VANOS Rattle?

A

alex.baker1989

Member
Finished polishing the exhausts this evening and when I started the MR up to move her back, noticed a rattle on idle at first which was intermittent. Then stood revving up to about 3,000 and the rattle became more audible, but no longer on idle. It started intermittently and eventually stayed when revving - almost as if it got worse the warmer the car got.

Here's a video someone posted which is very similar to the noise I'm getting (mine isn't quite as bad or consistent): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqUFGm5ztvY

If this is VANOS, is that normal? If not, is it a bad idea to drive and could it damage anything or give up completely? I can't hear the noise in the cabin and never noticed it before.

What would the going rate be to have the VANOS tested?
 
Doesn't sound like vanos to me. I don't like the sound of it to be honest. Always difficult to tell from a video. But you might want to get someone who knows their S54s to have a listen up close and personal.
 
Thanks. Just listened to mine again and it does sound similar to the video in pitch, but not as constant. It comes and goes. Anyone Beds / Herts based that knows S54's well? Otherwise I'll take to my indy (again).
 
It’s difficult to tell, and cars when not under load lightly revving can sound a bit off. But I must admit, I’m pretty sure mine has always sounded like that if gently revved not under load :?
 
Simon 3.2M said:
Sounds like rappers to me but the noise / runble when revved isn't great!
Click to expand...

Rappers? The video isn't my car but mine sounds similar. Hard to describe but mine isn't as bad as the video - just a very similar noise under revs. I kept feathering the throttle and could hear it then, and under constant revs. Thing is it sounds like a vibration but I can't locate it to any specific area other than the head. The noise doesn't get louder when removing the oil cap.
 
-Tom- said:
It’s difficult to tell, and cars when not under load lightly revving can sound a bit off. But I must admit, I’m pretty sure mine has always sounded like that if gently revved not under load :?
Click to expand...

Hope it might be normal then. Never noticed it before though!
 
Like others, from the vid I’d struggle to say mine sounds much different.

One noise I can think of as being intermittent at startup is the buzz from a loose heatshield around the cats. And something that seems to get louder as the engine warms up is the noise of the injectors ticking, heard best by winding down the window as you’re driving close to a wall.

VANOS rattle is very distinctive - sounds like marbles in a can and grows/fades between 2.8-3k rpm. It’s normal.

Basically, the thing sounds like a bag of spanners/sewing machine like all legendary engines. :D
 
MrPT said:
Like others, from the vid I’d struggle to say mine sounds much different.

One noise I can think of as being intermittent at startup is the buzz from a loose heatshield around the cats. And something that seems to get louder as the engine warms up is the noise of the injectors ticking, heard best by winding down the window as you’re driving close to a wall.

VANOS rattle is very distinctive - sounds like marbles in a can and grows/fades between 2.8-3k rpm. It’s normal.

Basically, the thing sounds like a bag of spanners/sewing machine like all legendary engines. :D
Click to expand...

I’d only had my car a day (6-7 years ago from a main dealer ) , and dodgy wheel balancing caused those rattling heat shields to fail. BMWs fix... new catalysts, crazy!

But yes agreed, they are noisy and characterful. OP , do you live near anyone with a Z4M that you could have a quick listen to ? That would be your best bet other than taking it to a garage.
 
-Tom- said:
MrPT said:
Like others, from the vid I’d struggle to say mine sounds much different.

One noise I can think of as being intermittent at startup is the buzz from a loose heatshield around the cats. And something that seems to get louder as the engine warms up is the noise of the injectors ticking, heard best by winding down the window as you’re driving close to a wall.

VANOS rattle is very distinctive - sounds like marbles in a can and grows/fades between 2.8-3k rpm. It’s normal.

Basically, the thing sounds like a bag of spanners/sewing machine like all legendary engines. :D
Click to expand...

I’d only had my car a day (6-7 years ago from a main dealer ) , and dodgy wheel balancing caused those rattling heat shields to fail. BMWs fix... new catalysts, crazy!

But yes agreed, they are noisy and characterful. OP , do you live near anyone with a Z4M that you could have a quick listen to ? That would be your best bet other than taking it to a garage.
Click to expand...
-Tom- said:
MrPT said:
Like others, from the vid I’d struggle to say mine sounds much different.

One noise I can think of as being intermittent at startup is the buzz from a loose heatshield around the cats. And something that seems to get louder as the engine warms up is the noise of the injectors ticking, heard best by winding down the window as you’re driving close to a wall.

VANOS rattle is very distinctive - sounds like marbles in a can and grows/fades between 2.8-3k rpm. It’s normal.

Basically, the thing sounds like a bag of spanners/sewing machine like all legendary engines. :D
Click to expand...

I’d only had my car a day (6-7 years ago from a main dealer ) , and dodgy wheel balancing caused those rattling heat shields to fail. BMWs fix... new catalysts, crazy!

But yes agreed, they are noisy and characterful. OP , do you live near anyone with a Z4M that you could have a quick listen to ? That would be your best bet other than taking it to a garage.
Click to expand...

Unless anyone on here lives near Stevenage / Hitchin, I don't know of any locals with an S54 unfortunately. I doubt it could be heat shields based on the vibration being pretty close to revs - but I suppose stranger things have happened....
 
alex.baker1989 said:
Simon 3.2M said:
Sounds like rappers to me but the noise / runble when revved isn't great!
Click to expand...

Rappers? The video isn't my car but mine sounds similar. Hard to describe but mine isn't as bad as the video - just a very similar noise under revs. I kept feathering the throttle and could hear it then, and under constant revs. Thing is it sounds like a vibration but I can't locate it to any specific area other than the head. The noise doesn't get louder when removing the oil cap.
Click to expand...

Tappets
 
Simon 3.2M said:
alex.baker1989 said:
Simon 3.2M said:
Sounds like rappers to me but the noise / runble when revved isn't great!
Click to expand...

Rappers? The video isn't my car but mine sounds similar. Hard to describe but mine isn't as bad as the video - just a very similar noise under revs. I kept feathering the throttle and could hear it then, and under constant revs. Thing is it sounds like a vibration but I can't locate it to any specific area other than the head. The noise doesn't get louder when removing the oil cap.
Click to expand...

Tappets
Click to expand...

Ah - makes sense. Wouldn't the noise get louder when I take the oil cap off if tappets were the issue? I've tried that and volume of noise didn't change.
 
MrPT said:
Like others, from the vid I’d struggle to say mine sounds much different.

One noise I can think of as being intermittent at startup is the buzz from a loose heatshield around the cats. And something that seems to get louder as the engine warms up is the noise of the injectors ticking, heard best by winding down the window as you’re driving close to a wall.

VANOS rattle is very distinctive - sounds like marbles in a can and grows/fades between 2.8-3k rpm. It’s normal.

Basically, the thing sounds like a bag of spanners/sewing machine like all legendary engines. :D
Click to expand...

Doesn't sound like marbles in a can as such, but does sound rotational at lower revs if that makes sense. I can't tell if it's coming from near the throttle bodies or from the front of the engine near the Vanos unit. It sounds like it's in that general area though but as always, these noises travel which makes it harder to locate.

Spoke to the indy this morning and they're fully booked next week. Will try driving it gently to see how it behaves, but there's been no change in performance.
 
Anyone who's owned a S54 any length of time develops a ear for how theirs sounds.
If you haven't owned it long certain noises can be alarming.
You really need to offer up a vid of your own car as opposed to a forum diagnostic on a unconnected YouTube clip.
Few basic things to ask yourself Re your car
1) last valve clearance check?
2) who carried out the check & did they actually do it?
3) oil, , as in last changed , what spec & is level correct.
 
alex.baker1989 said:
-Tom- said:
MrPT said:
Like others, from the vid I’d struggle to say mine sounds much different.

One noise I can think of as being intermittent at startup is the buzz from a loose heatshield around the cats. And something that seems to get louder as the engine warms up is the noise of the injectors ticking, heard best by winding down the window as you’re driving close to a wall.

VANOS rattle is very distinctive - sounds like marbles in a can and grows/fades between 2.8-3k rpm. It’s normal.

Basically, the thing sounds like a bag of spanners/sewing machine like all legendary engines. :D
Click to expand...

I’d only had my car a day (6-7 years ago from a main dealer ) , and dodgy wheel balancing caused those rattling heat shields to fail. BMWs fix... new catalysts, crazy!

But yes agreed, they are noisy and characterful. OP , do you live near anyone with a Z4M that you could have a quick listen to ? That would be your best bet other than taking it to a garage.
Click to expand...
-Tom- said:
MrPT said:
Like others, from the vid I’d struggle to say mine sounds much different.

One noise I can think of as being intermittent at startup is the buzz from a loose heatshield around the cats. And something that seems to get louder as the engine warms up is the noise of the injectors ticking, heard best by winding down the window as you’re driving close to a wall.

VANOS rattle is very distinctive - sounds like marbles in a can and grows/fades between 2.8-3k rpm. It’s normal.

Basically, the thing sounds like a bag of spanners/sewing machine like all legendary engines. :D
Click to expand...

I’d only had my car a day (6-7 years ago from a main dealer ) , and dodgy wheel balancing caused those rattling heat shields to fail. BMWs fix... new catalysts, crazy!

But yes agreed, they are noisy and characterful. OP , do you live near anyone with a Z4M that you could have a quick listen to ? That would be your best bet other than taking it to a garage.
Click to expand...

Unless anyone on here lives near Stevenage / Hitchin, I don't know of any locals with an S54 unfortunately. I doubt it could be heat shields based on the vibration being pretty close to revs - but I suppose stranger things have happened....
Click to expand...
I'm not far away mate if you want me to have a listen? Work in stevo :thumbsup:
 
Bag of spanners.... do love that comment when it comes up.

Fortunately mine’s reasonably quiet until stirred - then she sounds almost like in-car footage of a Touring car, with her mechanical whirring & singing.

It’s what makes them (to me) so enjoyable, being a throwback to the days when cars weren’t so cosseted

If she pulls like a train, runs evenly & doesn’t smoke, certainly ask for a second opinion though feel you’re ok
 
RedUn said:
alex.baker1989 said:
-Tom- said:
I’d only had my car a day (6-7 years ago from a main dealer ) , and dodgy wheel balancing caused those rattling heat shields to fail. BMWs fix... new catalysts, crazy!

But yes agreed, they are noisy and characterful. OP , do you live near anyone with a Z4M that you could have a quick listen to ? That would be your best bet other than taking it to a garage.
Click to expand...
-Tom- said:
I’d only had my car a day (6-7 years ago from a main dealer ) , and dodgy wheel balancing caused those rattling heat shields to fail. BMWs fix... new catalysts, crazy!

But yes agreed, they are noisy and characterful. OP , do you live near anyone with a Z4M that you could have a quick listen to ? That would be your best bet other than taking it to a garage.
Click to expand...

Unless anyone on here lives near Stevenage / Hitchin, I don't know of any locals with an S54 unfortunately. I doubt it could be heat shields based on the vibration being pretty close to revs - but I suppose stranger things have happened....
Click to expand...
I'm not far away mate if you want me to have a listen? Work in stevo :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Yes please! Where do you work?
 
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