Cow Bell Noise: Losing Patience

[JDM_CL9]

Just picked up my "new to me" M3 and had this happen in the rear passenger side. Put it up on the hoist and spun the wheel and recreated the sound. Turned out to be the rotor dust shield rubbing against the rotor. Just bent it back in to place and all was good! No more cow bells

[cjrivera]

Originally Posted by ppc_333

Is this the noise, link below? Having the exact same issue, but no clue what the problem or noise is coming from.

Odd. I have the exact same noise as this.

[KFN]

FWIW, my cowbell went away after a couple of gentle pulls on the parking brake while on a slow roll. The noise has yet to return.

[jester17]

Originally Posted by KFN

FWIW, my cowbell went away after a couple of gentle pulls on the parking brake while on a slow roll. The noise has yet to return.

Me too -- here's my experience for record's sake: Pulled into a parking lot, and, as there was a slight tilt and I was checking my oil level in 'N,' I pulled t he e-brake. Oil checked -- put down the parking brake, put it in 'D' and hit the Stop-Start to get it into 'P'. Went shopping. When I got into the car -- before I even started it -- my weight getting in provoked a weird grinding noise I'd never heard. Shifted around in my seat some... grinding noise continued. Started car, put it into 'N' to back out, and Christopher Walken started chanting; hence, mucho cow bell, and I'd never heard this before. Drove home approx. 3 mi, and turning into my driveway, mucho, MUCHO cowbell. Parked, came inside, read this thread. Woke up this morning, and, much like Tom Hanks tells the pirates to do in CAPT. PHILLIPS, I pulled the e-brake up and down about 3-5 times -- not TOO hard, but not gently -- before I even started the car. Started it up, pulled out of the driveway... nothing. Drove to a nearby parking lot; drove in tight circles in both directions -- both forward and in reverse -- not a peep.

So it seems that with so many varied fixes here, perhaps we have very alike sounds from what could be four potential areas: LSD, Heat Shield, brake rotor and e-brake.

[KFN]

Yesterday I took my car in for new tires and the tech noticed my wheel bolts were too long, pointing out they showed signs of actually hitting elements of the parking brake assembly. I have a strong suspicion this is where my cowbell noise was coming from.

How I ended up with out of spec wheel bolts is another story. PO might have had spacers or different wheels I suppose. Way to go BMW dealer(s) for not catching this, btw (or for mixing them up in the first place). It took an indy tech who actually cares to catch it.

Anyway, just another thing to check if you have the cowbell problem.

[bimmergixxer]

Adding my experience to maybe help this common issue. After checking the shield and finding nothing, I pulled ahead and back in the driveway with the parking brake applied and it went away. I just read this post and wish I knew earlier after driving around town all night, clanging around.

[USCTROJANSFIGHTON]

I heard the exact same thing in my car 2 days ago. Raining hard in SoCAL. I was getting pissed......COW BELLS.........
Some members suggest pushing Brake Shield with dowel. The position was the 5 o clock position. Thanks to the member that mention that. A freaking pebble fell out. NO MORE COW BELLS.

I read all post yesterday.
1.E brake
2. Pebble in rotor or brake shield
3. Differential (highly doubt it)

Freaking Pebble.

[kerriganisland]

Originally Posted by M3AG

I had the same cow bell noise on my E36 328is and the problem was a broken spring pin (holding the e-brake in place) and at low speed bouncing around, sounded like cow bell (at faster speed centripetal force held it in one place). After a few hard brake the cow bell noise disappeared (the spring pin got stuck somewhere in the rotor). I didn't use the e-brake and I was fine for few years. I did the same with my M3 and no cow bell so far (6 months)! My cow bell is e-brake related.

Hey sorry to revive your post but did you also have a brake service light on when this happened?

[M3AG]

Originally Posted by kerriganisland

Hey sorry to revive your post but did you also have a brake service light on when this happened?

I had no error or service lights on.

[kerriganisland]

Originally Posted by M3AG

I had no error or service lights on.

Thank you for your reply.

I got the same noise as the OPs video yesterday, goes away with the ebrake trick (pulling it while slow roll) posted all over this thread, and today the brake service light came on. Going to dealer soon will post back here to post up since no definite answer has been given yet.

[Vanmarsenille]

Hello to all; I've had my E93 M3 for almost 5 years (2013, 17k miles), and had the cowbell problem appear/disappear 3-4 times in that time, but recently, it is back with a VENGEANCE, first on the rear passenger side and now on the rear driver's side! Has anyone had the noise move from one side to the other? It sucks!

[e93 jonesy]

Originally Posted by Vanmarsenille

Hello to all; I've had my E93 M3 for almost 5 years (2013, 17k miles), and had the cowbell problem appear/disappear 3-4 times in that time, but recently, it is back with a VENGEANCE, first on the rear passenger side and now on the rear driver's side! Has anyone had the noise move from one side to the other? It sucks!

Yup. It has been on an off for the last 15k miles (2011, 100k miles) Mine comes and goes now. Last few times I took the car out no noise. But when it comes back I won't be surprised...

[Youngh]

I've had the cowbell noise. Problem was my driveshaft . Replaced this and now no more cowbell sound period. So much better without the constant clanging

[kyrix1st]

Do you happen to have aftermarket brake pads?

[Route 16]

I had this sound after driving through norcal in the mountains when it was snowing a bit, probably had a pebble next to the heat shield, and would sound only when braking, after 300 miles and going over a pothole hard, it went away, had to be a piece of debris stuck somewhere

[cruhz2k3]

I also recently had this noise. Firmly pulling the e-brake handle a bunch of times made it go away.

Here's a vid: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1aS...c1mz_D5r248dqB

[Zertag01]

The last two months I have a metallic ping-in sound coming from the rear of the M3 (cowbell) only when moving the car from 1st or stopping and same when I go reverse but when start moving the car sound normal.
1-No rocks stuck in the brake dust shield
2-No bent brake dust shield,
3-I replace the drive shaft U joint

Could this be the e-brake
Do you have any idea what can it be ?

See video

[Teerump]

Originally Posted by Zertag01

The last two months I have a metallic ping-in sound coming from the rear of the M3 (cowbell) only when moving the car from 1st or stopping and same when I go reverse but when start moving the car sound normal.
1-No rocks stuck in the brake dust shield
2-No bent brake dust shield,
3-I replace the drive shaft U joint

Could this be the e-brake
Do you have any idea what can it be ?

See video

Reviving an old thread.. what ended up being your issue? I'm having the exact same sound when I release the clutch going into reverse and again when taking off in 1st.

[TNTMYM3]

Meh, I get this cowbell noise near my rear driver side brakes, in the winter, i know it’s ice banging around my brake shields, it goes away after the ice melts in the afternoon. Yours seems louder, like a nut or bolt not ice or a stone pebble.

[Kamen]

Originally Posted by Teerump

Reviving an old thread.. what ended up being your issue? I'm having the exact same sound when I release the clutch going into reverse and again when taking off in 1st.

Most likely - driveshaft. Mine was doing the same exact thing.
Could be also this:

[Teerump]

Does BMW provide this service for free?

[Teerump]

What was wrong with your driveshaft? Did you have to replace it?