What is this sound?

GregW / Oregon · 07-04-2008, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyderco10

I noticed this clunk/rattle/springy noise when disengaging the clutch in 1st gear under negative load the first day I bought. I thought mine was defective. I guess everyone's has it?

Yep, it's the M-Clunk. It's been said it's due to less isolation in the drivetrain, as well as the design of the diff. You will learn to minimize it by the way you operate the clutch under such circumstances.

lucid · 07-04-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Yep, it's the M-Clunk. It's been said it's due to less isolation in the drivetrain, as well as the design of the diff. You will learn to minimize it by the way you operate the clutch under such circumstances.

It we are talking about the same noise, and I think we are, it is not M specific.

jm1234 · 07-04-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucid

Welcome to the world of the BMW MT clunk guys! I even took my E46 to the dealer when it only had 100 miles thinking there is something wrong with the transmission, and they just laughed and told me it was normal.

I never noticed this on my E36 M3. Did I miss it or is it something "new" in the E46 model?

lucid · 07-04-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jm1234

I never noticed this on my E36 M3. Did I miss it or is it something "new" in the E46 model?

I'm pretty sure E36s do not have this. Maybe some other E36 owners can chime in. All MT E46s have it though.

yahtzee · 07-09-2008, 07:28 AM

Man, this sound is annoying. I pulled into a parking lot yesterday and a bunch of people were sitting outside eating. My car caught their attention but it wasnt the engine or the look of the car (they had their backs to me), it was the tapping noise that I brought up in this post.....any suggestions on how to minimize?

booforty · 07-09-2008, 07:36 AM

Take it to the dealer and get it looked at under warranty

ericld · 07-09-2008, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Delbruck

My 2006 Z4 M Coupe did it too..... until I sold it. Then I didn't hear it anymore....

HAH!

ericld · 07-09-2008, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yahtzee

Man, this sound is annoying. I pulled into a parking lot yesterday and a bunch of people were sitting outside eating. My car caught their attention but it wasnt the engine or the look of the car (they had their backs to me), it was the tapping noise that I brought up in this post.....any suggestions on how to minimize?

To make the sound:

When you are going down a neighborhood street with the car in first gear and revving hard at around 3500-4000 rpm - if you take you foot off the gas for 3 seconds while maintaining the RPM's and depress the clutch you will hear the clunk that everyone is talking about.

yahtzee · 07-09-2008, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericld

To make the sound:

When you are going down a neighborhood street with the car in first gear and revving hard at around 3500-4000 rpm - if you take you foot off the gas for 3 seconds while maintaining the RPM's and depress the clutch you will hear the clunk that everyone is talking about.

Thanks. I know what it sounds like and when it happens...how do you KEEP it from happening?

keester · 07-20-2008, 02:42 AM

Really annoying, the clunking noise almost makes it seem like there is something loose somewhere.
My 2001 330 Cab did the same thing towards the 100000km mark but when that happened , I was told that it was a bushing that was worn around the sway bars/suspension.
The sound on my new M3 is similar to that.
A little worrisome hearing a rattle/clunking on a brand new vehicle. The other M3 I test drove didn't seem to have this noise.
Any suggestions?

RK

ericld · 07-20-2008, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yahtzee

Thanks. I know what it sounds like and when it happens...how do you KEEP it from happening?

by not driving it.

yahtzee · 08-07-2008, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericld

by not driving it.

Thanks for the help with this. Truly an asset to the boards.

Gemcoska · 08-07-2008, 11:34 AM

If you push the clutch in before you load the engine up while decelerating, it will be smooth and quiet. You essentially want open up the clutch in between the state when your engine is pushing your wheels (accel), and your wheel are pushing your engine (decel).

yahtzee · 08-07-2008, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemcoska

If you push the clutch in before you load the engine up while decelerating, it will be smooth and quiet. You essentially want open up the clutch in between the state when your engine is pushing your wheels (accel), and your wheel are pushing your engine (decel).

True, but the same noise occurs when i pull into my garage (there is a 2 inch lip on the edge).

yahtzee · 08-07-2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laszlo

It's normal... and it's even noted in the manaul. It was also like this on the e46 M3... and when I got my e90 M3, I prayed it would do the same. And it does... better than the feeling you get when you're eating home-style cooking!

I guess but how do you explain such an odd and abnormal sounding sound to other people?

Titanium Silver · 07-06-2011, 12:42 AM

My new E92 makes this exact same clunking noise.

For those commenting on previous gen cars, my old E36 M3 did not make this noise.

For those who said to engage the clutch before decelerating, it does stop the clunk noise.

I don't think you can hear this sound from outside the vehicle. This is different noise mentioned on other threads. I believe there is some noise while the car is in neutral which stops when the clutch is pushed in. My car does not make this noise, and I do not think it is normal. Get that checked out at the dealer.

Love this forum. Also love the noisy rough cold starts and clutch noises on my new ///M!

Seattle S65B40 · 07-06-2011, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titanium Silver

My new E92 makes this exact same clunking noise.

For those commenting on previous gen cars, my old E36 M3 did not make this noise.

For those who said to engage the clutch before decelerating, it does stop the clunk noise.

I don't think you can hear this sound from outside the vehicle. This is different noise mentioned on other threads. I believe there is some noise while the car is in neutral which stops when the clutch is pushed in. My car does not make this noise, and I do not think it is normal. Get that checked out at the dealer.

Love this forum. Also love the noisy rough cold starts and clutch noises on my new ///M!

You can definitely hear the clutch clunk from outside the vehicle if you don't do anything to mitigate the sound.

Congrats on your new ///m though. Cold starts and being meticulous about warming it up are some of my favorite things about driving the car.

Titanium Silver · 07-06-2011, 01:30 AM

Thanks!

Check out these threads:
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...ch+clunk+noise

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...t=clutch+clunk

General consensus is that this is normal and many people have reported it.

The noise will not occur if you push in the clutch before (or at the same time) you take your foot off the gas when decelerating. The clunk only happens when you accelerate in 1st, take your foot off the gas and slow down, THEN push the clutch in. I wouldn't worry about it.

Titanium Silver · 07-06-2011, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yahtzee

I guess but how do you explain such an odd and abnormal sounding sound to other people?

You don't need to...

艾利克斯 · 07-06-2011, 01:37 AM

it's the famous M-Clunk...It happend to both e46 and e92 M 6MT and it's normal...

Totti · 07-06-2011, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yahtzee

Thanks for the help with this. Truly an asset to the boards.

lmao

stefan · 07-06-2011, 07:49 AM

That sound is normal. All new-ish BMW manual transmissions exhibit this. It's all good!

07-09-2008, 07:28 AM	#27
yahtzee El Capitan 138 Rep 699 Posts Drives: fast Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Virginia iTrader: (1)	Man, this sound is annoying. I pulled into a parking lot yesterday and a bunch of people were sitting outside eating. My car caught their attention but it wasnt the engine or the look of the car (they had their backs to me), it was the tapping noise that I brought up in this post.....any suggestions on how to minimize?
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07-09-2008, 07:36 AM	#28
booforty Major General 337 Rep 8,811 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 E92 M3 [0.00]	Take it to the dealer and get it looked at under warranty
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07-20-2008, 02:42 AM	#32
keester New Member 2 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW M3 jet black Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	just picked up my M3 today and noticed this also Really annoying, the clunking noise almost makes it seem like there is something loose somewhere. My 2001 330 Cab did the same thing towards the 100000km mark but when that happened , I was told that it was a bushing that was worn around the sway bars/suspension. The sound on my new M3 is similar to that. A little worrisome hearing a rattle/clunking on a brand new vehicle. The other M3 I test drove didn't seem to have this noise. Any suggestions? RK
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08-07-2008, 11:34 AM	#35
Gemcoska Sleepy Member, wishing I was on the road. 34 Rep 280 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW M3 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Redondo Beach, CA iTrader: (0)	If you push the clutch in before you load the engine up while decelerating, it will be smooth and quiet. You essentially want open up the clutch in between the state when your engine is pushing your wheels (accel), and your wheel are pushing your engine (decel). __________________ 2003 Ducati '996 2008 M3: Sparking Graphite, Red Fox Standard, 19s, Premium pkg, Tech pkg, Premium Enhanced Sound, HD Radio, Heated Front Seats.
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07-06-2011, 12:42 AM	#38
Titanium Silver Four Star General 13 Rep 597 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	My new E92 makes this exact same clunking noise. For those commenting on previous gen cars, my old E36 M3 did not make this noise. For those who said to engage the clutch before decelerating, it does stop the clunk noise. I don't think you can hear this sound from outside the vehicle. This is different noise mentioned on other threads. I believe there is some noise while the car is in neutral which stops when the clutch is pushed in. My car does not make this noise, and I do not think it is normal. Get that checked out at the dealer. Love this forum. Also love the noisy rough cold starts and clutch noises on my new ///M!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-06-2011, 01:30 AM	#40
Titanium Silver Four Star General 13 Rep 597 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Thanks! Check out these threads: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...ch+clunk+noise http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...t=clutch+clunk General consensus is that this is normal and many people have reported it. The noise will not occur if you push in the clutch before (or at the same time) you take your foot off the gas when decelerating. The clunk only happens when you accelerate in 1st, take your foot off the gas and slow down, THEN push the clutch in. I wouldn't worry about it.
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07-06-2011, 01:37 AM	#42
艾利克斯 Private First Class 5 Rep 114 Posts Drives: SG E92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Vancouver, B.C iTrader: (1)	it's the famous M-Clunk...It happend to both e46 and e92 M 6MT and it's normal...
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07-06-2011, 07:49 AM	#44
stefan Brigadier General 2354 Rep 4,254 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North iTrader: (2)	That sound is normal. All new-ish BMW manual transmissions exhibit this. It's all good! __________________ ///M Power
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