[MrSilverwing]

Hey guys, I drive a 2007 E93 335i and I have a noise that's driving me crazy! I've looked at everything from air filters to wheel bearings to the rear deck lid to the rear seat latch. I hear this fluttering/squeaking noise coming from the driver's side rear wheel area only when driving between 0-40mph over moderate to bumpy roads, top up or top down.

Car rides on aftermarket 19"s with wheel spacers. Any ideas?

[MrSilverwing]

Anyone?

[racermp]

Does it change when you slightly press brakes?

[MrSilverwing]

Not really. I had the squeaky brake sensors a while back. This is different. Occurs during acceleration, coasting, and braking.

[kaybat]

wild guess: parking brake cable.whatever it is, good luck.

[MrSilverwing]

I found one video on Youtube with symptoms similar to mine but with no further info in the comments. This noise has been bothering me for a few months and my mechanic couldn't replicate it, but I hear it every time I drive.

[MrSilverwing]

I'm pretty sure I can rule out the following:

-Wheel bearings (since it's not a grinding noise as seen in videos.)
-Brake Sensors (noise is different, also it's from back left wheel, not back right where the sensor is)

It's more like something is lose/jiggling. I don't notice any mechanical difference while driving. Anyone have any ideas?

[djh2]

I had a friend with an e46 convertible, she had a rattling sound like this. It ended up being a broken spring so the rattling sound was a loose part of the coil in the mount if I recall correctly.

It might be worth looking into mechanical components on the suspension, worn bushing etc.

[MrSilverwing]

Originally Posted by djh2

I had a friend with an e46 convertible, she had a rattling sound like this. It ended up being a broken spring so the rattling sound was a loose part of the coil in the mount if I recall correctly.

It might be worth looking into mechanical components on the suspension, worn bushing etc.

Thanks djh2!

I've been driving lately with no music and my windows all the way down so I try and spot the location and I definitely believe it's suspension related. It only comes from that corner of the car, and it happens with the top up or down, so I know it's not the convertible top. The sound isn't a squeak, it's a mechanical flutter, like bats in an attic.

So new potential causes are:
-Shock mount/bushing
-Shock
-Broken Spring

Anyone else want to chime in?

[X_Drive]

Check your vacuum hoses from the Pressure converter to the exhaust flap. I have had a few cars that had damage to the hose(i.e. cracking, rodents, rocks) and make that awful noise. It's a free and easy check. It sounds crazy, but I went crazy isolating a noise like this and it was a leak in vacuum system in the exhaust flap circuit.

[MrSilverwing]

Originally Posted by X_Drive

Check your vacuum hoses from the Pressure converter to the exhaust flap. I have had a few cars that had damage to the hose(i.e. cracking, rodents, rocks) and make that awful noise. It's a free and easy check. It sounds crazy, but I went crazy isolating a noise like this and it was a leak in vacuum system in the exhaust flap circuit.

I'll look into it! Crazy how many possibilities there are with this one noise. I honestly thought it was the wheel spacers but then I realized this has been occurring for longer than I've had them.

So new potential causes are:
-Shock mount/bushing
-Shock
-Broken Spring
-Vacuum Hose (Pressure Converter to Exhaust Flap)

[Laserdude]

Off topic but I love your car I have an 07 e93 335 and I'm jealous of you lol

[MrSilverwing]

Originally Posted by Laserdude

Off topic but I love your car I have an 07 e93 335 and I'm jealous of you lol

Thanks Laserdude! I wanted a black one like yours and was originally disappointed that it was more than the SG one I eventually bought!

So new potential causes are:
-Shock mount/bushing
-Shock
-Broken Spring
-Sway Bar Bushing new theory that seems to fit the problem.

When I have time later this week or next week I'm going to take it to my shop with this laundry list of potential causes and tell them to get to work! I wish I had a lift in my garage so I could figure it out myself.

[Carlman3]

Not sure if you ever worked this out, 9 years ago... But I have an e93, 2009 328i.
It makes this little chirping squeaking noise as you've described it's very high pitched. Sounds like metal to metal to me. It only makes the noise while driving over slightly bumpy roads. Well they're really smooth but the slightest undulations make this little chirp.
I made a recording, I can hear it because I'm listening for it, but I'm not sure how clear it will be to others... But here's the link:
https://recorder.google.com/3b008bb8...d-1b9e8c3f0b37

If anyone has any ideas I'm 'all ears'...

[oVeRdOsE.]

on my case it was the rotor dust shield. The rust around the bolt made it loose and it was grinding in the inner rotor.

Got some stainless washer and it was fixed.