X5 shaking badly when accelerating on low speeds
 

Greetings all,
I been having an issue with my 2002 X5 for few months and I been to at least 8 different shops and no one could tell me what is wrong.
The problem is that the vehicle shakes very badly on speeds between 20-30 MPH especially if I am going uphill. It also shakes on other speeds but most noticeably between 20-30 MPH. When I try to accelerate steadily between those speeds the whole front end shakes. When I release the throttle or accelerate faster the shaking will decrease quickly.

I changed the left front axle, drive shaft, transfer case and the transmission fluid right before this started happening.

I also did the following trying to fix it but no success:

Changed the right front axle.
Changed all front control arms.
Changed sub frame bushings.
Nothing seems to fix it and even BMW Dealers can’t find the issue.
Any suggestions? I’m getting so sick of chasing down this issue.
Thanks in advance guys.

What was the reason for replacing drive shaft?

Are these factory wheels you are on? Had them checked for bends?

Because it fell off when I was driving.

No they are aftermarket but I put the factory ones back on to check and still I had the same problem.

I had the same problem with my 2003 3.0. Put the vehicle on a lift and turn the left front wheel by hand. Now turn the right front wheel by hand. Which one seems tighter. The one that does, change the brake caliper.

Do you think the brake caliber is involved even while accelerating ?

Check the front + rear guibo rubbers between driveshaft and diffs.

Can be motor mounts, when were the original wheels last balanced?

Also you replaced one cv axle, maybe left one is out of spec causing it as well.

From what you descrive though my buddy had same issue, probably motor mnts.

I balanced my wheels like 5 times in the last year. I change both CV axles, but axle I used in the left was refurbished from NAPA and I am afraid it is the one that has an issue.

I would look into those motor mounts.

I would say that new drive shaft could very well off balance ,where did You get it ?

Likely to be a bad wheel bearing. Jack the car up and grab each wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock.. if there is any play, the wheel bearing is bad.

Or just go up to 40 mph and if you hear WW2 bomber drone it's a bad wheel bearing. Mine didn't cause any vibrations through just noise

^Good suggestion on the driveshaft. Motor mounts is another good idea.

Edit: RB one of my e30's has that whine badly. Sounds like a B17 in every WWII movie ever... lol. Replacing both front wheel hubs w/ bearings in the near future.

+2 for Engine Mounts. Caused a similar problem in mine that went away when they were replaced.

So what did it end up being?
I bought my Diesel X5 a few months ago and I've noticed this is happening to me also.. Not all the time but more often than not..

Just had the wheels balanced and he said only the front right needed a 10g weight.. Which was hardly any and wouldn't have been noticeable.. So engine mounts you say? I drove it today and no problems.. Its weird that it's not consistent as I'd expect it to be if if were something like the engine mounts..

I've noticed it happens occasionally under braking too.. I checked the discs and calipers and they're all fine so maybe I'll check the caster bushes next time I'm under there and see what I should order to try and fix this before it gets worse...

Calipers can lock up and still allow you to drive, makes an awful vibration and can create a bounce in the front end. I had to replace both brake lines in front and then the right side froze so bad I had to replace the caliper. They were remans: put on about 60K, lasted through two brake changes.