Rattling noise from turbos - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

skim7x · 09-12-2008, 12:50 AM

So for the past month or two, I noticed that on cold starts, there would be a metallic rattling noise coming from the engine. I read on this forum that some other members were having the same problem and it was found to be a problem with the turbo wastegates...

So I took my car to the dealership this past weekend and the kept it for a couple days and listened to the noise off a cold start. Indeed, the problem was with the wastegate actuators of the turbos... However, they didn't have to replace the turbos -- they just reprogrammed the car and the noise is now gone!

Also, my car's "Brake" light came on last week and said that my car needed to be taken in for service... the reprogram fixed this as well (BMW checked the brakes and there were no problems found).

Just thought I'd share my experience.

zsapphire7 · 09-12-2008, 01:08 AM

haha.. sorry man. that sucks

. Well hopefully in a couple months theyll just give you new turbos without any problems

! Maybe theyll even have a new revised version that wont fail out by then.

skim7x · 09-12-2008, 01:19 AM

Yeah, i figure i still have 3 years on warranty so... I guess I'll just have to drive at redline until then and make the turbos fail =P

fuzzy123 · 09-12-2008, 03:46 AM

Since they reprogrammed your car, doesn't that mean that your dinan flash is also gone?

Turismo335 · 09-12-2008, 06:32 AM

Could you here the noise inside the car at all? could you only hear at idle?

I have a similar noise, wondering if it could be the same thing...

Bubbles · 09-12-2008, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skim7x

So for the past month or two, I noticed that on cold starts, there would be a metallic rattling noise coming from the engine. I read on this forum that some other members were having the same problem and it was found to be a problem with the turbo wastegates...

So I took my car to the dealership this past weekend and the kept it for a couple days and listened to the noise off a cold start. Indeed, the problem was with the wastegate actuators of the turbos... However, they didn't have to replace the turbos -- they just reprogrammed the car and the noise is now gone!

Also, my car's "Brake" light came on last week and said that my car needed to be taken in for service... the reprogram fixed this as well (BMW checked the brakes and there were no problems found).

Just thought I'd share my experience.

The software is just a band aid, you turbos/wastegates need to be replaced.

skim7x · 09-12-2008, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzy123

Since they reprogrammed your car, doesn't that mean that your dinan flash is also gone?

No, I still have the dinan flash...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turismo335

Could you here the noise inside the car at all? could you only hear at idle?

I have a similar noise, wondering if it could be the same thing...

I couldn't really hear the noise inside the car... maybe if i concentrated really hard haha... but the sound was mostly from the outside of the car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubbles

The software is just a band aid, you turbos/wastegates need to be replaced.

How can I get BMW to realize that? I can't just tell them to replace the turbos haha... i figure in the next 3 years it'll come back or the turbos will get worse or something... is there any way I can get solid proof that they need to be replaced??

Mr. 5 · 09-12-2008, 10:06 AM

There are plenty of wastegate threads, so search on "wastegate ticking" and you'll see what to bring to BMW.
There's an SIB on this and I'm very surprised that your dealer didn't do anything.

skim7x · 09-12-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

There are plenty of wastegate threads, so search on "wastegate ticking" and you'll see what to bring to BMW.
There's an SIB on this and I'm very surprised that your dealer didn't do anything.

Ugh yeah I know there are tons of wastegate threads... and that they are all like 40 pages long...

Wanna save a brutha 30hrs worth of searching/reading and hook me up with a link?

drwtsn32 · 09-12-2008, 12:30 PM

Basically they installed progman 29.2 or newer... it holds the wastegates open longer... removes the rattle, but introduces noticeable turbo lag. At least that's how I understand it.

sambonator · 09-12-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drwtsn32

Basically they installed progman 29.2 or newer... it holds the wastegates open longer... removes the rattle, but introduces noticeable turbo lag. At least that's how I understand it.

+1... so much for the BMW band aid fix... its much cheaper than doing a recall to replace all wastegates.

On another topic... I hope Orb is correct, that BMW is getting ready to recall all 335i's to replace the fuel pump.

Mr. 5 · 09-12-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skim7x

Ugh yeah I know there are tons of wastegate threads... and that they are all like 40 pages long...

Wanna save a brutha 30hrs worth of searching/reading and hook me up with a link?

http://www.bmwtis.com/tsb/bulletins/...p/B111307g.htm

pdjafari · 09-12-2008, 01:05 PM

my car does this on cold starts, whats funny though is once the butterfly valve in the exhaust opens the rattle is GONE!!!!

skim7x · 09-12-2008, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

http://www.bmwtis.com/tsb/bulletins/...p/B111307g.htm

Thank you Thank you!

skim7x · 09-12-2008, 01:30 PM

The important excerpts from the bullitin, for those interested:

1) Run test plan.

2) The test plan will conclude with an instruction to replace the wastegate actuators; ignore this instruction. Reprogram the DME; improvements are included with the following I-Levels:
E90, E92, and E93 (335i and 335xi), E89x-08-03-530 or higher

3) After programming is completed, if the noise is no longer present, take no further action. If the noise is still present, replace both of the turbocharger wastegate actuators in accordance with Repair Instruction RA 11 65 580, Replacing vacuum unit (wastegate) (N54).

So basically now I just drive as usual... if the problem happens again, they would replace teh wastegate actuators. Thanks Mr. 5!

drwtsn32 · 09-12-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skim7x

Thank you Thank you!

Read more about the turbo lag and 29.2+... I don't think you'll be so happy any more.

skim7x · 09-12-2008, 01:33 PM

Oh, well I was just happy about not having to dig for the bullitin haha...

BUT... i have a 6mt and i don't really care about the turbo lag... actually, after driving it yesterday and today, I did not even notice any more turbo lag than there was to begin with... The only thing I would really care about is loss of power... perhaps I will dyno in a couple months and compare with my previous dyno

09-12-2008, 12:50 AM	#1
skim7x Use it or Lose it Drives: 335i e92 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Newark, NJ Posts: 2,444 iTrader: (4) Garage List 2007 335i [5.00]	Rattling noise from turbos So for the past month or two, I noticed that on cold starts, there would be a metallic rattling noise coming from the engine. I read on this forum that some other members were having the same problem and it was found to be a problem with the turbo wastegates... So I took my car to the dealership this past weekend and the kept it for a couple days and listened to the noise off a cold start. Indeed, the problem was with the wastegate actuators of the turbos... However, they didn't have to replace the turbos -- they just reprogrammed the car and the noise is now gone! Also, my car's "Brake" light came on last week and said that my car needed to be taken in for service... the reprogram fixed this as well (BMW checked the brakes and there were no problems found). Just thought I'd share my experience. __________________ '07 Space Gray 335i coupe w/ Sports Package \| Comfort Access FBO: Cobb S2+ \| AMS \| AR Design \| aFe \| BMS OCC \| Quaife [Newark Photoshoot #1]
	Tweet

09-12-2008, 01:19 AM	#3
skim7x Use it or Lose it Drives: 335i e92 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Newark, NJ Posts: 2,444 iTrader: (4) Garage List 2007 335i [5.00]	Yeah, i figure i still have 3 years on warranty so... I guess I'll just have to drive at redline until then and make the turbos fail =P __________________ '07 Space Gray 335i coupe w/ Sports Package \| Comfort Access FBO: Cobb S2+ \| AMS \| AR Design \| aFe \| BMS OCC \| Quaife [Newark Photoshoot #1]

09-12-2008, 03:46 AM	#4
fuzzy123 Second Lieutenant Drives: 335i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 203 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i Coupe [5.00]	Since they reprogrammed your car, doesn't that mean that your dinan flash is also gone? __________________ GIAC Stage 1 Flash\| Vorsteiner Carbon Fiber Bootlid \| KW Variant 2 \| RPI Scoops \| BMS DCI \| Eisenmann Race \| Synapse BOV \| 35% Tint \| Aero Lip \| 6000K HID Headlights & Fogs \| PIAA Angel Eyes \| Clear Bra \| RR Catch Can

09-12-2008, 10:06 AM	#8
Mr. 5 Modder Raider Drives: e36 325i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Surf City, HB Posts: 8,611 iTrader: (31) Garage List 2007 e90 335i [4.00]	There are plenty of wastegate threads, so search on "wastegate ticking" and you'll see what to bring to BMW. There's an SIB on this and I'm very surprised that your dealer didn't do anything. __________________ e36 325i e90 335i--SOLD Best 60-130-------------9.15 Seconds------------------WWW.MR5RACING.COM

09-12-2008, 01:30 PM	#15
skim7x Use it or Lose it Drives: 335i e92 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Newark, NJ Posts: 2,444 iTrader: (4) Garage List 2007 335i [5.00]	The important excerpts from the bullitin, for those interested: 1) Run test plan. 2) The test plan will conclude with an instruction to replace the wastegate actuators; ignore this instruction. Reprogram the DME; improvements are included with the following I-Levels: E90, E92, and E93 (335i and 335xi), E89x-08-03-530 or higher 3) After programming is completed, if the noise is no longer present, take no further action. If the noise is still present, replace both of the turbocharger wastegate actuators in accordance with Repair Instruction RA 11 65 580, Replacing vacuum unit (wastegate) (N54). So basically now I just drive as usual... if the problem happens again, they would replace teh wastegate actuators. Thanks Mr. 5! __________________ '07 Space Gray 335i coupe w/ Sports Package \| Comfort Access FBO: Cobb S2+ \| AMS \| AR Design \| aFe \| BMS OCC \| Quaife [Newark Photoshoot #1]

09-12-2008, 01:08 AM	#2
zsapphire7 Colonel Drives: 08 e92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: TX Posts: 2,251 iTrader: (21)	haha.. sorry man. that sucks . Well hopefully in a couple months theyll just give you new turbos without any problems ! Maybe theyll even have a new revised version that wont fail out by then.

09-12-2008, 06:32 AM	#5
Turismo335 Registered Drives: 2007 BMW 335I Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: AR Posts: 4 iTrader: (0)	Could you here the noise inside the car at all? could you only hear at idle? I have a similar noise, wondering if it could be the same thing...

09-12-2008, 12:30 PM	#10
drwtsn32 Lieutenant Drives: 07 BMW 335xi, 04 MB C230K Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tri-Cities, WA Posts: 497 iTrader: (0)	Basically they installed progman 29.2 or newer... it holds the wastegates open longer... removes the rattle, but introduces noticeable turbo lag. At least that's how I understand it.

09-12-2008, 01:05 PM	#13
pdjafari Colonel Drives: Axe Murderer with headlights Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 2,409 iTrader: (5)	my car does this on cold starts, whats funny though is once the butterfly valve in the exhaust opens the rattle is GONE!!!!

09-12-2008, 01:33 PM	#17
skim7x Use it or Lose it Drives: 335i e92 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Newark, NJ Posts: 2,444 iTrader: (4) Garage List 2007 335i [5.00]	Oh, well I was just happy about not having to dig for the bullitin haha... BUT... i have a 6mt and i don't really care about the turbo lag... actually, after driving it yesterday and today, I did not even notice any more turbo lag than there was to begin with... The only thing I would really care about is loss of power... perhaps I will dyno in a couple months and compare with my previous dyno __________________ '07 Space Gray 335i coupe w/ Sports Package \| Comfort Access FBO: Cobb S2+ \| AMS \| AR Design \| aFe \| BMS OCC \| Quaife [Newark Photoshoot #1]

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search