[itwasepic]

Hi all,

So I brought my vehicle in for two noises that I can reproduce on demand. I just hit 1200 miles in a brand new 2013 335i sedan M-sport 6MT and brought the vehicle in just to make sure these noises were "normal".

To preface: I took the shop foreman for a ride and reproduced both noises. He confirmed he could also hear the noises clear as day.

1. First Noise: If possible, go to an enclosed parking garage where you can hear the engine noise reverberate off the concrete walls (if not possible to get to a garage, I could also hear the noise bouncing off building walls).

Now park the vehicle, roll down all windows, turn it off, and let it rest for a good couple minutes. After the engine has rested (off), do the following within the first 10-45 seconds:

Fire up the car, keep it in first gear the entire time, and start driving slowly/gently by accelerating to no more than 20mph, then release your foot from the gas and let the vehicle coast. Do you hear the sound of metal plates spinning/grinding against each other? It's fairly high pitched and sounds close to that of a miter saw winding/spinning down. It is most noticeable from the passenger side window.

Do this process again.

For me the sound happens every time I start the car and lasts the first 1 minute in first gear (at less than 20mph).

Shop Foreman has had the vehicle all day and compared it to another Service Tech's 2013 335i Sedan with 6-speed. They also hear this noise in the test vehicle.

I would like to know if any of you 6MT M-sport 335i Sedan drivers also hear this. Please post back if you can!

2. UPDATE: THIS WAS FIXED.
Second Noise: Accelerate hard enough to 3000 RPMs where you can hear the engine being "worked". At approximately 2200 RPMs in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th gear, there is a raspy/buzz/rattle noise that comes from the dash and lasts from 2200-2500 RPMs and then is gone. I can reproduce this in any gear under those conditions.

Tech found something loose in the center stack - apparently it is now fixed. Hopefully it never comes back.

[jwilly]

Exhaust heat shields.

Joel

[itwasepic]

Originally Posted by jwilly

Exhaust heat shields.

Joel

Can you help me understand what the heat shields are actively doing that would cause the noise?

Also - the BMW Tech wrote-up in my service invoice: "Exhaust Flap Actuator. This is normal operation for the vehicle".

[rconti]

Originally Posted by itwasepic

Can you help me understand what the heat shields are actively doing that would cause the noise?

actively rattling?

[itwasepic]

Originally Posted by rconti

actively rattling?

Huh? It's not a rattle. I thought I gave a good description.

[rconti]

Originally Posted by itwasepic

Huh? It's not a rattle. I thought I gave a good description.

I was just chiming in on the heat shield thing. That's what they do; rattle. I'm not sure what your particular car's issue is.

[ric124]

Originally Posted by itwasepic

Can you help me understand what the heat shields are actively doing that would cause the noise?

Also - the BMW Tech wrote-up in my service invoice: "Exhaust Flap Actuator. This is normal operation for the vehicle".

I guess you are hearing the exhaust flap actuator opening and closing. Just unplug it in the open position and forget about it.

[Eric@NRP]

1200 miles on my m sport 335 and I also hear the noise you are talking about OP. sounds like a clutch chatter type of noise. In neutral, push clutch in and out no noise. Put in first hear and sure enough every time I hear the noise. I thought I was the only one that it happened to

[ft1330]

Originally Posted by itwasepic

MT M-sport 335i Sedan drivers also hear this. Please post back if you can!

2. UPDATE: THIS WAS FIXED.
Second Noise: Accelerate hard enough to 3000 RPMs where you can hear the engine being "worked". At approximately 2200 RPMs in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th gear, there is a raspy/buzz/rattle noise that comes from the dash and lasts from 2200-2500 RPMs and then is gone. I can reproduce this in any gear under those conditions.

Tech found something loose in the center stack - apparently it is now fixed. Hopefully it never comes back.

Was your 2nd noise like this one I'm having under the same conditions?

[FancyDirt]

I had a similar/same problem with my E90. Took some time to reproduce the problem at the dealership, but eventually they found that a heat shield was the issue. Once tightened or whatever, problem went away.

The clutch does chatter ever so slightly at very low RPM, and there is a bit of gear lash noise under certain conditions. The chatter is a bit disconcerting given low miles (just 30 K), but every car I've owned with a manual transmission has emanated some gear noise so not a surprise that my E90 does the same.

[BavarianFanatic]

It may indeed be a heat shield. But a resonance, not rattle. The fact that it only presents when you first start/drive the car would support the concept of it involving something exhaust related. Even if recently driven, exhaust components cool quickly. The thermal expansion during the initial drive may be sufficient to prevent the noise once fully warm. Try starting the car and letting it idle for a few minutes to allow the exhaust to fully heat/expand. Then see if you can produce the sound.

[nick1212]

Its the actuator. ..I hear it in comfort mode only. Car runs fine so not worried about it

[TheHitchhiker]

I have the noise 1 and dropped it to the dealer. They said it is wastegate rattling but it is normal operation. The loaner they gave me had the same noise and their test vehicle also had it. I think all of our F30s have that metal grinding/spinning noise.

For the second noise, I still have it on mine and couldn't reproduce it to the tech so they did not diagnose it. Can you tell me more details about #2 please? What was it, how it sounded ( is it same as the video one of the guys posted? because that is exactly what i have ) and how they fixed it. They should have details on how they fixed it.

Oh and are you all South Africa build? Or any Germans?

Thanks!

[AweSam8]

The only noise I hear is when I turn off the ignition and wait for a minute. I hear things possibly closing??? And when I hit "unlock" in the morning, I hear mechanical razzle dazzle as well.

[ft1330]

Originally Posted by tasansal

I have the noise 1 and dropped it to the dealer. They said it is wastegate rattling but it is normal operation. The loaner they gave me had the same noise and their test vehicle also had it. I think all of our F30s have that metal grinding/spinning noise.

For the second noise, I still have it on mine and couldn't reproduce it to the tech so they did not diagnose it. Can you tell me more details about #2 please? What was it, how it sounded ( is it same as the video one of the guys posted? because that is exactly what i have ) and how they fixed it. They should have details on how they fixed it.

Oh and are you all South Africa build? Or any Germans?

Thanks!

Am I the guy with the same noise as you (noise #2)? Mine is German built. Still haven't figured it out but it's coming from the HUD area somehow.

[TheHitchhiker]

Originally Posted by ft1330

Am I the guy with the same noise as you (noise #2)? Mine is German built. Still haven't figured it out but it's coming from the HUD area somehow.

Yes. I also figured it is coming from the dashboard. But cant figure out where. I tried playing around with the HK grill in the middle that kind of reduced the noise. Need to drive more to see if it effected anything.

[Bigmo93]

Picked up my 2013 335i x Drive 6mt on Saturday. This afternoon I noticed a rattling grinding noise in sport and sport plus mode. The noise happens when I'm in 3rd gear and take my foot off the accelerator. Made an appointment with the dealer for Monday. Is this a noise im going to have to live with? Or is it fixable. It's a CPO win 42,500 miles so I'm still under manufacturers warranty. I shouldn't have to pay for this right? Thanks

[AudiA4]

Originally Posted by tasansal

Yes. I also figured it is coming from the dashboard. But cant figure out where. I tried playing around with the HK grill in the middle that kind of reduced the noise. Need to drive more to see if it effected anything.

Bigmo93 resurrected this thread, but I'm pretty sure noise #2 is something I've been experiencing on my 2014 M Sport 6MT. It does it when put under load when first driving the car when cold (and it's more apparent in colder weather), but it's not a rattle/heat shield issue, it's more like a raspy fluttering...almost like playing cards in bike spokes...emanating from the center-right dash area.

The video someone posted earlier in this thread now has a dead link, so I don't know if what's described earlier is what I'm experiencing.

Any update on this issue (Noise #2)?

[vhs04]

I have both the whining/high pitched noise(that changes pitch 1500-2500k - most audible around 2000) coming through the central vent and the rattle noise from the hud area when 3000+ and under load.

Any updates on how to fix them?