Strange buzz/rattle from DCT

MTM · 08-22-2022, 08:54 PM

OK, so I hate to post one of those vague and slightly random posts, but don't have a lot of choice so here goes:

Recently my '09 E92 M3 w/ DCT (105k miles and daily driver) has started making a new noise. From inside the car, it sounds like a short buzz/rattle/hum that very briefly goes in and out just on either side of the first 3 or 4 shift points (am usually going too fast to hear it after that so unclear if it's hitting the remaining gears or not). One day, it even rattled quite loudly at idle after just starting the car.

Kind of makes me think like a heat shield is rattling against the DCT body or something? Lord willing it's not inside the unit itself (yikes!).

So here is the question...has anyone else heard of or encountered something like this? Would be good to hear others' experience before I put it on the lift and start poking around.

Changed fluid, filter, and pan gasket last year (about 10k miles ago) so likely not related.

Redd · 08-23-2022, 06:22 PM

Highly likely a loose heatshield.

spammysammich · 08-23-2022, 06:45 PM

There is a weird stamped sheet metal fastener that is a 10mm nut/washer combined. Those go missing on quite a few cars, so I'm told.

deansbimmer · 08-24-2022, 07:51 PM

Most likely the vibrations at certain RPMs are causing a loose heat shield to resonate. Run through the various shields under the car and make sure they're not missing hardware. You can bend them a bit also to make sure they're positioned correctly. Also check the exhaust, contact with covers will cause buzzing or rattles.

MTM · 08-25-2022, 04:43 PM

Great suggestions...will poke around once my travels finish.

John Simon · 08-26-2022, 08:31 AM

May be it is a loose Heatshield/kickplate that is ratteling.

08-22-2022, 08:54 PM	#1
MTM Lieutenant 83 Rep 468 Posts Drives: 2009 M3 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Houston iTrader: (1)	Strange buzz/rattle from DCT OK, so I hate to post one of those vague and slightly random posts, but don't have a lot of choice so here goes: Recently my '09 E92 M3 w/ DCT (105k miles and daily driver) has started making a new noise. From inside the car, it sounds like a short buzz/rattle/hum that very briefly goes in and out just on either side of the first 3 or 4 shift points (am usually going too fast to hear it after that so unclear if it's hitting the remaining gears or not). One day, it even rattled quite loudly at idle after just starting the car. Kind of makes me think like a heat shield is rattling against the DCT body or something? Lord willing it's not inside the unit itself (yikes!). So here is the question...has anyone else heard of or encountered something like this? Would be good to hear others' experience before I put it on the lift and start poking around. Changed fluid, filter, and pan gasket last year (about 10k miles ago) so likely not related.
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08-23-2022, 06:22 PM	#2
Redd Brigadier General 3900 Rep 4,165 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW E92 M3 Dakar Edition Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	Highly likely a loose heatshield.
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08-23-2022, 06:45 PM	#3
spammysammich Major 1585 Rep 1,106 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 M3 Dakar Yellow II Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Edmonds, WA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW M3 [10.00]	There is a weird stamped sheet metal fastener that is a 10mm nut/washer combined. Those go missing on quite a few cars, so I'm told.
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08-24-2022, 07:51 PM	#4
deansbimmer BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 3751 Rep 2,907 Posts Drives: 2011 E93 M3 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: DFW, Texas iTrader: (17) Garage List 1988 BMW M3 [0.00] 2013 BMW M3 [0.00] 2011 X5M [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	Most likely the vibrations at certain RPMs are causing a loose heat shield to resonate. Run through the various shields under the car and make sure they're not missing hardware. You can bend them a bit also to make sure they're positioned correctly. Also check the exhaust, contact with covers will cause buzzing or rattles.
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08-25-2022, 04:43 PM	#5
MTM Lieutenant 83 Rep 468 Posts Drives: 2009 M3 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Houston iTrader: (1)	Great suggestions...will poke around once my travels finish.
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08-26-2022, 08:31 AM	#6
John Simon New Member 11 Rep 28 Posts Drives: BMW E60 M5 Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada iTrader: (0)	May be it is a loose Heatshield/kickplate that is ratteling.
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