Clutch noise

[BrianD]

Hi - I have a 3.0si with 29K on clock on a 08 plate bought from BMW dealer. Haven't had it that long but recently noticed that when car is iding and staionary I seem to be hearing a bit of a rumbling sound, but if I press the clutch in it disappears and is all very quiet, just sound of the engine ticking over. Should I be worried or is this normal. Car seems to drive ok, gears a bit notchy in 1st and 2nd, but need to get the CDV mod done to cure that.

 

[Steve220]

If it goes away when you dip the clutch, its usually a gearbox bearing - input bearing usually. Check the oil levels in your gearbox

 

[BrianD]

If it goes away when you dip the clutch, its usually a gearbox bearing - input bearing usually. Check the oil levels in your gearbox

I only purchased the car 3 months ago and I have only done 1400 miles. Car was serviced and checked before I bought it. It's covered by BMW warranty so you think it would be advisable to take it back to my local dealer to get it checked and sorted.

 

[Steve220]

Oh right, then yeh, i would.

Personally i do all the work myself hate taking cars to dealers

 

[BrianD]

Thanks, I will try and get it checked next week

 

[Swiftly]

Got me worried now as I am not sure if I have a similar issue or not. Only noticed the clutch noise when I drop the roof down, can't really hear it inside with roof up to any major degree. I would be interested to hear how you get on.

 

[Craigza]

Post back with the results, I have an 08 coupe with 27k miles that does something similar as described.... interested to see what the outcome is.

Thanks.

 

[Adamski]

Yeah sound like a bearing. Could be input bearing as described above, or clutch release bearing

 

[jan_tekin]

Normal and nothing to worry about, all the 3.0 si do this.

When my car was under manufatures warrenty they fitted a new gear box, clutch & realease bearing and the noise was back within a month. My gearbox was changed at 24k, cars now on 67k and its just the same as it was. Seem to be more noticeable with this hotter temperature over this last week.

 

[Swiftly]

Normal and nothing to worry about, all the 3.0 si do this.

When my car was under manufatures warrenty they fitted a new gear box, clutch & realease bearing and the noise was back within a month. My gearbox was changed at 24k, cars now on 67k and its just the same as it was. Seem to be more noticeable with this hotter temperature over this last week.

I am feeling slightly relieved after reading this, glad to hear it isn't anything I should be worried about

 

[Craigza]

It's been like it from purchase on mine and when I noticed the noise I did some research and everyone on various forums said it was perfectly normal, same scenario where they had bits changed under warranty but the noise returned shortly after.

Just curious to know what exactly causes the noise/ what the dealer say!

 

[Steve220]

The noise is caused by the inner most bearing holding in the input shaft in the gearbox. It is the one under the most forces delivered from the engine and thusly wears quicker than others. Depending on what type of bearing it is, it can make a noise if spinning, but there can be ways to eliminate it. I'm not farmiliar with the internals with BMW gearboxes, but all the ones i have the input shaft bearing can sometimes not receive enough oil whilst its spinning, which is why i overfill gearboxes usually by around 0.3L

 

[Lupodg]

My first post but if not too late to add my recent experience of this exact issue. I bought my 3.0 si sport coupe last year and on noticing the problem whilst under the main dealer warranty i raised the issue and via Wood BMW had a new clutch fitted which initially appeared to quiten the noise but not for long. I returned the car several months later to have a second clutch and flywheel which again seemed briefly to improve the situation but the improvement was marginal and the noise is especially prominent when hot. So with around 3 days left on my warranty I had with only a slight push on BMW the car back into Wood for an entire new gearbox which if anything has not improved anything other than providing a slick change especially into 2nd gear which was getting a little graunchy. So I am now resigned to the fact it Is actually nothing to worry about and somehow a mechanical feature and would suggest not to worry. What question it does raise is why BMW and their warranty approval department who appeared thorough in their investigations don't know this but hey I have 80k on the clock now and a great new clutch and gearbox even if a little noisy!!!!

 

[BrianD]

An update guys, I took the car back to the dealers as it is still under AUC warranty. They checked the car and said the noise was normal and nothing to worry about. Seeing I wasn't convinced by what I was being told, the service manager even started another Z4 that was up for sale and guess what I heard, yep the same noise So nothing to worry about it would seem.

 

[chrissyb]

mine does this aswell! only just bought it so was a little worried but feel much better after reading this thread!