M3 Noises (What's Normal/Not Normal)

[Stealth ///M]

Originally Posted by CCL16M3

After driving, when the brakes cool, they make a weird clicking or popping noise.... Had rattling but that was cause of the drone from my exhaust. Then I switched to the OEM exhaust mod and no rattle anymore....

That's "cracking" noise is called thermal expansion..completely normal, and it's probably not coming from your brakes.

[Dustybones]

Originally Posted by PhillyNate

Every damn noise I've heard from this car sounds extremely purposeful and special. I've been around cars and mechanics my whole life and know when something sounds wrong. Nothing sounds wrong on my M3. Not yet anyway.

Damn right!!! all the whines and clunks just remind me of how this is a car that has a proper purpose!!
Enjoy that mechanical symphony, its part of the reason an M3 is just so "right"
cheers folks

[PutterMcGavin]

The only "noise" I thought was "different" when I first drove the car was the whine when accelerating hard. After driving and being in the car more I LOVE the sound and it's purpose! Just never had it in another car before. Almost like a DTM car from inside winding out the engine and tranny! Love it!

[BAMFM3]

Originally Posted by PutterMcGavin

The only "noise" I thought was "different" when I first drove the car was the whine when accelerating hard. After driving and being in the car more I LOVE the sound and it's purpose! Just never had it in another car before. Almost like a DTM car from inside winding out the engine and tranny! Love it!

Yeah!!! DTM FTW! Their new DTM M3 is pure unadulterated sex.

That whine is from the cam gears, Fyi.

[bnombe]

Originally Posted by Koop

Got a smile from this one. I know that sound all too well. At idle there's a bit of play built in so when you're running at full tilt and high temperature everything snugs up nicely. Perfectly normal.

You should hear my E34 M5 at idle in neutral. Some truly epic clanking. Engage the clutch and voila.

The E34 also goes CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK if you come off the clutch too quickly while decelerating in first gear at low speeds. Funny to think that M cars still do this after all of these years.

^^^
Good to know. That means the ///M heritage is alive and well in the E9XM

[CCLSVTM3]

Originally Posted by Stealth ///M

That's "cracking" noise is called thermal expansion..completely normal, and it's probably not coming from your brakes.

Good to know. Thnx bradda........

[highyo]

oh man how can they stop making this engine. seriously. we're going to be in 7000 redline m3s in a few years? really?

so sad

[jonasaurus]

Originally Posted by highyo

oh man how can they stop making this engine. seriously. we're going to be in 7000 redline m3s in a few years? really?

so sad

True true, but with a lighter M3 and more power you gain certain aspects but clearly lose out in a different way on a legendary engine! Who knows though the new engine I'm sure will be a blast, I'd be surprised if the M division drop the ball on this one.

Back to the noises, yet to hear one that made me think its not right!

[highyo]

Originally Posted by jonasaurus

True true, but with a lighter M3 and more power you gain certain aspects but clearly lose out in a different way on a legendary engine! Who knows though the new engine I'm sure will be a blast, I'd be surprised if the M division drop the ball on this one.

Back to the noises, yet to hear one that made me think its not right!

is it true that this is the first time an M3 engine is not unique to the M3? as in, will this be the first tuned mass market engine? or have they done this sort of thing before?

i know about the n63--> s63 in the x5m, x6n, and m5

[dkballer22]

I've been dealing with an annoying rattling sound coming from my left door on my 2012 m3. I recently purchased the car in July and had to take the car to the dealership twice for the problem.

The head foreman said my car has a manufacturer defect on the door which needs to be fixed with some type of machine.

The dealership informed BMW NA and bmw NA refuses to correct the problem. Thus, I started a claim on the car with BMW NA and told them I want out of the car.

I gave BMW NA a chance to come out to the dealership to check out the car. Initially they said they would come out but then the day before they were scheduled to come out, they let me know it's not a major issue and told me to "DEAL WITH IT"

BMW NA is ridiculous, can't believe they would treat repeat customers like this. Whats the point of having a warranty if they aren't going to fix defects on cars?


If they don't do anything, they'll definitely be hearing from my lawyers soon on this issue.

[Totti]

Originally Posted by dkballer22

I've been dealing with an annoying rattling sound coming from my left door on my 2012 m3. I recently purchased the car in July and had to take the car to the dealership twice for the problem.

The head foreman said my car has a manufacturer defect on the door which needs to be fixed with some type of machine.

The dealership informed BMW NA and bmw NA refuses to correct the problem. Thus, I started a claim on the car with BMW NA and told them I want out of the car.

I gave BMW NA a chance to come out to the dealership to check out the car. Initially they said they would come out but then the day before they were scheduled to come out, they let me know it's not a major issue and told me to "DEAL WITH IT"

BMW NA is ridiculous, can't believe they would treat repeat customers like this. Whats the point of having a warranty if they aren't going to fix defects on cars?


If they don't do anything, they'll definitely be hearing from my lawyers soon on this issue.

Mine has this too. Just get an exhaust

[tibra1]

All the noises remind me I am in a German muscle car

[brava09]

What about the clicking sound coming from the front wheels during hard cornering at speed?

I can hear it only with windows down.

[X2Board]

I'm taking mine to the dealer this week for a weird resonating sound (similar to a bad power steering pump) when the engine is between 1400 and 1900 RPM in all gears. I'm hoping it's just a loose heat shield or something.

I don't have the DCT clunk when going to neutral, or any rattles.

[gahbouch]

Hi guys, I had several noises that might not be normal, just wanted to get your inputs.

1- clicking noise when stationary in 1st gear and i press on the trottle. feels as if the gear is engaging

2- clunk sound when stationary and engage neutral.

3- exhaust buzzing sometimes when driving slow in 1st and 2nd gear at ~2000 rpm

4- when stationary, sometimes if i turn steering wheel all the way around and the back it puts out a squeaky sound

please let me know what you think. Thank you.

Car 2012 M3 alpine white/ extended fox red/ carbon fiber.

[mj41]

I've got mad Nav rattle!!

[ZooMMM]

One of my favorite noises are the rattled "ahhh!" my wife makes when I downshift with rev matching...

[cmrocks]

It took me a year to finally getting used to all the weird noises that my M3 makes. I figure it's just part of owning a sports car. Tolerances are tighter and it's designed for performance first, comfort second.

[Richbot]

Whirring at low rpm/idle from the accessories and front cover (just like every BMW ever)
Valvetrain noise at idle (32 valves springs lifters cam lobes, 4 vanos actuators, half a dozen chains whizzing around)
Clutch throwout bearing/flywheel noise
Gear whine
2000rpm drone in 5th gear
Hissing after running the AC and parking the car
Clinking from brakes after parking the car with hot brakes
Loud as hell on startup
Chuffle at wide throttle openings at lower rpm from the intake
Rear tire squealing
Police sirens

[X2Board]

Originally Posted by gahbouch

Hi guys, I had several noises that might not be normal, just wanted to get your inputs.



3- exhaust buzzing sometimes when driving slow in 1st and 2nd gear at ~2000 rpm


please let me know what you think. Thank you.

Car 2012 M3 alpine white/ extended fox red/ carbon fiber.

See my post above. I took my car in for the same type of sound and it turned out to be something broken in the exhaust. It's going in tomorrow for the dealer to replace that section of exhaust, which was a special order part. I'll ask to see the broken piece and get a pic of it for you.

[mamadub]

I have a weird sound coming from what seems to be the drivers side dash when parked. Sounds like there's a squirrel running around in the dash. Best way I could think to describe it. Anyone else have this sound?

[robbiedawg]

it is a squirrel.

seriously,it could be your cooling fan still running,which should be normal if the car's still hot.it's often hard to pinpoint where noises come from.