[nkrumins]

Hi everyone,

20K miles on my E90 recently seemed to have developed a grinding/growling noise, especially noticeable when applying brakes while still moving.
Could it be the tires?

[BitStream]

does it make the sound while the engine is running and car is not moving?

if so, i would say brakes .. but you should have had some alert i would imagine

[MythMaker]

I have the same problem with my car and I was told it was the tires. The dealer said they were cupped, but on the forum someone described them better as feathered.

It is quite annoying, but I won't know for sure if that is the problem until I replace my tires, and Im not about to do that at 20k yet.

[longtran]

does it make a sound while taking off really slow?? like 5 mph? i had this problem and it turned out to be my differential. they changed it and the sound went away. bmwNA said there was 2 other e90 did this too.

[e90rocks]

I've noticed on occasion when the brakes were wet with condensation in the morning that they will make a noise when applied at first. Had this with my Honda as well. Usually fine rest of day.

[nkrumins]

Seems to be the tires..gets quite loud just when about to stop. I did not notice it when I first got the car

[KL2DC]

I ve started to notice a slight rough and grinding sensation (felt through the steering wheel) when coasting at 10 mph in stop and go traffic (foot off brake pedal). The grinding is centered in and around 10mph and pretty much goes away under or above that speed. It feels like a metallic grinding. Can't be the brakes as this is felt most when coasting to a stop. I can feel it coming from the front axle. Does anyone have any ideas?? Thanks.

Btw car has 5,800 miles running on 156s (air pressure is normal) and its step...

[Blue330i2006]

Originally Posted by e90rocks

I've noticed on occasion when the brakes were wet with condensation in the morning that they will make a noise when applied at first. Had this with my Honda as well. Usually fine rest of day.

Steel will rust in MINUTES. if high humidity then rotors are "rusted" . Ignor it.

The guy with 20k on it Make the dealer changed the brakes!! It is warrenty and should not be an issue.

[Chesmu]

ive heard that this is a tire issue, particularly if you'v got sport suspension. the tires wear out around 20- 25 K.

[wantmye90]

I have a non-sport 330i with Bridgestone Run Flats. Now I have 10K miles and my car has the exact same symptoms. Loud noise from tires, especially when driving slowly. Sounds and feels as if the axles have no lube.

I friend of mine runs a tire dealership and he looked at them for me. Said they were feathered. He said that if he were to ask Bridgestone to warranty, they would point to an alignment problem.

I pointed out that just a week ago my dealer replaced my steering rack due to looseness (it was warrantied) and said he thought that might suffice to justify my claim.

However, I have been at the dealership on two occasions and have seen other customers come in with the same problem. The service advisors seem to not care and give a bunch of mumbo jumbo til folks give up.

I am going to try my luck tomorrow.

[Zeroday]

wonderful. tire cupping was an issue on my 350z now i have to deal with it on my new bimmer. :woot:

[mikpap]

Tite problem. I have the sport package. At 25K km the noise stared. It get worse by the time. I changed the tires (Continental, 225/45/17) at 44k Km. The noise stopped. The dealer told me that this situation is caused by 3 thinks. First the RFTs are more stiifer than a regular tire. Secondly the caster angle is set in such a manner in order to turn the wheels more acurate and third that I use to drive in high speeds (high average speed) which is true (I usually drive above 140km/h). Now I have the Bridgestones (Potenza RFT) for about 7000km with no problems so far. Didn't change my way of driving too.

[mikpap]

Tire proble...

[wantmye90]

Originally Posted by mikpap

Tite problem. I have the sport package. At 25K km the noise stared. It get worse by the time. I changed the tires (Continental, 225/45/17) at 44k Km. The noise stopped. The dealer told me that this situation is caused by 3 thinks. First the RFTs are more stiifer than a regular tire. Secondly the caster angle is set in such a manner in order to turn the wheels more acurate and third that I use to drive in high speeds (high average speed) which is true (I usually drive above 140km/h). Now I have the Bridgestones (Potenza RFT) for about 7000km with no problems so far. Didn't change my way of driving too.

This is interesting. I have a 330 non-sport with Bridgestone Runflats, now at 10,000 miles and the outer treads of each tire has feathered to the point that they are extremely noisy, especially when stopping.

I asked the dealer today if he thought a warranty was in order and he told me that this wear characteristic was typical of the e90 and some other BMWs. He too mentioned "camber" and "caster" but seemed real nervous so I was thinking he was giving me a bunch of bull.

Anyway, it was real upsetting to me to hear this because I am not to happy with the prospect of having to replace my tires every 10,000 miles just to enjoy a quiet ride>

Any advice?

[steve@trendixinc.com]

Originally Posted by Blue330i2006

Steel will rust in MINUTES. if high humidity then rotors are "rusted" . Ignor it.

The guy with 20k on it Make the dealer changed the brakes!! It is warrenty and should not be an issue.

Agreed. +1

[bimmerstein]

The tire noise becoming unbearable loud when going at speed below 55mi. Took it in on Friday and my dealer confirmed all four tires were feathered and agreed to pay for two tires. However, they recommended alignment to be performed on four corners, which costs $140. Should I go for it? My question is how could it be off alignment if the wheels never banged anything or ran over deep potholes. Could this be a mis-calibration at the factory?

[hunt55]

Originally Posted by bimmerstein

The tire noise becoming unbearable loud when going at speed below 55mi. Took it in on Friday and my dealer confirmed all four tires were feathered and agreed to pay for two tires. However, they recommended alignment to be performed on four corners, which costs $140. Should I go for it? My question is how could it be off alignment if the wheels never banged anything or ran over deep potholes. Could this be a mis-calibration at the factory?

I dealt with the feathering problem on the 06 325i at 21K miles. Bridgestone replaced my tires as my dealer and BMW would do nothing. So your dealer was helpful. Yes get the alignment and ask for a printe out before and after the alignment.

[UncleWede]

Hunt55, how did you get Bridgestone to replace?!!!! I've got 19K and the dealer said I was feathered on all four corners, even the relatively new (5K?) one that I had to replace due to a screw in the side tread patch?
When I spoke to the tech yesterday he emphatically nodded when I said no more RFT. I know the tire techs HATE Fix-a-Flat, but that may be where I'm headed.

[teknochild]

Originally Posted by Zeroday

wonderful. tire cupping was an issue on my 350z now i have to deal with it on my new bimmer. :woot:

exactly what i was thinking, that was what i was originally looking at but i converted, hope its not a problem w/ the coupe