It is never enjoyable to listen to a sound on your car that you don’t know where it comes from. You may be thinking what to do when you identify a reversing gear noise that lasts on your BMW X1? Any gearbox trouble can be critical, but before making sure, it is better to do a few investigations. Our team has made this article to support you eliminate it. First, we will see what the sources and the different gearbox noises can be on BMW X1, and second, what are the solutions available to you.reverse-gear-noise-bmw-x1

Classical reverse BMW X1 noises and some tips to maintain your gearbox

Why does the reversing of my BMW X1 make a different noise from my other speeds?

De facto, adding all gears, bearings and pinions into a gearbox is a difficult action. The sound caused by the reversing of your BMW X1 is logical. It can be explained in a fairly simple way. Indeed, the gears used for conventional speeds (1st to 5th or 6th) are so-called “helical” gears (oblique gears) . The use of such a pinion makes the noise caused by the gears more quiet than with spur gears chosen for the reverse gear.

Tips to limit wear on your clutch and gearbox

  • Don’t give a big boost:
    In fact, if you kick the throttle hard when you are in reverse or when you put the car in the revs, you risk to burn your clutch or gnawing at the gearbox pinions.

  • Never reverse while the car is in motion or vice versa:
    Reversing the direction of operation of the gearbox during operation is a very bad practice. Indeed, the pressure you will put in on the gears will be monumental and you will develop a premature wear and tear of the gears. You can even break the gears of your gearbox at speed by doing so. It will therefore be completely normal if you perceive a reverse noise on your BMW X1 if you shift gear under these conditions.

Diverse BMW X1 reversing noises and their triggers

Finally in this section, we will move on to what you are probably most enthusiastic about in this article, to learn about the cause of reversing noise on BMW X1. Here are the 3 typical noises you may be victim of.

I hear a grinding noise when starting in reverse gear

If you listen to a grinding noise when you start in reverse with your BMW X1, it may be the engine mounts that are tired. Indeed, when the engine is in reverse gear, due to the pinions we saw above the vibrations made by the gearbox are higher and it is therefore conceivable that due to their wear the silentblocks no longer absorb the engine vibrations well. In this circumstance, do not hesitate to browse this document for more details about strut mount noises on BMW X1.

An increased reverse knocking noise on BMW X1X

If you are subject to a knocking noise when you are in reverse with your BMW X1 and this noise tends to increase as you gain speed. It is conceivable that you are confronting a serious trouble that needs to be resolved fairly quickly before ruining your entire gearbox. Indeed, an intensifying rattling noise means that the gears are damaged. If they are, debris will disperse to the rest of the box and damage other gears very fast. Take your car to your repair shop quickly or read this document about gearbox noise on BMW X1 for more details.

I notice a noise when I go in reverse

Experiencing a noise when you shift into reverse is normal and connected to the gears and sprockets used in the gearbox. If, on the other hand, you have the feeling that your BMW X1 reverse gear makes more noise than before, it is conceivable that filings have been made and are moving around in it. It is therefore time to empty the box.