BMW 318i, car is shaking. Why?
Hi when I start my BMW 3 series 318i 2010 (automatic) the car shakes and the revs go up whilst in park mode. I get out of the car and the exhaust pipe is shaking. When I drive the car it stays stuck on the first gear for while until you hear a bang noise and the gear changes some times I have let go of the gas for it to go to the next gear. When I put the heating on or the AC the car sometimes starts to shake and the acceleration goes heavy too.
My car has an automatic transmission.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello, thanks for writing in. It sounds like you may have a serious internal engine issue, something may have come disconnected, or you have bad gas. I usually check the computer for codes first. If the computer is seeing a problem then it will be stored in a code and that will give direction to the issue. If there is nothing there then a visual inspection of the engine must be done followed by a compression test. If you need to have this looked at, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose and repair this.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Unbalanced wheels: Unbalanced wheels are one of the main causes because weight placement is vital to your BMW. If the weight is not distributed evenly, your vehicle will vibrate. If you have a lightweight suspension system, this could be the cause.
The most likely cause of the shaking usually happens in the vicinity of your vehicle`s tires and wheels. They plant the car to the road, and if anything is out of alignment, you are going to feel it. It may be a broken control arm or a broken transmission mount.
Start By Checking Your Rotors
If your steering wheel begins shaking while accelerating or driving then it is most likely a result of a warped rotor. This is typically the sign of a bad or failing equalizer and/or caliper.
The most prevalent cause of vibration is problems with your wheels or tires. The potential problems include improper wheel and tire balance, uneven tire wear, separated tire tread, out of round tires, damaged wheels and even loose lug nuts.
There are a range of reasons why your car is juddering when you accelerate. Your vehicle could have dirty fuel injectors, a damaged fuel pump, a blocked catalytic converter, a faulty mass airflow sensor, broken spark plugs, or even an accumulation of moisture.
The most common reasons a BMW 328i shakes when braking are bad brake rotors, bad brake pads, or a bad wheel bearing.
The CV joints are located mostly at the end of the axle points. There are two joints, outer and inner. When the inner joint gets damaged, you can observe that the car starts vibrating under hard acceleration. Because of wear and tears in the joints, CV joints can get damaged and cause failure.
Motor mounts keep your engine attached to the car. Weak or broken mounts can`t hold the engine tight in the engine compartment and creates a vibration at idle. If the shaking subsides when the car is in Neutral, this could indicate the motor mounts are responsible for the vibrations.
You could have a damaged or broken motor mount. Motor mounts are the things that attach the engine to your vehicle`s frame. That sounds serious because it is, and damage to one or more of the motor mounts can allow the engine to vibrate and move around when you press the gas pedal.
The most common reasons for your car to excessively vibrate are a problem with your tyres, wheels, brakes, steering, suspension, axle or engine.
Improperly functioning spark plugs cause an uneven burn of fuel in the engine, resulting in fluctuating RPMs and a louder noise. You might also experience increased vibrations of your vehicle while sitting idle or while traveling at low speeds. These vibrations originate from the engine and can shake the entire car.
One of the main reasons why your vehicle could be vibrating at idle could be due to worn out spark plugs. When a vehicle`s spark plug is faulty, it can interfere with the air-fuel ratio leading to improperly firing cylinders, resulting in a misfire while idling. Replacing your spark plugs will solve this problem.
Regardless, it`s a good idea to get your car checked out in this instance. Shaking: If your car shakes while it idles, you might need an oil change. This is because your car`s engine will create more friction without enough oil.
The only fix is to completely replace the CV joint. The main purpose of motor mounts is to attach a car`s engine to the frame of the vehicle. A secondary purpose is to dampen or reduce engine vibration so the occupants of the car don`t feel the constant shaking or vibrating of the engine while it`s running.
Any unusual shaking or vibrating forces coming from the engine is cause for concern. It could be something as simple as old spark plugs producing an uneven power delivery, it could be something serious like worn or broken engine mounts, or it could be even more serious in the case of internal engine damage.
If your vehicle is shaking when you are idling at a complete stop, the problem is likely to be damaged or broken motor mounts or transmission mounts. Broken motor or transmission mounts can result in severe motor shaking and should be fixed before causing other serious mechanical problems.
Any unusual shaking or vibrating forces coming from the engine is cause for concern. It could be something as simple as old spark plugs producing an uneven power delivery, it could be something serious like worn or broken engine mounts, or it could be even more serious in the case of internal engine damage.
Low automatic transmission fluid can cause shaking. If the shaking is accompanied by the check engine light, it`s time to visit a mechanic. Drivers of manual cars might discover their clutch master cylinder is the source of the shaking.
The most common faults are the wheel bearings, tires out of balance, bent wheel, driveshaft balance, or the struts. If the vibration occurs only at 50 to 60 miles and hour and does not get worse as speed increases then the wheel balance should be checked first.
Engine vibration can be a result of many different issues in your vehicle, but when it occurs at a low RPM it usually is the result of faulty spark plugs, poor fuel pressure, or even an engine misfire.
The most common faults are the wheel bearings, tires out of balance, bent wheel, driveshaft balance, or the struts. If the vibration occurs only at 50 to 60 miles and hour and does not get worse as speed increases then the wheel balance should be checked first.
The source of the problem could be from tires that are not balanced or a worn-out spark plug. It could also be loose lug nuts. A car also vibrates for a number of reasons when you accelerate. Typically it`s from a damaged inner CV joint.
The source of the problem could be from tires that are not balanced or a worn-out spark plug. It could also be loose lug nuts. A car also vibrates for a number of reasons when you accelerate. Typically it`s from a damaged inner CV joint.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
BMW 318i, car is shaking. Why?
ANSWER : Hello, thanks for writing in. It sounds like you may have a serious internal engine issue, something may have come disconnected, or you have bad gas. I usually check the computer for codes first. If the computer is seeing a problem then it will be stored in a code and that will give direction to the issue. If there is nothing there then a visual inspection of the engine must be done followed by a compression test. If you need to have this looked at, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose and repair this.
Read Full Q/A … : BMW 318i, car is shaking. Why?
is it ok for 3 cylinder bmw 318i bmw car engine to look like it’s shaking
ANSWER : On most vehicles, the engine will vibrate some at idle. Minor imbalances will cause the engine to shake some, but should not be noticeable while operating the vehicle. Major vibrations can be caused by misfires or broken engine mounts. If you feel as if the movement is abnormal, hire one of our mobile mechanics for a personal diagnosis of the shaking.
Read Full Q/A … : BMW 318i, car is shaking. Why?
I put the wrong key in my car and a few weeks later my car just shut down and it will not start I believe it’s the computer but…
ANSWER : Hi there. What had happened is the wrong key set the security to the vehicle. This is to prevent the vehicle from starting with the wrong keys. Try removing the battery cables (+) and (-) for 13 minutes. During that time, put the original key in the ignition and turn it on. Activate everything in the car even though there is no power. Then remove the key and hook up the battery cables. The computer should have reset and reset the security. If the security is still being tripped, then I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you
Read Full Q/A … : BMW 318i, car is shaking. Why?
car shakes when idle and accelerating
ANSWER : It is very possible that you have a valve cover gasket or spark plug tube seal leak on your vehicle. These type of leaks will allow oil to leak onto the spark plugs causing misfires. When the engine misfires due to oil getting on the spark plug, the engine oil will burn. Since oil and tires are both petroleum products, they will both smell similar when they are burning. I would recommend having an oil leak inspection performed by a qualified professional to determine if there is an oil leak. Consider YourMechanic as an Oil/Fluid leak inspection can be peformed at your home or office.
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Replaced alternator on car 2 times each time shows it’s charging 14v let car run for a little bit then test drive and car voltage
ANSWER : There are reports that the replacement alternators will not communicate with the engine computer and will not charge correctly. I recommend using only the manufacturer approved replacement part. It can be new or remanufactured but approved for use in the vehicle. Some lower cost alternators on the aftermarket will have charging problems since they will not communicate with the ECM on the vehicle and will stop charging.
Read Full Q/A … : BMW 318i, car is shaking. Why?
My car shakes and shakes even more when i turn on my AC
ANSWER : Shaking with the a/c on can be caused by a number of reasons. The a/c compressor puts a lot of strain on the engine because the compressor is similar to being a small engine itself. When the a/c is switched on, the engine control unit should trigger components such as the idle speed/air control motor, to increase the idle slightly to compensate for the extra drag of the compressor. If that does not happen, then the additional drag can cause a low,shaky idle and even cause the engine to stall. Stalling can happen more often with the a/c on and turning the steering wheel as the power steering pump also creates drag on the engine. Excessive shaking can also be attributed to weak/broken motor mounts as well.
Have a certified technician look into the engine shake to isolate the exact cause.
Read Full Q/A … : BMW 318i, car is shaking. Why?
What if my car shakes and it’s not the tires what else can cause the shaking?
ANSWER : If the tire/wheel balancing and run-out (side to side motion) have been checked and ruled out, the fault may be suspension or driveline related. Worn inner c/v joints for example, can cause a vibration while accelerating either from a stop or at speed whenever they are under a load. Broken or worn engine and transmission mounts can also be a cause. The mounts are designed to keep driveline movement to a minimum as well as isolate the passenger compartment from vibration. If the mounts are weak or broken, the engine and transmission can be moving around more that designed and cause vibrations as well as stress on other components like wiring and hoses. Engine misfires can also cause a vibration. A certified technician can inspect the vibrations and isolate the exact cause.
Read Full Q/A … : BMW 318i, car is shaking. Why?
My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : BMW 318i, car is shaking. Why?
