General Problems Bothering Me

[Nathan]

I posted a thread earlier about clickiing coming from my front brakes and it is getting worse, but what is really bothering me is a vibrating that seems to also be cuasing radio intereference. Sometimes my brake lining light also flickers in unison with the vibration. It seems to be suspension related rather than driveshaft. It is bad around 70-80 mph. But it is still there at any speed. It also seems like it is conected to the rotation of the wheels becuase of the evenness(not a word) of the vibration.
Also my cruise control hasn't work since I got the car and am looking to start diagnosing it. What are the most common failing points of the system?

Thanks for any help anyone can give me!

-Nathan

EDIT: Spelling errors....

[Jand3rson]

Damn, it's got to suck for you more than just about anyone not to have Jordan around anymore, Nathan. Just so you know, if you need help with your car, you can always give me a call. And if I happen to be in the valley, or if you ever want to bring your car down to Bend, I'd be more than than happy to help with any jobs on your car.

[NORCAL/E30]

I am having the same clicking from my brakes. Does it happens when you apply them? How old are your pads? I spoke with a bimmer mechanic and after driving my car and inspecting my brakes he told me that there are some shims or clips that hold the pad firmly against the caliper. If these are worn or if you have aftermarket brakes that dont fit as well as OEM ones the pads will shift and move when you come to a stop causing the clicking noise you are probably hearing. Also if the caliper itself needs to be rebuilt or replaced this can happen too. I only get the clicking when I first drive the car in the morning or when I'm backing up and applying the brakes to stop. Hopefully I'm not too far off base with my explination. Someone correct me if I am. :)

ABE

[Nathan]

That is EXACTLY what my brakes are doing. OK, so now how to fix that... All in good time. Thanks Josh for the open ended invite. I have no idea how old the pads are other than the fact that I haven't replaced them since I got the car and that was a little over a year ago. It is likely that they are just the wrong size becuase the PO seemed to go to some really shisty mechanics that half assed a ton of shit. If it isn't outrageously expensive I will probably have some brake mechanic or bmw mechanic take a look at them and replace the pads.

[Pieter E30]

I had the same type of vibration on my 325i, got the propshaft balanced and new rubber coupling installed now its all gone!!! ;)

[uofom3]

it sounds like you're talking about the anti-rattle clips on your brakes. That is the clip that stops the brakes from making the noise you're talking about. Another possibility is that the PO stuck the wrong sized brake pads in the car, and thus the clicking isactually the pad physically sliding around inside the brake caliper. This happened when my dad first picked up his e30 m3 and we couldn't figure out why the rear brake lining made noise - we take the wheels off and voila - no anti rattles and pads that look like they should be on a 10 speed bicycle.
The vibration really does sound like a driveshaft. If it were a wheel bearing - my guessed other possibility - it shouldn't get drastically worse at a given RPM or speed range. It could be the guibo is dieing or dead, and depending on how much the driveshaft has killed itself it may be saveable- but i think the guibo in particular could be a problem

[e30evolution]

sounds like a balance issue.... hitting its harmonic at that speed.... get your tires ballanced.