Difficult to describe...

[ScottR]

Evening guys,

A couple of weeks ago my e85 3.0 developed an oddity! It’s a tricky one to explain and search the forum for. When pulling away, slowing down, changing gear, turning particularly at slow speeds I’m experiencing a notching/clicking (but duller than a click and not audible) that almost feels like the whole car skipping or crabbing slightly. It’s such a tricky sensation to describe :wink: At times it almost feels like the pedals and the body of the car are momentarily travelling opposite ways.
The sensation is definitely more prominent through my feet like it’s coming through the pedals?
I appreciate it’s not a lot to go on but wondered if anyone could make any sense of what may be going awry before I get a professional to investigate. I’m missing all the summer top down fun

Although the roof motor went last week too

The closest thing I could find on searching was tightening the strut braces in the engine bay but they seem tight

Thanks in advance, always incredibly helpful and knowledgeable you lot!

Scott.

 

[Stevepj]

Engine or gearbox mounting would be my guess.

 

[ScottR]

Engine mounts did cross my mind but haven’t ever really seen any regular issues mentioned on the forum for non M cars? Do you know of any way I could test either or both?

 

[ColinBR]

Check suspension bushes and ball joints and wishbones

 

[-Tom-]

I thought i typed a reply but it didn’t submit ... i also was thinking engine mounts. If they’re really shot, you can definitely get those symptoms; but I echo that I don’t know how common this is on the 3.0.

 

[Crazy Harry]

Check suspension bushes and ball joints and wishbones

I'd be checking ball joints as well.

 

[ScottR]

Thanks chaps! I’m not overly technical so may be a silly question. At MOT in January (only covered sub 1k miles since) the NS and OS lower control arm bushes were replaced. If it was ball joints would/should this have been picked up then? I’ll mention it to my mechanic mind! Thanks again

 

[Roberltd2]

Are you running on run flat tires? Although I've never had any experience of them myself, I believe they can be a bit "strange" if you're not used to them.

 

[dhobbs]

Clutching at straws maybe but are the wheel bolts tight?

I made this mistake in my teenage years when putting my wheels on and forgot to torque them up.

 

[ScottR]

Non run flats and I have had all four wheels off and back on again to ensure they were all squarely on their hub, so all cranked nice and tight Mounts are getting checked soon I hope, although every local garage seems stacked for weeks. Thanks for the replies

 

[ColinBR]

Did u take the car to your mechanic?
What did he find?

 

[ScottR]

No, unfortunately he can’t look at it for another two weeks so I’m having to find availability elsewhere. Although he did remind me that when he replaced the lower control arms he replaced bushes and ball joints so they should be fine!

 

[DMike]

Thinking of the pedals vs body feel I remember a slightly similar thread on a 6er forum, where the culprit was finally found in the seat mechanism. The seat mechanisms in Z4s are quite different but a loose seat rail?

 

[ScottR]

I’m planning on spending some time today investigating, I’ll attempt to check all the suggestions, thank you. Whilst I have the wheels off is there anything else I should be doing (other than drains). Also, is there anyway of checking mounts DIY?

 

[ScottR]

Update: The car has been off to the garage, they unsurprisingly struggled to replicate/notice the sensation, I must admit, it’s probably much more difficult if you hadn’t driven it pre the fault occurring. All suspension components and mounts have been checked thoroughly, no play anywhere to be found. Everything is solid. Whilst it was in I had a 4 wheel alignment complete and rear pads and discs as have been meaning to get those done for a while. Knock sensation is still present of course, I didn’t expect it to go away. One additional thing I have noticed driving it today is there is a slight knock/click when feathering the throttle at standstill, clutch out. Unsure if it’s linked but seems worse when moving off at slow speed under pressure of the clutch engaging...I’m off to RBM tomorrow morning for my roof motor repair and relocate so I will mention it whilst there, see if they can shed any light