[Golden_Ray]

My car is a 2006 E90 325i with a 6M/T and has 85k miles, and I noticed a ticking noise at low speeds every time I push or take my foot off the gas pedal. The noise is high pitched and comes from the back, in the first, second and some times third gear. Other than that the car drives perfect!

Does anyone have the same problem? Did anyone experience any thing like this and got it fixed? Please let me know what you know...

I took it to a mechanic shop and at first they thought it was the breaks, I insisted it wasn't the breaks and after a little more driving they figured out it was the rear end. They checked some forum and they found that all it needed was some grease, and it said that the rear end doesn't need to be replaced.
considering the high cost they quoted to fix the problem I decided to get it checked some where else. The second shop was also a German car specialist. Right away, the old German mechanic said the noise was rear end related and that it might be the deferential. They lifted the car and checked, and they finally said that the rear end deferential was a little loose and was moving more than it is supposed to be, and they said that it needed to be changed.

As far as changing the rear end, its not happening, the car is driving perfect other wise and if it's true that the deferential is bad then I'll run it until it breaks. For now I think I'll either do nothing or at the most go with greasing it at the first shop. I guess I'll just wait until I hear from you guys to know for sure

Thank you in advance

[BOSSBMW]

I had similiar noises and thought it was the rear end but in fact it was the suspension. Have you taken a look at your rear suspension components?

[e90pilot]

I had the same issue and my diff eventually died at a similar mileage. Eventually it will sound like you have straight cut gears. It cost me $2000 to replace it.

[Golden_Ray]

Originally Posted by beneliezer

I had similiar noises and thought it was the rear end but in fact it was the suspension. Have you taken a look at your rear suspension components?

I thought it was the suspension when I first heard it, but neither one of the shops I took it confirmed that, they both said it was the rear end differential. Thanks for the info

[Golden_Ray]

Originally Posted by e90pilot

I had the same issue and my diff eventually died at a similar mileage. Eventually it will sound like you have straight cut gears. It cost me $2000 to replace it.

Thanks for the info... One of the shops said it will cost me $2200 including taxes to get a new OEM differential installed. I guess I'll drive it till it breaks then change it

[GMWNashville]

likely a diff...

[e90pilot]

Upgrade to LSD

[Golden_Ray]

Originally Posted by e90pilot

Upgrade to LSD

Whats LSD?

[e90pilot]

Originally Posted by Golden_Ray

Whats LSD?

Limited slip differnetial. If you don't drive hard, there's no point in getting one.

[T7R_Sky]

I had the same noise around 49000 miles. Dangerously close to the end of my warranty. Turns out after much arguing and diagnostics that a nut connecting the diff to the shaft was loose, so they had to replace, relube, and retighten it. Noise went away after that.

You should look into that. The tech said if I let it go un-repaired it would have began slowly leaking diff fluid and would have blown my diff in 5-10 thousand miles.

Good luck

Also my service advisor said there was a service bulletin for it, so try to ask them about it

[Golden_Ray]

Originally Posted by T7R_Sky

I had the same noise around 49000 miles. Dangerously close to the end of my warranty. Turns out after much arguing and diagnostics that a nut connecting the diff to the shaft was loose, so they had to replace, relube, and retighten it. Noise went away after that.

You should look into that. The tech said if I let it go un-repaired it would have began slowly leaking diff fluid and would have blown my diff in 5-10 thousand miles.

Good luck

Also my service advisor said there was a service bulletin for it, so try to ask them about it

Thanks a lot about the info, it sounds like what the first shop told me. I'll check with them again

[XYR03]

its the diff!

[DimSum]

I have the same issue, its not ticking but sorta like a tiny screech.

[japhet]

Had the same problem, i purchased the ca at 18.000km and when i was shifting in reverse and after in firtst gear or when i eas deccelerating i was heargint a metalic rear noise...i had one broken tooth in the differential.
replaced it for 1500$ and working fine now...

[Golden_Ray]

Problem solved! I went to a shop that opened and greased it. So far it has been 2 days and I don't hear any thing! It cost me $300 to do the job.

[nguyen]

i had the same problem, i insisted it was the differential to the dealership but it turns out it was the muffler.

they replaced the muffler and noise was gone