G05
BMW X5
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3 hours agoLAST POST
08-16-2025
’21 40i I’ll try to explain the condition to reproduce this vibration in hopes others will chime in with their experience.

- Drive mode: Comfort or Adaptive or Sport Individual with a comfort or adaptive transmission setting
- From a stop, press the gas pedal slowly on a smooth road and slowly increase your speed till you reach around 30 mph.
- Let off the gas pedal completely and coast to around 25mph, then ever so slightly press the gas pedal, not to actually gain speed but to maintain your speed so the transmission does not shift again. Try to stay in this range
- Do you get a medium to high frequency vibration felt only at the steering wheel and only when you are pressing/feathering the gas pedal?
- Once you gain speed and the transmission shifts to the next highest gear, the vibration goes away until you find yourself in the same situation (RPM window) but at a little higher speed.
- This is where the engine is calling for the slightest speed increase or simply trying to maintain the same speed but going up a slight very minor hill but not pressing the gas pedal enough to cause the transmission to shift

It’s most prominent at slower speeds, like around 30mph. It completely disappears when giving it moderate throttle, going downhill or not giving it any throttle at all (coasting). I drove three 40i’s (2020, 2021, 2022) that all exhibited this to varying degrees. I cannot recall this in any of my former BMW’s.

What say you?
08-16-2025
Es el sistema xdrive de bmw! Yo noto trabajar la transferencia en el suelo de los asientos traseros de mi bmw x6 30d 2022 en frío y no es ningún problema de caja de transferencia ni de los diferenciales. Comportamiento totalmente normal.
08-17-2025
anderlopez46 wrote
Es el sistema xdrive de bmw! Yo noto trabajar la transferencia en el suelo de los asientos traseros de mi bmw x6 30d 2022 en frío y no es ningún problema de caja de transferencia ni de los diferenciales. Comportamiento totalmente normal.
Thanks but somehow I don't want to consider it to be "normal" for a BMW. I know my former X3 35i that had a transfer case never did it. Even though the other three X5's I drive had it to varying degrees, that doesn't mean it's normal, could be those three have the same systemic issue. That's why I'm trying to increase the population by posting here.
08-17-2025
El X5/X6 pesan muchísimo más y si llevan llanta 22 peor aun! Es totalmente normal, no te obsesiones! A mi también me pasa y coches recién sacados del concesionario lo mismo.
Yo cuando lo compré nuevo lo hacía, una pequeña resistencia en el volante y acelerador en giros muy cerrados y en frío, es el sistema xdrive! Totalmente normal!
Yo te hablo a velocidades de 5kms/h! Lo que tu describes no lo he sufrido nunca ni lo sufro! Es normal sentir el funcionamiento de la transmisión en el suelo del coche en la parte trasera, en frío, en giros muy cerrados, solo eso! Pero a velocidades normales no tengo esos síntomas!
08-17-2025
I wasn't able to feel anything as described above in your post Marty - I specifically looked for it. This is for X50i.
08-17-2025
anderlopez46 wrote
El X5/X6 pesan muchísimo más y si llevan llanta 22 peor aun! Es totalmente normal, no te obsesiones! A mi también me pasa y coches recién sacados del concesionario lo mismo.
Yo cuando lo compré nuevo lo hacía, una pequeña resistencia en el volante y acelerador en giros muy cerrados y en frío, es el sistema xdrive! Totalmente normal!
Yo te hablo a velocidades de 5kms/h! Lo que tu describes no lo he sufrido nunca ni lo sufro! Es normal sentir el funcionamiento de la transmisión en el suelo del coche en la parte trasera, en frío, en giros muy cerrados, solo eso! Pero a velocidades normales no tengo esos síntomas!
I know what transfer case shudder is, I had it on my former X3. The vibration I'm referring to is not the same and not felt in the same manner or at the same causal factors.
I was told by my dealer that they disconnected the transfer case, took the car out for a ride and the vibration was still there. I had asked them to call me if they were going to do that so I too could drive it, but they didn't call :mad0260:
As a comparison, if you had a manual transmission car and you put it in third gear and started driving from a standing stop, you would feel what's referred to as lugging. To me, lugging is a low frequency rumble sort of sound and feel due to the low rpm's that are not producing enough torque. The vibration I'm talking about is at a much higher frequency, like holding on to a DeWalt/Milwaukee /Dremel oscillating multi tool or maybe even an electric toothbrush or a blender. One dealer called it a buzz in his hands and the only place you feel it is at the steering wheel.
08-17-2025
starlights wrote
I wasn't able to feel anything as described above in your post Marty - I specifically looked for it. This is for X50i.
Thanks for trying, none of the X5's I drove were 50i's so I have no experience whether they could produce the vibration or not. Hopefully I explained it in enough detail to allow others to put their cars in the same situation.
08-17-2025
Ahora me ha quedado claro! Muchas gracias! Yo lo único que siento es en el suelo de los asientos traseros el funcionamiento de la caja de transferencia en giros lentos en frío, como también el funcionamiento
de la misma en frío en el volante y acelerador. Ningún ruido raro y todo perfecto en caliente! Lo que te pasa a ti a mi no ma pasa! Perdón! No había entendido.
08-17-2025
anderlopez46 wrote
Ahora me ha quedado claro! Muchas gracias! Yo lo único que siento es en el suelo de los asientos traseros el funcionamiento de la caja de transferencia en giros lentos en frío, como también el funcionamiento
de la misma en frío en el volante y acelerador. Ningún ruido raro y todo perfecto en caliente! Lo que te pasa a ti a mi no ma pasa! Perdón! No había entendido.
no hay problema en absoluto! for the record, it does it whether the engine/drivetrain is cold or warm.
08-19-2025
Any pre LCI 40i's out there that want to do this test?
08-19-2025
Marty, the vibration damper comes to mind on the lower control arms. Do you have those already?
08-20-2025
M a r t y wrote
Any pre LCI 40i's out there that want to do this test?
I do a lot of local drivings and honestly did not notice it. The only time I had similiar viberations on steering was due to a specific spot on a particular uneven road I drove through almost everyday.

But I will find some time tomorrow to do some testing if i can.

Go to 30mph and let go gas. coast to 25mph, slightly press gas to maintain 25mph without transimisssion shift up. Did I get it right?
08-20-2025
21X3M40 wrote
Marty, the vibration damper comes to mind on the lower control arms. Do you have those already?
Thanks but I don't have 22" wheel/tires and its not a droning sound or harmonic frequency vibration, in fact there's no sound at all, just the vibration and only at those particular pre-shift points in any gear at any speed, though its easiest to feel it when going slow as opposed to fast. If I have my cruise on going at interstate speed and I come across a very slight incline in the road that causes the car to apply the gas but not downshift, I'll feel it.
08-20-2025
yzhou2004 wrote
I do a lot of local drivings and honestly did not notice it. The only time I had similiar viberations on steering was due to a specific spot on a particular uneven road I drove through almost everyday.

But I will find some time tomorrow to do some testing if i can.

Go to 30mph and let go gas. coast to 25mph, slightly press gas to maintain 25mph without transimisssion shift up. Did I get it right?
Yup, you got it, thanks! Since you're not used to it or tuned into it, you may need a number of trials to identify if its happening. The trick is to get the speed just right without causing the tranny to shift, which then changes the rpm and puts you on a different place on the torque curve.
08-20-2025
M a r t y wrote
Yup, you got it, thanks! Since you're not used to it or tuned into it, you may need a number of trials to identify if its happening. The trick is to get the speed just right without causing the tranny to shift, which then changes the rpm and puts you on a different place on the torque curve.
Just did a few trials on my way back from pre-school. Nothing unusual to me other than regular viberations from road conditions. Had to admit the road is not very even and smooth.

Was your viberations strong and high frequent as lane change warning? Or more subtle and uneven frequecies? I never noticed at freeway speeds at cruising either. I will keep eyes on it and report back if I notice this later.

If going straight, I doubt it is transfer case. But I did change my transfer case fluid 3k miles ago.
08-20-2025
yzhou2004 wrote
Was your viberations strong and high frequent as lane change warning? Or more subtle and uneven frequecies?
At the right speed/rpm, the vibration is constant and medium strong, felt only at the steering wheel. You could compare it to the very mild setting for the lane change warning but at a higher frequency. You may not detect it if the road you're on is bumpy, rough, etc cause there's so much suspension working on roads like that.
08-21-2025
M a r t y wrote
At the right speed/rpm, the vibration is constant and medium strong, felt only at the steering wheel. You could compare it to the very mild setting for the lane change warning but at a higher frequency. You may not detect it if the road you're on is bumpy, rough, etc cause there's so much suspension working on roads like that.
Just did a few more trials today. The road is by no means bumpy. Still did not notice the constant vibrations at range of 25-35 miles at 1200-1500RPM without shift changes. I occasionally feel viberations from run flat tires though but it is not constant.
08-22-2025
yzhou2004 wrote
Just did a few more trials today. The road is by no means bumpy. Still did not notice the constant vibrations at range of 25-35 miles at 1200-1500RPM without shift changes. I occasionally feel viberations from run flat tires though but it is not constant.
ok, thanks for doing the tests! I'll be going on a trip next week and will make sure I have stated the conditions for the vibration correctly.
11-01-2025
I experience the same symptoms with my 2023 (pre LCI) x5. Did you manage to pin point the exact cause?
11-01-2025
DrAzazeign wrote
I experience the same symptoms with my 2023 (pre LCI) x5. Did you manage to pin point the exact cause?
No. Dealers (2) and BMW NJ all said it's engine lugging and is normal. I tried to explain what real lugging feels like but it fell on deaf ears. How are you able to replicate it?
11-01-2025
Hi,I experience something like this.2025 x40i.When you speed up to 30-35 mph,let off and press gas slightly I feel small vibration over steering wheel.I think that the transmission is just on upper gear at this case and the torque band is not optimal.Try to push down gas gently,so the trans shift down 1 gear and see if vibration disappear
11-01-2025
Zumich wrote
Hi,I experience something like this.2025 x40i.When you speed up to 30-35 mph,let off and press gas slightly I feel small vibration over steering wheel.I think that the transmission is just on upper gear at this case and the torque band is not optimal.Try to push down gas gently,so the trans shift down 1 gear and see if vibration disappear
Yes, that works, you can very easily make the vibration go away by either letting off the gas pedal entirely or going a bit faster so you're more in the middle of the gear you're in. However, I don't think a luxo $80K car should do this and I don't recall it doing it when it had lower mileage. I'm wondering if something is starting to wear out or if it's indicative of a drivetrain fluid issue.