2012 X5 35i xDrive shudder/vibration/stutter ANY INPUT APPRECIATED

[hennessy_r24]

Check your Transmission mount , just replace mines at 115k was getting some vibration on semi hard acceleration from stop.

[GearHead335i]

Originally Posted by hennessy_r24

Check your Transmission mount , just replace mines at 115k was getting some vibration on semi hard acceleration from stop.

Any other symptoms?

[Huz-Z]

Back in May, I replaced my OEM square setup of rims and tires (255 55 18) with a nice staggered set of 611M replicas by Replika Wheels (their R184 rim, its very nice and an awesome price from Canada Wheels). almost immediately, I noticed the shudder issue discussed here. Here are the specs of what I installed in May:

Front
20x10, offset +40
Rear
20x11, offset +37

Tires
Front
275/40R20
Rear
315/35R20
Tires are Continental Extreme Contact DWS 06.

This morning, owing to the fact that I'm in Canada and running a snow tire is sort of a good idea up here in winter, I had the 611M reps and the Contis pulled off and replaced with my OEM square set up and my Pirelli Scorpion snow tires in size 255 55 18.

Guess what? Shudder is completely gone.

[Huz-Z]

I was looking forward to some additional discussion on this.

So should we conclude that this issue can be fixed by returning to original tires and rims or if staying with the new rims, new transfer case fluid? Or - should I leverage my extended warranty and have the unit replaced in the spring?

Comparing tire sizes using the calculator in Post #4, my new tires are only 1% smaller in circumference and diameter than the original 255 55 18's. this can't be the cause.

[GearHead335i]

Originally Posted by Svaen

I’d say it’s the tire size difference. I had the same problem myself, running with 295/30 and 335/25-22 on my summer set. It helped if I increased the tire air pressure in the back and decreased in the front, so I guess it’s very sensitive.
The company who sold me the 22 inch set with tires two years ago, who also specializes on selling aftermarked and OEM BMW parts, refused to take back the wheels. They claimed that the tire manufacturer (in this case Vredestein) approved this tire set up to fit the X5 E70.
But now, the company is selling this set up with 285/30 and 335/25-22 in stead. Go figure.

If you’re missing hub centric rings, it would just feel like the the wheels were way out of balance.

So I tried to increase the pressure on the rear and decrease the pressure up front, feels a little better. What psi were you running in the front and what psi I’m back with the 295/30 335/25?

[GearHead335i]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

I was looking forward to some additional discussion on this.

So should we conclude that this issue can be fixed by returning to original tires and rims or if staying with the new rims, new transfer case fluid? Or - should I leverage my extended warranty and have the unit replaced in the spring?

Comparing tire sizes using the calculator in Post #4, my new tires are only 1% smaller in circumference and diameter than the original 255 55 18's. this can't be the cause.

I was too, the seller I bought the 285/30 from reached out after I made the purchase and said he only had 1 285/30 in stock so I just cancelled the order and may just sell the wheels. Not sure yet, I remounted them in hopes I could play with the pressure and that would help out but so far it hasn’t helped a ton, a little, but not a ton. A only have a diff between the front and rear of 4-5 psi, not sure how drastic the diff should be.

[Svaen]

Originally Posted by Quinnhogue7

So I tried to increase the pressure on the rear and decrease the pressure up front, feels a little better. What psi were you running in the front and what psi I’m back with the 295/30 335/25?

I ran with 32 psi in the front, and 44 psi in the rear. It didn’t remove the problem totally, but it got much better. Guess the comfort was a bigger priority than the incorrect tire wear in the back.

[Huz-Z]

I can't do much right now re the tire pressures as I have gone back to the stock size square set up for winter (255 55 18). However, the issue is basically gone with this current winter set up. I'll have to wait until spring to put the new staggered summer tires and rims back on the car (275 40 R20 front, 315 35 R20 rear) so I can play around with the tire pressures. Perhaps a combination of that and new transfer case fluid will fix this.

[Svaen]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

I can't do much right now re the tire pressures as I have gone back to the stock size square set up for winter (255 55 18). However, the issue is basically gone with this current winter set up. I'll have to wait until spring to put the new staggered summer tires and rims back on the car (275 40 R20 front, 315 35 R20 rear) so I can play around with the tire pressures. Perhaps a combination of that and new transfer case fluid will fix this.

It’s unusual to read about these symptoms with 275/40 and 315/35R20 on a X5. My X5 m-sport was delivered with this as a standard BMW set up for the X5 E70, with no problems at all in my case. If you compare these tire sizes, there is a 0.1% difference between front and rear tires. That’s basically nothing, and far away from the mythical 1% limit when it comes to tire sizes for the X-drive.
But as you mention, a change of transfer case fluid and a reset would be a wise start.

[Huz-Z]

Svaen - thanks very much for the reply. Right now, the car is perfect running with the original size winter tires. I expect that the problem will re-appear as soon as I put the summer tires back on the car after the winter. At that point, I'll get the fluid changed and see how it goes. Thankfully, in the event that none of that fixes the issue, my car has a good extended warranty for another three years, and the transfer case is a covered item.

[GearHead335i]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Svaen - thanks very much for the reply. Right now, the car is perfect running with the original size winter tires. I expect that the problem will re-appear as soon as I put the summer tires back on the car after the winter. At that point, I'll get the fluid changed and see how it goes. Thankfully, in the event that none of that fixes the issue, my car has a good extended warranty for another three years, and the transfer case is a covered item.

.01% wont give you these symptoms unless there is something wrong with your transfer case? Change the fluid sooner rather than later!

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by Quinnhogue7

.01% wont give you these symptoms unless there is something wrong with your transfer case? Change the fluid sooner rather than later!

Good idea - I think I'll take your advice and get that done early next week.

[GearHead335i]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Good idea - I think I'll take your advice and get that done early next week.

Deff a good idea! I also have a 2009 e90 LCI 335i xDrive. Ive had a square setup of style 437m rep wheels on the car, but at one point I had 2 diff brand tires on the front and the rear and the front were balder than the rears, which I’m sure through the rolling circumferences off by say 0.1% and I was getting similar symptoms. Not nearly as bad as the 1.3% diff on my x5 but I changed the transfer case fluid and it deff helped significantly. I also needed axles but the combination of changing my tcase fluid and axles remedied the problem completely. That “lifetime fluid” too is BS lol.

[hennessy_r24]

Originally Posted by Quinnhogue7

Any other symptoms?

I was getting vibration with my stock 20 wheels and no vibration with the lighter aftermarket 21" wheels. The mount is past the transmission , good luck

[Huz-Z]

I'll report back as soon as there is news. I'm hoping to have this resolved properly, as my new 611M reps are otherwise a very nice improvement to the vehicle:

[GearHead335i]

Originally Posted by hennessy_r24

I was getting vibration with my stock 20 wheels and no vibration with the lighter aftermarket 21" wheels. The mount is past the transmission , good luck

Thanks brother!

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

I'll report back as soon as there is news. I'm hoping to have this resolved properly, as my new 611M reps are otherwise a very nice improvement to the vehicle:

Sounds good! Any more pictures of the car with the new 611m reps? Say like a full side view of the car? Looking sharp man! I was really shading a set of 20s but those look great!

[Huz-Z]

Those are Replika R184 rims in gunmetal machine face finish, 20 inch staggered. Running 275 40 20 on the front and 315 35 20 on the rear, with Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 tires. Wheels and tires are available from CanadaWheels at 800 453-4484. Ask for Clint or Hong. I think you will be delighted with the wheel price, particularly considering the exchange rate.

How's this pic look:

[LSX5]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Those are Replika R184 rims in gunmetal machine face finish, 20 inch staggered. Running 275 40 20 on the front and 315 35 20 on the rear, with Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 tires. Wheels and tires are available from CanadaWheels at 800 453-4484. Ask for Clint or Hong. I think you will be delighted with the wheel price, particularly considering the exchange rate.

How's this pic look:

I love the conti dws 06 awesome tires.
My x5 35d came with the sport package
275 40 20 front and 315 35 20 rear never had any issues.

[rodnex]

Looking good. But you need to get the wide fenders!

[Nasherbok]

Hi, I have read through everyone's responses here and most seem to think this is something to do with the tires mainly, plus other theories. Which may be true, but I recently had this very experience and tried all these remedies to no avail.

The problem actually was the Power Steering Pump, which finally just failed and it had to be replaced. As soon as this was complete all these issues you have described disappeared.

Possibly this would be a good place to have a look at next if your issue is not resolved.

[GearHead335i]

Originally Posted by Nasherbok

Hi, I have read through everyone's responses here and most seem to think this is something to do with the tires mainly, plus other theories. Which may be true, but I recently had this very experience and tried all these remedies to no avail.

The problem actually was the Power Steering Pump, which finally just failed and it had to be replaced. As soon as this was complete all these issues you have described disappeared.

Possibly this would be a good place to have a look at next if your issue is not resolved.

Hmmmm never really thought to check that, but my shuttering subsided once I took the staggered wheels off.

[BMWFanaticRob]

Not sure if anyone is still checking in, however, I think I have the same problem but wanted to be very specific to see if my issue is simply tire related.

I have a 2012 X5 5.0. I had the 255/55/18 square setup. I changed to the 20" 611's, which I have to say look absolutely great on the truck. I did change out the fender flares and really recommend doing it. 275/40/20 on front and 315/35/20 rear with Pirelli PZero RFT tires. I've changed my TC fluid with the BMW specific version. I've changed by front and rear diff fluid. I've had the drive shaft recall completed. There is no play in the driveshaft nor the flex disc. I'm pretty certain that the truck ran fine with the 18's, however, now, I have what feels like a shuddering/vibration during acceleration only. It's smooth from 0-25, then I start to feel something like a vibration in my seat, while I accelerate from about 25 to 33 and then it disappears from 33-36. I don't have the shuddering during low speed turns, which is reported as an issue with the TC, so I feel confident it's not the TC. I have no other vibration or noise when driving highway speeds. When I coast to a stop, no vibration. During hard acceleration, I can't say that it feels worse. During light acceleration, it seems to be less noticeable, but I really have to baby it thorough the 25-35 speed range.

Seems odd that somehow it's related to tires, but with others in this post, it appears that somehow, it is. There's a lot of 20's out there, so if it's just a handful of us, it has to be the actual tire that is the problem.

Regardless, if someone else can describe how/where/when the vibration happens, it would be really helpful. I've always had success with Michelin, so I think that's what I'm going to stick with when these wear out.

Also, if anyone has had the vibration on the 20's, then changes the tires do a different brand of 20's and had it go away, please let me know.