Hi folks!

A few times lately I've noticed a distinct rubbing sound+vibration from the left hand side rear wheel area. It happens when I drive slowly away from my garage into the street, on a shallow left turn arc (on a level road).

My V8S convertible is stock, no mods (yet). Right hand drive of course.

Before I get into proper investigation (to gather evidence for the dealer), has anyone else experienced such a thing?

Can't find anything in the forum...

Thanks in anticipation!

 

Are you sure this isn't sound that brakes make when disk is slightly rusted from sitting for a while? How often do you drive and how humid where you store your car?

 

Driven almost every day, not brakes. Tonight I had a thought it could be the diff, when cold or something.

 

I had one time where a brake was dragging as I can to a stop - not a nice sound. Getting up to speed and braking hard took care of it.

 

If it was tire rubbing, you'd see some scuffing on it. In that case, it would be caused by worn/out of alignment suspension component. Unlikely on a car of this age unless you put some serious miles over bad roads.

I think the most likely reason is brakes. It could be caliper starting to stick. It could be parking brake sticking. As someone suggested - do hard braking followed by coasting couple times, see if it resolve the issue. Also engage parking brake while very very slowly rolling (sub 1mph) to do the same for it.

Also, when was the last time you serviced your brakes? If everything original, it is not inconceivable to have early onset of sticking calipers.

 

Thanks! I'll check those suggestions out and let you know.

 

I would be inclined to jack the rear of the car and just check wheel baring play on the lh side (grab the sides if the tire top and bottom-you shouldn't feel any movement) and also spin the wheel by hand and it will be obvious if the brake is binding.

Failing that, get the dealer to check the diff.

 

If you've got it on a jack, and you're pushing-pulling on the wheel, it's probably best to grab the wheel at the 9 and 3 positions.

 

Sounds like you have a bearing on the way out. At least that's what the one I have going out sounds like.

 

Have you checked the wheel lugs/bolts ?

 

I had something similar. It was a piece of gravel lodged between the disc and dust plate.

 

This is reported as a common nuisance with the M4. But the noise is constant once the debris gets lodged if you read the accounts in the bimmer forums.