BMW E60 530d Vibration

[Captain Chaos]

I am at my whit's end with my E60 530d Auto. I started getting a rhythmic vibration between 60 and 80 km/h at a steady speed. It even tickles my hands on the steering wheel. When I let off the accelerator, all goes away. Vibrations are worst between 1200 and 1500 RPM. Don't feel any abnormal vibrations when accelerating fast. At a steady 35 to 40 km/h it is by far the worst!

I've changed engine mounts, transmission mounts, new flex disc aka Guibo and new centre support bearing. CV joint at the end of the propshaft is smooth with no binding at all. The U joint just after the centre support bearing is buttery smooth with no binding or play. Only items remaining are the two side shafts CV joints. There is no play in them at all, and no clicking noises.

I'm open to any suggestions at the stage. Don't really feel like reloading the parts cannon all over again........

 

[husaindindar]

Buddy...

So you need to identify if the vibrations are engine speed related or wheel speed related.

Between 60-80kn/h if you put the gearbox in manual mode and gear up/down. If vibrations go away at same road speed but different engine speed, then its coming from the engine.
If the vibrations stay, then its after the gearbox (Prop/Diff/Quibo/U joints/CB).



I had an issue on one of my E90's long ago. Had vibrations at 90-110km/h under acceleration only. Turns out it was the U Joint at the back of the prop, by the diff.
Recon'd the prop and it never helped. Had to get another used one. IMO, refurbs of the prop never works.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Buddy...

So you need to identify if the vibrations are engine speed related or wheel speed related.

Between 60-80kn/h if you put the gearbox in manual mode and gear up/down. If vibrations go away at same road speed but different engine speed, then its coming from the engine.
If the vibrations stay, then its after the gearbox (Prop/Diff/Quibo/U joints/CB).



I had an issue on one of my E90's long ago. Had vibrations at 90-110km/h under acceleration only. Turns out it was the U Joint at the back of the prop, by the diff.
Recon'd the prop and it never helped. Had to get another used one. IMO, refurbs of the prop never works.

Appreciate the feedback. I'll check tonight by changing to manual mode and see what happens. Guibo, CSB have been replaced this week. U joint is perfect with no play or noises.

 

[Solo Man]

I had a lot of issues with one of my old F30 320d's and one of the issues was a "shuddering" in the driveline when accelerating. I eventually after changing flex discs, centre bearing, engine mounts, gearbox mounts, that the main issue was from the driveshaft itself being not in a straight line from the gearbox output to the diff. The gearbox and diff is supposed to be sort of parallel to each other, meaning that the angle of the driveshaft at the gearbox should be the same as at the diff. I tried my best with spacers under the centre bearing carrier to get the driveshaft as straight as possible. This cancelled out about 99% of the vibrations. I can only think that this happened because i changed the centre bearing simultaneously with the flex discs and i could have installed the centre bearing carrier the wrong way as its flanges are not in the centre of the carrier but offset. I changed it around but still had to spacer it to align the driveshaft. I did the alignment by stretching some fishline parallel to the driveshaft and measuring the distance from the driveshaft to the fishline at the diff and at the gearbox and then spacer the carrier bearing to line up with the diff and gearbox. It worked for me.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Sorry for only replying back now. I did what Huseindindar suggested. Manually gearing down when doing between 60 and 80 Km/h makes the vibration go away. As long as I avoid 1200 rpm to 1500 rpm, there is no vibration felt. The rhythmic vibration is felt through the steering wheel. This slowly started in October last year. It has not become worse, just more annoying........

I replaced engine mounts and transmission mounts last month. Old engine mounts were done for. Also, as stated in my first post, Flexdisc and CSB was replaced last week. I removed the propshaft and checked the U joint for any stiffness. No problems with the U joint at all. The CV joint at the back of the propshaft was removed, cleaned, inspected and regreased. There is absolutely no play in the drivetrain from the guibo up to the rear wheels.

I think it must be something engine or gearbox related. A friend of mine who was a production manager at the VW factory mentioned that it can be a torque converter. Gearbox changes smoothly. When holding the car against the brakes in Drive, I can rev the engine up to a max of 1500 rpm. No vibrations at all. I know it's not good to do that. Did it once and quick.

I really don't want to take my 530d to the stealership.

 

[General.Massacre]

Check your front lower control arms bushing (Thrust arm) they can wear, and cause this issue so have it replaced, also common on the F series.

 

[husaindindar]

Sound now like its Engine/Gearbox related...
Same speed, different RPM's make the vibrations go away.


Could be torque convertor, if the engine/gearbox mounts are fine. This now starting to sound like a rabbot hole. Maybe ZF can help you out with a diagnosis.

 

[Captain Chaos]

My gearbox was serviced about two years ago in George by GBS gearbox services. They sent the torque converter away to All-O-Matic in JHB for a rebuild. I was experiencing an oscillating rev counter around 60km/h. Was fluctuating by around 200 RPM.

Funny story, it still does it, but only when the cruise control is active.

Maybe my car just does not like driving slow.........

 

[Captain Chaos]

Check your front lower control arms bushing (Thrust arm) they can wear, and cause this issue so have it replaced, also common on the F series.

They are all new. Front and back. Also replaced all 4 shocks