[quentinvidal]

Hello,
I bought a 320i e90 n46 2005 auto, this year (I live in Australia), with 125k km.
Lately, I have a knocking noise coming from the engine, mainly when in 1st gear, 2nd gear or reverse, or when I park my car, at low RPM. (see video below).

What I read online says that it might be:

• Rod knock due to a loose timing chain and a wrong timing
• Camshaft bearings
• Rod bearings
• Flywheel/flexplate or loose bolts
• Exhaust leak
• Engine Mounts

The noise also occurs when the car is in "P", if I simply turn the steering wheel left and right.

I posted a video on YouTube where you can hear that noise.

What do you guys think?

Thanks!

Quentin

[Tunafish]

I think that since you use km the car is self exploding.. Or it could be any of the ones you listed..

[F31B48]

Originally Posted by quentinvidal

Hello,
I bought a 320i e90 n46 2005 auto, this year (I live in Australia), with 125k km.
Lately, I have a knocking noise coming from the engine, mainly when in 1st gear, 2nd gear or reverse, or when I park my car, at low RPM. (see video below).

What I read online says that it might be:

• Rod knock due to a loose timing chain and a wrong timing
• Camshaft bearings
• Rod bearings
• Flywheel/flexplate or loose bolts
• Exhaust leak
• Engine Mounts

The noise also occurs when the car is in "P", if I simply turn the steering wheel left and right.

I posted a video on YouTube where you can hear that noise.

What do you guys think?

Thanks!

Quentin

What fuel do you use in it?

[quentinvidal]

I used to run it on 98 octane petrol, but lately I am using 95.

I had a rattling noise a year ago, which I solved by changing the timing chain tensioner with an updated version. Would it be related?
Plus the INPA software shows that the camshaft adaption is lower than the limit. Do you think it is linked as well?
Could it be a loose timing chain/broken guide?

[F31B48]

Originally Posted by quentinvidal

I used to run it on 98 octane petrol, but lately I am using 95.

I had a rattling noise a year ago, which I solved by changing the timing chain tensioner with an updated version. Would it be related?
Plus the INPA software shows that the camshaft adaption is lower than the limit. Do you think it is linked as well?
Could it be a loose timing chain/broken guide?

Yes it could. N46 engine is not a very good engine unfortunately. They suffer from stretched timing chains and broken guides, sometimes at very low milegae too. When the guides break, they fall into the sump and block the oil pickup. I would get it looked at by a BMW specialist ASAP just for piece of mind. Could turn into something very expensive if you keep driving it.

[E92William]

You sure you didn't buy a 320D instead of a 320i? In all seriousness being that's yet another one of bmws problematic 4 cylinders with toilet paper timing chain guides I'd stop it and have it taken to a bmw Indy shop.

If you wanna fiddle with it yourself the first thing I would do is take off the filter cap and check for any shavings or plastics in the filter and the housing itself. Have a look through the fill cap too. Then proceed to drain the oil out and check for any plastics or metal shavings. If you have a bmw scanner you'll probably see timing codes if your guides indeed took a shit. Another thing you could do is take off the serpentine belt that drives all engine accessories and see if it makes that same noise still which would rule out anything outside the engine.

[quentinvidal]

Hi there,

I wanted to get it fixed first, before posting another post, but here is the current situation:

My mechanic checked the video (the one I posted above), and he could tell it was related to the VANOS system, so he changed the Vanos Intake Adjuster Unit.
Since then, the noise almost stopped and can only be heard once every 100km, so it definitely helped but it is not completely gone.

I have to book my car in for another diagnostic next week. I will keep you guys posted.

Quentin

Ps: He checked the timing chain and the guides, and they were in perfect condition.

[jedi365]

Originally Posted by quentinvidal

Hello,
I bought a 320i e90 n46 2005 auto, this year (I live in Australia), with 125k km.
Lately, I have a knocking noise coming from the engine, mainly when in 1st gear, 2nd gear or reverse, or when I park my car, at low RPM. (see video below).

What I read online says that it might be:

• Rod knock due to a loose timing chain and a wrong timing
• Camshaft bearings
• Rod bearings
• Flywheel/flexplate or loose bolts
• Exhaust leak
• Engine Mounts

The noise also occurs when the car is in "P", if I simply turn the steering wheel left and right.

I posted a video on YouTube where you can hear that noise.

What do you guys think?

Thanks!

Quentin

I have a similar problem in my 320i the knocking sound in my car lessens when i activate the AC. have you considered the AC compressor?