M3 Noises (What's Normal/Not Normal)

[m3an]

Originally Posted by dmk08

I've noticed some Nav area rattle when @ WOT above 5,000rpm. Anyone fix Nav rattle before or is this just some new 'character' for my car

I also have the whining noise around 45-55mph. Took it into the dealer a few times but I guess it's normal.

whining is most likely the drivetrain/diff..

or maybe it's you complaining

[kevblah]

Does anyone else hear a lot of noise from the wheel wells when driving over like pebbles, ordinarily on the side of the road? I hear a lot of noise from the rocks kicking up into the wheel wells, but it sounds almost as if there's no soundproofing.

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by VonSwoopington

Interior rattling on the passenger door/ glove compartment side.. No idea what it is. I get the other noises mentioned as well but they all seem to be normal noises

Put some felt on the back of the fuse panel cover in the rear of the glove box. you'll see where there is loose plastic on plastic; right where the locking screws attach.

[ES BMW]

Originally Posted by duk

my passenger keeps moaning when i drive fast, any idea?

I think that means she likes it.

[Vic311]

Noise threads...lol

Like asking a blind person .."Do I look good wearing this?"

[iAmCoolguY]

Originally Posted by M3

Many of the sounds mentioned here are totally normal and are in this car's very absolute nature.

But I do have one question that seems out of it's nature.

Not all the time but sometimes, when I turn my steering wheel to take a corner at a very low speed, I hear this clicking sound coming from the front. Has anyone exprienced anything like this?

I am starting to hear it now when I turn to left only, nothing on going on when I turn right.

[Transfer]

First gear full throttle straight line I get a ripping/buzz kind of noise that I can't tell if it's coming from the front or back. It's brief (so is 1st gear ) and is as loud as the engine. It sounds like tire rubbing but I can't find any signs of that and I know I shouldn't be rubbing. The noise almost sounds like the diff working but it doesn't occur in other gears or when I'm drifting. The car seems to run great, no loss of power just a crazy high pitched BZZZZT!!! This has happened since I bought the car used back in June and since it doesn't cause any issues I thought it was normal but now it's starting to make me wonder. Transmission is DCT

[1MtoM3]

Originally Posted by checkmate

Amazing how my 6yr old E46 M3 still has no interior rattles. I have yet to come across another E46 M3 who has interior rattles. Mine is a DD over the worst bumpy roads of Batlimore...

Jesus ! Mine is a rattle whore! But, here in montreal we have third world roads during winter.it"s been winter driven for two winters now , but was rattling before.

[1MtoM3]

Originally Posted by RichMattB

Exhaust leak-type sound? Check.

DCT clunk when shifting into N after a routine drive? Check.

Rear shelf rattle? Check.

Whine when decelerating in gear from about 3k rpms? Check.


Does the exhaust-leak type sound ever go away? I've heard that after about 20 minutes of driving before. Waiting for the cats to warm up doesn't seem to explain that...

I had my E46 checked once because i thought it was an exhaust leak . I was told this is normal and that the E92 does it as well, and they were right!

[1MtoM3]

Originally Posted by Yoyoman

My does the samething too: in gear, low speed, step on clutch....clunk, clunk clunk..It is embarrasing, especially inside indoor parking where noise is emplified.

My 1M did this from the get go, 2003 M3 does it,as the E92 does it.....almost exactly the same noise and intensity in each.

[elgolfman]

Originally Posted by BKMK5

The rotor's shrinking after a nice drive is intoxicating. "Dink, dink, dink, dink" Tonight I may make a video of it. I know there are a bunch of people who are like :WTF are you talking about, my accord doesnt make that sound when I shut it off???"

This is seriously hilarious… when will the video be ready for YouTube?

[swein1992]

WOW My car has the exact same noises that your car has except the exhaust one! I went to the dealer couple of times and they always said that there was nothing to worry about. Mine is 2010 e92 with DCT. Do you still have the noises?

Originally Posted by gahbouch

Hi guys, I had several noises that might not be normal, just wanted to get your inputs.

1- clicking noise when stationary in 1st gear and i press on the trottle. feels as if the gear is engaging

2- clunk sound when stationary and engage neutral.

3- exhaust buzzing sometimes when driving slow in 1st and 2nd gear at ~2000 rpm

4- when stationary, sometimes if i turn steering wheel all the way around and the back it puts out a squeaky sound

please let me know what you think. Thank you.

Car 2012 M3 alpine white/ extended fox red/ carbon fiber.

[gahbouch]

Originally Posted by swein1992

WOW My car has the exact same noises that your car has except the exhaust one! I went to the dealer couple of times and they always said that there was nothing to worry about. Mine is 2010 e92 with DCT. Do you still have the noises?

1-clicking noise still there but I'm having it checked this week, will post results
2- I was told clunk was normal
3- switched to M performance exhaust 1 month ago so no more buzzing but another member in the thread said he located the part, should be fixable.
4- squeaky sound just went away, it might have been because of the colder weather. If you live in a warmer climate and that still happens must be something else then.

[swein1992]

Great! I live in Indiana so it is pretty cold right now. That's probably why I have the noise from steering wheel. I was told the clunk clutch noise was normal too.

Originally Posted by gahbouch

1-clicking noise still there but I'm having it checked this week, will post results
2- I was told clunk was normal
3- switched to M performance exhaust 1 month ago so no more buzzing but another member in the thread said he located the part, should be fixable.
4- squeaky sound just went away, it might have been because of the colder weather. If you live in a warmer climate and that still happens must be something else then.

[llis]

My previous car had a few maddening dash rattles. It took a few times before the dealer's primary mechanic was able to find the problem and felt it out. It entailed removing vents.

So far the 2013 car has nary a rattle. **knock wood**

[S65V8]

Originally Posted by llis

My previous car had a few maddening dash rattles. It took a few times before the dealer's primary mechanic was able to find the problem and felt it out. It entailed removing vents.

So far the 2013 car has nary a rattle. **knock wood**

+1, '13 has been rock solid vs. the last.

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by Seattle S65B40

All interior rattles. Yes, unfortunately, they're normal on the M3. I just hit 18,000 miles and now i have the nav rattle...

I'm at 18k miles and zero rattles/squeaks whatever. Totally silent and solid thankfully. I have an E90 330i, ordered and bought new 7 years ago, and now at 116k miles it too is silent (even after all these years with RFT) except for one creak that is there maybe 5% of the time from the right rear headrest area.

Do door seals creak on these cars? I just bought my car in Feb with 16k miles on it, and it appears to have clear Teflon tape applied to the door jambs (or is that normal?). Anyway, they're thankfully silent unlike my E39 M5 which I've chased door seal squeaking on for many years. The E90 330i door seals are still silent, never heard a noise from them (so far).

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by andret

The clunk when slowing down in 2nd off throttle at 1200rpm. Apparently it is the injectors kicking in before the revs get too low. I think this ma also be related to efficient dynamics regen braking. I wish this could all be programmed out. Could this limit be lowered to 600rpm?

Nothing to do with efficient dynamics. This is standard operating procedure and dates back to the introduction of Bosch Motronic in the early 1980s. On a closed throttle, there is zero fuel flow until the rpms fall enough (generally between 1500 and 1200 rpms, depending on the engine) that it must resume fuel flow or else the engine will potentially stall, i.e. not be able to resume running if fuel flow was enabled at a lower rpm.

[Jive]

Originally Posted by elm3

The noise coming from the left rear quarter panel that sounds like an air pump is actually a vacuum pump. Some of the stuff in our car uses vacuum to operate them. If you look under the car on your left, you can see either one or two little cylinder looking thing, that is your vacuum cans.

I heard this today for the first time! It got louder the closer i got to the rear wheel and it sounded like some sort of mechanical pump but i had no idea what it was and why it was on when the car was off.

Originally Posted by duk

the farting, popping, burping when shifting when car is cold <3

Lol! I just LOVE how this car sings to me on a cold start, it just makes my morning so much better.

[gahbouch]

Originally Posted by Transfer

First gear full throttle straight line I get a ripping/buzz kind of noise that I can't tell if it's coming from the front or back. It's brief (so is 1st gear ) and is as loud as the engine. It sounds like tire rubbing but I can't find any signs of that and I know I shouldn't be rubbing. The noise almost sounds like the diff working but it doesn't occur in other gears or when I'm drifting. The car seems to run great, no loss of power just a crazy high pitched BZZZZT!!! This has happened since I bought the car used back in June and since it doesn't cause any issues I thought it was normal but now it's starting to make me wonder. Transmission is DCT

Its most likely from the exhaust had that fixed a while back. It happens at a certain RPM but even then it doesn't happen all the time

[MMMMM3]

Originally Posted by Ironbutt17

My 2012 DCT is just going in for its 1.2K service this week. I have the M-Performance exhaust which was installed before delivery and sounds great. BUT, when the car is warm and I am accelerating from a stop (with the windows down) something makes a ticking/clicking sound. Don't know if it's exhaust related or ??, but it sounds "cheap" and like something is loose and rattling. Drives me nuts.

Of course, this goes away with windows up or more speed, but as soon as I roll back into town on narrow streets with the windows back down, I notice it again. Ugh.

I'm fortunate to live in Germany only 1-click from miles of unrestricted autobahn so I can't wait to drive the red beast for real!

I just noticed this same clattering sound on part throttle between 1,600 and 2,100 revs or so. Did your sound get diagnosed or is it normal? I used to only notice it with the windows down driving past walls, but can now hear it sometimes with the windows up and radio off.

[huyner328]

Starting to have a little 'knock' noise coming from my passenger side... seems related to the suspension maybe. Occurs every time I'm at a complete stop then go over a bump with my wheel turned towards the passenger side.

Any ideas?