Cow Bell Noise: Losing Patience

[chili cheese]

Have had the same problem. Only occurs randomly at super low speed. The dealer said it was the brake shield and suggested a few slow rolling stops while pulling up on the e-brake slightly. The problem still re occurs but it's not a big deal, can be a bit embarassing though.

[SUB-ZERO]

Originally Posted by pman10

It sounds just like the 'pebble stuck behind the heat shield' sound, which can also be described as the 'dragging tin cans under you' sound.

It stuck with me for almost a hundred miles, until one one day when it magically vanished. If you're concerned, take it to the dealer. But to me, that sounds very much like something (a pebble) is stuck in the heat shield.

+1

I had this problem last week. I gave it a few quick launches and it went away. Not really a problem but very annoying for sure.

-SZ

[ES_TRADER]

i heard it again today...first time was like 3 weeks ago..nothing...then again tonight after i washed the car...what the hell is it?? anyone know for sure??

sounds like someones crushing/squeezing tin cans or something

[Mr. Unallocated]

I had this same exact problem on my e46 M. It was the most annoying and sometimes embarrassing noise I've ever had. Well depending on when this noise magically would decide to resurface. Never had it fixed because it would come and go but never when it was in for service of course. I'm actually pretty dissappointed to hear that I may have this to look forward to once again after my e92 M arrives. Great...

[aka_phox]

Originally Posted by aka_phox

...took the rear (12mm) Spacers off...drove over 200 miles today and No Cowbell sound. Beginning to think it was the Spacers that was causing this... Next step will be to take the 15mm Spacers from the front and put them on the back and see if the sound comes back. Maybe it's the 12mm Spacers that's the problem???

2days after re-install of the rear Spacers and the nouse hasn't came back....

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by aka_phox

2days after re-install of the rear Spacers and the nouse hasn't came back....

What if u dont have any spacers to remove? What then?

[Mike Benvo]

That has happened to me MANY times.

It's little pieces of gravel that get stuck in the rear between the ebrake cover (I'm not sure if I named the part correctly..)

It will go away and it shouldn't come back unless you drive on loose gravel. Don't worry about it.

[aka_phox]

Originally Posted by richpuer

What if u dont have any spacers to remove? What then?

Then I would look into it being the "e-brake spring" others Have referred to of being the problem.

[d47m122]

Mine is doing the same thing and I caught it on video with my iPhone. My M3 is at the dealer today for them to look into this. I'm hoping it's the rock sound and that they can fix this for good. This car costs way too damn much money to put up with this embarassing sound.

[Seattle S65B40]

^^ Damn bro, that is pretty bad. Mine was also this bad, and I'm glad it's been OK since they took the pebble out. I don't remember having this problem on my E46 M3. Sounds like something in that area is poorly designed if this is and keeps happening to so many M3s....

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by d47m122

Mine is doing the same thing and I caught it on video with my iPhone. My M3 is at the dealer today for them to look into this. I'm hoping it's the rock sound and that they can fix this for good. This car costs way too damn much money to put up with this embarassing sound.

Whoa that is loud. Does it only happen during cold morning start for u? Or does it happen every time u drove it consistently?? I heard this twice but never on a cold start. Happened like after I washed the car the last two times but after driving for a good 30 mins or so and only when I was stopped at the light.

Pls keep us posted when u get the car back.

[d47m122]

It does it cold, it does it warm. It will go away for a few days and then come back. The dealer still has it. Fingers crossed for good news.

[Mjolnir]

Originally Posted by d47m122

Mine is doing the same thing and I caught it on video with my iPhone. My M3 is at the dealer today for them to look into this. I'm hoping it's the rock sound and that they can fix this for good. This car costs way too damn much money to put up with this embarassing sound.

Mine does that too on occasion. I was thinking about writing "Just Married" on the back window and tying tin cans to the bumper to mask the sound. Kidding.

It is very frustrating...

[positiveions]

bearings don't make that kind of noise.
OP i want to ask you, is the noise same on the right and the left; meaning, if you closed the right window, and opened the left, is the noise identical?
NOw that i heard D47m122, I think it is the exhaust hangers??? maybe??

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by Mjolnir

Mine does that too on occasion. I was thinking about writing "Just Married" on the back window and tying tin cans to the bumper to mask the sound. Kidding.

ROFL...i love it made my day here, thanks!

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by eatrach73

bearings don't make that kind of noise.
OP i want to ask you, is the noise same on the right and the left; meaning, if you closed the right window, and opened the left, is the noise identical?
NOw that i heard D47m122, I think it is the exhaust hangers??? maybe??

NO, the sound is from pebbles stuck between the brake heat shield and rotors. This is a FACT. This happened to another M3 as well as mine during a recent BMWCCA car control clinic. The parking lot had a lot of loose gravel.

The reason the sound sometimes goes away for a day or 2 and then comes back is because the pebble gets stuck (possibly near the brake pads) and dislodge once in awhile when you reverse. When it happened to my car, the sound didn't completely go away until about a month passed. I'm sure the pebble just got smaller and smaller due to friction against the rotor and finally dropped out.

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

NO, the sound is from pebbles stuck between the brake heat shield and rotors. This is a FACT. This happened to another M3 as well as mine during a recent BMWCCA car control clinic. The parking lot had a lot of loose gravel.

The reason the sound sometimes goes away for a day or 2 and then comes back is because the pebble gets stuck (possibly near the brake pads) and dislodge once in awhile when you reverse. When it happened to my car, the sound didn't completely go away until about a month passed. I'm sure the pebble just got smaller and smaller due to friction against the rotor and finally dropped out.

i would love to think it is this ^^ what u stated, but then why do some other members say its FOR SURE from the e-brake spring or something?? and needs to be adjusted...confusing...are they just TWO SEPARATE issues but coincidentally make the same cow bell noise??

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by richpuer

i would love to think it is this ^^ what u stated, but then why do some other members say its FOR SURE from the e-brake spring or something?? and needs to be adjusted...confusing...are they just TWO SEPARATE issues but coincidentally make the same cow bell noise??

I'm sure there are different sounds (which could be different issues), but the one in the last video is almost definitely a pebble and this is a design defect in the M3.

[James T. Kirk]

.

[abugiacomo]

had this exact same problem (i have a short video too but no you tube account so i don't think i can post it here -- happy to email it if anyone wants to compare)...i initially thought it was a pebble caught up somewhere but when it didn't go away for a couple days i made an appointment to take my car in to the dealer...sure enough, they came back with the "can not reproduce" claim, but to my surprise (and delight) the sound was in fact gone when i got the car back...it's been about 4 weeks and the sound hasn't returned...

i showed the service advisor my video and he said the tech took the rear wheels off, so i'm guessing whatever it was just happen to fall out and without the tech realizing it...

[BimmerM]

Mine had this sound since new. So far 500 miles on the car and the sound comes and go when going slow. I guess some time today or tomorrow I'll take the wheel, caliper and rotor off the suspected rear left wheel to check it out.

[BimmerM]

I just finished taking off the rotor and see nothing trapped in there. No pebble or small rocks fell on the floor. The sound definitely sounds like something hitting the shield but can't see what.

I adjusted the parking brake shoes one click in reverse just in case it was that.

I put everything back and tool it for a spin around town and didn't hear the noise again however it comes and go so I guess I'll need more seat time to see if it comes back.