Rattle noise....what could it be?

HarryM-TEC · 04-22-2010, 04:07 PM

Hello people,

Ok my wife has a e90 318i 2.0 sport and I have noticed a rattle when I drive it,it happens when I move off or drop to second and move a little.

It sounds like a loose heat shield or exhaust,I could be wrong and I can't tell where the noise is coming from.

On a long road it sounds fine,only when I move of in first or change into second at a slow speed.

Has anyone come across this or know what it could be?

Thank you in advance

cheers

Harry

oleg_xp · 09-03-2012, 07:48 AM

Did you find what was the problem?

poggy · 09-12-2012, 04:14 PM

Sounds like it could be same noise I have. Not solved yet though.

Z4REX · 10-09-2012, 02:59 PM

Just got my 318 on saturday. Never had the noise when test driving. two days latter sounds like mine could have the same noise. Anybody has any idea what it could be?

Flood · 10-09-2012, 03:28 PM

I have a 2006 e92 2.5 auto that has a cracking noise that happens when I move forward or reverse. I thought it sounded like a heat shield/ exhaust. Definitely metal on metal and a quick bang.

I had it at a BMW specialist local to me yesterday and he reckons its the diff/prop shaft making the noise. Funny, I heard a E90 pulling away from traffic lights when I was walking today and it cracked and made the same noise.

Had a search online and there are a few theories, but I will hang off from a new diff just now..

Phil325i · 10-09-2012, 04:46 PM

+1 for possible faulty diff. Had similar symptoms, a distinct 'clunk' when moving off. New diff totally sorted it.

I've read elsewhere that the internal construction of their diffs is one area where BMW appear to be cost cutting. Well worth ignoring the 'filled for life' BS and go for regular fluid changes in my opinion...

Flood · 10-09-2012, 05:12 PM

How much was the diff replacement? Assuming it was out of warranty...

Z4REX · 10-20-2012, 12:16 PM

Right Guys. Managed to sort the rattling noise on my car. It originaly sounded like it was comming from behind the dash radio area. What I done was get my other half to just blip the trottle while I had the bonnet open to see if I could hear where it was comming from and so I managed to hear it straight away. It was the cover above the radiator the one with the badge on. I grabed hold of the end to steady it and it stops. You can hear it more with the bonnet open. Solution was to take the three screws hoding the cover off and refit the cover tightening slowly till there was no noise. In actual fact it went on quite tight. Having a guess it might have been disturbed while I was cleaning around the engine. Glad I sorted that out as it was starting to get a bit annoying. Hope this might be of some help to some of yous.

CarAbuser · 10-21-2012, 06:16 PM

I would suggest taking off the engine cover and seeing if that solves it. Sometimes if it's not reseated correctly is can cause a rattle.

04-22-2010, 04:07 PM	#1
HarryM-TEC BMW 318I 2.0 M SPORT,Le Mans Blue.....Wifes Car 5 Rep 15 Posts Drives: BMW E90 M SPORT Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Rattle noise....what could it be? Hello people, Ok my wife has a e90 318i 2.0 sport and I have noticed a rattle when I drive it,it happens when I move off or drop to second and move a little. It sounds like a loose heat shield or exhaust,I could be wrong and I can't tell where the noise is coming from. On a long road it sounds fine,only when I move of in first or change into second at a slow speed. Has anyone come across this or know what it could be? Thank you in advance cheers Harry
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09-03-2012, 07:48 AM	#2
oleg_xp Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: bmw 320d Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: kent iTrader: (0)	The same problem Did you find what was the problem?
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09-12-2012, 04:14 PM	#3
poggy Private First Class 20 Rep 185 Posts Drives: E90 318i SE Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (1)	Sounds like it could be same noise I have. Not solved yet though.
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10-09-2012, 02:59 PM	#4
Z4REX New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 318iSE Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Teeside iTrader: (1)	Just got my 318 on saturday. Never had the noise when test driving. two days latter sounds like mine could have the same noise. Anybody has any idea what it could be?
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10-09-2012, 03:28 PM	#5
Flood New Member 3 Rep 13 Posts Drives: E92 325 se Join Date: May 2012 Location: Kilmarnock iTrader: (0)	I have a 2006 e92 2.5 auto that has a cracking noise that happens when I move forward or reverse. I thought it sounded like a heat shield/ exhaust. Definitely metal on metal and a quick bang. I had it at a BMW specialist local to me yesterday and he reckons its the diff/prop shaft making the noise. Funny, I heard a E90 pulling away from traffic lights when I was walking today and it cracked and made the same noise. Had a search online and there are a few theories, but I will hang off from a new diff just now..
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10-09-2012, 04:46 PM	#6
Phil325i Brigadier General 615 Rep 3,193 Posts Drives: E92 325i MSport Coupe Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK South East iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW 325i Coupe [6.00]	+1 for possible faulty diff. Had similar symptoms, a distinct 'clunk' when moving off. New diff totally sorted it. I've read elsewhere that the internal construction of their diffs is one area where BMW appear to be cost cutting. Well worth ignoring the 'filled for life' BS and go for regular fluid changes in my opinion... __________________ E92 pre-LCI 325i - Ohlins R&T; H&R spacers; M3 strut brace; Swift thrust sheets; 3 x chassis braces; diff brace; N53 V-brace; 034 subframe inserts; BMS clutch stop; BMS CDV; RE g/box mounts; Delrin shift bushes; Saikoumichi OCC; Cyba scoops; BMW Perf Exhaust; HEL s/steel brake hoses; M3 rear spoiler; Recaro Sportster CSs; M3 white dash LEDs; LED Angels; LED side repeaters; BMW Perf black grille; CSL reps; SSDD carbon diffuser; Monster Wrap black roof/clear front
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10-09-2012, 05:12 PM	#7
Flood New Member 3 Rep 13 Posts Drives: E92 325 se Join Date: May 2012 Location: Kilmarnock iTrader: (0)	How much was the diff replacement? Assuming it was out of warranty...
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10-20-2012, 12:16 PM	#8
Z4REX New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 318iSE Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Teeside iTrader: (1)	Right Guys. Managed to sort the rattling noise on my car. It originaly sounded like it was comming from behind the dash radio area. What I done was get my other half to just blip the trottle while I had the bonnet open to see if I could hear where it was comming from and so I managed to hear it straight away. It was the cover above the radiator the one with the badge on. I grabed hold of the end to steady it and it stops. You can hear it more with the bonnet open. Solution was to take the three screws hoding the cover off and refit the cover tightening slowly till there was no noise. In actual fact it went on quite tight. Having a guess it might have been disturbed while I was cleaning around the engine. Glad I sorted that out as it was starting to get a bit annoying. Hope this might be of some help to some of yous.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-21-2012, 06:16 PM	#9
CarAbuser Lieutenant Colonel 468 Rep 1,535 Posts Drives: Z4 35i DCT / E92 335i DCT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: United Kingdom iTrader: (0)	I would suggest taking off the engine cover and seeing if that solves it. Sometimes if it's not reseated correctly is can cause a rattle.
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