Odd noise, 57 coupe

[shabba]

I don’t think this is a common issue but thought I’d ask, sorry for the lack of detail though!

My mate had a 57 reg 3.0Si Z4 Coupe – bought it with 3k on the clock. Anyway, he had this odd rattly noise coming from what sounds like low in the engine, you can hear it when sat inside with car at idle.

But if you depress the clutch then it goes away, don’t think its there all the time and its not massively noticeable unless you stop and listen for it. Anyway the car went to BMW under warranty and they replaced the clutch……….same problem came back. So back in it went, and this time they changed the entire gearbox! They said only 3-4 Z’s in the UK have had replacement gearboxes, and it would have cost him almost £10k if he had been paying for it, ouch. Anyway the problem is now back! He is taking it to another dealer this time, but does anyone else have this issue or an idea of what it might be? Car has only done 10k now.

 

[ChillZ4]

Thats pretty normal. Its the clutch bearing. Loads of Z4s on here have it. Its called clutch chatter or something like that.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Well I'd concur with ChillZ4 and be looking towards clutch thrust bearing. Cars often rattle, then when the clutch is depressed it loads up the bearings and silences it. Alternative would be the gearbox input shaft, but on such low mileage I'd be surprised.

Still BMW must be concerned if they replaced the gearbox and clutch, so I'd leave it to their much greater diagnostic capability to fix.

 

[Smokin]

My Service Adviser called it "gear rattle", says his M3 does it too. There are two counter-rotating shafts in there that are really, really close. Depressing the clutch pedal moves them away from each other. There are other threads on this. Sounds like an inexperienced dealer. Not all BMWs do this, but it seems the 3.0Si does.

 

[shabba]

Well its going to another dealer next Monday, will let you know the results.

 

[2dogs]

mine rattles like a pig, and only done 10500 miles. where you based? We could compare rattles...

 

[Lucy]

My 2008 3.0si with less than 10k miles does this too. Pretty sure it's just the clutch and nothing to worry about.

 

[Darren M]

Most or all BMW`s I have owned have done this - it`s nothing to worry about. My Z4 sounds

 

[Zed_Steve]

Mine does this also slightly, find it more of an annoyance than a concern.

 

[Mr Whippy]

They all do it.

Rattly thrust bearing/input shafts clacking around under zero load, going away when you disengage the clutch/input shaft and load up the thrust bearing.

If it's a noise that doesn't go away with clutch application, then start to worry a bit more

My last car had a racing clutch plate (hardly any springs and very low mass, and metallic plates), and it rattled the input shafts like a bugger (not much damping)... gearboxes in sports cars do it, and it should be celebrated as a move to improve function over NVH!

Dave

 

[EdButler]

Yep i think mine does it too

 

[2dogs]

i would like to meet someone else with a 3.0 si just to put my mind to rest...

 

[Smokin]

i would like to meet someone else with a 3.0 si just to put my mind to rest...

Hey, what am I, chopped liver????????

 

[Voodoo]

i would like to meet someone else with a 3.0 si just to put my mind to rest...

...My 2008 3.0si with less than 10k miles does this too...

Oh yes, me too....!! I'd like to hear the rattle for sure, especially on a 3.0Si with less than 10,000 miles.......!!! :wink:

:icecream:

 

[2dogs]

i would like to meet someone else with a 3.0 si just to put my mind to rest...

Hey, what am I, chopped liver????????

its a bit of a long way to come to meet up Smokin

 

[Smokin]

i would like to meet someone else with a 3.0 si just to put my mind to rest...

Hey, what am I, chopped liver????????

its a bit of a long way to come to meet up Smokin

Didn't stop you before! :lol:

 

[Smokin]

On a more serious note--the rattle, to me, sounds sort of like a bb in a can.

 

[shabba]

Update from my mate.

Having all kinds of fun and games with the car!
Basically they have acknowledged there is a noise/ problem, but cant see that anything is wrong. So yesterday they went on their intranet to see if there was/ is a recognised problem which BMW are developing a fix for and there was. So they got in contact with them to find out what was happening etc and were told that there is a fix being developed but nothing available at the moment and it is safe to drive.
So I asked for the number of the head office at BMW to speak with them regarding this and have done. I've told them I'm not happy with driving a car that sounds like that and the problem is blatantly still there. So they are getting in contact with BMW Germany to find out what can be done and also with the garage in Colchester and will call me back with an update today about what I should do and what will be done.

 

[Smokin]

Keep us informed. I probably wouldn't fix mine right away, but nice to know they're looking into it.

Of course, the first fix for the twin turbo engines got rid of the noise, but induced turbo lag......we'll have to see if the fix is worse than the noise.

 

[shabba]

Ok - update from my mate, showed him this thread:

BMW have been aware of the problem since May 2008! A Fix/ development is being worked on as a priority as they are using the same gearbox in the new
Z4 and its obviously not the kind of press they want for the launch of a new car!
At the moment though I am just to pick the car up and carry on as normal and they will let me know when the fix has been developed. Not sure if they will advise all owners via mailshot though.
There's no timeframe for the completion of the said development however.
They also advised that this problem does not cause any stress to related/ linked parts - supposedly!
So for the time being I have to continue to drive a bag of spanners!

Oh, and that Lucy! Fo me - single?