BMW 1 series engine rattle

[genetic]

Hey guys,

When I start me car the engine is quiet - idles perfectly when it's cold, but after driving for a while, especially in stop start traffic, the engine rattles, sounds almost like a loose ball bearing shaking around in there somewhere. If I rev the engine, the sound goes away.
It's only really there when its idling.

Has anyone else experienced this before?

 

[danSA]

No real mechanical knowledge, but sounds like hydraulic lifters. Had similar issue with my Hyundai Elantra.

 

[Die_Miek]

the car is mis-firing. get a diagnostic done/your codes read.

it might be your airflow meter/oxygen sensors or a vacuum leak.

also check www.bmwfanatics.co.za you will get lots of info there.

 

[ponder]

the car is mis-firing.

His description does not sound like a misfire.

 

[Die_Miek]

His description does not sound like a misfire.

not misfiring all the time, but when it does that shaking it is misfiring at that specific moment.

what 1 series do you have? if its a 118/120 you might have the n42 engine.

 

[Stokstert]

low oil pressure?

 

[Fiza]

No real mechanical knowledge, but sounds like hydraulic lifters. Had similar issue with my Hyundai Elantra.

it won't be lifters, they just make a slight sound but doesn't sound like a rattle. i had a similar problem with my bmw, we found out there was water in the petrol tank and that was causing the idling to play up a bit which caused the engine to shake like it was going to cut out

 

[Rickster]

Engine/gearbox mountings?

 

[genetic]

Been doing some digging on the web and found a lot of people with exactly the same issue. A lot of people say that BMW's Direct Injection engines make a diesel type sound when idling, but I'm not convinced.

Then a lot of others say that the chain tensioner is the culprit. Most cars who experienced this issue were all low mileage vehicles who's chain tensioners were causing a rattle type sound. My car has just come back from it's service, but I'll get it checked out.

 

[froot]

Been doing some digging on the web and found a lot of people with exactly the same issue. A lot of people say that BMW's Direct Injection engines make a diesel type sound when idling, but I'm not convinced.

Then a lot of others say that the chain tensioner is the culprit. Most cars who experienced this issue were all low mileage vehicles who's chain tensioners were causing a rattle type sound. My car has just come back from it's service, but I'll get it checked out.

Just take it back and ask them to take a look at it.

I have noticed a rattle or two with my 1 series but never anything in the engine, and it's sitting on around 80'000km now. I do however find the engine to be much noisier than the Merc.

 

[Tim182]

Hey guys,

When I start me car the engine is quiet - idles perfectly when it's cold, but after driving for a while, especially in stop start traffic, the engine rattles, sounds almost like a loose ball bearing shaking around in there somewhere. If I rev the engine, the sound goes away.
It's only really there when its idling.

Has anyone else experienced this before?

Sounds like one of the coils is gone. Happens frequently, one of the cylinders is misfiring and you will have a slight loss of power. Nothing too serious if you get it sorted soon. Book it in, shouldn't take more than a day and is covered on motorplan

 

[theuns_lindeque]

Is it not the clutch release bearing? Sounds exactly like to problem I had with my 1er. It's fine when the engine/gearbox is cold but after warming up it gets noisy, especially noisy in hot weather. BMW replaced my clutch under motorplan about 6 months ago and haven't heard any noises since.

 

[genetic]

Sounds like one of the coils is gone. Happens frequently, one of the cylinders is misfiring and you will have a slight loss of power. Nothing too serious if you get it sorted soon. Book it in, shouldn't take more than a day and is covered on motorplan

Surely diagnostics would have picked this up when it went in for it's service?

Is it not the clutch release bearing? Sounds exactly like to problem I had with my 1er. It's fine when the engine/gearbox is cold but after warming up it gets noisy, especially noisy in hot weather. BMW replaced my clutch under motorplan about 6 months ago and haven't heard any noises since.

Could be - I must have it checked. Did the noise disappear when you put your foot on the clutch?

 

[genetic]

Further research suggests that Valvetronic engines such as mine are noisier than most, and can sound like a diesel at idle or sound like a loose rattling stick at times. Apparently this is normal.

Still, I'd rather have it checked out to be safe.

 

[genetic]

Found this: http://www.babybmw.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=21289

a google search found a few owners with the same problem (rattle when engine warm) and it appears to be a normal thing for the valvetronic engines... anyone here with the same noise?

Yes, I have this noise too, it's not particularly bad & I am sure that it is related to the valvetronic system

This car doesn't have a chain tensioner.

 

[froot]

Further research suggests that Valvetronic engines such as mine are noisier than most, and can sound like a diesel at idle or sound like a loose rattling stick at times. Apparently this is normal.

I listened to the BMW idle now now and I do agree with a "diesel engine sound", although a modern diesel, and not a bakkie at that

 

[theuns_lindeque]

Could be - I must have it checked. Did the noise disappear when you put your foot on the clutch?

Yes, the noise disappears when you press the clutch in.

 

[Tim182]

Surely diagnostics would have picked this up when it went in for it's service?

Nope... Not always. But after reading your post again I also think it's the clutch release

 

[Toyo]

I had a BMW series for 5 years and never experienced this problem. However, it sounds similar to my 320D... Hmmm...