Ticking noise, increasing with speed, unchanged by neutral gear or braking...?

[CharlesAFerg]

Recently I have been encountering an intermittent, loud ticking noise coming from outside of the car. It increases with speed, as if hitting the wheel, sounds similar to a credit card in the spokes of a bicycle. Also, it goes unchanged by putting the car into neutral while driving, even when the revs go down, it stays constant with the wheels spinning, and slows down as the car itself slows down.
Lastly, it's not affected by braking, so I don't know if that would be a stuck caliper if this were to be happening.

Regardless, I have no idea - all options are open, I just need someplace to start, because I can't see anything stuck or that could be rubbing anywhere...

Thanks guys!

[bad_manners_god]

-Heat Shield behind the rotors
-Rock BETWEEN heat shield and Rotor

[CharlesAFerg]

-Heat Shield behind the rotors
-Rock BETWEEN heat shield and Rotor

Thanks, I'll check that out - think I'll have to take it apart to get back there?

You've got quite an array of vents on your 5er there.

[Sixdown]

I also have a weird ticking noise...well, more like a loud clanking noise when I have the car at idle. It seems to be coming from the rear.

I've had a minor ticking noise coming from one of my wheels, but I somehow managed to fix that when my rotors were replaced.

[bad_manners_god]

Thanks, I'll check that out - think I'll have to take it apart to get back there?

You've got quite an array of vents on your 5er there.

No need, turn your wheels all the way to one side and then spin them, if it's some sort of metalltic rubbing sound then:

a.) Something it rubbing on your rotors
b.) Your caliper bushings need greasing
c.) Your pads need cleaning

[attack eagle]

guibo fraying

the pad sensor has come loose and is hitting the spokes? ( happened to me once)

[Sixdown]

In my case, i hear a random clunk at idle from the guibo, and can distinguish that sound, but the other clunking is much faster and seems to be from the muffler. What on the muffler can make such loud and really fast clunking noises. its more like a really loud rattle and only happens occasionally.

Charles, definitely check the brake pad sensors...i think thats the problem i had before i had the brakes changed last week.

[attack eagle]

the mounts forward of the muffler are loose? bolt has backed out on one of them?

[whiskychaser]

Recently I have been encountering an intermittent, loud ticking noise coming from outside of the car. It increases with speed, as if hitting the wheel, sounds similar to a credit card in the spokes of a bicycle. Also, it goes unchanged by putting the car into neutral while driving, even when the revs go down, it stays constant with the wheels spinning, and slows down as the car itself slows down.
Lastly, it's not affected by braking, so I don't know if that would be a stuck caliper if this were to be happening.

Regardless, I have no idea - all options are open, I just need someplace to start, because I can't see anything stuck or that could be rubbing anywhere...

Thanks guys!
You have checked you dont have a stone or nail in a tyre?

[bmwrp8]

I also have a weird ticking noise...well, more like a loud clanking noise when I have the car at idle. It seems to be coming from the rear.

I've had a minor ticking noise coming from one of my wheels, but I somehow managed to fix that when my rotors were replaced.

happened to me before, clanking noise at the rear while in idle. it was the rubber that supports the muffler.it was missing.

[Sixdown]

happened to me before, clanking noise at the rear while in idle. it was the rubber that supports the muffler.it was missing.

you may be completely right. it definitely sounds like the muffler is hitting the frame or something at a fast rate, and only when it's become hot. the PO mentioned that he took the heat shield off and left the top part of it on...could that cause rattling too?

[bmwrp8]

you may be completely right. it definitely sounds like the muffler is hitting the frame or something at a fast rate, and only when it's become hot. the PO mentioned that he took the heat shield off and left the top part of it on...could that cause rattling too?

hmmm..not really sure but why do they have to take it out? check the rubbers that support it too but i don't see the point why they have to take it off unless the heat shield is busted. it was there for a reason right?

[CharlesAFerg]

lol, well while the above fixes his issue, hopefully my problem will be fixed. My mech doesn't think it's a rock in the heat shield. Could be a rotor/pad problem?

[CharlesAFerg]

Sorry to resurrect, but I still havent gotten this fixed - even after taking it to my local specialist.

Can somebody explain the heat shield issue and how to look for it? I'll do it myself or specifically ask them to check.

It's weird because the sound isn't always there, but always comes about after going around windy roads. Definitely front passenger.

[632 Regal]

rocks in the tire treads... this should have been a poll.


Recently I have been encountering an intermittent, loud ticking noise coming from outside of the car. It increases with speed, as if hitting the wheel, sounds similar to a credit card in the spokes of a bicycle. Also, it goes unchanged by putting the car into neutral while driving, even when the revs go down, it stays constant with the wheels spinning, and slows down as the car itself slows down.
Lastly, it's not affected by braking, so I don't know if that would be a stuck caliper if this were to be happening.

Regardless, I have no idea - all options are open, I just need someplace to start, because I can't see anything stuck or that could be rubbing anywhere...

Thanks guys!

[CharlesAFerg]

rocks in the tire treads... this should have been a poll.

No, sounds more like this (1:14 in this video) but "tickier" while I'm driving. (if it's happening) It's most definitely not a rock, not even close.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5aNW1_PJMw
No, it doesn't stop when I press the brakes, either.

So I figured it could be the brake shield or a rock in the brake shield, whatever.

[t_marat]

Maybe driveshaft? the place where it meets the rear differential. I had a clicking noise that would come whenever I wasn't accelerating. That is moving in neutral/gear but off the gas pedal. Turned out to the part where it goes into differential had very slight play.

[Bill R.]

to be a broken transmission mount and during a hard turn or on/off throttle the tailshaft of the transmission would shift to one side causing the driveshaft to hit making a playing card in the spokes kind of sound also. Raise the car up and look closely at the tailshaft end of the driveshaft and see if there's any signs of rubbing. Then push up on the tailshaft housing and see if the rear mount is broken. The customers only did it after fairly tight hard cornering also.

[bad_manners_god]

Have you had the exhaust looked at? Get it on jackstands and get under there and basically hit the cat, reasonator, muffler, exhaust hangers, any points where the pipes join up with the side of your fist.

The heatshield is a formed piece of metal that sits behind the rotor to prevent rocks, dirt, dust, etc to touch the rotor, at the same time, it also protect the rubber around the balljoints and other rubber parts, (Abs wiring, Caliper Hose, etc)

Part #4 is the heat shield, so you know what to look for: http://static.bmwfans.info/images/epc/NDM3OF9w.png (http://bmwfans.info/original/E34/Lim/525i-M20/USA/L/A/1989/03/mg-34/ill-34_0025/)

What usually happens is they rust in certain spots, causing them to come loose and touch the rotor when driving.

You might also have something stupid stuck on the inside of the wheel touching the rim, like a branch maybe.

[CharlesAFerg]

So, I've fixed it - the drive shaft was rubbing on the head shield, but the weird thing s how it was intermittent, and would get worse when I turned right.

Regardless, I bent the heat shield away and it seems to be okay. I don't know how it got like that in the first place, but whatever.

Do you think the support bearing may be going bad, causing the drive shaft to move slightly? I couldn't find any play, but under power do you suppose this was/still is the case?

[bad_manners_god]

So, I've fixed it - the drive shaft was rubbing on the head shield, but the weird thing s how it was intermittent, and would get worse when I turned right.

Regardless, I bent the heat shield away and it seems to be okay. I don't know how it got like that in the first place, but whatever.

Do you think the support bearing may be going bad, causing the drive shaft to move slightly? I couldn't find any play, but under power do you suppose this was/still is the case?

Well, when the support bearing is finished like mine was, you would hear a really really loud knocking noise under the car and feel the vibrations until the car got up to 20+km/h.

When I replaced the support bearing the rubber was completely gone, so there was like 3 inched of play. You should get a light under the car and inspect the rubber for cracks or tears as you push/pull on the driveshaft.

[CharlesAFerg]

Well, when the support bearing is finished like mine was, you would hear a really really loud knocking noise under the car and feel the vibrations until the car got up to 20+km/h.

When I replaced the support bearing the rubber was completely gone, so there was like 3 inched of play. You should get a light under the car and inspect the rubber for cracks or tears as you push/pull on the driveshaft.

Yea, that's the thing - I yanked on it and it didn't move, but it was when I pulled on it and turned it did it make the noise - so there is play, just not a noticeable amount. Hence why it was intermittent, probably.

[632 Regal]

check the trans and motor mounts. the center bearing was wasted in my car and I never noticed anything until the guibo was completely wasted

[CharlesAFerg]

check the trans and motor mounts. the center bearing was wasted in my car and I never noticed anything until the guibo was completely wasted

Interesting... My drive shaft was rubbing my head shield. (The heat shield was pushed a bit to alleviate the problem, but I still think the problem technically exists, even though the noise is gone. I never bottomed out, so I'm assuming something else was causing it to sag...

PS nice avatar lol