Loud noise heard in car

[Dave00323]

I have a 2000 323ci, and when I take off from a stop I hear a loud noise coming from underneathe the parking brake handle and armrest area. It kinda sounds like a coke can is stuck in there or something, any ideas on what this could be? Drive shaft?

[mimalmo]

parking brake cable maybe? Get a shop to put it on a lift and look under it. You will want to make sure it isn't subframe related.

[Dave00323]

well i looked under the car, i didnt see anything out of the ordinary, so i doubt its a subframe issue. i think its the u-joint, and as from reading u cant just buy the little piece you have to get the whole assembly, am i right?

[Brian328i]

Ya on these cars you cant just buy a U-joint and put it in, you have to get the entire driveshaft. Did you check the... um cant remember the name, but the flange thing that connects to the transmission for any excess wear or damage?

When does the noise happen can you give more details?

[ZHP]

Could be the center support bearing or flex disc.

[mimalmo]

guibo?

[Dave00323]

Originally Posted by Brian328i

Ya on these cars you cant just buy a U-joint and put it in, you have to get the entire driveshaft. Did you check the... um cant remember the name, but the flange thing that connects to the transmission for any excess wear or damage?

When does the noise happen can you give more details?

i didnt get to check everything under the car, i only went by what i saw when i crawled under it. but im gonna have to make sure of what it is before i start buying expensive parts.

the noise is really bad at low rpms during take off. seems to be right under where the arm rest is. sounds like something is clanking around when i start off from a stop, its really loud when under a hard acceleration from a stop or going under 10 mph.

ill check into the other parts such as the guibo, center support bearing and the flex disc as well.

[ZHP]

guibo = flex disc

[Brian328i]

I had a loud clank or thud in my car, and I just raised the rear end off the ground and had my dad dumped it in gear at around 1500 rpm while I crawled around under the car looking for the problem. For me at least it turned out that my rear subframe mounts/bushings were finised.

I think you will have a good chance of locating the problem if you do as I did, raise the rear of the car and get under there with a flashlight and dump it in gear if you have a manual.

[Dave00323]

Originally Posted by Brian328i

I had a loud clank or thud in my car, and I just raised the rear end off the ground and had my dad dumped it in gear at around 1500 rpm while I crawled around under the car looking for the problem. For me at least it turned out that my rear subframe mounts/bushings were finised.

I think you will have a good chance of locating the problem if you do as I did, raise the rear of the car and get under there with a flashlight and dump it in gear if you have a manual.

i do have a 5spd, but that sounds kinda dangerous, sounds like it will work tho, i may have to try it. what do you mean by dump it in gear tho? thanks

[fermunky]

Dumping into gear usually means reving the engine up a bit before engaging the gear... Like when trying to do a burn out, you rev it up and then dump the clutch... slang speak for grease monkeys and motor heads.

[Dave00323]

Well i believe the problem is the center support bearing and the flex disc looks pretty bad. so i ordered a center bearing, anyone know a good place to get the flex disc along with some exhaust pipe gaskets and some new nuts for the exhaust piping?

[Dave00323]

Well i ordered the flex disc, lock nuts, exhaust gaskets and exhaust nuts from pelican parts. I ended up ordering the center bearing from advance auto, (pelican was out at the time) but advance didnt give me the backing plates or the new circlip. Do i really need new ones or can i just reuse the old parts?