[nosbocaj]

I wanted to put this out there as a semi PSA so folks out there don't have a heart attack like I did.

Yesterday as I was leaving work, I pulled out of the parking lot and immediately heard a loud screeching/grinding noise coming from the front of the car. I was going 20 mph and drove around 1/4" before I could safely pull over. The sound was like nails on a chalk board, but with metal if that makes sense.

I pulled over and checked all around the car. I knew it wasn't the engine as it was running perfectly. I moved the car forward a few feet and it was still there, albeit quieter. At this point I'm freaking out as I have no clue what's going on.

Then I remember a thread I saw on the F80 forums years ago about rocks getting stuck in brakes. I quickly found it on a search. The main suggestion was to put the car in reverse. I did that and inched the car back. I swear I heard a pebble drop. I put the car in drive again and the sound was gone. I drove home normally without issue.

If this happens to you, don't freak out like I did! That'll likely be your first reaction as a sound like that is terrible coming from your $90k+ car, but it's an easy fix.

Anybody else out there had this happen?

[bk_g80_m3]

Yep. Had it happen on the carbon brakes on my previous “fun” car. On that car though it’s like a rite of passage. The rock gouges the inner wheel surface.

It’s quite an alarming sound yeah.

[kgelfen360]

Originally Posted by nosbocaj

I wanted to put this out there as a semi PSA so folks out there don't have a heart attack like I did.

Yesterday as I was leaving work, I pulled out of the parking lot and immediately heard a loud screeching/grinding noise coming from the front of the car. I was going 20 mph and drove around 1/4" before I could safely pull over. The sound was like nails on a chalk board, but with metal if that makes sense.

I pulled over and checked all around the car. I knew it wasn't the engine as it was running perfectly. I moved the car forward a few feet and it was still there, albeit quieter. At this point I'm freaking out as I have no clue what's going on.

Then I remember a thread I saw on the F80 forums years ago about rocks getting stuck in brakes. I quickly found it on a search. The main suggestion was to put the car in reverse. I did that and inched the car back. I swear I heard a pebble drop. I put the car in drive again and the sound was gone. I drove home normally without issue.

If this happens to you, don't freak out like I did! That'll likely be your first reaction as a sound like that is terrible coming from your $90k+ car, but it's an easy fix.

Anybody else out there had this happen?

I had that happen years ago on 328xi. I drove into the mountain area with snow where road was sanded and salted. It was more fine material probably. I also put in reverse but I think more out of desperation trying to figure out what to do. It also resolved.

[Tall Tom Cruise]

Yup, a tiny pebble got stuck in between the brake dust shield and rotor.

It's funny because this sounds like a VERY expensive accident. I had the same initial freak out on my f82 lol. Sure enough, it happened on my g80 last year and I immediately knew. What a dreadful screech.

[Needsdecaf]

There are two places for rocks to get stuck. Between caliper and wheel, which gouges the wheel. I think that really only happens with the CCB's though. The other place is between the dust shield and the rotor, which is what causes the screech.

[dtronics]

Yes, this happened to me multiple times on my F82. On that car there is a heat shield that was like a basketball backboard for rocks. I was selling that car on Bimmerpost and it happened during a test drive with a potential buyer. It definitely spooked him!

['Cane]

This was very common in the early days of the F8X, had it happen with my 2016 M4, but not my 2018 M3. Haven’t heard many complaints with G8X.

[chicagofan00]

Had it happen with my G80 and quickly recalled someone else on here posting about it at the time and sure enough, it was a little pebble.

[CJ421]

I've had this happen several times with my G29 Z4 and I've seen it happen on older E8X/E9X BMWs as well. I wish BMW would figure out a fix for this.

I cringe every time I have to drive on a gravel road or even a paved road with some gravel on it.

Charles

[Race_Doc11]

Happened to me as well it did even leave a scratch mark on the inside of the rotor.

[G80indy]

Note to self:
Stay away from gravel, driveways & roads, or construction areas…
(Have CCBs)

[G80indy]

Originally Posted by CJ421

I've had this happen several times with my G29 Z4 and I've seen it happen on older E8X/E9X BMWs as well. I wish BMW would figure out a fix for this.

I cringe every time I have to drive on a gravel road or even a paved road with some gravel on it.

Charles

Agree 💯

Oh…
And Kirk rules !

[nosbocaj]

Originally Posted by Race_Doc11

Happened to me as well it did even leave a scratch mark on the inside of the rotor.

Originally Posted by Tall Tom Cruise

Yup, a tiny pebble got stuck in between the brake dust shield and rotor.

It's funny because this sounds like a VERY expensive accident. I had the same initial freak out on my f82 lol. Sure enough, it happened on my g80 last year and I immediately knew. What a dreadful screech.

I don't think mine scratched luckily. If it did it's minimal. I only drove about a quarter mile and pretty slow at that.

Yeah exactly, the sound is TERRIBLE and the last thing you want to hear coming from your car. I've had the tin can brake shield sound on my M2, but that was nothing compared to this.

[CJ421]

The "fix" I've done is to stop the car as soon as possible and then reverse. I had to go back, forward, back, forward, back a bunch of times in some cases. It's unpleasant.

Charles

[weingarm]

Happened to me on my G80 last fall for the first time in any car I’ve owned. Car had about 7000 miles on it at the time.

Screeched like murder for about a mile on my way home one night. Was on a completely dry, smooth, paved road too.

Next AM backed out of my garage and heard the “tone” of the screech change. Drove forward and the screech literally stopped in the next 300 yards.

[secretariat]

OP, going back to the F80 thread about this very thing I'm happy I could help.

[nosbocaj]

Originally Posted by secretariat

OP, going back to the F80 thread about this very thing I'm happy I could help.

Legend! You saved me from calling the dealer for a tow lol. I'm glad it was something so small. Crazy considering how absolutely terrible the noise is.

[COBMW144]

This happened to me, '23 G80 with CCB's and ~500 miles. I was stopped at a light and when I started moving again I heard an awful screeching sound. I quickly pulled onto a side street and noticed metal shavings on the driver side front wheel. At first I thought something broke and it was time to call a tow truck but noticed a little pebble stuck between the solid hydraulic line and the caliper grinding into the wheel. I let the car roll back slightly and was able to get it out. I opted to just replace the wheel rather than fix it but if it happens again I'm going with a 20" squared setup.

[Blue808]

I experienced a similar series of events. I wish I would have read this beforehand. I thought the world was ending for a second until I realized what was happening.

[Mp3Supply]

Originally Posted by nosbocaj

I wanted to put this out there as a semi PSA so folks out there don't have a heart attack like I did.

Yesterday as I was leaving work, I pulled out of the parking lot and immediately heard a loud screeching/grinding noise coming from the front of the car. I was going 20 mph and drove around 1/4" before I could safely pull over. The sound was like nails on a chalk board, but with metal if that makes sense.

I pulled over and checked all around the car. I knew it wasn't the engine as it was running perfectly. I moved the car forward a few feet and it was still there, albeit quieter. At this point I'm freaking out as I have no clue what's going on.

Then I remember a thread I saw on the F80 forums years ago about rocks getting stuck in brakes. I quickly found it on a search. The main suggestion was to put the car in reverse. I did that and inched the car back. I swear I heard a pebble drop. I put the car in drive again and the sound was gone. I drove home normally without issue.

If this happens to you, don't freak out like I did! That'll likely be your first reaction as a sound like that is terrible coming from your $90k+ car, but it's an easy fix.

Anybody else out there had this happen?

I have a rock in mine MULTIPLE TIMES. It’s the worst. Like, I have no idea how it keeps happening. I remember driving home on the highway and it was horrid. I just prayed it would grind down and fall out and then it just stopped.

Literally has happen 4 times to me in 1 year

[Burn-N-AZ]

Just happened to me last night. Got onto neighborhood side surface streets (littered with small asphalt pebbles).

Sounded like transmission, exhaust, and suspension all fell off at the same time and was dragging underneath. Catastrophic sounds. No errors on screens and motor idled fine.

Pulled over called BMW roadside. Opened ticket and flatbed set for this morning.

I get home, demoralized as only 3k miles on this 2024 M3Cx.

Hit the forums in tranny section and nothing. Then I remembered similar thread to this one. Read again, headed back to my car. Reversed, slight turning of the wheel (L/R) and pebble drops and quiet as a mouse.

Sent text to cancel claim & tow. Whew.

[nosbocaj]

Originally Posted by Burn-N-AZ

Just happened to me last night. Got onto neighborhood side surface streets (littered with small asphalt pebbles).

Sounded like transmission, exhaust, and suspension all fell off at the same time and was dragging underneath. Catastrophic sounds. No errors on screens and motor idled fine.

Pulled over called BMW roadside. Opened ticket and flatbed set for this morning.

I get home, demoralized as only 3k miles on this 2024 M3Cx.

Hit the forums in tranny section and nothing. Then I remembered similar thread to this one. Read again, headed back to my car. Reversed, slight turning of the wheel (L/R) and pebble drops and quiet as a mouse.

Sent text to cancel claim & tow. Whew.

Lol, yep. This is exactly why I made this thread. I had thought that my mid pipe brace had fallen off and was dragging against the ground. Metal scraping along asphalt is exactly what it sounds like. Like you, I was about to call roadside assistance. I bet there are quite a few owners out there who aren't on these forums and do exactly that. Only for the techs to get the car and immediately fix it by reversing.

Glad this helped you out!