[Yoshimi7su]

Hi all,

Recently purchased my first F30 330D xDrive. Love the car for the most part but I’m experiencing a weird noise that sounds like it’s coming from the gear lever/gearbox area.

It only happens when the car is hot, doesn’t do it at all when the car is cold. I only notice it after driving for about 30 minutes. It’s also only there when in Drive as you can see from the clip I uploaded. First clip is the car stationary and the second is when driving.

Has anyone experienced anything like this before or know what could be causing it? I’m unable to get the car to a garage before Christmas due to work commitments unfortunately.

Thanks all

https://youtube.com/shorts/sLkrjI34k...PaSb-eog1_s28d

https://youtube.com/shorts/uB-mo9HBk...vAsr5yDZEo7Hz6

[Eddamoo]

Does it do it more or less when under acceleration or engine braking?

What happens when you're driving and knock the car into Neutral?

[bishbosh]

I've heard that the handbrake mounting clips in or around the driveshaft tunnel can come loose or break causing a rattle. Might be worth checking those.

[Yoshimi7su]

Originally Posted by Eddamoo

Does it do it more or less when under acceleration or engine braking?

What happens when you're driving and knock the car into Neutral?

Neither accelerating or braking seems to have any effect. I think it made it a little louder when driving over bumpy road leading to my house.

I’ve not tried that yet but will try it tonight.

What I did notice last night is when I parked up on my drive after my usual 35-40 minute commute is that D was popping like usual but i could also hear it very quietly in all the other modes. I’d describe it as D is boiling over, popping and bubbling everywhere and the other modes are quietly simmering but still there. If that makes sense?
Also moving the stick over to manual makes no difference, it pops/bubbles just as it would in D.

[Yoshimi7su]

Originally Posted by bishbosh

I've heard that the handbrake mounting clips in or around the driveshaft tunnel can come loose or break causing a rattle. Might be worth checking those.

Someone did mention that but having watched videos and looked at forums about it the sound isn’t very similar.

[TurboWeasel]

On the move it sounds a bit like a worn out propshaft centre support bearing. In D when stationary, whilst the prop isn't turning, there could be enough drivetrain vibration to wobble the bearing a bit. The propshaft is basically a big tuning fork and any slight play in things will be amplified.

Need to get it on a lift and poke some things about.

[Yoshimi7su]

So turning onto my road tonight, I knocked the car into neutral as it was making the noise and it stopped. Or atleast went quiet enough to be unable to hear it.

Parked up it’s still pretty loud in D and just about there in all the other modes albeit a lot quieter. Lifted the gear surround trim and it definitely sounds like it’s coming from there. Can’t hear anything from outside of the car though, although I did just open the door and lean out.

[TurboWeasel]

Get it on a ramp. You're not going to diagnose it on the internet.

[Yoshimi7su]

Took it to a local Indy garage to give the car a check over and ask them to see if they can find the cause of the noise whilst it was there.

They had it up in the ramp and said everything underneath was nice and tight. Unable to diagnose where it could be coming from.

The hunt continues.