320d e90 lci vibration. Please help

[Diesel]

On the day of changing the engine mountings the vibration was still present. After about 200km the vibration cut down by 60% from what is was. It is less on the steering wheel and more in the seats. I have now done about 2000km. I can avoid the vibration by using less throttle or sport mode or kick down. My only option now is wait for something to break then I'll know what's causing it.

 

[sash]

Personally, I would have changed both engine and gearbox mountings at the same time. Changing one might just point out the others weakness.

 

[Waseem 333i]

If the guibo or propshaft is faulty you would feel the vibration with speed. In your case its with rpm. Normally vibration damper wouldn't be felt, usually heard. Its a tough one to find. You might need to do trial and error. What if you strap it to a dyno to have load to the motor and try see if the motor is vibrating or pulleys running straight and try somehow to check flywheel

 

[Diesel]

I forgot to mention that I did the gearbox service after about 1000km after changing the engine mountings. Great service from Ricardo at ZF Durban. No faults and the oil was still clean. Ricardo did a visual inspection of the gearbox mountings and said they still look new. Thanks for your suggestions guys I'll look into them just need to find the time.

 

[Diesel]

I've changed the gearbox mounting with oem. Done about 2000km and no difference. Sorry guys for not updating as I've been busy at work. December and January is our busiest and we don't close at all.

 

[Diesellover]

Lovely looking vehicle. Sorry about the troubles bud.

 

[Cornel]

You must remember that your car maked 432odd nm on the wheels. And the box is only rated at 420nm. So the 1st 3 gears on the box is the issue. This means that the tuner needs to limit the torque in the first 3 gears. This was one of my main reasons why I went over to RK Motion. My car did the same when I was FR&R tuned.
Then I can also give you a rule of thumb. This is what we do not to brake our boxes.
When I drive in D, I drive normally. About 50-60% max throttle only. I don't use the "kick down" function in D. That can damage the box as you putting to much torque through to early (at to low rpm)
When I'm in S, that's when I will go 100%.
Same in Manual. BUT we don't hammer it under 2000rpm.
So when I'm on a open road and I drive 80km/h behind a truck, I will move the lever over to manual and gear back so that my rpm is higher than 2500. That way I'm not send all of my torque through so early.

Maybe the box weakness is down low as well? I don't know.

This is what I think what's wrong don't know if it can be though. But it might be that your flywheel got damaged? Maybe some of the gurus can comment on that statement?

Also a tune can show faults on your car quicker as you pushing it past limits.

I see you stay in Durbs. Take your car to Ricardo from RK Motion, let him drive it and have a feel of it. Find out from him what he's advice will be!

I can honestly say that as long as I drive a diesel, My cars will stay in RK Motion group! No one will ever touch my cars again!

Keep us updated!

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I know if your vibration damping pulley is on its way out, it will start by making a noise. Don't know if this vibration is caused by it.

 

[Diesel]

Thanks Cornel for the advice and explanation. I'll have to remember not to use kickdown but rather S mode. Will try to get to Ricardo next week as I'm back at work tomorrow for 6 days day shift.

 

[AndreX]

Howzit mate

i noticed the same on my car if i pull away on a incline and it strains the engine but mine is caused by hitting some &(*&*($#&*(#$^$# on the N12 i hit it so hard i lost a runflat and cracked 2 rims and ended up bending the top strut

according to my mech thats what causes my vibration

maybe have it checked out at a Tiger wheel and Tyre they should notice if its caused by something related to the wheel area

this could be completely off im just going off of what they told me:dunnoanymore:

Hope you get it sorted:thumbs:

 

[Diesel]

Hi Andre. It's not suspension related as the car drives well no noises over bumps and stable at speeds.

Anyway noticed coolant on garage floor so it seems there's a leak that I need to attend to urgently. From what I can see it's from the bottom of the expansion tank.

 

[Ddoooooon]

looks good , hope you get the issue sorted

 

[Diesel]

Thanks. I did top off coolant two weeks ago but didn't notice this. There was more and some was dried up. I cleaned it up and this is after one day. Hope it's not serious. The expansion tank is about R2000 from bmw. My mechanic will look into it tomorrow.

 

[Diesel]

Just got the expansion tank changed today. Total cost R2800. Will monitor it for the next couple of days.

 

[Diesel]

Coolant tank changed. Costs about R3000. No leak so far. I spoke to Keithan yesterday and he advised that I take the car to Ricardo. He's very helpful and explained that software wouldn't cause a vibration and it must be hardware related. I'll be going to see Ricardo on Saturday. Thanks guys for your help.

 

[Cornel]

Coolant tank changed. Costs about R3000. No leak so far. I spoke to Keithan yesterday and he advised that I take the car to Ricardo. He's very helpful and explained that software wouldn't cause a vibration and it must be hardware related. I'll be going to see Ricardo on Saturday. Thanks guys for your help.

I told you in my pm that you must take it to Ricardo. Don't play around.

 

[SubLoaded]

Coolant tank changed. Costs about R3000. No leak so far. I spoke to Keithan yesterday and he advised that I take the car to Ricardo. He's very helpful and explained that software wouldn't cause a vibration and it must be hardware related. I'll be going to see Ricardo on Saturday. Thanks guys for your help.

I told you in my pm that you must take it to Ricardo. Don't play around.

We all bras here Keagan :roflol:

 

[Diesel]

I went to see Ricardo today and took him for a test drive so he can experience the vibration for himself and advise. Guess what the car refused to do it. Tried it about 3 times. The first time it just went through the rpm range without any vibration. The second and third attempt it dropped down to 5th. Ricardo explained to me that the xhp gearbox flash may or not help with the vibration. After reading all the good things about RK motion from u guys I've made up my mind and will be changing my software. If the vibration is still present then I will do the xhp gearbox software. Ricardo was very helpful and he explained alot of things to me. The date is set for the 19 February. Thanks

 

[ntuthuko]

Got the same vibration after loading software as well check mountings , changed vibration damper fully and the guibo but I still have that vibration my mechanic showed me that there's two guibos one after the gearbox and one before the diff, tried everything can't get rid of it.

 

[Cornel]

I went to see Ricardo today and took him for a test drive so he can experience the vibration for himself and advise. Guess what the car refused to do it. Tried it about 3 times. The first time it just went through the rpm range without any vibration. The second and third attempt it dropped down to 5th. Ricardo explained to me that the xhp gearbox flash may or not help with the vibration. After reading all the good things about RK motion from u guys I've made up my mind and will be changing my software. If the vibration is still present then I will do the xhp gearbox software. Ricardo was very helpful and he explained alot of things to me. The date is set for the 19 February. Thanks

Lekker bud. Always how it works. Once you want someone to hear the noise or feel the vibration, then there will be nothing wrong with the car.
You'll enjoy the RK file alot! With gearbox flash makes a moerse difference!

 

[Diesel]

Ricardo came over to my house and removed the ecu to work his magic. About 3 hours later he fitted it and we went for a test drive. Ricardo did not have a 320d file to copy from nor did Keithan so he made adjustments to the original file. He also stated that the file was aggressive so he had to turn the boost down and adjust the fueling. On the test drive the vibration was still present and he said it's the torque. We then decided that we will do the xhp gearbox flash on Thursday. The car now revs up a little faster and is smoother across the rev range. Had a chance to dyno her at Rally Cross Motors on Umgeni road today and the results are 144wkw and 425 nm. I'm happy with the results. A big Thank You to Ricardo and all u guys for your help. I really appreciate it.