Rattle in neutral, clutch disengaged

[ChillZ4]

Is this normal, sat in neutral with the clutch disengaged I can hear a rattle, this goes away when the clutch is depressed. I no about this noise when you turn off in neutral but is it normal when idling in neutral?

Cheers

[Biggsy]

Sounds like the thrust/release bearing has gone.

[ChillZ4]

Sounds expensive, its out of warranty in a week!!!

[gannet]

Sounds expensive, its out of warranty in a week!!!

best get to your dealer then....

[ChillZ4]

It was in the other day for this reason and they reckon they couldnt hear anything! I wont be able to get the car in till after the warranty has gone!

[Biggsy]

Supply your own clutch plate and get them to fit it for free while they are doing the bearing,
Or even better see if you can get them to put a complete clutch kit in it!,

[scottyD]

I had the dealer check this noise out when I was there last for Inspection 1. They said it was normal for the clutch/transmission in the E46 3 and Z4 series....

Who knows if it's really okay or not, but my dealer wasn't going to do anything more with it. Guess I'll find out down the road - 45k mi now and still going strong

[Smokin]

It's ok scottyD-- mine does it too, especially if the car is stopped on an incline, in neutral, clutch engaged. My service adviser is a pretty smart cookie and he called it "gear rattle". He says his E46 M3 does it as well. There are two counter-rotating shafts in there in very close proximity. Try it, the noise goes away if you depress the clutch pedal while still in neutral.

[scottyD]

Yeah, same here - noise gone when you push the pedal down. I noticed it being worse after driving for awhile compared to just after startup.

My advisor said something about a clutch throw-out bearing being worn, but I wouldn't consider him a smart cookie, so who knows. Thanks for the info.

[IK.]

Bringing this to the top, as I have the same thing... Mine has 16 months warranty left, so should I get it down the dealer for a FREE fix? (14k miles). It rattles constantly when in neutral, but if you depress just a tad, it rattles really loudly. Can also hear it when driving.

[Smokin]

Bringing this to the top, as I have the same thing... Mine has 16 months warranty left, so should I get it down the dealer for a FREE fix? (14k miles). It rattles constantly when in neutral, but if you depress just a tad, it rattles really loudly. Can also hear it when driving.

That sounds different--what I was talking about was a definite rattle that goes away when clutch pedal is depressed.It doesn't increase in intensity nor can you hear it when driving. Have your dealer check it out for sure.

[IK.]

But they may charge me if it's not a warranty issue...?

The noise goes away when fully depressed. The sound only gets louder from the top 5% of the pedal travel (lightly touching the pedal, basically)

[scottyD]

I see what he's saying....I think I have similar symptoms....

[Smokin]

But they may charge me if it's not a warranty issue...?

The noise goes away when fully depressed. The sound only gets louder from the top 5% of the pedal travel (lightly touching the pedal, basically)

The dealer shouldn't charge you-it's under warranty still. Better to check it out now than let a part fail.

[ChillZ4]

I think this is normal.