Is this noise NORMAL? BMW m3 E92 (Video)

[Munichm3]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

The situation was in the year 2013...

lol I didn't notice, but hey, maybe the OP can see the answer now

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Munichm3

lol I didn't notice, but hey, maybe the OP can see the answer now

Let us hope...

Cheers !

[nashy_30303]

Originally Posted by froz3ngray

So guys, I bought my m3 used (2011) with around 18k miles on it.

After driving it I would always notice this clicking sound which at first I thought was a bearing...

After taking it to the dealer they told me there is no way its a bearing and they said it is normal.

I also took it to one of my friends who knows M3's very well and said it was normal.

I then took it to other friends who know M3's said it was pretty unusual and not normal.

I also drove another E92 M3 (with only 3k miles) and here is the thing: It ALMOST did not have that sound at all, I say almost because we could hear it slightly but with the windows down and BARELY hear it (unless you put your utmost focus) with the windows closed. However, the soudn was there, only THREE times less loud than on my car. It is basically amplified 3-4 times on my car...



The best way to describe the sound is a "flickering" sound or a "flicking" sound.

It is DIRECTLY proportional to RPM's, as they increase, that sound increases (not the speed, the RPM's)

Could it be a bearing? I already drove the car 700 miles now since I bought it with this sound, and was flooring it a LOT too..

Here is a video of the sound...

Note: you cant hear the sound after 5k rpms anymore due to the engine screaming so loud it covers up the sound....

Hi guys,

I have a sound very similar to this but I'm convinced it's coming from the gearbox or gear selector. The noise is only there in gears 3-6th and disappears as soon as you shift to 7th gear.

Please have a look at the video of mine in the Dropbox file below and let me know your thoughts....

https://www.dropbox.com/s/43ijnxv61kzt7q8/IMG_1480.MOV?dl=0

Thanks

Chris

[Sandye90m3]

Sounds sick af though.

Honestly - I don't notice anything wrong. Engine sounds pretty sweet.

[bmwm3s65]

I have the exact same sound on the 2009 m3 i just bought about a week ago. had the windows up the whole time while test driving it so couldnt hear that flick/tick sound and the ppi was good. When i slowly rev it in neutral i dont here it so logically you could be on to something with the noise coming from the gear box in gear., However, i still say it sounds more like an exhaust leak and it could be coming from the x-pipe directly below the transmission making it sound as if its the gear box. Anyway as a precaution im getting the rod bearings done for peace of mind but i have a feeling that wont fix the noise. I will have the shop check the exhaust "while there in there". hopefully they find a leak instead of something more critical.

[Moneypit m3]

Glacket did you get to the bottom of this noise? My 2010 is making a very similar noise from the same area?

[bmwm3s65]

Originally Posted by Moneypit m3

Glacket did you get to the bottom of this noise? My 2010 is making a very similar noise from the same area?

Sorry for the late reply, hadn't check this post in awhile. I have not figured it out yet. It really sounds like an old truck with an exhaust leak. I installed test pipes and that flicking sounds is more pronounced than ever. It really reminds me of a 1980's ford pickup making a loud flicking/ticking sound when accelerating. definitely hear it when near a high curb. I am hoping it is an exhaust leak. when I installed test pipes I swear there was no exhaust gasket on the header flange but I wasn't paying close attention to that. I'm going to pull the xpipe back down and install gaskets if there aren't any or if they are damaged. They appear to sell oem gaskets so I'm guessing the car must normally come with the them from the factory.

[rks68rt]

Mine sounds similar in same loading conditions after I upgraded to the catless Dinan xpipe and dinan cans. It was not noticeable when it had the stock setup.

[M3 Number 86]

Does it have test pipes? Could be slight leak due to clamps.

[cjm41]

Re-reviving and old one... I bought an e92 M3 with 75k miles last month and didn't notice this on the test drive. Noticed it a couple days after I bought it.

I've had a PPI and now TWO Post Purchase Inspections because of it. First two shops assured me there was no exhaust leak, I watched the third shop put my car on a lift and plug my exhaust tips and do some sort of pressure test. They too assured me there was no exhaust leak but at least did confirm they heard what I heard (previous shop didnt)

The last shop (mentioned above, the one that I watched perform the test) told me it's quite possible it's the exhaust configuration/combination (Macht Schnell test pipes, AE exhaust, rest is stock).

[Eja144]

Apologies for reviving an old thread. Does anyone know if this sound has ever been definitively diagnosed?

I spent quite a bit of time searching the forums and have found answers ranging from normal s65 noisiness to heat shield rattling to detonation/preignition and even early sign of RBF (rod bearing failure, not resting bitch face - though the latter could certainly result from the former).

My 08 E90 recently started making the same sound - a clicking/fluttering only under acceleration. Its volume appears to be directly proportional to throttle position and it's frequency is in sync with RPM. It's most noticeable at WOT from 2500-4000 RPM, and all but disappears in the upper rev range. The location of the sound seems to be around the drivers side wheel well and is amplified if I'm driving close to a barrier or wall on the left side.

I'm most concerned about the possibility of detonation. RBF is very unlikely, as I had mine replaced at a highly reputable shop with BE bearings only about 2k miles ago. I always use 93 octane.

Happy to grab a video if anyone's interested in listening.

[Edit] I should also add that I recently (within the last 1k miles) had the spark plugs and all fluids replaced.

[Eja144]

A few videos demonstrating the noise...

Two 3rd gear WOT pulls - one at 0:35, one at 1:46 -

5th gear, light throttle - noise most prominent starting at 0:19 and again at 0:30

[romero1990]

I have it and I just took it as fuel injection sounds.. probably not exactly right but it doesn't seem to be a problem after a while

[Rajmun340]

Originally Posted by Eja144

A few videos demonstrating the noise...

When someone complains about a strange noise and you listen carefully and there is absolutely nothing there except normal V8 acceleration sounds.

[BGBF18]

OP, my car did this for years, seems normal-ish. Some M3s do it some don't.

FYI, your headlight switch is pushed into the "crush" position (for crashes). Pull it out until it clicks, which is fully extended out of the recess.