M a r t y wroteIn my case the in the range between approx. 20 and 35 miles if I'm coasting, and then gently add gas to maintain the speed, I immediately feel extra vibration coming through the steering wheel.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?
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Had that on several previous BMW’s as well. It usually goes away after a transmission fluid service. I have done that on almost every BMW I have had but not on the X5 yet.
It has gotten to the point where it is annoying me enough to start thinking about servicing the transmission fluid.
Mine is a 2020 with about 140,000KM now.
maher wroteIsn't it recommended to service the transmission fluid around 90k km? I mean, it is considered 'lifetime', but with every single car I previously had, it was recommended by mechanics to service it around 90k.I think I know what you’re talking about. It kind of feels like when you’re driving a manual and slowly taking off on 2nd gear instead of 1st. If that is the case, I have that too. I usually downshift with the paddle shifter.
Had that on several previous BMW’s as well. It usually goes away after a transmission fluid service. I have done that on almost every BMW I have had but not on the X5 yet.
It has gotten to the point where it is annoying me enough to start thinking about servicing the transmission fluid.
Mine is a 2020 with about 140,000KM now.
Re the vibration - I cannot say that it is very annoying, it's just I do not want to wait till something fails, if the vibration is a warning sign. Mine has 33k KM right now. I bought it with 28k KM on the ODO, and it was doing that from the very beginning. Alignment and tyres are out of question, because I replaced them with Michelin ones, and did the alignment with the dealer.
Did you encounter any expensive problems with the car throughout the milage run? I plan to keep this one till 150-200k KM, so I'm wondering what kind of problems I may encounter.
DrAzazeign wroteYup, that's exactly how I feel it too but I can get it at just about any speed as its more dependent on where the cars gears are rather than speed, I've even felt it on the highway with the cruise on but at those speeds there's so much going on that you have to be looking for it in order to feel it. It's much easier to detect at the 20-35 range. Thanks for replying!In my case the in the range between approx. 20 and 35 miles if I'm coasting, and then gently add gas to maintain the speed, I immediately feel extra vibration coming through the steering wheel.
maher wroteYeah, that would be more like lugging and that would produce some very detectable vibrations so if you think of it that way but minimize the vibration, I guess that might fit this situation but at a higher frequency 'buzzing' like feeling at the steering wheel. Correct, downshifting at the point you feel it makes it disappear but in an automatic, I just let the car decide what to do. I've never felt it in any other BMW I've owned. The only thing left to do would be a tranny fluid change as most everything else has already been tested/tried with no improvement. While it may be 'normal', I don't like itI think I know what you’re talking about. It kind of feels like when you’re driving a manual and slowly taking off on 2nd gear instead of 1st. If that is the case, I have that too. I usually downshift with the paddle shifter.
Had that on several previous BMW’s as well. It usually goes away after a transmission fluid service. I have done that on almost every BMW I have had but not on the X5 yet.
It has gotten to the point where it is annoying me enough to start thinking about servicing the transmission fluid.
Mine is a 2020 with about 140,000KM now.
Thanks for your reply!
M a r t y wroteIf you manage to pin point the issue, please share an update here.Yeah, that would be more like lugging and that would produce some very detectable vibrations so if you think of it that way but minimize the vibration, I guess that might fit this situation but at a higher frequency 'buzzing' like feeling at the steering wheel. Correct, downshifting at the point you feel it makes it disappear but in an automatic, I just let the car decide what to do. I've never felt it in any other BMW I've owned. The only thing left to do would be a tranny fluid change as most everything else has already been tested/tried with no improvement. While it may be 'normal', I don't like it
I was meant to visit the dealer today, there is a mechanic on duty with whom I have a good relationship, he agreed to take a look. However, I got sick and cancelled.
When I find the root cause I will post an update here too.
M a r t y wroteSame here. I cannot even count the number of times dealers dismissed minor concerns like this one. So I do not keep my hopes up. When I asked my SA the cost of transfer case and transmission fluid change, she told me that it is not recommended, and will cause issues with my future servicing, because the maintenance calendar would be shifted. I consider just changing the fluids on the side. But then again, it'd be nice to know the exact remedy.While it may be 'normal', I don't like it
DrAzazeign wroteThe fluid service is recommended at 90K miles which is more or less where I'm at right now. The vibration isn't related to alignment or tires since it disappears once you let go of the throttle and let it coast on its own.Isn't it recommended to service the transmission fluid around 90k km? I mean, it is considered 'lifetime', but with every single car I previously had, it was recommended by mechanics to service it around 90k.
Re the vibration - I cannot say that it is very annoying, it's just I do not want to wait till something fails, if the vibration is a warning sign. Mine has 33k KM right now. I bought it with 28k KM on the ODO, and it was doing that from the very beginning. Alignment and tyres are out of question, because I replaced them with Michelin ones, and did the alignment with the dealer.
Did you encounter any expensive problems with the car throughout the milage run? I plan to keep this one till 150-200k KM, so I'm wondering what kind of problems I may encounter.
The car has been fairly reliable with a few issues here and there but nothing major that would make me want to change it.
Some control arms, air suspension squeaks, Sun roof seals, drive shaft center bearing. Of course the usual maintance such as brake fluids, brakes and discs, transfer case fluid.
M a r t y wroteYou're right about the lugging but imagine that sensation right after the lugging until the the rpm reaches that sweet spot where the car feels where it should be at. I don't think it's normal since I drive a lot of other brand cars with more mileage and in worse conditions but I only feel that vibration in my cars. It's like BMW designed their cars to be constantly in sport mode and not in comfort driving mode.Yeah, that would be more like lugging and that would produce some very detectable vibrations so if you think of it that way but minimize the vibration, I guess that might fit this situation but at a higher frequency 'buzzing' like feeling at the steering wheel. Correct, downshifting at the point you feel it makes it disappear but in an automatic, I just let the car decide what to do. I've never felt it in any other BMW I've owned. The only thing left to do would be a tranny fluid change as most everything else has already been tested/tried with no improvement. While it may be 'normal', I don't like it
Zumich wroteOn this version of the mild hybrid system, the starter/generator is connected to the engine via a belt. I don't believe the vibration is being caused by this nor do I believe vibrations would make it through the belt anyway. I understand what you are saying but I "think" the starter/generator supplies power only under moderate to heavy acceleration if I remember correctly.I think that is something related to the 48 volt mild hybrid starter generator motor,because when you press slightly on gas pedal at certain speed(20-30)and the horse power needed to move the vehicle is less than 11hp,the electric motor kick in.
I asked my son to listen for it as a passenger, and he heard it as well.
I researched it a while back and some folks pointed to the starter/generator. Never found more info than speculation.
Gilles79 wroteI have not found that to be a correlation in my caseI have a similar vibration. I also think it may be related to the mild hybrid system. Check your Energy Flow Screen which seems to show energy flowing from the battery to the wheels when feeling the vibration.
G05Rando wroteDefinitely not a low pitched rumble and never does it when coasting or decelerating. It's a high frequency "buzz" felt only on the steering wheel and only as described in posts 1, 21 & 23. Ever hold an electric razor in your hands, like the kind used for sideburns and the back of the neck, it similar to that type of vibration/buzz.Would you describe it as a rumble? I have a low-pitched rumble on my '22 40i xDrive between 31-34 MPH. It's under what I would consider normal to moderate acceleration, and sometimes noticeable when decellerating as well. Disappears under heavy throttle.
I asked my son to listen for it as a passenger, and he heard it as well.
I researched it a while back and some folks pointed to the starter/generator. Never found more info than speculation.
jorger wroteYour issue and mine are very different but thanks for your postI am new to the forum, however, i did experience vibration in my 22 x5 40i. Took to dealership. Although the alignment was to specs it had to be twicked a bit to eliminate vibration. I noticed my steering wheel was off to the right a bit so when the small adjustment was made, it resolved the issue.
DrAzazeign wroteThis is what I'm being told as well, .. .. it's normal. Will await your next post on this, thanks.I visited the dealer today. The mechanic said that he thinks it is a normal behavior, but he agreed to take a closer look. I will leave the car with them for a week while I travel. If they find anything, I will share an update here.
atervardanyan wroteIf an owner needs to run the car in a certain mode in order to alleviate the symptom, this tells me something is wrong.It actually could be engine lag. I have noticed my 22 40i upshifts very aggressively and keeps RPMs close to 1000. Then when I press gas pedal just slightly engine lag can be felt with slight vibration through through the whole body of the car. Super annoying. I’m using individual mode in sport transmission mode to overcome this issue. In that mode car keeps RPMs 1500-2000 during normal driving and no vibrations
M a r t y wroteSo my car spent 1 week with the dealer. They told me that they 'recalibrated' and adjusted the attachment point between the engine and transmission or something along those lines. Then they claimed that it decreased the vibration. Then they test drove another car, and concluded that it drives the same as the other car... meaning no issues now.If an owner needs to run the car in a certain mode in order to alleviate the symptom, this tells me something is wrong.
Well, from my perspective nothing has changed at all.
I'm waiting for a copy of the report that should list what specifically they did. When I receive it, I will share it here. At least we'd be able to rule out the fix that did not work.
atervardanyan wroteI think it might be the case, as one of the mechanics said that it could be the engine lag after one of the test drives, but we did not explore that idea any further. Plus it would explain why there are no error codes, and seemingly everyone here has more or less the same experience regardless of the milage. Mine has low milage (34k km) and was recently serviced and inspected. So there should not be anything faulty... I hope.It actually could be engine lag. I have noticed my 22 40i upshifts very aggressively and keeps RPMs close to 1000. Then when I press gas pedal just slightly engine lag can be felt with slight vibration through through the whole body of the car. Super annoying. I’m using individual mode in sport transmission mode to overcome this issue. In that mode car keeps RPMs 1500-2000 during normal driving and no vibrations
A good light stage 1 tune usually solves many issues with transmission logic and lag. At least it did on my previous cars. It is a shame I cannot tune it while it is under warranty. I would have explored that route too.
