Engine sound, healthy?

V

vld

Member
Would anyone mind comparing their engine sound to mine?

Link to recording: ( https://streamable.com/lhirk4)

This is idling with warm(ish) engine. I don't hear any rattling or any strange sound from outside. Engine starts and runs smooth.
At 14 years and 115k km, I'm a bit worried about the timing chain which is known to be a risk on my engine.
 
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That sounds a bit like a sowing machine.
A bit tappety I think.
Is that a 2 litre N20?
 
Sounds OK for a 4 cyl to me, you say mapped to 2.8i, likely 240hp but could be anything, there should be no problem with a well maintained car at that mileage. My only question is, is the engine build the same on a 2.0i as the 2.8i, is it the same turbo, has it got same pistons, high performance engines often have internal differences
 
deltasierra said:
Sounds OK for a 4 cyl to me, you say mapped to 2.8i, likely 240hp but could be anything, there should be no problem with a well maintained car at that mileage. My only question is, is the engine build the same on a 2.0i as the 2.8i, is it the same turbo, has it got same pistons, high performance engines often have internal differences
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Previous research by forum members seems to suggest all three N20 are the same, but with different maps. 28i has bigger front brakes.
Only concern would be the chain guides. Earlier ones were a bit more fragile. Look in the filler cap. Yellow guides are old, white guides are the better ones, introduced late 14/early 15 I believe.
 
Sounds like a typical rattly-tappets N20 to me (although the sound via a video/ computer speakers is never a good likeness of reality IME).

At least it sounds regular....if it was the chain failing I would expect to get irregular rattles as it flaps about.

Fresh oil may help?
 
Yes, N20, 2.0 remapped to 2.8 about 7 years ago. Qualifies for having the bad batch of weak chain guides.
Sunday car, not abused either. I'll go for the oil change and see if it sounds any different.
 
deltasierra said:
Sounds OK for a 4 cyl to me, you say mapped to 2.8i, likely 240hp but could be anything, there should be no problem with a well maintained car at that mileage. My only question is, is the engine build the same on a 2.0i as the 2.8i, is it the same turbo, has it got same pistons, high performance engines often have internal differences
Click to expand...
All 18i/20i/28i e89s had identical h/w..there were n20 28i with different pistons..never fitted in E89s
 
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