My BMW M6 is making odd noises in either the transmission or differential
Hi, thanks for writing in. I tried doing a burnout the other day and since this car has plenty of power to do so, I went a head and turned off all the electronic assist options, pressed the M button, and stood on the brake while hammering down the gas pedal.
I thought this is how its done, but as it turns out. It is not.
As I pressed the brake pedal and tried to gas up, the wheels didnt spin but the RPM gauge went up for a second or two and I smelt a STRONG odor which reminded me of a burning clutch smell.
From there, I'm seeing these issues:
– Low tone, grinding noise at under 10 mph,
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi, thanks for writing in. Almost certainly, what you were smelling was the clutch as you suspect. And, both the clutch and the limited slip mechanism in the differential may be damaged. The 2006 M6 Sequential Manual Gearbox ("automatic") is a very complex mechanism managing tremendous power in a heavy vehicle, and the software may not have adequately protected the clutch, gearbox and differential during your aggressive "burnouts", given the power of the V10. I recommend having your BMW dealer or service center thoroughly inspect the clutch, gearbox and differential for damage.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
If the cause of the noise is inside the differential, this can be due to either tight-meshing pinion gears, or too much backlash on these gears. Another cause could be worn out differential-case bearings, and these can also cause noise when turning.
Strange Noises
If the sound resembles humming, buzzing, or clunking, you may be experiencing transmission failure. Bad automatic transmissions may emit humming, buzzing, or whining noises while manual transmissions have harsher “clunking” sounds.
Gurgling sounds from the transmission usually indicate that there is a problem with the levels of the transmission fluid. The noise is a result of excessive air in the transmission lines. The problem may develop if there is a transmission leak or when you forget to check the level of the transmission fluid.
If the gear shifter or the shift linkage are making a hissing of buzzing noise while the car is moving, particularly while the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating, a loose bolt or worn rubber isolators in the shift linkage is the most common cause.
Hearing an increase in the level of humming noises or gear grinding is a way of knowing almost for sure that you have a worn out differential. Usually the humming gets louder under acceleration. When this occurs it`s best to check the condition of your differential and replace if it`s in a rough condition.
If you hear a loud clunking noise when shifting your vehicle, this is another sign of driveshaft damage.
Grinding noises, transmission leaks, burning smells, noisy idling, and shifting delays are all common symptoms of a clogged filter.
Not only is driving with a damaged rear differential dangerous but, if you don`t have the issue addressed right away, it could snowball into more expensive repairs down the road. Even though rear differentials can experience a wide range of issues, these problems are fairly easy to spot and repair when caught early on.
An engine has a lot of moving parts, and a car making loud noise when accelerating could indicate engine problems. For instance, worn valves can make a clicking noise that`s more noticeable the faster a vehicle moves. Bearings, which let the cam and crankshaft spin, can also be noisy when they start to fail.
Not only is driving with a damaged rear differential dangerous but, if you don`t have the issue addressed right away, it could snowball into more expensive repairs down the road. Even though rear differentials can experience a wide range of issues, these problems are fairly easy to spot and repair when caught early on.
Differential mode noise is suppressed by installing a three- terminal capacitor and ferrite bead inductor in the supply line. Video signal output section Common mode noise transmitted to the video signal output section is suppressed by using a common mode choke coil. Common mode choke coil Suppresses common mode noise.
While you can drive with a damaged car differential, it is not the safest option. By waiting to complete the repair, other parts of your car may become damaged. This can hurt your car significantly and make a simple repair much more expensive.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My BMW M6 is making odd noises in either the transmission or differential
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. Almost certainly, what you were smelling was the clutch as you suspect. And, both the clutch and the limited slip mechanism in the differential may be damaged. The 2006 M6 Sequential Manual Gearbox ("automatic") is a very complex mechanism managing tremendous power in a heavy vehicle, and the software may not have adequately protected the clutch, gearbox and differential during your aggressive "burnouts", given the power of the V10. I recommend having your BMW dealer or service center thoroughly inspect the clutch, gearbox and differential for damage.
Chattering noises coming from transmission
ANSWER : Hello. From the symptoms you’ve described it would appear to me that there may be an issue with the clutch disc or perhaps flywheel.
If the contact surfaces of either are excessively worn it may cause intermittent chatter, as you are experiencing. If the clutch is still the original one than it may need to be replaced.
If you’d like a second opinion on this or would like to get this fixed, consider getting some help from a qualified mechanic who can diagnose the noise your car is making. Once this assessment is made an accurate repair can then performed.
when i turn it make little noise. when press on brake and put on reverse it’s makes weird noise and shakes. thank you
ANSWER : It sounds like you may be dealing with a few issues. I would start by asking if there is a check engine light on? If there is, then getting the engine control module scanned for faults would be the first step to diagnosing the low power issue. As far as the noise over bumps and when turning, there could be a damaged CV joint or axle shaft, or there could be a loose suspension or steering component. Weak motor mounts could cause a weird noise and shake when going into reverse with your foot on the brake, so it’s possible those have failed as well. I would suggest having a qualified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose the noise over bumps and the noise when put in reverse.
Car makes grinding noise – 1996 Chevrolet Corsica
ANSWER : Hey there, thanks for writing in. I would have a professional mechanic check out the constant velocity joints on your vehicle. One or more of them may be worn enough to cause the noises you describe. S/he can diagnose and replace any failed CV joints.
Whining noise from transmission and difficulty in shifting
ANSWER : Hello. From what you describe it would appear that your vehicle has developed some sort of issue with the transmission, perhaps related to the hydraulic system, or with the transmission gears. If there is an issue with the vehicle’s hydraulic clutch system it may cause problems such as grinding or popping when putting the transmission into gear. The components to look at there would be the clutch master and slave cylinders. If the clutch appears to be engaging and disengaging properly then it may be possible that the issue is with the transmission, perhaps in the form of a bad throw out bearing, or worn transmission gears. Both of these could also cause a whining noise as well as difficulty changing gears if a problem occurs. I would also check the fluid levels for both the transmission and hydraulic clutch systems, as that could also cause similar symptoms. If you are unsure I would recommend having a professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location to diagnose what may be causing your transmission issues.
car making womp womp noise and pop
ANSWER : A common cause of a noise like that is tire belt (internal) separation, flat spot(s) on tire or other tire defects. If the tires end up being excluded during a diagnostic, the CV axles, wheel bearings, and unfortunately the transmission and clutch have to be considered. The noise on turning is suggestive of a possibly defective outer CV joint but very loose tie rods ends and ball joints can sometimes be implicated. Also, it is possible to have a bad strut bearing, in the strut mount. Keep in mind, a "combination" of faults might be in play here. Your best bet is to request a front end inspection/diagnostic during which the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you insofar as identifying the root cause(s) and estimating the repair for you.
My car makes a really annoying noise and sometimes dies right after
ANSWER : Hi there. From the description you have provided your vehicle’s moaning noise and intermittent stalling problem could be any number of things. It could be a failed alternator diode making the moaning noise and affecting the idle.
A failed alternator diode(s) allows voltage to flow both directions or no flow at all resulting in noise heard and erratic electrical operation. It could be a faulty idle air control valve. The idle air control valve can make noise and would account for the erratic idle and sporadic dying. It could be an accessory component, such as an A/C compressor, serpentine belt tensioner, or idler pulley, power steering pump making noise and placing undo load on the engine at idle. If you would like to have this done, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the noise and stalling issue.
Car makes noises and jumps when turning driving straight js okay. I believe its cv axld but mechanic said it was transmission.
ANSWER : The problem sounds like it’s in the transaxle. When turning the two axles, turn at different speeds and the transaxle gears will allow them to normally turn. In your case, the spider differential limited slip gears are binding causing the jumping. Have the transaxle inspected and diagnosed by a transmission mechanic.
If you’d like a second opinion on this, contact a mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will be able to diagnose the noise you’re hearing and the rough driving symptoms firsthand.
