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[Veritable]

Echoing this thread: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=680686, this past Wednesday I had the exact same thing happen to my 10500km mileage 2011 M3. I didn't find that thread when I searched for the iDrive error messages, though, nor have I found anyone else with the same problem... until now.

Symptom: I was driving on the highway, smooth road, steady 100km/h speed, when I heard and felt a couple of rubbing-like noise and feel from the rear wheel well. BMW chassis, being as communicative as they are, I could feel it was the left rear.

Then, these lights came on in the instrument cluster and also in iDrive:





The car seemingly drove fine, and I could not see anything wrong with the rear suspension by visual inspection. Other than the error messages stating I have no DSC nor ABS (and I wasn't about to find out for myself whether or not both are true), the DCT would up-shift automatically from 1st to 2nd at 3k RPM. All other gears seemed fine, but I usually upshift at 3k rpm anyways, and did not exceed them for the 75km or so that I put on the car with these errors present.

Got the car back today after one day and night at the dealership. Yep, wheel bearing, left rear. Here's the work sheet:



Specifically, 2, 3, and 4 in this diagram:



In this link: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...33&fg=40&hl=25

The SA obviously couldn't really explain to me what happened to it or what it does, exactly, so hopefully you guys can shed some light on the matter. Everything was covered under warranty so I'm mostly just hoping to pick up some knowledge about my car here.

[tibra1]

I literally spent 5 hours today at the dealer while they changed my rear left wheel bearing..My car is also a 2011 with only 5k miles...I spoke with the tech who was actually an older gent..very experienced and he basically told me this is most likely defective from the factory b/c a bearing is not supposed to fail with such low miles..he also did not say anything about my spacers and was kind enough to remove and re-install it

OP are you running spacers?

[mdosu]

is it me, or does initial quality seem to have suffered quite a bit in the 2011 and 2012 models? I always see issue pop up for recent models vs the number for 2008-09. Or is it b/c there are simply more 2011 and 2012 models out there?

Not a scientific observation.

[Veritable]

Originally Posted by tibra1

OP are you running spacers?

Nope. Only mod on the car is 10mm wider tires front and rear. I believe the 2008 car referenced in the other thread was running spacers.

My own 2008 didn't have such issue in the 3 years and about 40k km that I've owned it. Though, I've been to the drag strip once with the 2011, did 7 runs (only one Launch Control, though, and one DSC OFF; remaining 5 runs were MDM). Thread here: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=676441

I've also dyno'ed the 2011. Never did either with the 2008.

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by Veritable

Nope. Only mod on the car is 10mm wider tires front and rear. I believe the 2008 car referenced in the other thread was running spacers.

My own 2008 didn't have such issue in the 3 years and about 40k km that I've owned it. Though, I've been to the drag strip once with the 2011, did 7 runs (only one Launch Control, though, and one DSC OFF; remaining 5 runs were MDM). Thread here: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=676441

I've also dyno'ed the 2011. Never did either with the 2008.

Yea that interesting so maybe there is some credibilty to a defective batch ..

Did you notice less noise after? Inside the car before I heard this constant hum coming from that the rear left wheel..I just kept driving and then the lights lit my dash like x-mas tree ...now its whisper quiet

[bigjae1976]

No wheel bearing issues here. I'm wondering if the Sir b90 tool still works for the E9x?

[gblansten]

Sorry this happened to you but great write up in case this happens to others.

[Brainofjjj]

Happened to me as well on my 11 after installing springs. Don't see how a spring install could damage a bearing but that was the diagnosis.
BTW, not covered under warranty because of the springs.

[Nine]

Originally Posted by gblansten

Sorry this happened to you but great write up in case this happens to others.

[QOM39Z]

Confirming ive had the same error lights occur on my 2008 m3 6spd with 48k on the clock. Its my daily drive. It ended up being the abs hydraulic pump/motor. $5k AUD to have repaired as the part was 4500. BMW AG came to the party and went me 50 50 in the replacement as its out of warranty but shouldnt occur with such low mileage. Thought id share with you all.

[quads]

I just had the EXACT same problem in my 2011 e90 m3, codes and all. They fixed it under warranty - it was drivers side rear. 32k miles on the clock.

[surlynkid]

bad bearing from the start. a sealed bearing like that does not go in 10K miles.

[apecush]

These bearings could have to do with how the cars were shipped. If you strap only the wheels during shipping, it is possible to damage the bearings (known as false brinelling) and significantly reduce their operating life.

[HapaM3]

What's the cost to replace a wheel bearing? My rear bearing is howling like a wolf on a full moon night.

[Rajmun340]

I'm reviving this thread. I have a background sound of constant metallic grinding from the drivetrain (very low pitch bass like) and a bit of that helicopter sound (woo-woo-woo-woo etc..) typical of a bad wheel bearing.

My problems is that :
- there are no error codes read or warnings at all (maybe it has not reached that failure stage yet ?). It's been there for months. Came progressively.

- cannot really tell by ear if it comes from the rear or the front axle but it's clearly from the drivetrain and proportional to wheel rotation only. Swerving to change load from side to side in the front does not alter the noise, which points to the rear axle.

I am going to try to record the sound but it won't be easy since it's covered by the engine.

[doogee]

Originally Posted by mdosu

is it me, or does initial quality seem to have suffered quite a bit in the 2011 and 2012 models? I always see issue pop up for recent models vs the number for 2008-09. Or is it b/c there are simply more 2011 and 2012 models out there?

Not a scientific observation.

BMW did some major cost cutting on 11's and 12's.

Vinyl sunvisors, no more felt on the window seals, stopped painting windshield trim, plastic C pillar trim in some vehicles.