[TheHitchhiker]

Hi everyone,

I've been hearing a strange noise from the engine. It hear it at idle (like a grinding sound) and i hear it more severe when I rev and let go off the gas at low revs. As my understanding this is the famous wastegate rattle. It is like a chain noise.

Has anyone had this issue on their F30s yet? I'll take it to the dealer next monday.


Update:
Solution at post #19.

[richb811]

Originally Posted by tasansal

Hi everyone,

I've been hearing a strange noise from the engine. It hear it at idle (like a grinding sound) and i hear it more severe when I rev and let go off the gas at low revs. As my understanding this is the famous wastegate rattle. It is like a chain noise.

Has anyone had this issue on their F30s yet? I'll take it to the dealer next monday.

Wastegate rattle is more a N54 issue than N55.

How loud is it?

[TheHitchhiker]

It's pretty loud especially in garages. Its like a grinding sound under 2k rpm and when I rev and let go off the gas it is like you are dragging a chain on the floor. And under hard acceleration I hear like a heat shield or something rattling. I'm sure they all come from the same source though. I hope it is nothing big!

[M-terkait]

Bad fuel maybe ?

[TheHitchhiker]

Originally Posted by M-terkait

Bad fuel maybe ?

I wish it was. I fueled up at Shell, Exxon, Chevron and it is all the same. All premium gas. It has been making the noise for 1000 miles.

[richb811]

Originally Posted by tasansal

It's pretty loud especially in garages. Its like a grinding sound under 2k rpm and when I rev and let go off the gas it is like you are dragging a chain on the floor. And under hard acceleration I hear like a heat shield or something rattling. I'm sure they all come from the same source though. I hope it is nothing big!

Yeah that doesn't sound right.

Take a look at this, could possibly be related, and the Symptoms seem similar :

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=717959

Other than that, the sound you are describing reminds me of when my water pump impeller took a shit and took down my E39 540i. Possibly a bad bearing in one of the accessories running off the drive or accessory belt.

Does the sound go away if you turn off the AC or turn off the Fan entirely? Any difference in the sound if you sit in park and turn the steering wheel lock to lock?

[TheHitchhiker]

Thanks for the informative reply Rich.

I already tried most the things you mentioned. The noise is there AC on/off doesn't matter.

I don't expect to hear the noise from steering because it is not hydraulic, but for reference, it doesn't increase/decrease with steering.

Also, as far as I know the water pump is electric on N55 right? So it shouldn't vary with rev?

It can be something with the cooling system though, I had the fan assembly changed and this noise started coming a week after that. I had an overheating message and drove to BMW right away. I hope it didn't damage any engine parts so that it is causing the noise.

It is driving me nuts, I had to wait till Monday (1 week) because the dealer didn't have loaners till that time. Guess we'll figure out early next week!

Thanks a lot.

Originally Posted by Rich@GTBPerformance

Yeah that doesn't sound right.

Take a look at this, could possibly be related, and the Symptoms seem similar :

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=717959

Other than that, the sound you are describing reminds me of when my water pump impeller took a shit and took down my E39 540i. Possibly a bad bearing in one of the accessories running off the drive or accessory belt.

Does the sound go away if you turn off the AC or turn off the Fan entirely? Any difference in the sound if you sit in park and turn the steering wheel lock to lock?

[richb811]

Originally Posted by tasansal

Thanks for the informative reply Rich.

I already tried most the things you mentioned. The noise is there AC on/off doesn't matter.

I don't expect to hear the noise from steering because it is not hydraulic, but for reference, it doesn't increase/decrease with steering.

Also, as far as I know the water pump is electric on N55 right? So it shouldn't vary with rev?

It can be something with the cooling system though, I had the fan assembly changed and this noise started coming a week after that. I had an overheating message and drove to BMW right away. I hope it didn't damage any engine parts so that it is causing the noise.

It is driving me nuts, I had to wait till Monday (1 week) because the dealer didn't have loaners till that time. Guess we'll figure out early next week!

Thanks a lot.

Glad to help man, hope you figure the issue out!

[TheHitchhiker]

I noticed one thing today. When the exhaust flap is open, I barely hear this. When it is closed, it is loud. It doesn't make any sense.

[btbossman]

I hear this also, I think...Op does it sound kind of like poking at a chain link fence...I hear it when Im engine braking.

[TheHitchhiker]

Yes btbossman, it sounds like a chain being dragged or something. It wasn't there before.

[TheHitchhiker]

UPDATE OCT 4 2013:

I left the car at my dealer today. I took one of the high level tech guys for a test drive with me for the rattles and stuff.

He said that this definitely sounds like the wastegate. He said he heard louder wastegates, but said mine is louder than the normal operation. I left the car for the following issues and I'll update what happens.

- Wastegate Rattle
- Steering rack knocking
- Passenger window rattling
- Rocker panels vibrate/rattle with music from the outside
- Clunking from one of the rear suspensions

[vip]

I also hear this and it must be the wastegate rattle.

[richb811]

Originally Posted by tasansal

UPDATE OCT 4 2013:

I left the car at my dealer today. I took one of the high level tech guys for a test drive with me for the rattles and stuff.

He said that this definitely sounds like the wastegate. He said he heard louder wastegates, but said mine is louder than the normal operation. I left the car for the following issues and I'll update what happens.

- Wastegate Rattle
- Steering rack knocking
- Passenger window rattling
- Rocker panels vibrate/rattle with music from the outside
- Clunking from one of the rear suspensions

Good to have some idea of what the issue was!

Sounds like your F30 definitely needs a little TLC from the dealer!

[TheHitchhiker]

I don't really know what a TLC is?

LOL and the loaner 328i I got has even worse wastegate rattle. I'm sure they are going to say "normal operation" and try to give the car back the way it was. This is ridiculous BMW. The tech even said the wastegate actuator is a "loose fit" and makes that noise. How can they let something like that pass QC?

[SimonB]

TLC is 'Tender Loving Care'

[richb811]

Originally Posted by SimonB

TLC is 'Tender Loving Care'

Heh! Yep.

[StormtrooperN55]

Originally Posted by tasansal

UPDATE OCT 4 2013:

I left the car at my dealer today. I took one of the high level tech guys for a test drive with me for the rattles and stuff.

He said that this definitely sounds like the wastegate. He said he heard louder wastegates, but said mine is louder than the normal operation. I left the car for the following issues and I'll update what happens.

- Wastegate Rattle
- Steering rack knocking
- Passenger window rattling
- Rocker panels vibrate/rattle with music from the outside
- Clunking from one of the rear suspensions

Did you ever find out what it was mine is doing the same thing.

[TheHitchhiker]

Originally Posted by StormtrooperN55

Did you ever find out what it was mine is doing the same thing.

Sorry, late reply. It was the exhaust valve rattling in my case. They replaced it and it was fixed. Hope it helps.