Clunky noise & intermittant wheel wobble - United Bimmer Community

**cabs** · 01-21-2007, 07:51 PM

Hello all, I just bought my first bimmer, a 1992 325 coupe manual, went for a test drive and all seemed good, however as soon as I handed over the cash and drove away i heard some worrying noises.

At slow speeds i heard what sounded like a broken/mashed bearing clunking and grinding away, it stopped when the car was stationary so it isn't the engine, it sounded like it was coming from the rear left side of the car, it seemed to stop at higher speeds, on the motorway it seemed fine. It mainly stops clunking after 30 mph, and maybe turns into a quiet constant grinding noise but this could be the exhaust im hearing. I think maybe its a propshaft/wheel bearing, i wobbled the wheels and they seem solid, i'm hoping its the brakes sticking and will fix itselt but it sounds like a broken bearing. Also the handbrake dosn't do much at all.

Also, at higher speeds 60-70 mph i was suffering intermittant steering wheel wobble like when your wheels are completely unbalanced, but because it came and went it cant be this. It would dissapear if i slowed down or sped up but it would come back at different speeds seemingly randomly, i dont think it was bumps in the road, the steering wheel would vibrate for about 10 seconds and then stop.

If you can offer any help, suggestions, things to check/look at/wobble I would be very thankfull. I'm praying these problems wont be too expensive and hard to fix but i fear i maybe in for some trouble! I havnt got ramps/jacks/space/tools to get under the car now, i do 270 miles away but i fear the car will self-destruct if i drive it this far, any opinions?

Thanks, Mark

**zbmwr** · 01-21-2007, 08:42 PM

If the noise sounds like its coming from the rear it might not be too good (I was told once). I was also told that if you have a steering wheel wobble and/ or a rough ride it may be the ball joints. The ball joints are a commen problem with the e36's. If you find anything else out be sure to let me know!

**xsperf** · 01-21-2007, 09:49 PM

it may be your parking brake, when you are going 20 mph pull up your e-brake a tad and see if the noise goes away, oha nd the high speed wobble may be unbalanced wheels

**CJH** · 01-22-2007, 12:02 AM

Shaking at speed is one or more of the following:
unbalanced wheels
bent rim
ball joints
control arm bushings

Rear wheel bearings will whine at speed, sound will change when turning (loads or unloads bearing). Common for cars of this age. Difficult job, send it to a shop, special tools & expertise required. If yo lift wheel off ground & it can be moved due to a worn bearing, it is long gone, replace immediately.

**Spieluhr** · 01-22-2007, 06:09 AM

for rear clunking sound, check rear shock mounts, it's a common faulty part on the e36.

and for the steering wheel wobble it is more than likely either an alignment or your brake rotors are warped. If it's the rotors you can replace them, or some shops will be able to grind them to make them true again.

**cabs** · 01-22-2007, 05:45 PM

Hello all!!

Thanks for the great advice, especially CJH who hit the nail on the head, i jacked up the wheel and sure enough the wheel wobbled about worse than a speeding shopping trolley! Dont worry, i wont be driving it until its sorted. I couldnt feel the wobble without the wheel jacked up because the car is so heavy (compared to my lil' pug205gti anyway) and the handbrake was on, both of which take up the play.

Hopefully when i get this sorted there will be nothing else wrong (i suspect this was the cause of the interrmittant wheel wobble too) and i can enjoy some serious driving. I will also be checking all the other bits and bobs mentioned (shock mounts, boot wiring, ball joints, h-brake) this week.

Then i'll get some new side trims (the M3 ones where nicked) and post some photos cause its in mint condition!

Once again, thanks for the response, i feel in safe hands!

**3050rpm** · 01-23-2007, 03:02 PM

Not to detract from your fun and excitement, but it sounds to me that if the previous owner let things get to that condition, then there are most likely several other things of varying degrees of importance that haven't been tended to. For example, if the parking brake wasn't functioning, then what's the condition of the other brakes and rotors? Brake fluid last changed? Oil changes? Transmission and differential fluids? Cooling system flush, radiator AND block? Hoses? Sparkplugs? Belts? Air filter? Fuel lines and brake lines? P/S fluid? Rear trailing arm bushings? Gee, now that I've made your day with that litany, I'll be exiting, stage right...

nick_318is · 01-23-2007, 03:21 PM

^You make a great point, I think anytime you buy a used car you want to perform all of the recomended maintence and change all fluids to make your ownership more plesent.

**cabs** · 02-05-2007, 03:38 PM

yep i certainly have got a lot of things to do and check! have been reading all the threads, diys and my bently manual, hopefully have it all sorted one day soon, just gotta get all the tools, parts and a weekend or two, i will be changing all fluids and performing all the maintenance tasks, theres a lot to do but i know how rewarding it is when finished, just hope the car runs reliable and nice without the engine or gearbox blowing up for a couple of years! cheers!!