything relative to that was OK? Does anyone know break in procedure for new wheel bearings? I'm willing to bet this does not solve the brakes issue.