Differential / Transmission / Transfer Case / or Overhaul?

[kevnmurphy]

Forgive me as I have to have a long intro to help explain and hopefully help rule out some answers. With that being said, there is a clicking noise coming from under the dash. I tried explaining it in this previous post, http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/47449-clicking-noise-what-suprise.html but now I have more insight since then.

Explanation of clicking noise, if you want to just read the question, skip a couple paragraphs.The clicking noise appears while I am coasting (in gear) from about 10 to 30 MPH. When going over 30, there must be some centrifugal force for it to go away. You can only hear it from inside the car with all the windows up and in the front seats. The clicking noise does go away when going 10 to 30 MPH when I put the car in neutral. It also goes away when I start to break or to give it some gas.

The work that I had done to try and solve the noise. Before the clicking, I had the right CV boot, control arm bushings, and an alignment done. So after having the previous work done, my mechanic (who I trust and is very good to me) thought it might be the front left axle. Well I just had it replaced, and the clicking noise is still there. Thankfully he didn’t charge me for the labor as they didn’t fix the problem, but the axle was partially bad as he did show it to me.

So with all of this going on, my mechanic thought it could be the wheel bearing or the wheel flange. But when speaking with him we both felt that it couldn’t be that if the noise goes away when putting it in neutral while coasting. Then that lead us to possibly the differential, transmission, or the transfer case. But I think that it might not be the transmission or differential because the noise goes away when there is either no load (neutral) or light load (brakes and gas) at all. The only other thing that I can think of, is that maybe there is something in the ABS sensor because under 70% braking from 20 to 0, there seems to be some wheel chatter or the ABS engages in the front left.

Question. So is it the transmission, differential, transfer case, ABS, or something even worse?

I am sorry for the crazy long story, but this seems to be a unique condition. I am just trying to research all I can, as well as my mechanic is doing the same.

I thank you all very much for taking the time to read this long post. I also thank you all very much for giving me any insight into this mess.

[kevnmurphy]

After more research and thinking, I think I can rule out the ABS sensors and most likely the transmission.

If any of you have had transfer case problems, could you please share them with me?

Thanks again.

[kevnmurphy]

Anyone with anything? I could really use some help with this one.
Thanks.

[spamking98]

Hey Kev, I wish I coiuld help but i haven't had that problem yet...does it effect the driving as to the point where you really feel the difference.. ?? If you didnt have that noise before you took it to the mechanic then you should take it back to him and have him fix it... Its almost similar to what I did... I took my X to a shop that a friend recommended which he said specializes in just BMWS and Minis and I had them do my cv boots and service II inspection. The next day I pickup up the X from the shop and while I was driving home I noticed that my brakes made a swishing noise as if their was air trapped in the brake line, I didnt notice until I rolled my windows up and stepped on the brakes... So now I have to take it back to them and have them inspect it...They said they never touched the brakes but inorder to get to the cv boots they would have to remove the brakes right... This sound was definetely not their before I took it to them.. So I know how you feel, so my advice is put the blame where it should be.. Dont be too nice, because nice guys finish last...

[kevnmurphy]

Thanks for the advice. I did go in there and say "the sound wasn't there before" and I think that is why they gave me free labor on the axle. But maybe I could never hear the noise before, and now that I got the control arm bushing and an alignment done, that it made the noise louder so I could hear it.
I do have a hard time believing that, but if it really is a transfer case or differential problem, then none of the stuff they did would result in damaging those parts.
It is a hard situation, especially when I do not know what is causing the problem.
Anyways, thanks again for the advice, I will probably go in there again and talk to them about this.