Clicking noise after 1200 mile service (w/video)

[bills742]

After my 1200 mile service (done around 1350) I got a clicking noise like SnowsM3 did (haven't heard his, but I'm thinking it sounds like this according to his description) and it occurs after the car is fully warmed up and at low engine speeds. It can be best heard in a garage (or parking garage). This video was taken with the revs around 1-1.5k. Can you guys hear it and do any of you have a similar noise? Since I don't think SnowsM3 posted a video I decided to start a new thread on this topic to see if anyone else had this problem. Thanks.

wdczdZZCmec

[MDCTFTW]

I checked today after a good amount of driving and I don't have this ticking noise. I'm a DCT w/ 1060 miles and I haven't had the first service yet if that matters.

[ihyln]

That does not sound good at all.

[JEllis]

Probably normal valve noise.... my E36 M3 has clicked since like 2001.... However, your clicking sounds external to the engine which is probably a good thing... maybe even noise from the individual throttle bodies... who knows.. my guess this is normal

Jason

[atcga]

That doesn't sound good. I hate to ask, but do you know if they went into the tranny at all during the 1200 mile service?

[tjbuz]

After my 1200 mile service (done around 1350) I got a clicking noise like SnowsM3 did (haven't heard his, but I'm thinking it sounds like this according to his description) ...



I hate to say it, but I heard Snow's car in person, and it sounds like yours has the same ailment. You may already be aware that they want to replace his engine. BMW is having his "old" one shipped back so their engineers can check it out.

[MDCTFTW]

Just in case you don't see it check out Snow's situation:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147661

[bills742]

That doesn't sound good. I hate to ask, but do you know if they went into the tranny at all during the 1200 mile service?

They did not change the transmission fluid on my car according to the invoice.

[atcga]

They did not change the transmission fluid on my car according to the invoice.

whew!!

[mkoesel]

That's really strange. Sounds like someone stacking lunch trays on a stainless rack or something. Definitely does not sound like valve clatter which would be much more rhythmic.

[David1]

I hope that these cars are getting the correct oil for the oil change.

[MDCTFTW]

Hey bills, I got my 1200 mi service yesterday and I heard this noise too during some spirited driving. I couldn't hear it when the car was standing still and I revved the engine up to 1.3k or anywhere in that range. I did hear it when I was on a clover leaf at a freeway interchange. I had my windows down and I hear that ticking noise from the rear just like your vid.

I'm thinking it could be the lsd kicking in? It's strange that your ticking comes when the car isn't moving/turning though. Any updates?

[rvacha]

A cheap trick here is to use a roll of Christmas wrapping paper with the ends open. Hold one end up to your ear and move the other end around the engine bay. You may be able to localize where the sound is coming from, much like a stethoscope

[MDCTFTW]

A cheap trick here is to use a roll of Christmas wrapping paper with the ends open. Hold one end up to your ear and move the other end around the engine bay. You may be able to localize where the sound is coming from, much like a stethoscope

Oh nice trick. Maybe I'll try that with my thumping issue (which is still there after my first service btw):

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146042

[2FED]

Hm..I'll check it in my car, never tried to rev it at idle...Have 3300 miles.

[bills742]

Hey bills, I got my 1200 mi service yesterday and I heard this noise too during some spirited driving. I couldn't hear it when the car was standing still and I revved the engine up to 1.3k or anywhere in that range. I did hear it when I was on a clover leaf at a freeway interchange. I had my windows down and I hear that ticking noise from the rear just like your vid.

I'm thinking it could be the lsd kicking in? It's strange that your ticking comes when the car isn't moving/turning though. Any updates?

My noise occurs when the car is parked and when it's rolling at low speeds (<25 mph). It might be occurring at higher speeds but I can't tell because the wind noise takes over at that point. I still haven't taken it to the dealer, but I will at some point this week. Oh yeah, and the noise is from the front end, not the rear on my car.

[2FED]

Checked in my car. Nothing similar to this cliking noise, I´m sorry.
Checked in garage with cold enegie (1 - 1.5k rpm) and with warm enegie outside and inside the garage (1 - 2k rpm), no cliking.

[e46e92love]

So you take it to the dealer? What did they say?

[MDCTFTW]

My noise occurs when the car is parked and when it's rolling at low speeds (<25 mph). It might be occurring at higher speeds but I can't tell because the wind noise takes over at that point. I still haven't taken it to the dealer, but I will at some point this week. Oh yeah, and the noise is from the front end, not the rear on my car.

Ah for some reason I thought it was the back. Mine sounded like it was from the rear, but I'm not 100%. Keep us updated.

[MDCTFTW]

Hey bills, did you check out Snow's updated thread? He's getting a new car it seems like. You should ping him and see if his noise is the same as your vid so you can take it in.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2876379&postcount=45

[bills742]

Hey bills, did you check out Snow's updated thread? He's getting a new car it seems like. You should ping him and see if his noise is the same as your vid so you can take it in.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2876379&postcount=45

I PM'd Snow a while ago and haven't heard back from him. I took my car to the dealer today and there was one technician who specifically dealt with M's. I revved it so he could hear it and he said that was normal noise. He's "heard it on all the new M's. Sometimes right after they come off the truck and sometimes after they've been broken in." I asked "so there's definitely nothing to worry about" and he said yes. The car didn't get looked at under the hood. I didn't mention Snows car to him because I'm sure as soon as I said "internet forum" he would turn off his ears. I'm not sure what I should do: let it be since the warranty will take care of anything that goes wrong in the near future, or take it to another dealer to get a second opinion. What do you think?

[MDCTFTW]

I PM'd Snow a while ago and haven't heard back from him. I took my car to the dealer today and there was one technician who specifically dealt with M's. I revved it so he could hear it and he said that was normal noise. He's "heard it on all the new M's. Sometimes right after they come off the truck and sometimes after they've been broken in." I asked "so there's definitely nothing to worry about" and he said yes. The car didn't get looked at under the hood. I didn't mention Snows car to him because I'm sure as soon as I said "internet forum" he would turn off his ears. I'm not sure what I should do: let it be since the warranty will take care of anything that goes wrong in the near future, or take it to another dealer to get a second opinion. What do you think?

God I hate the "that's normal" remark because it's sort of like they don't give a shit and just want you out of their hair. I would take it to another dealer for a second opinion ... it won't hurt. If that doesn't help then ride it out and make sure you just keep an eye out on it. Our cars are so new that nobody has any experience with them. I have a similar situation with a noise from my engine bay, but I have no idea what to do or who to ask. The only difference is that I can also hear my noise on a stock M but it's not nearly as loud so I'm ok with it for the time being. I do want to know what part of the engine is making that noise.

Did you try using a gift wrap tube to poke and listen to various parts of the engine and under carriage? Might help pinpoint the exact location/part it's coming from. Hopefully Snow gets back to you to help you out.

[MDCTFTW]

Ok I get this noise too, but it seems like it's only on sharp banked turns. I can actually only hear it on one freeway interchange. I don't hear it on normal, level turns though. It sounds exactly like your video except mine is constant throughout the turn. tap tap tap tap tap tap and it's a bit faster than yours ... maybe because I'm going like 45 mph.

Nobody else has this?

[Big Windy]

God I hate the "that's normal" remark because it's sort of like they don't give a shit and just want you out of their hair. I would take it to another dealer for a second opinion ... it won't hurt. If that doesn't help then ride it out and make sure you just keep an eye out on it. Our cars are so new that nobody has any experience with them. I have a similar situation with a noise from my engine bay, but I have no idea what to do or who to ask. The only difference is that I can also hear my noise on a stock M but it's not nearly as loud so I'm ok with it for the time being. I do want to know what part of the engine is making that noise.

Did you try using a gift wrap tube to poke and listen to various parts of the engine and under carriage? Might help pinpoint the exact location/part it's coming from. Hopefully Snow gets back to you to help you out.

it'd be nice if he can explain what is causing the noise, not just whether it is normal or not. but he probably has no clue either.

bmw needs to publish an M guide that explains all the random quirks with the car to give some ease to the owners.

[bills742]

bmw needs to publish an M guide that explains all the random quirks with the car to give some ease to the owners.

That would be very nice if BMW did that.

[GT3 Tim]

That would be very nice if BMW did that.

True...

The noise is hard to diagnose over the net. It sort of sounds external to me....but, again, hard to tell not being there.

OTOH, a noise like that sounds like an oiling issue as well. Could be wrong oil, lifter tap (common on the E36 M3's after some sprited driving), etc. but if I had to guess, I would say it is an external noise of some sort.

I would keep on driving it and keep on taking it in to the dealership too. Document document document! Then, if something happens down the road...maybe even WAY down the road, you have a history of complaining about that noise.....this would increase your chances of getting it fixed when it is out of warranty (although that will be a ways away!), but still, I would keep bringing it in, or even take to another dealer in your area to see their take.

As an asside: I had an E36 M3 that was under warranty. It had a strange "vibration/harmonic" when you would keep the rpms from 1500-2500 in neutral. I took it to the local dealer, they said "that is not normal" and looked at the car...after a week, they said "that IS normal, nothings wrong with it". So, I took it to another dealer, whe I dropped it off, they said "that's not normal". After a week, they could find nothing wrong with it but a tech from Germany was flying out the next week. I agreed to have them keep the car so he could look at it. After that week, they said "it is normal, nothing is wrong with it". Not satisfied, and knowing they are retards, I took it to an independent shop that was highly recommended. I explained the vibration to the owner, he got it, reved it to 2000 rpm and held it there. About 2 seconds later he said, "I know what that is....you dual mass flywheel is shot". I was like WTF, seriously? lol. Then he added that if I wanted a performance upgrade, we could swap it out for a single mass 325 fw, an E30 HD clutch, etc. all for about the same price as the E36 M3 stock flywheel itself! lol. Needless to say, I upgraded everything and was super happy about it. I was amazed at how 2 dealers in three weeks time could not solve such a simple issue...and how this guy can sit in my car for 2 seconds and NAIL it. I think if the fricken OBD reader doesn't pick it up at the dealer, they are clueless to figure it out.

Moral of the story: If you know something aint right with the car, keep fighting the good fight! It will be fixed, eventually!

[farbarg]

True...

Moral of the story: If you know something aint right with the car, keep fighting the good fight! It will be fixed, eventually!

A bit off topic, but I agree strongly with GT3 Tim. I had an Isuzu Vehicross and brought it to two dealers with a "clunking" sound. They both wanted gobs of money to change out steering components. I took it to some independent shop and the guy was like, uh, your front shock is bad. Which, of course, fixed the problem.