F15 X35d idle vibration

[geye1970]

Our X35d with 3k miles has a slight vibration felt through the cabin and steering wheel when at idle, stopped. This occurs with AC on or off. Is this common?

[MotoWPK]

Not in my experience with 56K miles on our '14 35d.

[spyderbret]

It's probably normal. I just got out of a 15 X5d and always felt a small vibration when at idle. I have a 35i now and it feels a little smoother at idle. I think you are just feeling the diesel..... I never felt like the vibration was due to any issues. If you feel different I would get it checked.....

[geye1970]

Originally Posted by spyderbret

It's probably normal..

That's what I thought, until I got into a friends '16 and barely noticed it.. Wasn't sure if it was because we were talking or not, but I began to think ours vibrated much more.

[deutsch100]

My 17 35d does not vibrate at all at idle, but I'm sure a 35i or 50i feels and sounds quieter at idle.

I do notice, when I turn the car off (and this is SO, SO much less than my 80's and 90's Mercedes diesels that I had and loved)...for a faint second, you get that little engine shudder from side to side; that diesel I am going to sleep feel. LOL I find it comforting and nostalgic

[gpitts]

The diesel combustion cycle is certainly more energetic than gasoline, but I have not noticed the vibration that you are experiencing in my 2015 X5 35d.

[geye1970]

Originally Posted by gpitts

The diesel combustion cycle is certainly more energetic than gasoline, but I have not noticed the vibration that you are experiencing in my 2015 X5 35d.

Thanks all for the confirmation. I'm more than aware that diesel is more rough than gasoline, having previously owned diesel vehicles, but was not sure with respect to the X5.

We are having zero otherwise and avg 27 MPG in mixed driving.

[gpitts]

Originally Posted by geye1970

Thanks all for the confirmation. I'm more than aware that diesel is more rough than gasoline, having previously owned diesel vehicles, but was not sure with respect to the X5.

We are having zero otherwise and avg 27 MPG in mixed driving.

Good deal! Sounds like you're enjoying the X5.

I love the diesel engine in my X5. Simpler and much more economical to drive than the gasoline engines I've previously owned and loved. My previous cars were an E46 and E92 M3s, so the X5 was a pretty radical departure for me but I'm glad I bought it.

[BillK]

Shitty diesel fuel will do that. Ours will occasionally do it after filling from a shitty station.

[deutsch100]

I don't think Shell is shitty diesel fuel, as it is rated a very TOP TIER fuel, and the station is very new, very modern and super clean. But, the nozzle was snapped off, as confirmed by the Shell attendant!

Originally Posted by BillK

Shitty diesel fuel will do that. Ours will occasionally do it after filling from a shitty station.

[geye1970]

Originally Posted by BillK

Shitty diesel fuel will do that. Ours will occasionally do it after filling from a shitty station.

We use Diesel from name brand high volume stations.

[BillK]

Originally Posted by geye1970

We use Diesel from name brand high volume stations.

So do I but sometimes it’s hit or miss. I use shell, and some stations are better than others. I stopped using BP because 3 out of 4 stations cause rough idle. And now, I’ve quit using the mobil down the street. I’m not saying they’re always bad, but it seems to me they aren’t consistent and some shells, or Mobil’s, etc don’t seem to get their fuel from the same location one mobil a few miles away Seems better than a different mobil a couple miles away from me
One unfortunate thing about diesel, is that it sis the red headed stepchild of the consumer fuel world. Gasoline has three grades with octane rating listed. Diesel, at least in my area is only 1 type at each station. Each station does not list it’s cetane rating, but only a sticker that says it’s a min of 40 because that’s the law. I asked the manager of a station why, and he said it depends on what they get. So to me, it’s not a consistent thing.
If you’ve ever driven a diesel in Europe, as I have several times, you’ll see fuel stations tend to have two grades of diesel with their cetane rating listed. Not some vague minimum. I believe California requires 50 cetane but I m not sure, I haven’t driven there in about 15 years. I suppose it’ll take a lot more diesel owners before diesel becomes more “mainstream “ like gasoline

As to the OPs problem, I’ve found that chevron now makes a Techron additive for diesel which is supposed to boost the cetane in your fuel. One bottle treats about 35 gal as I recall. I’ve tried it and Noticed a smoother idle.

[swainbmw]

Originally Posted by geye1970

Thanks all for the confirmation. I'm more than aware that diesel is more rough than gasoline, having previously owned diesel vehicles, but was not sure with respect to the X5.

We are having zero otherwise and avg 27 MPG in mixed driving.

Did you ever figure out the vibration?