[supe]

Originally Posted by Marty in Bgm

According to the data posted here by owners, the ave miles on the car when the vibe issue occurred was 5,800...you're about double that since the replacements but the range was 2,500 - 16,800 so you're not out of the woods yet.

What else was done to the car aside from the replacement of the half shafts? Did they replace any other parts, did they loosen all suspension points and then adjust and retighten?

This is the issue with forums, some owners report, some don't, most probably don't even know there's a forum so a lot of data is and will be missing. Keep us posted how it goes, ok?

What I meant to say is that the car has 10k miles on it now. we just got the car back with the new shafts. so the miles on the new shaft is now commencing. the only other part listed was qty 2 31-20-6-866-022 collar screw.
They did do a software update B12 20 19 on a separate line item.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by supe

What I meant to say is that the car has 10k miles on it now. we just got the car back with the new shafts. so the miles on the new shaft is now commencing. the only other part listed was qty 2 31-20-6-866-022 collar screw.
They did do a software update B12 20 19 on a separate line item.

OH! Well then in that case you may in fact be doomed...if your X3 fits the model year and month/year of mfg of the rest of the vibration group, it would appear you are in the vibration group of X3's made and since you already had the issue, no one has come out alive yet that I am aware of! The vibration always returns given the ave milage, post repair...sorry As kdm235 posted, it would appear there is an inherent design deficiency within the mounting areas and as such, part replenishment is just temporary.

[mk6]

Originally Posted by Marty in Bgm

In the spreadsheet I made, I only have the state, not the city location but here are the owners who posted from NJ/NYS. You could private msg them and see if you can in fact get the momentum you're looking for.

I'm sure there are more than 8, probably five times that number but they haven't posted here. Maybe if they are reading this, they will make themselves known. Personally, I believe you have a very good idea!!

Forum Name
aclockwrk
lefizzet
vpm40idriver
edwood
kamek
supraken
sati747
redwood

.

NY here as well. I have an early model 2018. I've felt the vibration before but didn't think much of it. As everyone has states, it comes on between 50 - 60 mph under load. I haven't taken it to the dealer yet. You can add me to the list as well.

[383vett]

Picked up my early 2018 from the dealer last week after having the axle shafts replaced. The vibration at 50ish mph is gone replaced by a lower resonance, rumble vibration at lower rpms under load at lower speed. When the transmission shifts into third or fourth and the car is under acceleration, the rumbling, vibration occurs. Might have to bite the bullet and chuck this thing next year. If this car has issues at 14000 miles, no telling what may be ahead. I know if I take it back to the dealer, they will say they can't feel it because it is subtle, but something isn't right; almost like play in the axleshafts themselves. I may get the car in the air and check myself.

[tenman]

Originally Posted by 383vett

Picked up my early 2018 from the dealer last week after having the axle shafts replaced. The vibration at 50ish mph is gone replaced by a lower resonance, rumble vibration at lower rpms under load at lower speed. When the transmission shifts into third or fourth and the car is under acceleration, the rumbling, vibration occurs. Might have to bite the bullet and chuck this thing next year. If this car has issues at 14000 miles, no telling what may be ahead. I know if I take it back to the dealer, they will say they can't feel it because it is subtle, but something isn't right; almost like play in the axleshafts themselves. I may get the car in the air and check myself.

Dropped of my mother's M40i in for the same reason. They had ordered the wrong part and had already taken the car apart. The part had been back ordered from Germany and car has been at the shop for 3 weeks now. Will see if the vibration goes away after, also at 14,000 miles.

[AK_SA]

Hi guys,

kdm235 thanks for the input. I am at the point of handing the car back.
Marty in Bgm i owe you an answer sorry, have been busy at work.

Latest on my side: rear output shafts and propshaft replaced - most vibrations gone but still noticeable (to me at least) at 40 KM/H. Now have vibrations on my steering wheel upon deceleration/ turning whilst braking at 40 KM/H - taking car in again.

But replacement of output shafts and propshafts definitely solved my vibration issue at 50 MPH.

Take care guys

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by tenman

Dropped of my mother's M40i in for the same reason. They had ordered the wrong part and had already taken the car apart. The part had been back ordered from Germany and car has been at the shop for 3 weeks now. Will see if the vibration goes away after, also at 14,000 miles.

Tenman,
Can you give some details on your Mom's car?

- Build date.
- Original complaint/symptom details.
- Date your Mom first noticed the symptom.
- Mileage when first noticed the symptom.

I'll add you to the list.

Thanks

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by AK_SA

Hi guys,

kdm235 thanks for the input. I am at the point of handing the car back.
Marty in Bgm i owe you an answer sorry, have been busy at work.

Latest on my side: rear output shafts and propshaft replaced - most vibrations gone but still noticeable (to me at least) at 40 KM/H. Now have vibrations on my steering wheel upon deceleration/ turning whilst braking at 40 KM/H - taking car in again.

But replacement of output shafts and propshafts definitely solved my vibration issue at 50 MPH.

Take care guys

AK_SA,
Here's the not so good news, as you probably already know...those who have had the rear output shafts replaced, claimed victory only to have the same vibration come back after another 3-8K more "miles" (4,800-13,000km). It may be too early for victory in your case :-0 However, take each vibration free km as you can get it

Keep up posted, ok?

[383vett]

My car spent another week at the dealership to try to diagnose the vibration issue. I was having the classic steering wheel vibration around 50 mph. This appeared after about 10,000 miles on my early 2018 M40i. The axles were replaced. As soon as I drove away from the dealership, I noticed a lower rpm vibration/resonance between 28-32 mph which wasn't there before the axle change. The original 50mph vibration was gone. It seemed obvious to me that it was the axles again, since this new vibration started immediately after the new axles. They putsied around for a week and balanced a tire. As expected, the vibration/resonance is still there. I'll drive it for a while and wait until it gets worse.

[montanaman]

Wow wow wow is all I can say after reading this and countless other threads on this and other forums about the seemingly faulty drive-train in this vehicle. People trying different wheel packages, drive shafts replaced etc. Are ya kidding me?? I'd have a hard time not putting it through the showroom window!

I've owned/leased a lot of cars in my 59 years on this planet of all shapes, sizes and brands ( 3 being BMW's) and I know all cars have some issue's ( well most anyway) and that the internet and car forums can blow things way out of proportion but this seems way too deep and consistent and will send me in another direction most likely. To have a 60k plus performance vehicle like this and have this deep an problem on the what appears to be the drive-train is unacceptable at any level. Even if you are lucky enough to have a dealer who cares and attempts to fix the problem multiple times..... no thank you. Not interested in spending hours/days/weeks and maybe months with a service department on any car. It's almost as bad as going through a divorce.(ask me how I know)

I had my eye in a slightly pre-owned (10k miles) 2018 X3 M40i fairly loaded up in Dark Graphite/black and man is that a sweet looking ride for an SUV! I've watched countless You Tube reviews and I know from the last BMW I had ( 2011 535i) that that in-line 6 is about as good as it gets in a vehicle of this type. I pulled the Car Fax an it's a one owner vehicle purchased in the LA area serviced once at the dealer ( actually twice... one was an oil service at 6700 miles and the other a few months later had no notes as to what was done..hmmm the plot thickens) . Then the owner sold it/traded it in/kicked it to the curb or something and now I wonder if this might be one that has the problem and the owner just got rid of it. I do not know the build date but it was first put into service 9/18.

Anyway as much as this vehicle ticks a lot of boxes for me but I just can't go there and have to cross my fingers and say a prayer every time I drive it. Even if I just lease a new one, life is too short to spend at a dealership service department regardless if it costs any money or not to fix.

Too bad BMW has still not got up to speed on reliable quality because they make some very fun cars/SUV's to drive.

[Marty in NY]

You are right to be concerned, if you can find out what the VIN number is of the one you have your eye on and post it here, ask people if it used to be one of theirs, then you could get the real scoop on its history.
Did you find the Excel file I posted? Download it for a summary of the issue. The last I knew, dealers were unable to solve it on anyones car. Yes they replace axels, etc but it always comes back after so many more miles. Not sure if the new 2020's are ok or not

[montanaman]

Originally Posted by Marty in Bgm

You are right to be concerned, if you can find out what the VIN number is of the one you have your eye on and post it here, ask people if it used to be one of theirs, then you could get the real scoop on its history.
Did you find the Excel file I posted? Download it for a summary of the issue. The last I knew, dealers were unable to solve it on anyones car. Yes they replace axels, etc but it always comes back after so many more miles. Not sure if the new 2020's are ok or not

It's for sale at a high end BMW used shop in the Phoenix area. I don't even know if I want to call to find out the build date or dig any deeper. It will be a dead end and involve calling the dealer that serviced it in Pasadena etc. I'm sure the dealer seeing it will know nothing about this issue and just tell me the car is still under warranty for 3 years. I've read enough in here to hit the pause button. Too bad. I was going to maybe get this and sell my 2017 Vette and use this as my "fun car". Shame as this set up is really good on paper.

I think I'll just keep the Vette.

[montanaman]

VIN on the 2018 Dark Graphite X3M40i is........5UXTS3C59J0200895

Ring any bells?

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by montanaman

VIN on the 2018 Dark Graphite X3M40i is........5UXTS3C59J0200895

Ring any bells?

I think there's a typo in the VIN. I found this one - last 7 digits: 0Z00895 but it shows as Phytonic blue?

If that's accurate, build date is June 2018 so it's possible this could be one of those problematic vehicles

[montanaman]

It is J0Z00895 my bad..

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by montanaman

It is J0Z00895 my bad..

No worries. You should probably keep looking just to be on the safe side. Might have better luck with a 2019 build even though there were a few 2019's reported apparently.

[M40iG01]

do not buy a 2018 m40i.

[montanaman]

Originally Posted by M40iG01

do not buy a 2018 m40i.

Thanks. So glad for these forums. I know some of this stuff gets out of hand but this isn't a slow booting infotainment screen. This is a major problem if you in fact get it and the fix is way to trail and error. It would be different if it was a basic recall or TSB and they new how to fix it and fix it correctly but it's not so I'll pass.

Or maybe I'll print out few pages from this forum and offer them 30k lol..

[TXSchnee]

So I recently started having this vibration at around 50-55mph, but only on one 3 mile section of brand new road in my city. Not sure if it is a coincidence or not, but everywhere else my '18 M40i is just fine, and it consistently vibrates only on this one road. Did anyone else have anything similar to this when they first noticed the vibration? Or was it consistent in the RPM & MPH range across any road?

[Averjack]

I just took my 2018 X3 M40i into the dealership for vibration above 80 mph. The vibration starts and stops when you apply pressure to the gas pedal. I have new tires and had them balance again. It must be in the drivetrain somewhere because of how it starts and stops with gas pedal application. Below 80 mph the car is great. I have 26,500 miles on the odo

[BillofVegas]

Another 1st poster here. I am one of the initial adopters of the 2018 x3 m40i in the US (the ones that didn't get M steering wheel, fender badges, etc), and started to notice around 5k miles.

I only have 13k on the car currently, and it has always been a 3rd / 4th car, and is my wife's transportation. Still it bothers me when I drive between (50 - 60 mph). It has the stock 21" wheels / tires. I stay on top of the tire inflation #'s based on season because it can get hot out here. Pretty much textbook description matching posters above.

I've had other more important things to do so I haven't taken it with the dealer until recently. The dealer is one of those "doesn't care" types, even though I imagine it would be revenue for them to be replacing random parts which the factory would be paying for. Their service dept. has a bad reputation in this town.

I tend to believe the story that the transmission mounts were welded to the frame in the wrong place. And that makes it a chronic (serious) problem I guess. Really hard to recall that I would imagine.

I don't have anywhere near the time to do dozens of service visits or sit in court rooms with lawyers over this, so I guess I will live with it for now.

Too bad, because I really like this car.

[383vett]

We had our 2018 for a little over 2 years. 4 dealer visits and 39 days in the shop, BMW did a buyback in March.