Two noise problems - flywheel and o/s front wheel

Hi.
I recently bought my first e90 320D m-sport with 96k on the clock. Love the car but had a few issues with it already, including a broken central locking solenoid, and moisture getting into the remote locking sensor.
However it now has two issues which are doing my head in.
1) When the clutch is half depressed, it becames rattly and noisy. I understand that it is the flywheel, and I also understand this could be costly. It is under TheAutoGroup warrantly who have so far replaced the solenoid no problem. I am aware that the flywheel hasn't actually failed yet, but surely if a flywheel totally fails that's pretty catestrophic? Right? Could I argue that it needs replacing as it's getting pretty noisy and is imminent? I don't want to get done for warranty fraud but I also don't want the clutch to be destroyed when it fails at some point! I have over 6 months left on my warranty but it could fail tomorrow, or in a year or two, I don't know. It sounds just like this youtube video I found (this isn't my car but sounds just like it so didn't bother recording a new one):

Anyone else had this problem and lived with it for years, or had it fixed under warranty? I didn't notice the noise when I got the car.

2) My other problem is more annoying than anything. At speeds of 40mph+ and noisier it gets as the faster it goes (not rev related, just speed related), so at 70mph it is noticable (but never very noisy). There is a dull on and off low frequency vibration sound, that gets quieter and noisier every couple of seconds, quite regular. It's not very loud but it's there, when cruising at 70 or so on the motorway, on all road surfaces (drowned out by concrete roads more!). I have had it diagnosed at a BMW specialist but they said although they could hear it they couldn't find anything wrong with the suspension. I have had the following looked at and all is fine apparently:
- Shocks & coils
- Bushes
- Tracking (front and rear)
- Bearings
- Wheels re balanced although that whel had to have a lot of weight put on one side (could it be out of shape to cause that noise?)
- Replaced rear tyre that had a slow puncture and ran on flat for ?? miles (!)
- Braces are tight
- Replaced all my discs (noise was there before and after)

I did notice when changing discs that the dust plate was a little bent out of shape and I think I got in a stone it in at some point as there was a horrible screeching and scraping rotational sound which had suddently stopped. Could it be this (bent out of shape, not badly, causing vibration at speed due to the airflow over it)?
Also, there is no vibration through the steering wheel - it is just a sound.
The tyre is a nearly new Dunlop - maybe it's just noisy, but surely not that noisy!

Last thing is just a question - if I am using run flats (apparently I am) how do I reset the sensors as it ran on flat and didn't alarm!

Thanks for your help in advance!
Andy_a_

Bump! Nobody got any ideas? Thanks

1. DMFs are notoriously noisy. Some more than others. The sound may be completely benign but maybe it's worth trying to get it fixed under warranty to put your mind at ease. If that doesn't work then just live with it. IMHO, the chances of it failing catastrophically are pretty close to nil. If it makes you feel better, my Mini has been doing it for the past 60,000+ miles with no issues.

2. It's the tires. This is better known as a "two frequency beat" to the physics nerds. Make sure all four tires have the same amount of tread and the specified pressure. If it still persists, then wait until you need four new ones and the problem should go away.

Thanks mr bean that has put my mind at rest. I figured I will live with it until it fails under warranty (7 months left). My Front two tyres do not match. One Michelin and one Dunlop, both quite similar tread but obviously different pattern and characgeristcs. I didn't choose to put mis matching ones on. Got matching Bridgestone on the rear. I will swap it for a matching one as its a bit annoying! Can always keep the other tyre and match that one later.
Thanks again!

Originally Posted by andyz0

Thanks mr bean that has put my mind at rest. I figured I will live with it until it fails under warranty (7 months left). My Front two tyres do not match. One Michelin and one Dunlop, both quite similar tread but obviously different pattern and characgeristcs. I didn't choose to put mis matching ones on. Got matching Bridgestone on the rear. I will swap it for a matching one as its a bit annoying! Can always keep the other tyre and match that one later.
Thanks again!

Good idea. Pretty much everyone here would agree that it's a good move. Some are less concerned about mismatching fronts to rears, but as for side to side . . .

You can measure the depth with a cheap gauge for it, and I know if you order thru Tire Rack, they have a service where they will shave down the tire for you to your specification. I want to say it only costs something like $5 but am not sure.

For resetting TPMS, just use google and/or youtube, you will find the instructions you need immediately. Even with video if you want. Hm rereading your statement now, if they were FLAT, then something else is wrong I guess. The sensors need to be replaced or something?

Hi. Got a matching tyre and it's fine - decent price and everything but the noise is still there. They reckon the other tyre is misshapen and will put it on the wheel balancer for free to have a look at it. If it's miles off then might need another tyre on the other side. If it's not that that fixes it, then must be the prop shaft or bearing or something!
Apparently the run flat sensors aren't actually sensors, they use tyre rotation and ABS or something (not sure at all) but apparently not a dedicated sensor.

Thanks again

If the flywheel is rattling and noisy, it has already failed. It is expensive ($1,200 USD) so I would try and get it replaced with your warranty. You will probably need to pay for new clutch though. I would certainly do that. It is easier for the mechanic and the labor should be free as you need to remove and replace it to replace the flywheel.

Hi.
It hasn't failed yet, it's just on its way out. It's only as noisy as the video, and as Mr Bean said, he has done 60k sounding like that. If it fails I will replace under warranty.
Cheers

Originally Posted by jburke4689

If the flywheel is rattling and noisy, it has already failed. It is expensive ($1,200 USD) so I would try and get it replaced with your warranty. You will probably need to pay for new clutch though. I would certainly do that. It is easier for the mechanic and the labor should be free as you need to remove and replace it to replace the flywheel.

For what it's worth, My friend had purchased a used low mile 2010 328ix. It has 23k miles on the clock. He noticed a clicking noise at idle when he first purchased the car and asked what it was. The noise sounded like it was at the intake manifold. In Feb, he took it to BMW here in Sicily but BMW said that it was past the 2 year European warranty period. It turned out to be the dual mass flywheel. When the transmission was removed, the secondary plate moved in and out as well as moving in the direction of rotation. He replaced the flywheel and the problem is gone.
I find this is bad to have the flywheel or clutch fail at this low mileage.