Help diagnose my clunk....

[ErrErrminator]

A bit of new owner paranoia here. My 2.5 has a bit of a clunk from the rear end. I haven’t done enough varied driving to really get a really good feel for when it does and doesn’t happen. I can say for sure that it does it from stationary whe engaging reverse of first. Selecting reverse to come out of my garage doesn’t always slot in first time, but this may be unrelated. I have a feeling the clunk also manifests when going from first to second and slow speed (Ie in town), but not in higher gears.

I’ve read a couple of threads about the driveshaft donut and some discussion about splines into the diff. Am I likely to be experiencing one of these issues, or something else?

[Scooba_Steve]

Sounds like the classic input flange needing greasing.

[JamieZ4C]

If it's when selecting gear then it sounds like donut to me. I've had one go before on a 2001 320ci and you're describing what I was hearing.

From what I've gathered, the spline noise is more when you're already in gear, not selecting it, and when you begin to accelerate and lift off. I think I have this on my mine, hence I've been doing some research of my own.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge will come along and confirm if I'm right or wrong!

[ErrErrminator]

This is definitely a gear selection clunk and not a lift off one. The click may be more of a thud. A low noise that can be felt as well as heard.

[JamieZ4C]

Thud, yes, just like my 320. My money's on donut.