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BMW F10 Vibration Defect

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160K views 340 replies 107 participants last post by  Vaska83  
#1 ·
To all,

There is a widespread issue with vibration problems in the BMW 5 series felt in the seats around 70-80 mph zone. People like me have replaced and rebalance tires and rims using hunter road force machine with no resolution! There is another defect that BMW cannot seem to get resolved. It is happening all over the world! It can be dampers, axle, drivetrain, etc you name it!

I sold my 535i xdrive because of this issue that will not go away after being back to dealer 10 or more times!

See for youself on google search:

BMW F10 :
https://www.google.com/search?q=bmw...ibration&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

In Spain:
http://translate.google.com/transla...efox-a&hs=ykH&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1440&bih=753&prmd=imvnsfd

In UK:
http://www.bmwland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=121222

And many more!

Here are the posts from all over and certain private messages:
Dear baloo588,

You have received a new private message at Bimmerfest - BMW Forums from BMWdream12345, entitled "Re: BMW 535 vibration".

To read the original version, respond to, or delete this message, you must log in here:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/private.php

This is the message that was sent:
***************
Hey, Sorry for the delayed response, super busy. I brought my vehicle in and they said I had a slightly bent rim. They replaced it and although its a touch better I still have vibration on the highway/higher speeds. I was looking into what else it could be outside of what you've done and I found that this is the first year for the 8spd auto trans and the 4.4TT V8. Maybe they are working through vibration issues? Bad mounts/dampers? I plan on doing more research to see if anyone else thinks this may be the case. From where the vibration is coming I would say it's possible. Do you think that was your problem?
***************

snj1013 snj1013 is online now
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Location: Houston, TX

Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 85
Mein auto: 2011 528i
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vibration
I have a similar vibration in my 528 and can't get it fixed. I've had the tires road force balanced and still I have the issue. What model did you have? Did BMW ever issue a TSB?

Leijona71
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Location: Finland

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F10, 528, Vibration 80-120 km/h
Hello to All!

I have had one year process with BMW now to locate the problem of vibration in the speed of 80-120 km/h. There has been checked tyres many times, changed, and have been test driving. Nothing helps. And now BMW told me that this typical problem for F10 then and they will do nothing! Anyway I will start to collect people(with same problem) here in Finland if the BMW will finally do anything about the problem. Do you have same kind of problems with F10?

Yours

Miska

09-13-2011, 05:17 PM #16
rexus300
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Florida

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You are not the only one, there are issues of the 535 xdrive with weird vibration felt in the front seats from the rear wheels on highways between similar speeds (70-80 mph) as yours that cannot be resolved with new rims, tires, proper road force balancing. It is a design or manufacturing flaw. You can feel small vibes in the seat back and in the headrest that goes away below 70 and above 80 mph or so.

Chrisr111
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Drives: 2011 535
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Atlanta

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I just picked my 535i last week. I drove to the airport and drove on the highway for the first time on Sunday. I had heavy vibration at 70-80mph. I do not have the sport package, just the standard wheels. Car has 110 miles on it. I was hoping I had a weight missing but this post scares the he'll out of me. Almost bought a e60 M5 and now I am hoping this is something simple to fix.
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Expatmarais
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Drives: f10 535d MSport
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Paris

Posts: 18
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Hi, i'm still reading these posts with interest as my own situation is starting to drive me crazy! Thought it would be helpful to update in case you want to advise your own dealerships to try the following - as it hasn't worked in my case...
My dealer continues to be v supportive in fact even more so since the head of the workshop and a salesman both have the same problem with their vehicles (both 530D with 18'' running continental ssc 3 run flats - as per mine)
There is a great deal of interest and my car is being used as the dummy to find solutions for the now 6 owners of vehicles supplied by the same dealership with same pbm. After logging pbm on PUMA, factory suggested swapping out my M Sport Alloys for a different model of 18'' wheel (it has 10-12 spokes) and equipping with summer Dunlop 245/65 R18 front and back instead of the larger rear vs front configuration I had previously. The summer Dunlops were out of stock and so they had a trial run with Michelins of same size. Although the initial effect felt better they were somewhat alarmed when the vibrations appeared all of a sudden and on inspection of rear nearside tyre is was extremely hot to the touch to the point that discolouring to a blue bruising on tyre wall.

In the meantime the Dunlops still haven't come in and they've had my vehicle for 10 days trying various tests (not sure what to be honest). I am due to move to winter tyres shortly and so they had an idea to equip me already and try another different model of alloy but same size as above. I have Dunlop Winter Sport 3D in above size and driving away from dealership 2 nights ago i was in a different car. Smooth. composed. Not a hint of vibration. A pull to the right has appeared however and this is documented elsewhere on this forum.
Interestingly I stopped for fuel as was completely empty. Filled up 80 litres (80kg) of weight and guess what? Not only has the vibration come back, but it starts at around 60kmph now. By 110 (111 to be exact) it's a shudder and is worse if anything. Seat, headrest, accelerator and steering to answer your q Baloo588.
All reported following day to dealership and helpful for them to know that additional weight in car over rear axle is having an effect. Car goes back in tomorrow for the summer dunlop test and since in the meantime another PUMA log has been made, response from Factory has been to check tension ° in a number of wheel and suspension components - which they will also perform tomorrow. i will of course keep you updated. I love this car - it's getting so fast now i've got 6K on the clock, but driving me totally mad as Chrisr111 said its like OCD. Anyone got any other suggestions i can ask my dealer to try? I'm aware I must start to sound like a lunatic...
 
#2 ·
Vibration with the 5 Series

My 535xi 2008 has chronic vibrations at speeds over 60 mph. I have owned it for one year and had it in for service 9 times. They have done all the standard resolutions (replace tires, axis, bushings, balance and alignment) but nothing has made any measurable difference.

The car is not drivable at highway speeds and they cannot/will not repair the car. It is a CPO with and additional "No Cost Maintenance" for 24 months.

Has anybody out there been able to resolve this issue or is it terminal? I can't sell the car knowing that it has these serious defects. I am not even convinced the car is safe to drive.

Any advice or thoughts are appreciated.
 
#3 ·
My 535xi 2008 has chronic vibrations at speeds over 60 mph. I have owned it for one year and had it in for service 9 times. They have done all the standard resolutions (replace tires, axis, bushings, balance and alignment) but nothing has made any measurable difference.

The car is not drivable at highway speeds and they cannot/will not repair the car. It is a CPO with and additional "No Cost Maintenance" for 24 months.

Has anybody out there been able to resolve this issue or is it terminal? I can't sell the car knowing that it has these serious defects. I am not even convinced the car is safe to drive.

Any advice or thoughts are appreciated.
You're in the wrong forum.

More help here. Good luck!

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=104
 
#4 ·
Widespread seems extreme. I don't have it. And all my friends who have F10s don't have it either. The Internet forums tend to draw out the exceptions.

That said, I don't understand why those who have this don't lemon the car.
 
#6 ·
This has been discussed many times before. "Search" is your friend.

BTW, did you obtain the approval from folks who sent you a "Private Message" before publishing it? I know when I PM someone, I truly expect it to remain Private.

When someone posts a link to a public post, anyone reading can verifying that the original post was not edited in any way. But when you purblish a previously "Private" message like this, the reader has no way of knowing whether the PM did in fact happen, and/or if you edited it to make it better suit your needs. Not very helpful IMHO.

Like I said, there are plenty of PUBLIC posts on here about vibration issues, and the resolution of same. Although I have not had a similar problem, my recollection is that the vibration was usually traced to tires with manufacturing defects which would not balance, no matter how hard the tech tried. But a different set of tires usually resolved the problem.

Too bad you sold your 535 because of this. Not sure where you live (from your post I am guessing it is not the USA) but it almost certainly would have been cheaper to replace the tires, even if you could not get the dealer to cover the replacement under warranty.
 
#7 ·
I got approvals as these people did have to have their car bought back. I am from Michigan by the way. My 5 was replaced with 4 types of tires (Continental DWS, Michelin Pilot Sport A/S, and Michelin Primacy MXV4 tires by my BMW dealer using road force. The rims were replaced too and vibration improved but never gone completely and the dealer admitted that they could buy back car and I can move on and get another 5 or something else with the money I was given for my BMW. I am an expert in cars and I do work on them doing my off time from work. I have experience in the automotive industry also. My BMW was bought back by BMW and I moved on to get the new 2013 Lexus GS F-Sport which I am very happy with no vibration. I do have a 2008 BMW 335xi coupe so I know how BMW are suppose to drive and feel. In europe most people have not gotten this issue resolved without replacement of the rear suspension bushing or drivetrain planetary gear.
 
#8 ·
Good to hear you are an expert in cars. I was pretty certain you were not an English teacher.

If you have sold your 535 and moved on, what was the point of this post? Sticking your finger in BMW's eye on your way out the door? What you see as a wide spread problem isn't seen as a big deal here. Maybe we are all too wrapped up in the pull-to-the-right, grinding noise, hesitation, LS-2, steering feel, battery and other well publicized issues that we don't notice your pervasive and pernicious vibration.

Good luck with your Toyota.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Good to hear you are an expert in cars. I was pretty certain you were not an English teacher.

If you have sold your 535 and moved on, what was the point of this post? Sticking your finger in BMW's eye on your way out the door? What you see as a wide spread problem isn't seen as a big deal here. Maybe we are all too wrapped up in the pull-to-the-right, grinding noise, hesitation, LS-2, steering feel, battery and other well publicized issues that we don't notice your pervasive and pernicious vibration.

Good luck with your Toyota.
Thanks. I careless about the statement that it is a Toyota. I posted this before it was bought out by BMW so that people can be aware of it. Like you said "search" is your friend. The purpose of these post is not always to say good things about the car you own but complaints so please do not get riled up on this. I am on bimmerfest for my 3 so you will see me around.
I'm back to enjoying my Lexus. Number 1 in the comparo vs BMW in Motortrend. :)
 
#11 · (Edited)
I have a 2008 BMW 335xi and a 2010 BMW x5 so I am still in the BMW family. I enjoy these BMWs. I want people to enjoy their BMW but also be aware of the issues involved so they can make decisions. I am here to help not to bash. BTW I like those rims on your convertible. I was thinking of putting them on my 3 series coupe this summer.

See you around!
 
#13 ·
How bad is this problem? Slightly noticeable? Or very?
 
#15 ·
New Car with Vibration

Anyone resolve their vibration issue??? I just bought a 528i 2 weeks ago and immediately realized something was wrong. It vibrates down the freeway at higher speeds. You can feel it in the steering wheel, seat, everywhere. They put new tires on it and now it is a little better but more of a floating vibration with softer tires. Anyone ever resolve this issue??? Very frustrating!!!
 
#17 ·
Tires

I spent some more time at the dealer over the weekend and actually drove another 528i that had the same vibration. I do believe changing the tires helps but i still think there is something else going on as well. They are going to have someone look at it who troubleshoots problems like this. Other than the vibration I love my new car!
 
#18 ·
Where is the love:dunno:

This thread got really sharp for no reason. The OP was simply trying to post some valuable information for others, so when they do search, they can easily find an account of repeatable issue. No need for the "jabs" (Ex. Your not an English teacher or Its a Toyota). I think were allowed to talk about issues with our cars?

But anyways, to Jopheim if you can replicate the problem with another 528i from another dealer lot, then i think its something the car was designed to exhibit, but hopefully not and if you feel its not up to your liking you have the full right to address the issue with the dealership.
 
#20 ·
This thread got really sharp for no reason. . .
I think the catalysts for "sharp" replies are generalizations like "widespread," etc. I don't have the problem, and clearly many others don't either. A more conservative approach such as "I have this problem, do you, and what did you do about it?" always seems to work better.
 
#19 ·
I thought my vibrations were gone but they were still there around 65-70 MPH. Been busy so I couldn't take it back right away. Finally decided to take my car back in last week. They claimed I had bent rims :dunno: I went ahead and paid to get them fixed and also paid for an alignment, now it is worst than ever. I will be bringing it in for the 4th time now.

I may ask them to start a buyback process, if not then I may start a lemon process.
 
#22 ·
I dont have any problems... no pulling to one side or the other... no vibrations... no mechanical issues. Remember, people who are happy rarely post. People who are bitter post like a mad man.
 
#24 ·
I also have the vibration issue and have taken it to the dealer numerous times just to hear them say they can't find anything wrong with the car.... I love this car until I drive it. I have replace two tires and had it forced balanced twice out of my own pocket and still no improvement. They have a problem with this that they won't admit just like the headlights staying on. In the 16 months I have had the car. my maintenance free car has cost me $1,100 and still rides like a Toyota. This is my first BMW and maybe my expectations were too high.
 
#25 ·
I have taken my car to only one service department since it was new. First three times they did find the vibration and tried to fix it. 4th time they just completely denied that it's even there, claiming that it's normal road feel or they didn't feel anything wrong.

Called bmwna to open up a case regarding this issue, the nice lady over the phone stated that dealer has to say that the problem still exists for them to continue with the claim. So yesterday I took it to another service department and asked for the shop Foreman to ride with me.

Long story short he did admit that there is a vibration. I had him open a service ticket and made sure he stated that he felt the vibration. Let's see what bmwna says now.
 
#27 ·
Also no issues... 30,000km on using oem rft but for the last 2k switched to the 19 perreli rft on oem rims also with no issues

I have had a different SUV my wife drives with an uncorrectable wobble for 5 months. The tire shop took the tires back after replacement with same brand several times and the new brand worked flawless.

As a side note, 10 years ago had a Pontiac grand am, that when ever it came to a stop, there was this horrible grinding noise... Sounded like metal contact with brake discs. After 2 years of Messiaen around, I replaced the Goodyear HP model tires with another good year model and the grinding went away. Later we discovered the oem tires had some design element in the rubber near where the rim contact area and when the tires aged it would sag and rub against this design pattern in the rubber and make what sounded like a grinding noise... At that point gm paid me back for the new tires as I was able to prove it was a defect...

My point is, tires can play a big role despite the best efforts of the dealer...
 
#28 ·
update- Took a drive with BMW service tech for a good hour, also compared my car to a brand new 550I. New 550 had no vibrations, it felt so much better than mine.

BMW service tech was a little confused it seemed, at first he thought that I was talking about road vibrations, once I explained to him then he didn't say anything. I think he felt it also but didn't want to admit to anything.

They kept my car for a day to compare to the 550 we drove, they even took the wheels off of it and tried it on my car with no change. Now they are saying that they can replace wheel bearings.

I am so sick of this, I just want BMW to step up and take this car off my hands. This is the 5th time my car has been back in for the vibration issue. Not to mention the loose seat and the faulty camera which they haven't fixed yet.
 
#29 ·
I have this vibration too. Car is unsafe

I took delivery of a 2013 Tasmin Green 535I on the 12th of may of this year. I was working a lot at the time and didn't get it out on the freeway for about 10 days or so. When i did i immediately felt a strong vibration in the steering wheel and seats of the car upon getting up to about 55 mph. You can actually visually see the passenger seat and headrest vibrating at the same frequency you feel in the wheel. I called the dealership immediately and told the salesman what was going on. He asked me to try it out on another freeway to verify it and when i did he had me bring it in. At first they told me nothing was wrong with it and that it was driving "normally". They did a very quick wheel balance and sent me on my way. i was back in a few days after the first time at highway speeds again. This time the tech told me that even though he'd requested that they balance all 4 wheels last time that it appeared on his paperwork that they'd only done the rear 2 and that he would have the front 2 balanced and that would fix the issue... Ok no problem not that big a deal.... Get the car back and again within a couple days i'm back because nothing is fixed. This time as i was driving on the 405 freeway and after driving at highway speed for a couple of miles i hear a little ting of something metal hitting the road. When i get to my destination i notice that the BMW emblem in the middle of the driver front wheel is missing. It wasn't missing when i left so that means its very probable that the sound i heard was the emblem flying off at highway speed because its been shaken loose by the vibration. I bring the car back to the dealer and have another shop foreman drive the car with me in it on the highway and he quickly admits that he feels it too. After 10 days of not hearing from the dealer at all i typed "2013 535 shaking" into google and was amazed and disgusted at the results. This was one of quite a few sites where people have been complaining of this issue for the last couple years! At that pont i decided that i really didn't want to waste my time with this and i called BMW NA to see what could be done. I talk to the dealer and they tell me so far that they've replaced 1 wheel and that didn't fix it. This was 10 days after they took the car. So now they are replacing all 4 tires and doing a hunter road force test...... ok. So, i get the car back and on the paperwork both shop foreman have signed off that the car is perfect. The roadforce #'s are on the paperwork as well and with the new tires i do see significantly better roadforce #'s. OK great problem solved right?
Wrong.... Get the car out on the highway (Newly paved asphalt too) and while the vibration is a bit lessoned it is still clearly there. It doesn't start until about 65mph now but its still there and its still visually visible in the passenger seat as well. I tell the rep from BMW NA that I've gotten the car back and there is still a problem, and his answer was that BMW NA felt that the problem had been fixed and was offering me nothing in regards to taking the car back. He told me to contact the dealer if the problem was still there. So i did. They wont even let me bring the car back to look at it!!! They say i have to get in touch with the engineering dept. at BMW NA and have them look at it. I've filed a complaint with the BBB to try to lemon the car on my own. I'm hoping that works cause right now i have a 65K car thats great if i only want to drive on surface streets....
Just needed to rant a bit.....

Thanks
-Sam

i wonder if anyone else who's experiencing this issue or anything similar would mind PMing me with there story.I have a friend who works at a big news staion here and she thought it would make an interesting story here in Los Angeles.
 
#31 ·
i wonder if anyone else who's experiencing this issue or anything similar would mind PMing me with there story.I have a friend who works at a big news staion here and she thought it would make an interesting story here in Los Angeles.
I am curious, what were your road forces before and after the new tires. I have been fighting a slight vibration between 70-75mph (this is apparently the most common speed at which this chassis vibrates) for most of the 2 years I've had my F10. What I've learned is that not too many places with Hunter Road Force balancers take the time to properly utilize this state of the art balancer. I also believe that the road forces need to be kept low to have a smooth ride. A good value is below 15 lbs, better if lower obviously.
 
#30 ·
My passenger seat shakes pretty good I can see it when driving on the highway. However I don't have any stealing wheel vibration if I do it's minimal and it's only between 70-75. I have 20" m5 rims and its so easy to Bend a rim with the profile of the tire so low, plus riding on 20" wheels is aggressive I guess. Wonder if I should get it checked out you can see the seat shake, I ask my wife if she feels anything when sitting there and she says no so who knows. Anybody else with insight on this.
 
#36 ·
IMO, you can't use the passenger seat as shaking at speed that there is a vibration issue. I think it's kind of normal for the unoccupied seat to move slightly. That's why there are many threads about making a slight adjustment of the headrest height to stop a slight vibrating noise in the unoccupied seat.
 
#32 ·
I had a significant steering issue with my 2011 535xi where it tracked all over the road. it would go right to left and right again. bad strut mounting was corrected by the dealer along with a reprogramming of the steering and a 4 wheel alignment.

I did trade it for my 2012 550xi sport (non M-sport) with Dynamic Damper Control which seemed to make a big difference.
 
#33 ·
I noticed the vibration when I took a road trip up state to visit family. At the time I had the car for 2 months (May)and it only had 1500 miles on it. So I made an appointment at the dealership, I thought it was odd that the car would have this kind of vibration, as others have said the F10 is a great highway cruiser. I was so excited to get this car out on the highway, but was crushed by the vibration. So the car went to the dealership to have the vibration checked out, I was also getting an error message about rear brake replacement (well how could that be with only 1500 miles on it). So the SA said they are aware of this type of error message on the F10's rear brake error message. The SA said they need the car for a few days and the car would need to have the software updated to clear the brake error message. I received a 528xi as a loaner for the next 4 days and I took the 528xi on the highway and I did not notice the vibration. I got a call from the SA and was told me my tires were OVERLY INFLATED and said the tech checked all four tires, suspension and rims, was told no cracked rims, no issues with the suspension and all tires were in spec. HMMMMM!

So fast forward 3 months to present, just got back last night from up state (same trip to visit family) and now a total of miles is 4300 and BIG surprise the vibration is still there and very noticeable. I mostly do all city driving and had a passenger in the front seat, so I did not notice the passenger seat vibrating. But I was told that they could feel the vibration throughout the front passenger compartment and transmitting into their cloths! I took the car on a local highway with no front seat passenger and I could see the front seat passenger and headrest vibrating. The vibration on both trips I noticed it starts at 60 to 75mph. The odd part is, going between 80/90mph, I noticed the vibration would flatten out a bit, but still there! I do have 18" rims, BTW.

I do have to say, I love my F10 and its my first BMW! I just wish when I am on a road trip the car would be vibration free! So there may be a trip back to the dealership!
 
#34 ·
The road force numbers with the old tires are laughable. LF-39lb RF-41, LR-50 RR-41. With the new tires they've certainly gotten better results but the rear numbers are still too high. LF-3 RF-6, LR-14 RR-21.

I guess I should write that before this car I drove a 2010 335D with 18 inch rims and super low profile rfts. I know what a BMW is really supposed to feel like and this ain't it. Also my car still has less then 1000 miles on it.

My dealer always gave me the crappiest 328 as a loaner even for long periods of time.

I also wonder what else in the car has been shaken loose by the vibration. If it was strong enough to loosen that emblem out of the wheel what else is coming loose?

I'm gonna try and put a camera operator and my friend in the car this week and see what we get on tape. This is ridiculous. My dealer won't even look at it again even after I tell them I don't feel safe driving the car on the highway.

I loved my 335D. I never had any real problems with it at all. This experience has been disgusting. I really can't believe BMW won't take responsibility for a mistake or problem and do the right thing.
 
#38 ·
Interesting thread. I notice vibration in my 2013 528i once my speed is over ~65mph, with the vibration subsiding at ~78-80mph. Talk about an annoying range given Atlanta speed limits. The vibration can be seen/felt in any of the following; steering wheel, gear shifter, sun visor (when down), passenger seat, and slight feeling through driver seat. Its minor mind you, but there nonetheless. Also, this vibration encourages a slight rattle on my rear left passenger door. My wife's old civic had less rattles/vibration than this BMW!