M3 Noises (What's Normal/Not Normal)

[lefty3292]

Also creaking noise coming from the roof right above my head, especially over bumps...e93 owner here. Sounds like there is tension or something is loose...

[ReCovery]

I've posted this before, but is this "whining" sounds considered normal?

thanks!

[Apex Everything]

This point:
After engine warmed up sounds like exhaust manifold leak at low rpm, especially with heavier throttle. This is just the way a high revving v8 with awesome factory headers sounds down low. You'll learn to love it after you realize there's nothing wrong with the car.

Does this sound like a ticking noise under acceleration from like 1000-3000k?

[2013M3]

It might be helpful if people submitted recorded sounds.

[vincE92M3]

some sort of panel rattle from the rear driver side... sounds like its coming from the seatbelt butler, but not sure as I'm always driving when it happens!

[ash4390]

So recently I've heard this ticking noise -- and it's not the typical valvetrain noise that I'm accustomed too. The sound seems to be linked to RPM as well (second video)

To top it off, I've noticed little drops of clear liquid under the car (not water, somewhat oily)... looked underneath, car is soaked. Any ideas?

[///Motown]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Ohhh...Yes, it's loud and clear in your video !
I'm "100%" sure you have the cold start clunk noise as well ..

Vanos ?
Indeed ,and caused by the "Vanos-Gears"

so I'm getting this exact sound occasionally too and yes it does seem to slightly worse the longer the car sits. if just over night there is about a 20-30% chance it will happen in the morning, if it sits for a day or more that percentage goes up.

and this is nothing to really worry about? or will the Vanos gears eventually fail?

thanks!

[Simmeaux]

Originally Posted by Apex Everything

This point:
After engine warmed up sounds like exhaust manifold leak at low rpm, especially with heavier throttle. This is just the way a high revving v8 with awesome factory headers sounds down low. You'll learn to love it after you realize there's nothing wrong with the car.

Does this sound like a ticking noise under acceleration from like 1000-3000k?

This.

Does anyone have a video of this noise?

[nick3753]

Originally Posted by ash4390

So recently I've heard this ticking noise -- and it's not the typical valvetrain noise that I'm accustomed too. The sound seems to be linked to RPM as well (second video)

To top it off, I've noticed little drops of clear liquid under the car (not water, somewhat oily)... looked underneath, car is soaked. Any ideas?

Sounds like the mysterious random ticking sound so many of us have had. No idea about the oily stuff, but check DCT pan if you are DCT.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by ///Motown

so I'm getting this exact sound occasionally too and yes it does seem to slightly worse the longer the car sits. if just over night there is about a 20-30% chance it will happen in the morning, if it sits for a day or more that percentage goes up.

and this is nothing to really worry about? or will the Vanos gears eventually fail?

thanks!

Exactly !
I know some S65's have this noise from 2007 and they are still running , so you should not be worried about it .
One thing is for sure.....DD don't have the cold start clunk noise .

[mvolps22]

I have an '09 6MT and just noticed tonight it is making a noise from 4k - 5.5k rpm (or higher but exhaust is too loud to hear it) on both acceleration and deceleration and it sounds like it is coming from the engine bay. I warmed the car up and ran it up to 6k or so rpm in second gear then let off the accelerator and it makes a noise that is hard to describe both during acceleration and deceleration. Maybe the best description would be the sound of crinkling up dry leaves in your hand. It makes the same noise in third gear but at those rpm's I'm going too fast for the road I was testing on.

Any ideas?

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by Simmeaux

This.

Does anyone have a video of this noise?

Ha! I just revived an old thread about this because it annoys the crap out of me.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=853056

The sound from the video in that thread seems much louder than mine but it's the same sound...also when I rev in neutral there is a flickering/fluttering sound on decel.

[ash4390]

Originally Posted by ash4390

So recently I've heard this ticking noise -- and it's not the typical valvetrain noise that I'm accustomed too. The sound seems to be linked to RPM as well (second video)

To top it off, I've noticed little drops of clear liquid under the car (not water, somewhat oily)... looked underneath, car is soaked. Any ideas?

Just bumping this to see if anybody else has noticed something like this? It's nothing like the regular valvetrain noises I hear on these cars. Totally random, but still speeds up as I rev the engine...

[houston]

Originally Posted by ash4390

Just bumping this to see if anybody else has noticed something like this? It's nothing like the regular valvetrain noises I hear on these cars. Totally random, but still speeds up as I rev the engine...

This sounds like possible rod bearings to me. I am sorry if you posted but what's the year / mileage?

[Helmsman]

Ash, from what I have heard from a pile of videos that doesn't sound like rod bearings which has a more distinct knock.
There are a number of threads incl investigations with ticking noise very similar to yours - that turned out to be harmless. Do a search on the forum and you'll find them Im sure.

Ps. Heres one for you but again there are plenty: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1167323

[6ixSpd]

Originally Posted by ash4390

Just bumping this to see if anybody else has noticed something like this? It's nothing like the regular valvetrain noises I hear on these cars. Totally random, but still speeds up as I rev the engine...

Reminds me of chain slap sounds on the E39 M5 S62 motors. Perhaps it's your chain tensioner?

[ash4390]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Ash, from what I have heard from a pile of videos that doesn't sound like rod bearings which has a more distinct knock.
There are a number of threads incl investigations with ticking noise very similar to yours - that turned out to be harmless. Do a search on the forum and you'll find them Im sure.

Ps. Heres one for you but again there are plenty: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1167323

Thanks! I had it fixed a little while back. The dealer explained that the bed plate needed to be retorqued -- and warranty apparently didn't cover that. After much hussing and fussing, they covered like 90% of the work, but still set me back ~$700CDN. No noise anymore for what it's worth.

[Jhanksm3]

I've got a squeaky noise on right side as if my car was in an accident at some point

[eyanez1230]

Not sure if already posted in this thread but I did not want to read all 12 pages...

Not normal: Whining sound coming from engine bay when making hard turns or sometimes just coasting.

Solution: Power steering fluid is low.

[doogee]

Originally Posted by ash4390

Thanks! I had it fixed a little while back. The dealer explained that the bed plate needed to be retorqued -- and warranty apparently didn't cover that. After much hussing and fussing, they covered like 90% of the work, but still set me back ~$700CDN. No noise anymore for what it's worth.

That doesn't seem correct. Has the motor been rebuilt?

That's a big job and shouldn't create a sound like that.

[MaximusB]

Originally Posted by ash4390

Thanks! I had it fixed a little while back. The dealer explained that the bed plate needed to be retorqued -- and warranty apparently didn't cover that. After much hussing and fussing, they covered like 90% of the work, but still set me back ~$700CDN. No noise anymore for what it's worth.

What a coincidence, I was chatting with my girlfriend's brother in law (we don't see other often) during Christmas dinner and he is a mechanic at Brian Jessel BMW. He found out at dinner that I bought an e92 and started chatting about my car. He told me the common issues he see at work with the m3 are throttle actuators, valve cover leak and bed plate. He told me he replaced many actuators at work and they had several m3s that had the same issue as you where the bed plate need to be re-torqued.

Interestingly he told me they never had a blown motor m3, unlike the m5 where they had replaced several motors. He thinks they may have only did one or two bearing jobs on the m3, and he has been working there for over 5 years.

[Kwike92M3]

I cant thank you guys enough for this thread. Just bought a 2013 e92 M3 and am coming from a 2011 e92 335i.

MUCH different car. All of the noises had me concerned, especially the drivetrain noise.

The only other thing I noticed was a much more pronounced road noise around 65-80mph. Even my fiancé noticed it right off the bat. This car has the 19" ZCP wheels with Michelin pilot super sports (like my 335 did as well). Carbon fiber roof. 34xxx miles.

Anyone else experience this?