E46 B3 Saloon 2002 Torque Converter and Steering Wheel Judder

[DogWagen]

If it was me, I would change to the correct filter per the parts catalogue. That said, a filter sized for a 5.4 wouldn't restrict the flow - quite the opposite and you may find that it's not that different in dimensions...which could explain why it's been used!!

You may be able to find a date code on the filter which could give you an idea of age but not necessarily when it was fitted.

[Charles]

Would you suggest going with the filter listed in the B3S catalogue for my vehicle ? Or the replacing like for like with what’s in the car now , I have no providence as to whether or not that fuel filter has ever been changed before

When you are next under the car, you should be able to access the fuel filter and see the manufacturing date on it - as well as part number.

It is highly unlikely that it will have been changed.

[E46330]

Would you suggest going with the filter listed in the B3S catalogue for my vehicle ? Or the replacing like for like with what’s in the car now , I have no providence as to whether or not that fuel filter has ever been changed before

When you are next under the car, you should be able to access the fuel filter and see the manufacturing date on it - as well as part number.

It is highly unlikely that it will have been changed.

Charles , I’ve attached a picture of what came out of the car and no dates on it anywhere I could see. I took the car to the garage to replace as they owed me a favour anyway and they had bought a like for like replacement with what was already on it at no charge , so who was I to complain ?

[E46330]

There is a new job which has cropped up suddenly which is the prop shaft Centre bearing , have any of you guys had any experience with this ? As under heavy-ish load from a slow roll or standstill it judders/vibrates pretty hard , mostly felt under the armrest as it changes from 2nd to 3rd

[Charles]

There is a new job which has cropped up suddenly which is the prop shaft Centre bearing , have any of you guys had any experience with this ? As under heavy-ish load from a slow roll or standstill it judders/vibrates pretty hard , mostly felt under the armrest as it changes from 2nd to 3rd

Been there!

I think it is a 330d centre bearing but will need to check with my Indie who did the job, as the whole prop shaft assembly is an Alpina-special courtesy of the BMW parts bin

Bit of a pain as it's exhaust out but easily accessible from then.

[E46330]

There is a new job which has cropped up suddenly which is the prop shaft Centre bearing , have any of you guys had any experience with this ? As under heavy-ish load from a slow roll or standstill it judders/vibrates pretty hard , mostly felt under the armrest as it changes from 2nd to 3rd

Been there!

I think it is a 330d centre bearing but will need to check with my Indie who did the job, as the whole prop shaft assembly is an Alpina-special courtesy of the BMW parts bin

Bit of a pain as it's exhaust out but easily accessible from then.

I’ve ordered the part based on the B3 Parts Catalogue and that does say it is part number: 26 12 7 506 783

Which from RealOem says it’s off an E46 330D and matches what is on the B3S as well , there is another part for the earlier models based on the 328i however my vehicle being the 330i donor car I’ve gone with that one. It was £102 from BMW including VAT , the exhaust was dropped to do the gearbox about 18 months ago so shouldn’t be a massive pain (famous last words)

Since having replaced the fuel filter I’m getting fuel trim codes on bank 1 & 2 which I wasn’t before , I was getting lambda deviation bank 1 & 2 before replacing the fuel filter , so not too sure what this could be. Any ideas ?

[hashluck]

Since having replaced the fuel filter I’m getting fuel trim codes on bank 1 & 2 which I wasn’t before , I was getting lambda deviation bank 1 & 2 before replacing the fuel filter , so not too sure what this could be. Any ideas ?

Could be a vacuum leak or one of the Lambda sensors about to go or MAF sensor. Both banks suggest intake side so I would be looking at vaccum leak, or MAF - you may well have dislodged something replacing the air filter. Get the codes read at a decent independent.

[E46330]

Since having replaced the fuel filter I’m getting fuel trim codes on bank 1 & 2 which I wasn’t before , I was getting lambda deviation bank 1 & 2 before replacing the fuel filter , so not too sure what this could be. Any ideas ?

Could be a vacuum leak or one of the Lambda sensors about to go or MAF sensor. Both banks suggest intake side so I would be looking at vaccum leak, or MAF - you may well have dislodged something replacing the air filter. Get the codes read at a decent independent.

I have had a good bit of the vacuum hoses replaced at this point and the car has been smoke tested recently and nothing has come up , I think I’ll do as you suggest and get the codes read at a proper garage when I get time , it doesn’t seem to be affecting much right now , just one of the those annoying things

[E46330]

Annnnd another update … !

I’ve gone OEM part for the fuel filter now , just to be on the safe side and put the part that belongs to the car from the factory in it. DogWagen your words highly resonated with me.
Still getting the fuel trim codes. But that is an issue for another day now.

I have also replaced the prop shaft centre bearing with an original BMW one (£101) and the original vibration has gone ! Huzzah ! However in the same rev range and speed I am now getting a different vibration/judder , almost a grinding , which is in 2nd to 3rd gear , slow roll then full throttle to 35mph or standstill and full throttle up to 35mph. The previous vibration was a constant one , and quite low frequency if this makes sense. It was consistent. The new vibration is more of a judder and slower and more pronounced like it has almost got a grind to it if that is descriptive enough at all ?

The mechanic checked the prop shaft guibo/rubber (part no. 26 11 1 209 168) coupling whilst it was out the car and said it was in good shape and did not need to be replaced. So I am now again at a loss as to what could be causing this judder ?

Would the differential mounts be the next point to check from here ? Or am I way off track ? Any advice would be massively appreciated as I am now pulling my hair out

[E46330]

The 100th post !

I took the car by the garage this morning and it turns out it’s the prop shaft centre bearing causing the issue. So not sure if it’s a faulty part or anything but will be ordering another and swapping and reporting back. Will hopefully be dropped back off on Monday

[hashluck]

I have had a good bit of the vacuum hoses replaced at this point and the car has been smoke tested recently and nothing has come up , I think I’ll do as you suggest and get the codes read at a proper garage when I get time , it doesn’t seem to be affecting much right now , just one of the those annoying things

Suggest sensors or MAF based in this. Given the state of the air filter you recently replaced I do wonder if the MAF got contaminated.

[E46330]

I have had a good bit of the vacuum hoses replaced at this point and the car has been smoke tested recently and nothing has come up , I think I’ll do as you suggest and get the codes read at a proper garage when I get time , it doesn’t seem to be affecting much right now , just one of the those annoying things

Suggest sensors or MAF based in this. Given the state of the air filter you recently replaced I do wonder if the MAF got contaminated.

That is a great shout and didn’t really cross my mind , visual inspection and a spray with contact cleaner would be the first port of call for an MAF sensor ? Anything else I can do myself without proper equipment ?

It just seems strange that the codes went from a lambda deviation in both banks to a fuel trim after having changed the fuel filter , I don’t know which one is the better issue to have ! Haha.

[E46330]

The 100th post !

I took the car by the garage this morning and it turns out it’s the prop shaft centre bearing causing the issue. So not sure if it’s a faulty part or anything but will be ordering another and swapping and reporting back. Will hopefully be dropped back off on Monday

New centre bearing gone in again , with butyl tape added this time , might I add. It has significantly improved and under almost all loads the car will not judder , the only time I can get it to do it now is on an incline , <5mph or standstill , floor the accelerator and then as it goes from 2nd to 3rd gear , I get the vibration , much less noticeable and you do need to be kicking the proverbial backside out of it to make it happen. Very rarely I’d need to be putting that much torque down at those speeds , seems strange though that , almost as if the car has too much torque for the bearing ?

I shall be letting that rest for now as I’m clueless as to what could be done about next , is it worth looking at up-rated aftermarket bearings for this kinda thing ? Or stay far away ?

[Charles]

Have you checked the diff mounts? From experience, they wear and contribute to driveshaft judder.

I have changed these and the propshaft centre bearing to resolve the problems

[simon13]

exactly what charles said, worn diff bushes can be felt like clunky gear changes. This is more felt on manuals with slower gear changes but you can tell in an auto

Theres 3 bushes but its most likely the rear diff bush as it allows to much side movement when its worn