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      06-20-2017, 03:38 PM   #1
mcbutler
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E89 manual gearbox whine

Hi chaps/chapesses.

I have a 23i 6 speed manual 2009 Zeeeee.
I am in UK and the car has 75k miles on it, runs perfectly, always has.

Over the past couple of weeks I noticed a quiet whine, like a gas turbine winding up when I move off in 1st gear until I get to around 10mph.
When I change to second gear I get the whine again but in second gear the whine changes pitch to a sort of weewooweewoo, the pitch increases as I accelerate and then disappears.
It reappears when I change to third but very quietly.

It is worse when the car is cold and, strangely, when turning right!!!

Does anyone have any ideas??
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      06-20-2017, 07:55 PM   #2
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Change your transmission fluid and see if that helps any. My wild guess is that the fluid level is a bit low and that it uncovers spinning parts more on a right turn. If you're down there and pulling the fill plug to check the level anyway though you might as well change it and get some value out of your time.
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      06-21-2017, 06:47 AM   #3
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I think first step is try to convince yourself where the whine noise comes from. Don't assume it is from the transmission if you dont know.
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      06-23-2017, 10:27 AM   #4
mcbutler
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I know that can be difficult, especially as the diff is practically kissing the back of the gearbox.
I actually took it to a specialist I know very well and he pins it down to the gearbox but I did not have the time to leave the car for any further investigation.
I have seen rebuilt boxes for the car for around £550 with 18 month unlimited mileage guarantees so not too worried about it.

One thing the guy did say is that
'BMW boxes ARE NOT sealed for life, in real life'
if you believe that then you will probably pay for that belief!

Has anyone here swapped out a manual box on the car??
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      06-29-2017, 05:14 PM   #5
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First off, I'd not be considering replacing the transmission for a smidge of whining in first gear. Next, at 75k miles, I'd change the fluid and be prepared for that to solve the problem. Specifically I would recommend Royal Purple Synchromax.

Filippo
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      06-30-2017, 04:03 AM   #6
mcbutler
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fmorelli View Post
First off, I'd not be considering replacing the transmission for a smidge of whining in first gear. Next, at 75k miles, I'd change the fluid and be prepared for that to solve the problem. Specifically I would recommend Royal Purple Synchromax.

Filippo
They say 'great minds think alike'.

This is exactly the route I am going to follow but I will be using Castrol synthetic fluids.
Will do the diff at the same time.
So watch this space and thank you for your advice.

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      06-30-2017, 05:39 PM   #7
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I'm sure the Castrol product is excellent. That said, I recommended Royal Purple because many BMW manual transmission owners swear by the improved cold shifting with the Synchromax product.

Filippo
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      07-01-2017, 01:28 AM   #8
mcbutler
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fmorelli View Post
I'm sure the Castrol product is excellent. That said, I recommended Royal Purple because many BMW manual transmission owners swear by the improved cold shifting with the Synchromax product.

Filippo
Hi Filippo,

I am going with Castrol simply because its BMW OEM and endorsed.
The Royal Purple is indeed highly regarded but ridiculously priced, around £54 a litre in the UK! Compared to the fully symthetic castrol product at around £15 a litre.
I just cannot see what can possibly be in royal purple to make it that expensive or that much better from a product produced by one of the worlds leading companies.

I am going to attempt to audio record the noise later today and will post it here.

Regards

Mark
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      07-01-2017, 08:32 AM   #9
fmorelli
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That's crazy. You can get it for much less in the UK, though:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Royal-Purp...cAAOSwnNBXVyb7

Best of luck to you!

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      07-01-2017, 02:17 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fmorelli View Post
That's crazy. You can get it for much less in the UK, though:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Royal-Purp...cAAOSwnNBXVyb7

Best of luck to you!

Filippo
Shipping to UK is £97 though!

I have used Redline ATF and now Fuchs Sintofluid, can't say a vast difference in shifting, but box is quiet, same year, box and mileage as first poster.

You say the noise varies when turning, could it be the diff.
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      07-01-2017, 06:36 PM   #11
mcbutler
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigendbob View Post
Shipping to UK is £97 though!

I have used Redline ATF and now Fuchs Sintofluid, can't say a vast difference in shifting, but box is quiet, same year, box and mileage as first poster.

You say the noise varies when turning, could it be the diff.
Yeah, well spotted, the old Ebay shipping gag.
I let a dealer have the car for a 12 mile test drive, they reckon gearbox otherwise it would do it in every gear.
Makes sense I suppose.
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      07-07-2017, 04:00 AM   #12
mcbutler
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Oil change today chaps, watch this space......
Legs fingers knees and toes crossed OUCH
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      10-09-2018, 10:29 PM   #13
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How did you go with the whine....

I think I have the same issue but am told its the diff. apparently, its common?
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      10-10-2018, 02:59 AM   #14
mcbutler
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I had the box removed and sent to a specialist in London. They stripped it completely but absolutely no visible wear or defect at all! So obviously a quality bit of engineering both mechanically and lubrication wise in regard to OEM fluids.
They suggested to look at the prop shaft centre bearing before the diff which I will do over the winter, I like to keep the car on the road during the sunny days.
If you think about it the wee woooo sound would correlate with the shaft wobbling within the bearing!!
Keep us informed..
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      10-18-2018, 04:58 PM   #15
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thanks for the update. I'm booked in this coming monday. lets see what they say.
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      12-25-2018, 06:32 PM   #16
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Dear all, greetings from Spain.

I have exactly the same car (2009 e89 23i), with the exact same whining noise in same exact conditions!

However, I think that the noise does not come from the Gearbox, but from the diff.

I changed Gearbox and diff oils but the noise stills there.

I will stay around here waiting for your progress...

Cheers.
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      12-26-2018, 04:12 AM   #17
mcbutler
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Check the prop shaft centre bearing first, it is by far the cheapest item and probably the culprit
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