E90 330i N52 - engine rattle
Discussion
Gents, and Ladies,
I have an issue with my 126k mile 05 330i. I first noticed this noise 2 years ago after I first bought the car, but didn't worry about it as you can only hear it normally when the engine is hot, windows open, and with a wall or car next to you. It is a rattle type sound that can be heard at idle and up to about 2k rpm shortly after starting the car and at operating temperature. Sadly it can be heard with the drive belt off. I'm going to order a new timing chain tensioner but doubt that will fix anything. Has anyone heard this before?
Please turn your audio up and listen to this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTCM8gzQbAc&t=...
Backstory:
Today I changed the spark plugs. All well and good apart from one of the NGK plugs I bought came with the washer straddling 2 or 3 threads, meaning it was stuck. I didn't want to force the washer to the top of threads by torquing it into the engine, so I reused one of the original plugs (I believe it was running a set of plugs that replaced the factory plugs at 65k miles.) After plugging the coils back in I started the engine with the bonnet open and the engine cover off. No misfire but within a few minutes of starting up, I noticed the familiar idle/low rpm rattle. It sounded quite a lot worse with all of the sound deadening removed.
Investigating further, I removed the drive belt to see if the sound could be isolated to a belt driven component or the engine. Presuming it was a bearing of some sort, to my dismay I found the engine still made the rattle.
Given that I tend to drive the car hard (after 15 mins of driving to warm up to the oil) and never hear any untoward nose when actually driving, I suspect the car has made the same noise for the last 21k miles. Oil change intervals are 9-10k miles using quality 5w30.
Do any of you have any experience of this noise? I'm going to cycle to work for the week whilst I wait for a new timing chain tensioner and single NGK spark plug to arrive.
I have an issue with my 126k mile 05 330i. I first noticed this noise 2 years ago after I first bought the car, but didn't worry about it as you can only hear it normally when the engine is hot, windows open, and with a wall or car next to you. It is a rattle type sound that can be heard at idle and up to about 2k rpm shortly after starting the car and at operating temperature. Sadly it can be heard with the drive belt off. I'm going to order a new timing chain tensioner but doubt that will fix anything. Has anyone heard this before?
Please turn your audio up and listen to this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTCM8gzQbAc&t=...
Backstory:
Today I changed the spark plugs. All well and good apart from one of the NGK plugs I bought came with the washer straddling 2 or 3 threads, meaning it was stuck. I didn't want to force the washer to the top of threads by torquing it into the engine, so I reused one of the original plugs (I believe it was running a set of plugs that replaced the factory plugs at 65k miles.) After plugging the coils back in I started the engine with the bonnet open and the engine cover off. No misfire but within a few minutes of starting up, I noticed the familiar idle/low rpm rattle. It sounded quite a lot worse with all of the sound deadening removed.
Investigating further, I removed the drive belt to see if the sound could be isolated to a belt driven component or the engine. Presuming it was a bearing of some sort, to my dismay I found the engine still made the rattle.
Given that I tend to drive the car hard (after 15 mins of driving to warm up to the oil) and never hear any untoward nose when actually driving, I suspect the car has made the same noise for the last 21k miles. Oil change intervals are 9-10k miles using quality 5w30.
Do any of you have any experience of this noise? I'm going to cycle to work for the week whilst I wait for a new timing chain tensioner and single NGK spark plug to arrive.
Valvtronic noise? Is it top of engine or lower down? It does sound a bit like a chain. Id check the oil filter for metal. If you take the filter out let it soak in kitchen towel for a day and then cut the ends off, inspect inside the pleats. Tiny lamounts nothing to worry about. Chunks yes.
I think the noise is coming from the front of the engine.
I just took the car out for a hard 30 min drive on the B roads of Worcestershire and came back to film a similar segment. There is still a small noise that doesn't sound like it should be there but this doesn't show up in the recording.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Ul1Yg5mD8
I will check the filter as it's due an oil change in the next month or so, but as far as I'm aware, the past two oil changes found no metal particles, and it made the noise back then.
I just took the car out for a hard 30 min drive on the B roads of Worcestershire and came back to film a similar segment. There is still a small noise that doesn't sound like it should be there but this doesn't show up in the recording.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Ul1Yg5mD8
I will check the filter as it's due an oil change in the next month or so, but as far as I'm aware, the past two oil changes found no metal particles, and it made the noise back then.
I had only skim read your post earlier and having re-read it I still can't work out what the relevance of the spark plug story is? They often come with the washers a little stuck but it usually doesn'ttake much effort to free them. That said it wouldn't make any difference to the engine noise unless you've not torqued one up properly and it's loose.
You need to get a stephoscope or a hose and pinpoint whereabouts the noise is coming from.
If it's been doing it for 2 years it can't be anything terminal.. but it's not right either.
You need to get a stephoscope or a hose and pinpoint whereabouts the noise is coming from.
If it's been doing it for 2 years it can't be anything terminal.. but it's not right either.
Do you run it on 95ron?
Sounds like my old 2.8i did on 95, stick 98ron in it and see if it quietens down a bit, probably take 2 tanks before it does.
May me the lifters, have you tried bleeding them?
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32...
Sounds like my old 2.8i did on 95, stick 98ron in it and see if it quietens down a bit, probably take 2 tanks before it does.
May me the lifters, have you tried bleeding them?
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32...
The spark plug story just lead onto the rediscovery of the noise. A stethoscope will be the next thing I try after replacing the tensioner.
Next time I drive it I'll try the depressing the clutch. Usually, I can hear a very small amount of DMF chatter if parked by a wall when playing with the clutch.
The car has been run exclusively on 98/99ron for the last year. After a hard drive the noise can still be heard, that includes plenty of running to the red line which I think would bleed the lifters. It is more of a rattle than ticking.
Next time I drive it I'll try the depressing the clutch. Usually, I can hear a very small amount of DMF chatter if parked by a wall when playing with the clutch.
The car has been run exclusively on 98/99ron for the last year. After a hard drive the noise can still be heard, that includes plenty of running to the red line which I think would bleed the lifters. It is more of a rattle than ticking.
Edited by sleepysnake on Monday 14th May 21:15
Hi,
I had exactly same symptoms like yours, on mine n53, i had faulty disa valve. You can check it very easy only four screws and you will need to remove air intake hose for easy access.
Valve it self should be tight, mine was wobbling around, which is why you have that noise after 2k rpm. Easy DIY, valve cost around £250
I had exactly same symptoms like yours, on mine n53, i had faulty disa valve. You can check it very easy only four screws and you will need to remove air intake hose for easy access.
Valve it self should be tight, mine was wobbling around, which is why you have that noise after 2k rpm. Easy DIY, valve cost around £250
So, we had a similar noise when warmed up on a 02 petrol 325i, older engine but I'm sure similar chain drive. Was there even with the auxilary belts off.
After a year I took the plunge and stripped it all down - main drive chains fine, but the oil pump drive had slack in it. I spoke to a few engine builders and they said it'd never have failed or jumped, so could have been left. As it was apart it had all chains guides and tensioners changed. it was silent afterwards
After a year I took the plunge and stripped it all down - main drive chains fine, but the oil pump drive had slack in it. I spoke to a few engine builders and they said it'd never have failed or jumped, so could have been left. As it was apart it had all chains guides and tensioners changed. it was silent afterwards
Thanks for the comments. The tensioner should be turning up tomorrow so I shall see if that makes any difference. If that doesn't change anything, I'll take the outer DISA out and see if there's any play in the flap. Likely it may be an issue that requires a strip down of the engine which I won't be doing.
Old tensioner taken out, looks like nothing is wrong with it. About the same pressure required to push the slider in as the new one. Installed it anyway, plus swapped the single old spark plug.
All sounds ok. Take it out for a shakedown, no problems as before. Park it up and it's still making the quiet rattle at idle, the dustbin next to the bonnet on the drivers sound emphasising the sound. I thought I might have gotten away with it until then. I'll try to not to let it worry me.
There is now another issue. I stopped at the shop briefly on the way home. After getting back in the car, the Idrive now keeps rebooting. Bugger!
All sounds ok. Take it out for a shakedown, no problems as before. Park it up and it's still making the quiet rattle at idle, the dustbin next to the bonnet on the drivers sound emphasising the sound. I thought I might have gotten away with it until then. I'll try to not to let it worry me.
There is now another issue. I stopped at the shop briefly on the way home. After getting back in the car, the Idrive now keeps rebooting. Bugger!
Edited by sleepysnake on Thursday 17th May 21:59
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