Bell noise coming from differential e92 m3 2009

jalyousef · 03-04-2016, 07:47 PM

I have a 2009 e92 m3 coupe w/ dct and 70k miles.

This recently started happening within the last 2 weeks.

From a stop, right when I put my foot on the gas and accelerate it makes a bell noise, like metal hitting metal. Sounds like it's coming from the rear differential. It only does it instantaneously and then disappears once I start driving. Whenever I let off the gas (only at speeds of about less than 20mph) it makes this noise again. It seems like it makes this noise every time the car jerks forwards or backwards from accelerating or decelerating.
I just took it to my friend's independent shop and they had it for 3 days and the only thing they could think to do was change the differential fluid and to replace the cracked flex shaft.
I'm about to have to just resort to the dealership, but want to see if anyone has any idea of what is causing this.

monterey · 03-04-2016, 09:53 PM

I have the same bell sound coming from the clutch. Like a "Ting".

Ezio · 03-04-2016, 09:57 PM

It's common.

Doc Oc · 03-04-2016, 09:59 PM

Long shot here but are you guys sure you're not hearing the common cow bell noise that comes from getting a rock caught in the brake shield?

jalyousef · 03-04-2016, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monterey

I have the same bell sound coming from the clutch. Like a "Ting".

Yep...please let me know if you find out what the issue is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Oc

Long shot here but are you guys sure you're not hearing the common cow bell noise that comes from getting a rock caught in the brake shield?

No it's not that. I had that issue before and it fell out on it's own within 50 miles or so.

I did just get a differential flush with that new additive less than 100 miles ago so maybe it will go away after 500 miles or so?

jalyousef · 03-05-2016, 08:30 PM

I tried making a video of it. Would like to see if anyone knows what this is before I go spend $200 to have the dealership just look at it.
As you can imagine, this is an EXTREMELY annoying sound. I'm borderline embarrassed to drive my car, when it should be the opposite.

doogee · 03-05-2016, 09:29 PM

My M3 makes a similar sound.

Replaced the CV joint on the driveshaft and applied loctite to the splines on the differential input shaft and the sound is still there.

It isn't the differential, in my case it's the center U-Joint on the driveshaft. So the only fix is a new driveshaft.

jalyousef · 03-07-2016, 07:36 PM

Can anyone else confirm that this is the u-joint/drive shaft?

I took it to the dealer today to see if the u-joint was damaged and after charging me for the one hour diagnostic labor fee of $165 they came back and told me they'll need to charge me another 4.5 hours of labor because the exhaust needs to be removed, costing in the $800-$900 range. I told them that they sell brand new drive shafts for $900 so why on earth would I spend $900 just to tell me that it needs to be replaced. The 3 times I have been there they always remind me why I never go.

ivad32 · 03-08-2016, 03:41 PM

Common problem. My SA stated it was a bent brake shield. Read this

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...light=cow+bell

doogee · 03-08-2016, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivad32

Common problem. My SA stated it was a bent brake shield. Read this

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...light=cow+bell

This is not the problem. If you listen to the video, you can clearly tell the sound is from the driveshaft 100%.

eroc0808 · 03-15-2016, 08:19 PM

Driveshaft 100%. It sounds like a hammer hitting a hollow pipe real quick, just once.

tdott · 03-15-2016, 09:45 PM

Drive line related, drop the exhaust, pull the driveshalf. There is play somewhere in it, either the rear CV or a ujoint.

jalyousef · 03-29-2016, 01:05 PM

Thanks everyone so much for the comments. I ended up buying a used drive shaft with low miles and had that installed by my indy shop, and now the sound is gone! The car drives much better as well

vsix · 03-29-2016, 01:54 PM

Holy moly, THATS EXACTLY the sound I have!!!!
So a new drive shaft and I'm good, right?

doogee · 03-29-2016, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsix

Holy moly, THATS EXACTLY the sound I have!!!!
So a new drive shaft and I'm good, right?

More than likely. I'm kind of disappointed in the strength of the drivelines on these cars.

75k on mine and have already replaced the driveshaft cv joint, a rear axle and now the u-joint on the driveshaft is junk.

vsix · 03-29-2016, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doogee

More than likely. I'm kind of disappointed in the strength of the drivelines on these cars.

75k on mine and have already replaced the driveshaft cv joint, a rear axle and now the u-joint on the driveshaft is junk.

85k here.
Iam also a little disappointed, thinking about the good old 03 cobra days pushing 600+ to the crank and the car had a bone stock driveline.
Oh well, thats the downside of owning an german exotic car

vsix · 04-09-2016, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doogee

More than likely. I'm kind of disappointed in the strength of the drivelines on these cars.

75k on mine and have already replaced the driveshaft cv joint, a rear axle and now the u-joint on the driveshaft is junk.

Doogee I've just bought the driveshaft and will install it by the end of next week.
Wish me luck, that this is the gremlin that causes these bell noises

Will give you an headsup soon as I got it installed!

doogee · 04-14-2016, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsix

Doogee I've just bought the driveshaft and will install it by the end of next week.
Wish me luck, that this is the gremlin that causes these bell noises

Will give you an headsup soon as I got it installed!

Sure let us know!

Thanks

vsix · 04-22-2016, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doogee

Sure let us know!

Thanks

There you go:
I officially confirm, these sounds do come from an worn out driveshaft.
I replaced mine uppon this thread, as I had the exact noises!
My car feels much better now accelerates much smoother and ain't got these nasty vibrations anymore!!!!!!

Doogee, man...thanx a bunch!!!!!

doogee · 04-22-2016, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsix

There you go:
I officially confirm, these sounds do come from an worn out driveshaft.
I replaced mine uppon this thread, as I had the exact noises!
My car feels much better now accelerates much smoother and ain't got these nasty vibrations anymore!!!!!!

Doogee, man...thanx a bunch!!!!!

Not a problem! Good to know, and I'm sure I'll be replacing mine soon. Seems the center u-joint wears out pretty quickly on these things.

vsix · 04-22-2016, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doogee

Not a problem! Good to know, and I'm sure I'll be replacing mine soon. Seems the center u-joint wears out pretty quickly on these things.

Yeah, unfortunately!
Anyhow, we've found a great platform where we all support eachother.
Man let me tell you, how hard would an ///M ownership be, without such a great forum AND much more greater members!!!
This goes out to you and everyone on here, that helps fellow enthusiasts!

Doc Oc · 04-22-2016, 05:32 PM

Can anyone detail what's involved in swapping the driveshaft? Can it be diy'd?

03-04-2016, 07:47 PM	#1
jalyousef Private 11 Rep 56 Posts Drives: 2009 e92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Bell noise coming from differential e92 m3 2009 I have a 2009 e92 m3 coupe w/ dct and 70k miles. This recently started happening within the last 2 weeks. From a stop, right when I put my foot on the gas and accelerate it makes a bell noise, like metal hitting metal. Sounds like it's coming from the rear differential. It only does it instantaneously and then disappears once I start driving. Whenever I let off the gas (only at speeds of about less than 20mph) it makes this noise again. It seems like it makes this noise every time the car jerks forwards or backwards from accelerating or decelerating. I just took it to my friend's independent shop and they had it for 3 days and the only thing they could think to do was change the differential fluid and to replace the cracked flex shaft. I'm about to have to just resort to the dealership, but want to see if anyone has any idea of what is causing this.
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03-04-2016, 09:53 PM	#2
monterey Major 339 Rep 1,239 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: United States iTrader: (1)	I have the same bell sound coming from the clutch. Like a "Ting".
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03-04-2016, 09:57 PM	#3
Ezio Brigadier General 380 Rep 3,934 Posts Drives: 2023 Alfa Romeo, 2023 m240i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: MI iTrader: (0)	It's common.
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03-04-2016, 09:59 PM	#4
Doc Oc Captain Fatbelly 1422 Rep 1,994 Posts Drives: C63 amg Join Date: May 2015 Location: Upyourbuttandtotheleft iTrader: (0)	Long shot here but are you guys sure you're not hearing the common cow bell noise that comes from getting a rock caught in the brake shield? __________________ 2013 c63 Amg coupe p31, v7 tune, plm headers, armytrix downpipes, EflexFuel 2008 dct coupe, evolve engine/dct tune, ttp, ms intake, megan exhaust, cf ds. Sold.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-05-2016, 08:30 PM	#6
jalyousef Private 11 Rep 56 Posts Drives: 2009 e92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	I tried making a video of it. Would like to see if anyone knows what this is before I go spend $200 to have the dealership just look at it. As you can imagine, this is an EXTREMELY annoying sound. I'm borderline embarrassed to drive my car, when it should be the opposite.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-05-2016, 09:29 PM	#7
doogee Major 748 Rep 1,256 Posts Drives: '08 M3, '09 328xi Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ancaster, ON, Canada iTrader: (0)	My M3 makes a similar sound. Replaced the CV joint on the driveshaft and applied loctite to the splines on the differential input shaft and the sound is still there. It isn't the differential, in my case it's the center U-Joint on the driveshaft. So the only fix is a new driveshaft.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-07-2016, 07:36 PM	#8
jalyousef Private 11 Rep 56 Posts Drives: 2009 e92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Can anyone else confirm that this is the u-joint/drive shaft? I took it to the dealer today to see if the u-joint was damaged and after charging me for the one hour diagnostic labor fee of $165 they came back and told me they'll need to charge me another 4.5 hours of labor because the exhaust needs to be removed, costing in the $800-$900 range. I told them that they sell brand new drive shafts for $900 so why on earth would I spend $900 just to tell me that it needs to be replaced. The 3 times I have been there they always remind me why I never go.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-08-2016, 03:41 PM	#9
ivad32 Keelhauler 4 Rep 83 Posts Drives: 128i 6-spd Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 E90 [0.00]	Common problem. My SA stated it was a bent brake shield. Read this http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...light=cow+bell
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03-15-2016, 08:19 PM	#11
eroc0808 Private 10 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (1)	Driveshaft 100%. It sounds like a hammer hitting a hollow pipe real quick, just once.
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03-15-2016, 09:45 PM	#12
tdott Brigadier General 3941 Rep 3,983 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South FL / 6ix iTrader: (4)	Drive line related, drop the exhaust, pull the driveshalf. There is play somewhere in it, either the rear CV or a ujoint.
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03-29-2016, 01:05 PM	#13
jalyousef Private 11 Rep 56 Posts Drives: 2009 e92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Thanks everyone so much for the comments. I ended up buying a used drive shaft with low miles and had that installed by my indy shop, and now the sound is gone! The car drives much better as well
	Appreciate 1 Timujin351.50 Quote

03-29-2016, 01:54 PM	#14
vsix Lieutenant Colonel 602 Rep 1,611 Posts Drives: M3 E92 sold, M4 F82 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: ATL iTrader: (0)	Holy moly, THATS EXACTLY the sound I have!!!! So a new drive shaft and I'm good, right?
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04-22-2016, 05:32 PM	#22
Doc Oc Captain Fatbelly 1422 Rep 1,994 Posts Drives: C63 amg Join Date: May 2015 Location: Upyourbuttandtotheleft iTrader: (0)	Can anyone detail what's involved in swapping the driveshaft? Can it be diy'd? __________________ 2013 c63 Amg coupe p31, v7 tune, plm headers, armytrix downpipes, EflexFuel 2008 dct coupe, evolve engine/dct tune, ttp, ms intake, megan exhaust, cf ds. Sold.
	Appreciate 0 Quote