M40i Serious Issue - Very Loud Grinding & Vibration

Alias1431 · 06-20-2019, 08:32 PM

IMO this is a pretty cardinal sin for a car to make. Especially one that's been out for a couple years.

AstalaVistaBaby · 09-19-2019, 07:18 PM

Same thing happened to me today (see

about 15 secs into video), really scary moment, switched engine off and back on again and everything was fine.

Called my local dealer service manager, showed him the video and he quickly replied with the diagnosis - Electric Steering Rack - a software fix, so I have it booked in tomorrow.

Jcrane · 09-22-2019, 06:51 AM

I had exactly the same thing. It's was the ABS. Would happen on approach to a driveway when feathering the brakes. They ended up replacing the stability control board and the prob has gone away.

verysideways · 09-23-2019, 08:26 AM

Mine does the same thing, when approaching a T junction at less than walking pace on a down slope.

I can actually replicate the behaviour consistently now so i am off to the dealer on Friday to demonstrate it to them.

Jcrane · 09-23-2019, 05:31 PM

Yep that's exactly it. Has to be on a slight slope to do it. I had to record it for the dealer to see it, and being in Australia they had to get the new Dynamic Stability Control unit from Germany which took a couple of weeks, but it hasn't done it since (about 6 months now). Good luck!

RemixSkillz · 09-23-2019, 05:42 PM

I had this issue as well, the dealership did nothing on the first trip and said the car was fine and it was a "glitch". The second time the dealer told me they found a video on BMW's internal network of the same issue, and the fix was a reprogramming/software update. I haven't experienced the issue since they updated the software on my car.

MrPorter · 09-23-2019, 05:44 PM

Just chiming in here - didn't see this thread, but brought this up when I brought my car in for service since it happened to me when I was exiting a parking garage on a decline. Thankfully I left a bit of room in front of me, so I was able to let off the brake to stop the problem before braking again, but it was definitely a scary moment.

They also did some generic reprogram. We'll see if it works, but this only happened to me once so who knows.

dj_intrinsic · 06-05-2020, 04:02 PM

Any updates from the ones who had the reprogram?

Was there any other BMW bulletins besides the one below or other info on your Work Orders?

"FOUND ADVANCED BULLETIN FROM 11/1/18.I LEVEL OF 18 11 510 REQUIRED.VEHICLE CURRENTLY AT 18 03 541.PROGRAM/CODE COMPLETE VEHICLE.CLEAR FC. INITIALIZE RIDE HEIGHT SENSORS AFTER PROGRAMMING.INITIALIZE REAR TRUNK LATCH LID.ALLOW TO SLEEP AND TEST DRIVE OK."

F30.N54.lol · 06-05-2020, 10:07 PM

First post in the thread show the steering wheel moving, so hoping the mentioned EPS software will address it , if not would def throw a rack at it.

dj_intrinsic · 06-24-2020, 06:57 PM

Well, took my car in since this happening at least 8 times and they “could not duplicate” so nothing was done. Ugh, so frustrating.

06-20-2019, 08:32 PM	#45
Alias1431 Lieutenant Colonel 795 Rep 1,959 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: May 2019 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	IMO this is a pretty cardinal sin for a car to make. Especially one that's been out for a couple years.
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09-19-2019, 07:18 PM	#46
AstalaVistaBaby Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	X3 M40i Vibration and Noise Same thing happened to me today (see about 15 secs into video), really scary moment, switched engine off and back on again and everything was fine. Called my local dealer service manager, showed him the video and he quickly replied with the diagnosis - Electric Steering Rack - a software fix, so I have it booked in tomorrow.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-22-2019, 06:51 AM	#47
Jcrane Enlisted Member 20 Rep 35 Posts Drives: X3 20d xdrive Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	I had exactly the same thing. It's was the ABS. Would happen on approach to a driveway when feathering the brakes. They ended up replacing the stability control board and the prob has gone away.
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09-23-2019, 08:26 AM	#48
verysideways Lateral grip estimator 957 Rep 1,390 Posts Drives: i4, M2 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Cotswolds, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 BMW i4 Individual [7.83] 2010 Porsche 997.2 ... [0.00] 2002 Morgan Aero 8 [0.00]	Mine does the same thing, when approaching a T junction at less than walking pace on a down slope. I can actually replicate the behaviour consistently now so i am off to the dealer on Friday to demonstrate it to them. __________________ '20 BMW M2 '23 BWM i4 Mora '10 Porsche 997 '02 Morgan Aero 8 http://petrolhead.tours
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09-23-2019, 05:31 PM	#49
Jcrane Enlisted Member 20 Rep 35 Posts Drives: X3 20d xdrive Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	Yep that's exactly it. Has to be on a slight slope to do it. I had to record it for the dealer to see it, and being in Australia they had to get the new Dynamic Stability Control unit from Germany which took a couple of weeks, but it hasn't done it since (about 6 months now). Good luck!
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09-23-2019, 05:42 PM	#50
RemixSkillz New Member 6 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 M40i Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	I had this issue as well, the dealership did nothing on the first trip and said the car was fine and it was a "glitch". The second time the dealer told me they found a video on BMW's internal network of the same issue, and the fix was a reprogramming/software update. I haven't experienced the issue since they updated the software on my car.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-23-2019, 05:44 PM	#51
MrPorter First Lieutenant 183 Rep 309 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 M40i, 2020 X7 M50i Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Just chiming in here - didn't see this thread, but brought this up when I brought my car in for service since it happened to me when I was exiting a parking garage on a decline. Thankfully I left a bit of room in front of me, so I was able to let off the brake to stop the problem before braking again, but it was definitely a scary moment. They also did some generic reprogram. We'll see if it works, but this only happened to me once so who knows.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-05-2020, 04:02 PM	#52
dj_intrinsic Second Lieutenant 330 Rep 234 Posts Drives: 23 G80 M3 6MT Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (1)	Any updates from the ones who had the reprogram? Was there any other BMW bulletins besides the one below or other info on your Work Orders? "FOUND ADVANCED BULLETIN FROM 11/1/18.I LEVEL OF 18 11 510 REQUIRED.VEHICLE CURRENTLY AT 18 03 541.PROGRAM/CODE COMPLETE VEHICLE.CLEAR FC. INITIALIZE RIDE HEIGHT SENSORS AFTER PROGRAMMING.INITIALIZE REAR TRUNK LATCH LID.ALLOW TO SLEEP AND TEST DRIVE OK." __________________ 2023 G80 MT / AW / Fjord Blue/Black \| KW HAS \| Apex VS5RS F:20x10+8 285/30-20 R:20x11+18 305/30-20 \| Maxton Street Pro Splitter \| OEM M3CS Grille \| SST Valve Controller \| CS Style Yellow DRL \| MAD Non-Res Single Midpipe Past: 2018 X3 M40i \| 2016 M-Sport X1 \| 2013 MT M-Sport 328i \| 2021 Audi A6 Allroad
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06-05-2020, 10:07 PM	#53
F30.N54.lol Tech 13 Rep 42 Posts Drives: M340 /GTR Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	First post in the thread show the steering wheel moving, so hoping the mentioned EPS software will address it , if not would def throw a rack at it.
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06-24-2020, 06:57 PM	#54
dj_intrinsic Second Lieutenant 330 Rep 234 Posts Drives: 23 G80 M3 6MT Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (1)	Well, took my car in since this happening at least 8 times and they “could not duplicate” so nothing was done. Ugh, so frustrating.
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