N20 Engine roughness at idle

glitched79 · 04-28-2012, 09:57 PM

Title says it all...

How much roughness is normal at idle for this engine?

My last car, a 2008 base MINI Cooper, had almost no vibration at idle with the A/C on, and only a little bit rougher without the A/C.

My new 328i is different. I can definitely tell that the engine is running. I wouldn't say it feels like there's something wrong - there's no warning lights or anything - but the engine definitely let's you know it's running.

Is this normal? Maybe it's the turbos?

bcl0328 · 04-28-2012, 10:08 PM

direct injection

glitched79 · 04-28-2012, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcl0328

direct injection

But why? You'd think more advanced tech would result in greater smoothness.

mfear · 04-28-2012, 10:14 PM

tht's just how it is

bimmerjph · 04-28-2012, 10:42 PM

How does direct injection make it rougher? All that it is doing is changing where the fuel is injected into the engine.

Elk · 04-28-2012, 11:03 PM

Direct injection requires very high pressure in the fuel rails. The ticking sound is the injectors supplying fuel.

It should not idle rough, although the sound is not pretty. If you are concerned, go to the dealer and listen to another similar car to be sure everything is OK.

TEAShea · 04-29-2012, 07:58 AM

The engine has balance shafts and should be very smooth at idle. Mine is. However, there is considerable sound from the direct injection system. It makes it sound like a clackity-clack - like a diesel. All direct injection engines have this sound to some extent.

TEAShea · 04-29-2012, 07:59 AM

Direct injection does not make the engine rougher or vibrate more - just sounds like it.

Q4P · 04-29-2012, 08:14 AM

A 4 banger is a 4 banger... it doesn't matter how refined it is... it will still be a little rough at times... DI has little or nothing to do with how smooth the engine will operate. The Mini had a smaller displacement 4 so I could see that making a tiny difference but probably not enough to notice.

derekh929 · 04-29-2012, 01:34 PM

Try R56 Cooper S it's like a tractor at idol but i still love it

SomeRandomer123 · 04-30-2012, 05:14 AM

Isn't the 335i direct injected too? Well, it is, so why doesn't the N55 have a similar clackity clack noise?
My car is direct injected too...

The X Men · 04-30-2012, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123

Isn't the 335i direct injected too? Well, it is, so why doesn't the N55 have a similar clackity clack noise?
My car is direct injected too...

One word, refinement.

cstavaru · 04-30-2012, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123

Isn't the 335i direct injected too? Well, it is, so why doesn't the N55 have a similar clackity clack noise?
My car is direct injected too...

The 6 cylinder engines are more mechanically "balanced", there are more injection cycles per second so the clicks are more close together. Maybe that's what makes them seem to run smoother. My N54 sure does make all kinds of sounds, including clicks from time to time

But it does idle very smooth. The oil used makes a big difference. The factory 5w-30 oil is very good, but - after warranty expires - switch to Motul 300v 5w-30 (twice as expensive and non-BMW approved) and the idle will be even smoother, with less sounds.

SomeRandomer123 · 04-30-2012, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The X Men

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123

Isn't the 335i direct injected too? Well, it is, so why doesn't the N55 have a similar clackity clack noise?
My car is direct injected too...

One word, refinement.

Hmm, my mum's Kia Cee'd 1.4 direct injection DOHC petrol has a very faint direct injection clackity clack to the point where it's damn near silent when warmed up. Is this because of less pressure than the direct injection system in the N20?

jgrasty · 04-30-2012, 02:41 PM

The only time I feel vibration from the N20 engine is when it starts.

My instructor at the BMW CCA HPDE this weekend commented that he could not tell when the engine was on, after we put on the helmets. With the helmets off, we could hear the engine, but vibration was almost unnoticeable.

The car performed far better than the driver, BTW, at the HDPE.

glitched79 · 04-30-2012, 04:14 PM

As I stated, the vibration isn't outrageous. I guess most people probably wouldn't even notice it. It's just definitely more noticeable than in my MINI.

J Tiberius · 04-30-2012, 05:02 PM

I get no more vibration than I did in my e90. It def sounds like a 4 under heavy acceleration, but it is very quiet under normal driving and pretty much zero vibration (at least in mine, anyway).

Jax826 · 04-03-2013, 08:45 AM

so did anyone get this fixed?
mine also vibrates when idle and I really don't think this is normal.
My friend has a 320D and there's no noticeable vibration when idles!

rconti · 04-03-2013, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123

Isn't the 335i direct injected too? Well, it is, so why doesn't the N55 have a similar clackity clack noise?
My car is direct injected too...

It does. It just has 2 more of them per crank revolution so you don't notice the distinct clacks as much.

Yay-Z · 04-03-2013, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123

Isn't the 335i direct injected too? Well, it is, so why doesn't the N55 have a similar clackity clack noise?
My car is direct injected too...

It does. My 335i clacks at idle as well

04-28-2012, 09:57 PM	#1
glitched79 Private 16 Rep 58 Posts Drives: 2012 328i Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	N20 Engine roughness at idle Title says it all... How much roughness is normal at idle for this engine? My last car, a 2008 base MINI Cooper, had almost no vibration at idle with the A/C on, and only a little bit rougher without the A/C. My new 328i is different. I can definitely tell that the engine is running. I wouldn't say it feels like there's something wrong - there's no warning lights or anything - but the engine definitely let's you know it's running. Is this normal? Maybe it's the turbos?
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04-28-2012, 10:08 PM	#2
bcl0328 Major 127 Rep 1,185 Posts Drives: 2012 328i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Abingdon, MD iTrader: (0)	direct injection
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04-28-2012, 10:14 PM	#4
mfear South Florida Elite 32 Rep 257 Posts Drives: E93 335i - Crimson Red/Black Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL iTrader: (0)	tht's just how it is __________________ [2007 E93 335i 6AT \| Crimson Red/Black Dakota \| Premium \| Sport \| Heated Seats \| iPod/USB \| JB+ \| 15% Tint \| AngeliBright LED Halos]
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04-28-2012, 10:42 PM	#5
bimmerjph Colonel 121 Rep 2,023 Posts Drives: 2005 Z4 3.0 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tennessee iTrader: (0)	How does direct injection make it rougher? All that it is doing is changing where the fuel is injected into the engine.
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04-28-2012, 11:03 PM	#6
Elk Major 32 Rep 1,285 Posts Drives: 2012 335i Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: * iTrader: (0)	Direct injection requires very high pressure in the fuel rails. The ticking sound is the injectors supplying fuel. It should not idle rough, although the sound is not pretty. If you are concerned, go to the dealer and listen to another similar car to be sure everything is OK.
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04-29-2012, 07:58 AM	#7
TEAShea Private First Class 11 Rep 179 Posts Drives: 2012 328i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Nebraska iTrader: (0)	The engine has balance shafts and should be very smooth at idle. Mine is. However, there is considerable sound from the direct injection system. It makes it sound like a clackity-clack - like a diesel. All direct injection engines have this sound to some extent.
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04-29-2012, 07:59 AM	#8
TEAShea Private First Class 11 Rep 179 Posts Drives: 2012 328i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Nebraska iTrader: (0)	Direct injection does not make the engine rougher or vibrate more - just sounds like it.
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04-29-2012, 08:14 AM	#9
Q4P Colonel 83 Rep 2,291 Posts Drives: Too Much Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: World iTrader: (0)	A 4 banger is a 4 banger... it doesn't matter how refined it is... it will still be a little rough at times... DI has little or nothing to do with how smooth the engine will operate. The Mini had a smaller displacement 4 so I could see that making a tiny difference but probably not enough to notice. __________________ 2jZ + RB26 + 4G63 + LS9 + N54 =
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04-29-2012, 01:34 PM	#10
derekh929 Major 292 Rep 1,121 Posts Drives: AMG C63s Coupe & F56 JCW Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	Try R56 Cooper S it's like a tractor at idol but i still love it
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04-30-2012, 05:14 AM	#11
SomeRandomer123 Colonel 303 Rep 2,612 Posts Drives: F30 328i Luxury - Sport Auto Join Date: May 2011 Location: Lancashire, North West England, UK iTrader: (0)	Isn't the 335i direct injected too? Well, it is, so why doesn't the N55 have a similar clackity clack noise? My car is direct injected too... __________________ Gone: 2006 BMW E60 520d SE 6MT Gone: 2009 BMW E90-LCI 330d SE 6MT Current: 2012 F30 328i Luxury 8AT On Order: 2015 Audi A6 Avant Ultra, Black Edition (sorry!)
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04-30-2012, 02:41 PM	#15
jgrasty Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 262 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 328i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dallas TX iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 328i [0.00]	The only time I feel vibration from the N20 engine is when it starts. My instructor at the BMW CCA HPDE this weekend commented that he could not tell when the engine was on, after we put on the helmets. With the helmets off, we could hear the engine, but vibration was almost unnoticeable. The car performed far better than the driver, BTW, at the HDPE.
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04-30-2012, 04:14 PM	#16
glitched79 Private 16 Rep 58 Posts Drives: 2012 328i Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	As I stated, the vibration isn't outrageous. I guess most people probably wouldn't even notice it. It's just definitely more noticeable than in my MINI.
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04-30-2012, 05:02 PM	#17
J Tiberius Captain 19 Rep 192 Posts Drives: Imperial Blue Sport Line Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Seoul iTrader: (0)	I get no more vibration than I did in my e90. It def sounds like a 4 under heavy acceleration, but it is very quiet under normal driving and pretty much zero vibration (at least in mine, anyway). __________________ 2012 F30 328i, Imperial Blue, Sport Line, ZPP, ZPS, ZTP, Sport Auto, Heated Seats, Xenons, H&R Sport Springs, Michelin Pilot Super Sports
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04-03-2013, 08:45 AM	#18
Jax826 New Member 0 Rep 7 Posts Drives: F30 328i Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Taiwan iTrader: (0)	so did anyone get this fixed? mine also vibrates when idle and I really don't think this is normal. My friend has a 320D and there's no noticeable vibration when idles!
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