Intermitent bad vibration
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,174
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From: London, UK
No longer stock '06 E55, A3 3.2 Quattro, GLE 400d, R107 280SL, Golf Polo
Intermitent bad vibration
Well, have not driven the car for 3 weeks and come home and give it a run.
The ESP malfunction message is still there no mattter how many times I turn the sterring wheel lock to lock.
The Parking sensors also now are playing up indicating an obstacle when none present. It then disables itself.
Now to the vibration....
Well I gave the car some spirited runs and then on the return drive it felt like I had a loose wheel!!! I immediately took it easy and babied the car a bit ... after a while it felt fine again and gave it some more gas and it felt OK.. but am having it checked over.
I am beggining to think diff carrier / engine or tranny mounts, or maybe diff itself, esp or dunno what...
It could also be airmatic as the issue only really became bad when I set suspension to sport 2 ... but after a fair amount of time.
Disconnected both batteries overnight and resetting the lot and see where I am at. But getting a mechanic over on sat to check it over... anything else to point him in the right direction?
And happy new yr to all ...!
The ESP malfunction message is still there no mattter how many times I turn the sterring wheel lock to lock.
The Parking sensors also now are playing up indicating an obstacle when none present. It then disables itself.
Now to the vibration....
Well I gave the car some spirited runs and then on the return drive it felt like I had a loose wheel!!! I immediately took it easy and babied the car a bit ... after a while it felt fine again and gave it some more gas and it felt OK.. but am having it checked over.
I am beggining to think diff carrier / engine or tranny mounts, or maybe diff itself, esp or dunno what...
It could also be airmatic as the issue only really became bad when I set suspension to sport 2 ... but after a fair amount of time.
Disconnected both batteries overnight and resetting the lot and see where I am at. But getting a mechanic over on sat to check it over... anything else to point him in the right direction?
And happy new yr to all ...!
Last edited by stevebez; Jan 4, 2011 at 10:14 AM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 19
From: London, UK
No longer stock '06 E55, A3 3.2 Quattro, GLE 400d, R107 280SL, Golf Polo
I was hoping that by avoiding to mention it, it would not be the case, as the fix for that is nasty. I will check it anyway thanks. 
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
Could be flatspotting. Although most modern tires don't flat spot (like they used to.) But some brands are known for flatspotting even over a short time. Next time pump up the tires to 50 psi before you let the car sit for a while. That helps keeps them from flatspotting.
They should work themselves out after a long drive. If not then it's something else.
The parktronic sounds exactly like a sensor is bad. It's a quick fix with a new sensor (except you have to paint the sensor the body color first.) Same thing happened to me with the exact same symptoms.
They should work themselves out after a long drive. If not then it's something else.
The parktronic sounds exactly like a sensor is bad. It's a quick fix with a new sensor (except you have to paint the sensor the body color first.) Same thing happened to me with the exact same symptoms.
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From: Salt Lake City (but not Morm)
2003 E55 & 2014 GL550
Motor mounts notorious on our cars. At least have him slide under or poke around up top with a flashlight and check for leaks (they have fluid inside)
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: London, UK
No longer stock '06 E55, A3 3.2 Quattro, GLE 400d, R107 280SL, Golf Polo
Ive disconnected both batteries and will see how I do on the esp / park sensor issue.
The vibration thing is really weird ... thing is it also comes and goes its not there all the time. But when it shudders its pretty substantial to make you wonder wtf is going on. Tyres were a little under inflated as well so ill pump them up to 3 bar and see if the issue is still there and then if gone reset to normal pressure.
Thanks for the input guys...
The vibration thing is really weird ... thing is it also comes and goes its not there all the time. But when it shudders its pretty substantial to make you wonder wtf is going on. Tyres were a little under inflated as well so ill pump them up to 3 bar and see if the issue is still there and then if gone reset to normal pressure.
Thanks for the input guys...
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Southern Cali (Ontario)
I had a rear vibration in low speeds.. it turned out it was the transmission and torque converter.
my exhaust note changed and the shifting started to thump around.
You have an '06.. therefore it could be mounts or suspension components.
my exhaust note changed and the shifting started to thump around.
You have an '06.. therefore it could be mounts or suspension components.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: London, UK
No longer stock '06 E55, A3 3.2 Quattro, GLE 400d, R107 280SL, Golf Polo
Hmm thnks for that - Yep it could be TC or the tranny - that feels like where the issue is coming from. mbe its my TCU software for the 2.82 getting knotted up... ugh that 2.82 diff ratio change was a palava of note and with minimal benefit in the end.... 
Ill start with the easiest fixes first and work my way into the abyss from there...
ecu reset
tyres
all mounts
prop shaft
suspension
airmatic
carrier mounts
tranny....
guess thats covers it...
Ill start with the easiest fixes first and work my way into the abyss from there...
ecu reset
tyres
all mounts
prop shaft
suspension
airmatic
carrier mounts
tranny....
guess thats covers it...
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 19
From: London, UK
No longer stock '06 E55, A3 3.2 Quattro, GLE 400d, R107 280SL, Golf Polo
OK an update .. and good news.
Well pumped the tyres up and cycled the suspension settings a few times and voila - vibration gone.
TBH I think it was a damper which got stuck in an undamped mode when switching between C/S1/S2 ... if thats possible (anyone know?). I have been driving around in C mode for a while as this seems to eliminate any vibration. Now in all modes I am good....
Well pumped the tyres up and cycled the suspension settings a few times and voila - vibration gone.
TBH I think it was a damper which got stuck in an undamped mode when switching between C/S1/S2 ... if thats possible (anyone know?). I have been driving around in C mode for a while as this seems to eliminate any vibration. Now in all modes I am good....
