[Shiny.E90]

Hey all, so I have an 07 sedan 335i with 150k on the car. So when I do a cold start the car has wastegate rattle and after like 30 seconds it goes away, it has wastegate rattle on deacceleration like any other normal N54. What I do find odd is it also has some wastegate rattle on acceleration up until like 3-4kish rpm and then it sounds like a normal turbo spooling. The turbo seals failed and is smoking out the back. I have new turbos I’m about to put in but today it got a 30FF and isles slightly different, not crazy different but I noticed it mainly because I drive the car a lot. I got on the gas and boom 30FF game not followed by any other codes except the normal one I have for catless dp’s. The car is MHD Stage 1, has a fmic, chargepipe w/bov, catless dp’s, stock exhaust and air intake. I looked at my vacuum lines and they seemed fine from the eye, don’t have a smoker or anything. Checked my connections on the FMIC cold and hot side & chargepipe connections everything seems fine. I don’t know how to test the boost solenoids so now I’m at a loss for why it’s throwing a 30FF. I’m guessing from some of the research I did that it’s the wastegates finally giving up and causing the 30FF. I don’t think it’s my turbo’s themselves, the vacuum lines, and all connections. Vacuum canisters are both brand new as well. Please help if you can I’ll try to respond ASAP if you have questions

[GearHead335i]

Wastegate rattle means the wastegates aren’t sealing properly. On WOT the turbos feel fine but on light or medium throttle the wastegates aren’t sealing the way they are supposed to hence the 30ff. I have the same thing going on. Time to install those turbos!

[nicsteez]

Need new wastegates or turbos installed if they are blowing smoke. Pretty much your only option

[dpaul]

No, wastegate rattle does not necessarily mean your turbos are done. Make a log and check the duty cycle - if it is within normal range, you're fine. Just live with the noise. An adjustment to the arm length may help.

On the other hand, smoking is a bad sign, unrelated to wastegate function of course but possibly signifying a turbo problem. However, there can be other for smoke besides turbo wear.

[gotturbo]

Are we fixing the wastegates this days in lieu of replacing turbos? I always kind of thought it could be possible and then I thought I’d seen something about it somewhere but not sure. I’m just getting to the point where I’m wondering because I thought I heard a rattle as car warmed up the other day

[mweisdorfer]

Your wastegate's need to be tightened down. Turn the actuator bolt 2.5x on rear & use the U shaped, no8 washer trick on the front turbos. If you still have rattle, either replace the actuators (if you believe the turbos still have a lot of life left) or replace the turbos entirely.

[GearHead335i]

Originally Posted by dpaul

No, wastegate rattle does not necessarily mean your turbos are done. Make a log and check the duty cycle - if it is within normal range, you're fine. Just live with the noise. An adjustment to the arm length may help.

On the other hand, smoking is a bad sign, unrelated to wastegate function of course but possibly signifying a turbo problem. However, there can be other for smoke besides turbo wear.

I hear you and I’m sure the log will turn out ok but his turbos are on their way out and on light to medium throttle the turbos wastegates do not seal causing surging and “engine malfunction” errors, 30ff, etc. Trust me I’ve been living through this exact situation for a year.

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

Your wastegate's need to be tightened down. Turn the actuator bolt 2.5x on rear & use the U shaped, no8 washer trick on the front turbos. If you still have rattle, either replace the actuators (if you believe the turbos still have a lot of life left) or replace the turbos entirely.

Tightening them will help, but only the front turbo not the rear and it will be a temporary solution. Again, I’ve been living through these symptoms for a year and one of my “solutions” was to tighten the wastegates and it did help but not much.



OP, I’d start with tightening the wastegates and see how it feels but the wastegate rattle will not go away completely, unfortunately this is just something you’ll have to live with.

[Shiny.E90]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback but I’m getting the new rb turbos installed.

[El sols]

Please if anyone can help. 2011 n55, 335xi 6 speed MT

Today my RPM’s started spiking under hard acceleration. Take 3rd gear, floor it at 3k and it spikes instantly to 4K and then drops back and then proceeds to make normal boost.

Just had the valves walnut blasted, have a Cobb charge pipe,.. is there anyway that this is a vacuum hose popping off that was not properly reconnected? Is this a boost solenoid/ pressure converter? Is this a wastegate failure? Help Please. Engine has about 70k on it,

[zack9r]

Your answer and price can vary severely based on how dirty you want to get your hands.

Jb4 rattle fix works. Tested. I approve but its more of a band aid than surgery $450 brand new (i got one for $250) and this has more features than just the rattle fix including exhaust flap opening on cold start, gauge sweep, tune, the list goes on and on really.

Replace the wastegate flapper itself. Part is $30 but requires the turbos to be taken out.

New turbos and wastegate. The new design has a new and improved design so that it doesnt happen again. Bmw dealer wants around $6500 which i find is bull**** but hey, thats how they make their money

^^ ive seen some for as low as $800-$1200 so price can vary extremely but ofcourse thats uninstalled

Edit: tightening the wastegate actuator can fix the rattle but again, is more of a bandaid as it will not be a permanent issue and will arise sometime again. Free.

[zack9r]

Originally Posted by El sols

Please if anyone can help. 2011 n55, 335xi 6 speed MT

Today my RPM's started spiking under hard acceleration. Take 3rd gear, floor it at 3k and it spikes instantly to 4K and then drops back and then proceeds to make normal boost.

Just had the valves walnut blasted, have a Cobb charge pipe,.. is there anyway that this is a vacuum hose popping off that was not properly reconnected? Is this a boost solenoid/ pressure converter? Is this a wastegate failure? Help Please. Engine has about 70k on it,

Originally Posted by El sols

Please if anyone can help. 2011 n55, 335xi 6 speed MT

Today my RPM's started spiking under hard acceleration. Take 3rd gear, floor it at 3k and it spikes instantly to 4K and then drops back and then proceeds to make normal boost.

Just had the valves walnut blasted, have a Cobb charge pipe,.. is there anyway that this is a vacuum hose popping off that was not properly reconnected? Is this a boost solenoid/ pressure converter? Is this a wastegate failure? Help Please. Engine has about 70k on it,

Sounds like your ignition coil packs. Idle will be rough and rpm's will jump around from 500-1000
Typically can and will throw a code, but not always

[El sols]

So far no code. Idle feels slightly rough at start up, but RPM's don't jump.

why would the waste gate all of a sudden start having issues?