If it's getting progressively worse, it sounds like front axles to me. When one of the CV's has been starting to fail on mine, the noise gets progressively worse, and is worse in cold weather, worse when using the higher suspension settings, and most noticeable between about 30-50mph. The "new" and "upgraded" part numbers can and do still fail, I've already burned through one front driver's side palladium axle
Does it get better in "Low" and worse after using "High" suspension settings? If so, it's almost definitely axles
Mine took about 6000 miles for the problem to manifest from new. By then, the palladium axles were available, and I had them replaced around 8000 miles. The "refresh" axles have lasted close to 27000 miles (right side, not replaced again yet) and 20,000 miles (left side replaced at around 28,000 total vehicle miles)
But that's what I'd ask them to look at next time. Or try a different/better service center, if you're able. Check out the "Model X Shudder current status" megathread on here
The other fun thing about diagnosing these cars is the aluminum unibody and other construction oddities make isolating it with the mk1 human ear difficult. You almost have to find a quiet place with a concrete wall to reproduce it next to to diagnose, which is exactly how the tech and I diagnosed the most recent axle failure together - went and found a wall to drive next to and had *both of us* drive it to reproduce the sound and figure out which corner it was coming from. Science!
I don't think it's a safety issue until it gets so bad that you'll want to park the car anyway due to sounding broken
Does it get better in "Low" and worse after using "High" suspension settings? If so, it's almost definitely axles
Mine took about 6000 miles for the problem to manifest from new. By then, the palladium axles were available, and I had them replaced around 8000 miles. The "refresh" axles have lasted close to 27000 miles (right side, not replaced again yet) and 20,000 miles (left side replaced at around 28,000 total vehicle miles)
But that's what I'd ask them to look at next time. Or try a different/better service center, if you're able. Check out the "Model X Shudder current status" megathread on here
The other fun thing about diagnosing these cars is the aluminum unibody and other construction oddities make isolating it with the mk1 human ear difficult. You almost have to find a quiet place with a concrete wall to reproduce it next to to diagnose, which is exactly how the tech and I diagnosed the most recent axle failure together - went and found a wall to drive next to and had *both of us* drive it to reproduce the sound and figure out which corner it was coming from. Science!
I don't think it's a safety issue until it gets so bad that you'll want to park the car anyway due to sounding broken
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