04-28-2012, 09:57 PM | #1 |
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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? |
04-28-2012, 10:14 PM | #4 |
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tht's just how it is
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04-28-2012, 11:03 PM | #6 |
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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 |
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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, 08:14 AM | #9 |
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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.
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04-30-2012, 05:14 AM | #11 |
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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...
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04-30-2012, 07:08 AM | #12 |
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04-30-2012, 07:37 AM | #13 |
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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.
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Last edited by cstavaru; 04-30-2012 at 07:46 AM.. |
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04-30-2012, 09:49 AM | #14 |
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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?
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04-30-2012, 02:41 PM | #15 |
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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, 05:02 PM | #17 |
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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).
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04-03-2013, 08:45 AM | #18 |
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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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04-03-2013, 01:14 PM | #19 |
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04-03-2013, 01:26 PM | #20 |
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It does. My 335i clacks at idle as well
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