Hi,
Just recently I've noticed a droning noise that sounds like it's
coming from the rear of my car. The frequency of the noise picks up
with speed and is unrelated to engine speed. It's not a grinding and
I can hear it pretty much all the time while I'm moving.
I've checked the tyre pressures and they seem to be OK.
Thinking it could be a wheel bearing, I have also jacked up both rear
wheels and rocked the wheels top/bottom and side/side but could not
feel any play there at all.
The noise does seem to reduce when I turn the car to the left when
driving along, but noise seems to stay the same when I turn to the
right.
Has anyone any thoughts on what else I could check or what the noise
may be coming from? Could it still be the wheel bearing although
there's no free play? My car is a BMW 330D SE Touring (MY2000) with
160,000 miles.
All feedback greatly appreciated, thanks!
Marc
Tom Wright - 27 Dec 2007 13:17 GMT
> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> Marc
I have had similar noises caused by normal tire wear. I thought it was
a wheel bearing also, but the noise didn't go away until I changed the
tires.
Try swapping the front and rear tires and see if the noise moves with
the tires.
Tom
Jack - 27 Dec 2007 19:59 GMT
> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> Marc
I have experienced a similar noise (like snow tires on a pickup truck) from
a failing front wheel bearing.
I have also had a rear wheel bearing fail but without this noise.
The bearing has to be pretty far gone to produce noticeable free play.
RustY© - 27 Dec 2007 22:58 GMT
> Hi,
>
> Just recently I've noticed a droning noise that sounds like it's
> coming from the rear of my car.
> The noise does seem to reduce when I turn the car to the left when
> driving along, .....
This sounds like the left rear wheel bearing has gone.
Jeff Strickland - 27 Dec 2007 23:24 GMT
Sounds like wheel bearings to me.
I suggest that any wheel bearing be replaced in an "axle set." I would never
replace one wheel bearing unless I was selling the car and did not care
about the welfare of any potential buyer. (Since I care about the welfare of
others, I would never replace just one wheel bearing.)
> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> Marc
pheonix1t@gmail.com - 28 Dec 2007 04:39 GMT
> Sounds like wheel bearings to me.
>
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
>
> > Marc
Hi Marc,
I just went through similar thing. turned out the bushings were worn
out (front and rear). On bmw's the bushings need to get changed more
often than other cars (i've had american and japanese).
How is your tire wear? Look for the inside of the tires wearing out
first. The noise comes from tires (poor alignment).
hope this helps,
Oskar
MarcCarney7@googlemail.com - 30 Dec 2007 15:52 GMT
I've swapped the rear tyres now, so they're new at the back with
correct pressures. Unfortunately the noise persists!
Marc
Scott Dorsey - 30 Dec 2007 18:25 GMT
>I've swapped the rear tyres now, so they're new at the back with
>correct pressures. Unfortunately the noise persists!
Jack up the back end and start wiggling and turning. Odds are you will
find it's just a bad bearing.
--scott

Signature
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
RustY© - 31 Dec 2007 22:15 GMT
> I've swapped the rear tyres now, so they're new at the back with
> correct pressures. Unfortunately the noise persists!
>
> Marc
It's time to replace the rear left wheel bearings...........
adder1969 - 02 Jan 2008 11:36 GMT
> Sounds like wheel bearings to me.
>
> I suggest that any wheel bearing be replaced in an "axle set." I would never
> replace one wheel bearing unless I was selling the car and did not care
> about the welfare of any potential buyer. (Since I care about the welfare of
> others, I would never replace just one wheel bearing.)
If you have two cars do you replace the bearings on the other car too?
MarcCarney7@googlemail.com - 28 Jan 2008 14:28 GMT
Apologies getting back to this, but the noise was easily sorted.
As suspected, it was the near side wheel bearing. It was been
replaced easily by a local specialist for about £138.
The noise has completely gone away and the car back to full health
again!
Cheers Chaps!