Clicking sound when cooling down

[gr8000]

First time today after 6M of ownership and I hear these clicking sounds when the engine is cooling down. It is like hiting a coin against a metal pipe - frequency is every 5-8 secs.

I know that different cars sound different when cooling down and I know how this sounds, but this is no way near it. Besides I have heard how my M3 sounds when cooling down over the past 6M and this is new to me. I have not driven the car like mad this time (i.e. no overheating of brakes / engine) so I am wondering where this comes from...

Any others had a similar experience? Is it normal?

[emthree4me]

I have a DCT but dont hear anything like that. What year is you car and at what mileage did it start doing it?

[BIGNTASTIE]

I think its normal, i think i got that sounds of "hiting coins" as well. Had it on my previous cars too.

[Stunnerable]

dude.. it's the exhaust system contracting from the lack of heat. Come on now brotha!

[Rick]

Stop trying to smuggle South Africans in your trunk and it will go away.

[///MD]

Originally Posted by Rick

Stop trying to smuggle South Africans in your trunk and it will go away.

dude not trying to be a prick but is this your 1st car?

i've never heard a car NOT make that sound when it's cooling down

[gr8000]

Originally Posted by emthree4me

I have a DCT but dont hear anything like that. What year is you car and at what mileage did it start doing it?

Its a '08 and the car has 12,000km. Actually it is the first time it did it that night and never heard that sound again!

Originally Posted by pbadiei

dude not trying to be a prick but is this your 1st car?

i've never heard a car NOT make that sound when it's cooling down

Yeah, this is my first car and I am 15.
I think I explained a little bit of the background. This was (because since then I never heard of this again) a quite loud sound like hiting a coin on a pipe with a consistent frequency of occurance (every 5-8 secs). As I said I heard my M3 cooling down before but this was totaly new to me.

Anyway never heard of it since then, but I still am very curious to find out what this was...

Sounded like coming from the front...

[CiprianS]

Come on dude. I own a 325 Coupe E46 and I hear these sund frequently. It's the sound from the exhaust which is cooling down. These clicking sound comes from under the car, from the exhaust.

[BimmerRob08]

It's just a little monster hiding under the car that's all. It's normal and as miles stack up on an enigne/exhaust some metal parts may get loose, even a small crack could develope and create a strange sound when cooling back down. It it gets worse then maybe have the dealer look at it.

where in Athens are you? I used to go to school at ACS in Halandri and lived in Kiffisia. I remember allot of good party times in Glyfada back in the late
80's.

[Mischievous M]

Interesting point made about the clicking noises upon cooling... My ///M sheds a different kinda noise. Its more of a sizzle of water dripping on pipes.

I doubt, its anything major in your case as its perhaps the expansion and contraction of the pipes.

[kmarei]

i have the same sound
and it's definately not a normal sound i have heard in any other car
even my wife said it sounds like cuttlery clanking together

[gr8000]

Originally Posted by BimmerRob08

It's just a little monster hiding under the car that's all. It's normal and as miles stack up on an enigne/exhaust some metal parts may get loose, even a small crack could develope and create a strange sound when cooling back down. It it gets worse then maybe have the dealer look at it.

where in Athens are you? I used to go to school at ACS in Halandri and lived in Kiffisia. I remember allot of good party times in Glyfada back in the late
80's.

I will certainly ask the dealer to have a look if this persists. So far it has only occered once.

I am in Ekali (a bit further north than Kiffisia). Haha, I see what you mean about partying in the south - how can one forget these things! How come you went to school here in Athens? So that you don't miss out of the partying in Glyfada?

Originally Posted by kmarei

i have the same sound
and it's definately not a normal sound i have heard in any other car
even my wife said it sounds like cuttlery clanking together

Actually your wife's description is pretty much close to the sound I am also hearing.

Anyway, this was only once so far.

I am starting to wonder if these sounds could possibly be attributed to the side effects of elevated alcohol consumption...

[kmarei]

i wonder if a clamp was placed would it still make the sound when it expands and contracts?
its not a normal sound
because i have owned and driven other cars and never heard a sound like this
maybe its the material the exhaust is made of?
i remember reading somewhere that it was much lighter than the regular 3 series

[doba_s]

Originally Posted by gr8000

First time today after 6M of ownership and I hear these clicking sounds when the engine is cooling down. It is like hiting a coin against a metal pipe - frequency is every 5-8 secs.

I know that different cars sound different when cooling down and I know how this sounds, but this is no way near it. Besides I have heard how my M3 sounds when cooling down over the past 6M and this is new to me. I have not driven the car like mad this time (i.e. no overheating of brakes / engine) so I am wondering where this comes from...

Any others had a similar experience? Is it normal?

i think it is normal ... mine does it too ... My SA told me it is ok and I took it for a second opinion to Dinan and they told me it is ok as well ...

[SS32]

Next time you hear it, put your ear close to one of the front wheels. I'd be willing to bet quite a bit it's your brakes cooling, even if you haven't been driving hard. They make a pinging sound as the metal cools/contracts. And whomever said they heard water on hot pipes, mine has done that too. I'm guessing it's the A/C condensation hitting the headers.

[John@BMW]

these are normal sounds from metal contracting when cooling down-

the water hissing noise is AC condensation dripping out of the drain tube onto hot components under the car- on most bmws, when you turn the car off, it opens a 'dump valve' which drains the drip pan from ac system. On my 540i, the drain tube is directly over the exhaust which sounds like im frying up breakfast each time i turn the car off....

If i drive the car very hard and then put her away wet, i will get the metal clicking sounds-

If i drive the car very easy and turn the car off, I do not get any clicking-

[M3TiAg]

Originally Posted by John@BMW

these are normal sounds from metal contracting when cooling down-

the water hissing noise is AC condensation dripping out of the drain tube onto hot components under the car- on most bmws, when you turn the car off, it opens a 'dump valve' which drains the drip pan from ac system. On my 540i, the drain tube is directly over the exhaust which sounds like im frying up breakfast each time i turn the car off....

-

I hear a sizzling sound on my new ( <250 miles) M3 when I park it. I guess there is A/C condensation dripping onto hot metal. My 530i does this ocassionally and the mechanic can clear the drain tube and it goes away. I'm surprised that my brand new M3 does this already.

[SonnyJack]

Originally Posted by SS32

Next time you hear it, put your ear close to one of the front wheels. I'd be willing to bet quite a bit it's your brakes cooling, even if you haven't been driving hard. They make a pinging sound as the metal cools/contracts. And whomever said they heard water on hot pipes, mine has done that too. I'm guessing it's the A/C condensation hitting the headers.

+1 on this.

[SonnyJack]

Originally Posted by M3TiAg

I hear a sizzling sound on my new ( <250 miles) M3 when I park it. I guess there is A/C condensation dripping onto hot metal. My 530i does this ocassionally and the mechanic can clear the drain tube and it goes away. I'm surprised that my brand new M3 does this already.

I'd be surprised NOT to hear this sound when parking the car after using the a/c. I believe I've heard it on every car I've ever owned over the past +25yrs. Never heard of clearing the drain tube.

[jrlee53]

Wow, 15 and this is your first car? Lucky you man.

[///V\3Dude]

Originally Posted by John@BMW

these are normal sounds from metal contracting when cooling down-

the water hissing noise is AC condensation dripping out of the drain tube onto hot components under the car- on most bmws, when you turn the car off, it opens a 'dump valve' which drains the drip pan from ac system. On my 540i, the drain tube is directly over the exhaust which sounds like im frying up breakfast each time i turn the car off....

If i drive the car very hard and then put her away wet, i will get the metal clicking sounds-

If i drive the car very easy and turn the car off, I do not get any clicking-

[bape]

im pretty sure this is your brakes cooling down totally normal