Drivetrain popped - no D/R, can't move car in N
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 587
Likes: 13
From: The Windy City
'02 C32, '10 135i M-Sport, '10 E63, '17 GLE63S
Drivetrain popped - no D/R, can't move car in N
Long story short - got a flat tire (front left) on one of the aftermarket 18's, replaced it with my stock rim (17") using the stock jack, then drove ~10 miles on the highway at 70MPH. Hit the gas at the light after getting off the highway and I got an awful grinding noise, like all my brakes were stuck on, and barely any power. After that, as I was coasting to a stop, something popped - I could hear AND feel it - and I had no D/R. Plus, the car has been immovable since then in N.
That being said - I can cycle through gears 1-5 manually and the transmission feels like it is still picking them out just fine, same with R, which is helping me rule out the transmission dying. I haven't had any problems with it during the life of the car, let alone recently, and I had the fluid flushed/changed professionally ~30k miles ago.
Also, there is a strange, slow, cyclical rotational-sounding grind/thump coming from the rear end of the car when I have it in gear. If I rev the engine while it's in gear, it doesn't get any better or worse, which I think points more toward something to do with the drive shaft/torque converter/rear differential, or some connection between any of those.
Thoughts/opinions/ideas? I'm going to have it towed to my usual, trusted mechanic tomorrow morning and have them check it out, but I wouldn't mind ideas to toss around in the meantime. Apparently, I'm searching with the wrong terms on the forums here (C32/W203)...
That being said - I can cycle through gears 1-5 manually and the transmission feels like it is still picking them out just fine, same with R, which is helping me rule out the transmission dying. I haven't had any problems with it during the life of the car, let alone recently, and I had the fluid flushed/changed professionally ~30k miles ago.
Also, there is a strange, slow, cyclical rotational-sounding grind/thump coming from the rear end of the car when I have it in gear. If I rev the engine while it's in gear, it doesn't get any better or worse, which I think points more toward something to do with the drive shaft/torque converter/rear differential, or some connection between any of those.
Thoughts/opinions/ideas? I'm going to have it towed to my usual, trusted mechanic tomorrow morning and have them check it out, but I wouldn't mind ideas to toss around in the meantime. Apparently, I'm searching with the wrong terms on the forums here (C32/W203)...
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 587
Likes: 13
From: The Windy City
'02 C32, '10 135i M-Sport, '10 E63, '17 GLE63S
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 587
Likes: 13
From: The Windy City
'02 C32, '10 135i M-Sport, '10 E63, '17 GLE63S
News - new tow guy came to take my car to the shop and we discovered that my right rear was sheared off - lugs just snapped clean off at the hub/rotor.
When the first tow driver was trying to get my car off the flatbed, he lowered it in neutral until the rear wheels hit the ground, but then it wouldn't roll off, even in N. It rocked a little bit, but that was it. He asked if I minded him just driving the truck forward slowly and I agreed, but he told me to leave it in P. I just agreed to it after he badgered me about it, assuming the tires would just slip, and the car came down.
Could this be what sheared off the lugs? They're not in bad shape, and relatively new; I've only put 10k-20k miles on the new rims.
When the first tow driver was trying to get my car off the flatbed, he lowered it in neutral until the rear wheels hit the ground, but then it wouldn't roll off, even in N. It rocked a little bit, but that was it. He asked if I minded him just driving the truck forward slowly and I agreed, but he told me to leave it in P. I just agreed to it after he badgered me about it, assuming the tires would just slip, and the car came down.
Could this be what sheared off the lugs? They're not in bad shape, and relatively new; I've only put 10k-20k miles on the new rims.
