Match the vibration to the moment
Our repair pages tie vibrations to specific conditions. This guide follows that structure. We have no repair page for tire balancing or wheel bend, so a vibration that only appears at one speed is outside what this data covers; start with a tire and wheel check before the jobs below.
Under braking: pads, rotors and bushings
A pulsing pedal or steering wheel shake when braking is on the brake page (fluid is a separate service, see the BMW Brake Fluid Service: When It Is Due and What It Costs), along with a wear warning and grinding or squealing. Book time is about 1 to 1.5 hours per axle and some dealers run value service pricing that can beat independent shops. See Brake Pads & Rotors (Front / All Four).
A steering wheel shimmy under braking is also on the thrust arm bushing page, with a car that wanders at highway speed. See Front Control Arms & Thrust Arm Bushings.
Under load: driveshaft and drivetrain
The flex disc page lists vibration under load if the guibo is badly torn, usually after a clunk on takeoff. See Driveshaft Flex Disc (Guibo). On xDrive cars, shudder or binding on tight turns points at the transfer case, either its fluid or the actuator (Transfer Case Fluid (xDrive), Transfer Case Actuator (xDrive VTG), BMW Differential and Transfer Case Fluid Service (xDrive)).
At idle: engine mounts
Vibration at idle in Drive, a clunk when shifting into gear and an engine that moves a lot when revved are the mount signs on the E90 and E92. The 335i mounts are fluid-filled and wear sooner. Get a second opinion, since one thread shows mounts a dealer flagged that an independent shop found still fine years later. See Engine Mounts.
Pulling and tire wear
A car that pulls to one side, an off-center steering wheel and inner or outer tire wear are on the alignment page, which says to ask for a printed before and after report. Alignment is needed after tie rods, control arms, struts or new tires (Wheel Alignment). Uneven tires also accelerate wear on the xDrive transfer case, per its page.