Drunk and wobbly X5!
 

Hi everyone. First post and trust me to make it a problem!

I have a really strange problem that nobody in the world seems to have experienced - or so it seems.

When driving - at any speed, any gear (normal auto or sport mode), straight or round bends, my X shudders. It feels like it is wiggling side to side, kinda like it would if it was a buckled wheel - except it isnt!

Its driving me nuts! It comes and goes, although i cant seems to drive or steer out of it. Nothing in particular brings it on. It actually makes me feels nauseous!

I've been to specialists, dealers, and nobody has a clue what it is. Ive balanced the wheels and been told it could be a variety of things from an x-drive problem in the transfer box to front suspension bushes...... yet nobody can guarantee that it will cure it after i've spent the money! We all know that the stealerships will have no problem emptying my wallet. i'm at my wits end, surely somebody out there must have had the same problem?

Incidentally, BayMoW BMW specialists in Hazel Grove, Stockport (thats in England UK) have tried allsorts and not charged a penny for their services as they cant find a solution. I have never experienced such fantastic customer service in my 20 years driving. Shame there aren't more like them out there......


HHHHEEEEEELLLLPPPP!!!!!!

Jason C.

Hmmmm. could be a number of things. I'd start with your control arm bushings, then your sway bar links and then possibly your struts. Another possibility is your rotors or wheel bearings.

Good Luck

how about frozen/stuck brake caliper? happened to me before...

good luck!

You are just hunting ghosts and that sucks.:(

My brother always says when some sh*t like this happens, to start with the cheap stuff.

Something like this happend to my Dad's car. Turns out, :D when I slid off the ice around a corner and over a curb or two an axle got bent. :dunno:

My sister had this happen as well, it turned out to be one of the tires! The belts were beginning to seperate in one spot on one tire!!! The shop said it happens more often than you think.

I dont kno if the X has a harmonic balancer or not, but when I had a mustang I went through 3 harmonic balancers due to a faulty spark plug wire. The symptoms were the same as yours. Mine rattled and shook when still but would balance itself out when I drove; as soon as I slowed down it would shake like crazy!!!

If your truck is an 04 or newer it sounds like the x-drive actuator acting up. If you are indeed an 04 or newer try unplugging the electric motor hanging off the drivers side of the transfer case then driving again. If that fixes you, you might need a t-case.

I've had the tyres checked, no idea about a harmonic balancer, but it is an 04 so i'm gonna go and give this electric doo dah on the transfer box a go!
Thanks for all ur help, it really is driving me crazy!

Hey guys, quick update. I un plugged the electrical lead off the transfer box and it worked!!!! Wobble gone!!!! Cheers Weasel, i owe u a beer!
So what the hell was it? If i plug it back in it comes back. Its a bosch motor, looks a bit like a wiper motor? Oh and my dsc light is on permanently now......
Am i doing the car damage by driving without it plugged in? After all its there for a resaon!

Good advice! It worked for the owner. I would have thought separated tread.

That motor is the electric motor that activates the transfer case clutches that send power to the front wheels. So with the motor unplugged the clutches are unloaded and you are essentially a rear wheel drive X5 at the time. That is also why the DSC light is on. The cause of the shudder is most likely the clutches in the t-case worn, and if you are under warranty the dealer would replace the t-case. If you are not under warranty, you may be able to get it goodwilled.

Here's a page from the training manual that shows the basic operation:

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r.../xdrive016.jpg