'93 325I Automatic - driveline/rear end noise

[Rubatoguy]

I have a '93 325i with 107K miles. As far as I know it has never had any driveline work done on it. It is my wife's dailer driver, and she has a tendency to accelerate and brake rapidly.

I had noticed a mild vibration in the driveline, and lately there has been a noise that I would call a growl, that varies directly with the speed of the car. If I take the car and put it in Neutral, it makes no difference on the noise.

Can anyone give me suggested items to check out?
I'm wondering if this could be a wheel bearing, or a driveline component.

ideas?

thanks,
Todd

[Jeron]

Wheel bearings usually make more noise when turning and especially when turning is one direction over the other direction.

I would check the guibo/flexdisk/universal joint and the center support bearing. Also check/change the fluid in the diff.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=CB43&mospid=47498&btnr=26_0105&hg=26&fg=10

[Rubatoguy]

Thanks, I have a new guibo, what other parts are reccomended to be replaced when you replace this? The center bearing? Do you have to use new bolts for the guibo?

Todd

[Jeron]

Might as well replace the center support bearing. Make sure the shaft is marked so you can realign the splines.

You are supposed to use new nuts on the guibo or just put Loctite on them. I'd use Blue Loctite.

The first thing I would suggest is checking the tires and wheels. Get them balanced, swap them front to back a put on the spare to see if you can get the noise to change or disappear.