Weird Ticking Noise: Marbles in a Can

Mean E92 · 06-24-2016, 07:08 PM

I've recent bought this 2011 BMW 335i with the N55 motor. I've grown to notice this weird sound at idle and while accelerating from stop lights. As I accelerate from a light, the ticking gets faster but goes away after around 3k RPM. It sounds like marbles in a tin can. The soruce of the sound is near the passenger side of the car. It gets even louder at the passenger side front wheel area. Can this have something to do with the turbo? If you have a keen ear you will be able to hear the ticking. It comes and goes. This is how it sounds. Tick tick tick tick.....then normal engine sound..... Tick tick tick. And no, it's not the sound of the injectors.

[u2b]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWqt-wXmYPk&feature=share[/u2b]

08TUNDRA · 06-24-2016, 08:30 PM

Check your exhaust hangers, I wenthink crazy with my downpipes adjusting them over and over again then I realized the hanger was rattling cause it was loose... i felt stupid after that.

Mean E92 · 06-24-2016, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmikhael619

Check your exhaust hangers, I wenthink crazy with my downpipes adjusting them over and over again then I realized the hanger was rattling cause it was loose... i felt stupid after that.

Was it making the same sound? Which hanger specifically?

weehe126 · 06-24-2016, 11:52 PM

Sounds like wastegate rattle, normal and annoying.

Mean E92 · 06-25-2016, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weehe126

Sounds like wastegate rattle, normal and annoying.

I though that they updated the waste gate design for the new turbo? I'm I wrong?

LGCubana · 06-25-2016, 08:05 AM

Very easy to eliminate/confirm: jack up the rear of the vehicle and tap the pipes repeatedly, up and down the length.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad E92

Was it making the same sound? Which hanger specifically?

Same thing happened to me. The installer kept claiming that it was wastegate, but it was loose pipes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmikhael619

Check your exhaust hangers, I wenthink crazy with my downpipes adjusting them over and over again then I realized the hanger was rattling cause it was loose... i felt stupid after that.

weehe126 · 06-25-2016, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad E92

I though that they updated the waste gate design for the new turbo? I'm I wrong?

I'm not sure what you mean by new turbo. However, I was just under my car and noticed the v-band clamp was prety close to the motor mount heat sheild. When I get time I'll reposition it and see if that has been the cause.

Mean E92 · 06-25-2016, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weehe126

I'm not sure what you mean by new turbo. However, I was just under my car and noticed the v-band clamp was prety close to the motor mount heat sheild. When I get time I'll reposition it and see if that has been the cause.

By "new" turbo, I meant of the N55 turbo as oppose to the N54 turbos. As we all know, the N54 turbos are notorious for their waste gate rattle. I'm getting a chance to put my car on a lift on Tuesday so I'll see what's up.

Welcome to NBA Jam · 06-26-2016, 03:01 PM

Two things come to mind: waste gates and VANOS. VANOS rattle has pretty much been resolved on these cars, so it might be your waste gates. Mine rattle when cold, which is normal

Mean E92 · 06-26-2016, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welcome to NBA Jam

Two things come to mind: waste gates and VANOS. VANOS rattle has pretty much been resolved on these cars, so it might be your waste gates. Mine rattle when cold, which is normal

I'm sure that it's the wastegate.

Hellvis · 06-27-2016, 07:05 PM

My car does the exact same noise at idle. Dealer says it's coming from the flywheel/ring gear (AT) and they need to remove the transmission to inspect it. They suspect the flywheel to be cracked/broken.

rich_mane · 06-27-2016, 07:59 PM

Hmmm.... it sounds so.... tinny. Not like its an internal engine or transmission noise. But that's just from a cell phone video so who knows.

I'd definitely lean towards a loose heat shield somewhere or another. The one above the exhaust manifold or the motor mount or something. Maybe one of the brackets holding the downpipe could be a little loose.

weehe126 · 06-27-2016, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellvis

My car does the exact same noise at idle. Dealer says it's coming from the flywheel/ring gear (AT) and they need to remove the transmission to inspect it. They suspect the flywheel to be cracked/broken.

Interesting you say this. I noticed mine gets louder when I remove the black plug on the AT. Been driving with it for 25k miles, so not sure it's actually a problem.

Mean E92 · 06-27-2016, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellvis

My car does the exact same noise at idle. Dealer says it's coming from the flywheel/ring gear (AT) and they need to remove the transmission to inspect it. They suspect the flywheel to be cracked/broken.

Mind posting a video? I really hope I don't have to take out my tranny

Mean E92 · 06-28-2016, 12:34 AM

I forgot to add that the sound is inconsistent and there only 97% of the time. I really don't know what to do :\ If it's just a sound, I'll live with it. I just hope that it's not mechanical failure.

rich_mane · 06-28-2016, 08:52 AM

I had a bad flywheel in my last car and the only time i truly heard any noise from it was during startup. The entire ring gear separated from the flywheel and it still didn't make a consistent noise like the one you're hearing. Of course every situation is different but, just adding some more $0.02

Mean E92 · 06-29-2016, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich_mane

I had a bad flywheel in my last car and the only time i truly heard any noise from it was during startup. The entire ring gear separated from the flywheel and it still didn't make a consistent noise like the one you're hearing. Of course every situation is different but, just adding some more $0.02

My issue is the opposite, sadly. The sound for me doesn't occur during cold starts but rather at times in the day.

Mean E92 · 06-30-2016, 12:30 AM

Well, today I put it on a lift and everything was tight and in the right place. So it's most likely not a heat shield or hanger.

Hellvis · 06-30-2016, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad E92

Well, today I put it on a lift and everything was tight and in the right place. So it's most likely not a heat shield or hanger.

Same for me... I'll inform you when I find what it is.

Hellvis · 06-30-2016, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad E92

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellvis

My car does the exact same noise at idle. Dealer says it's coming from the flywheel/ring gear (AT) and they need to remove the transmission to inspect it. They suspect the flywheel to be cracked/broken.

Mind posting a video? I really hope I don't have to take out my tranny

I can't post a video but it's exactly the same sound in the videos above

rich_mane · 06-30-2016, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad E92

Well, today I put it on a lift and everything was tight and in the right place. So it's most likely not a heat shield or hanger.

Hmmm. Did you run it while it was in the air and see if you could pinpoint the noise? I'm interested to know what's causing it.

Mean E92 · 07-06-2016, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich_mane

Hmmm. Did you run it while it was in the air and see if you could pinpoint the noise? I'm interested to know what's causing it.

After installing the VRSF catless dp and JB4 Stage 2, the sound is not as present and mostly there when I let the car idle in park for a certain amount of time.

06-24-2016, 07:08 PM	#1
Mean E92 Private First Class 40 Rep 177 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: San Francisco, California iTrader: (0)	Weird Ticking Noise: Marbles in a Can - Video Included I've recent bought this 2011 BMW 335i with the N55 motor. I've grown to notice this weird sound at idle and while accelerating from stop lights. As I accelerate from a light, the ticking gets faster but goes away after around 3k RPM. It sounds like marbles in a tin can. The soruce of the sound is near the passenger side of the car. It gets even louder at the passenger side front wheel area. Can this have something to do with the turbo? If you have a keen ear you will be able to hear the ticking. It comes and goes. This is how it sounds. Tick tick tick tick.....then normal engine sound..... Tick tick tick. And no, it's not the sound of the injectors. [u2b]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWqt-wXmYPk&feature=share[/u2b] Last edited by Mean E92; 06-25-2016 at 05:28 AM.. Reason: Link
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06-24-2016, 08:30 PM	#2
08TUNDRA Lieutenant 125 Rep 445 Posts Drives: 2008 e92 335i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: San Diego CA iTrader: (6)	Check your exhaust hangers, I wenthink crazy with my downpipes adjusting them over and over again then I realized the hanger was rattling cause it was loose... i felt stupid after that.
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06-24-2016, 11:52 PM	#4
weehe126 Brigadier General 1161 Rep 3,190 Posts Drives: 2017 340i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: San Antonio iTrader: (2)	Sounds like wastegate rattle, normal and annoying.
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06-26-2016, 03:01 PM	#9
Welcome to NBA Jam Is it the shoes!? 3884 Rep 5,112 Posts Drives: (Sold) 2011 E92 335i ZMP 6MT Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	Two things come to mind: waste gates and VANOS. VANOS rattle has pretty much been resolved on these cars, so it might be your waste gates. Mine rattle when cold, which is normal
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06-27-2016, 07:05 PM	#11
Hellvis New Member 2 Rep 7 Posts Drives: e90 11 335i xDrive Msport Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Montreal iTrader: (0)	My car does the exact same noise at idle. Dealer says it's coming from the flywheel/ring gear (AT) and they need to remove the transmission to inspect it. They suspect the flywheel to be cracked/broken.
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06-27-2016, 07:59 PM	#12
rich_mane First Lieutenant 141 Rep 227 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 335i Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: S.FL iTrader: (1)	Hmmm.... it sounds so.... tinny. Not like its an internal engine or transmission noise. But that's just from a cell phone video so who knows. I'd definitely lean towards a loose heat shield somewhere or another. The one above the exhaust manifold or the motor mount or something. Maybe one of the brackets holding the downpipe could be a little loose.
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06-28-2016, 12:34 AM	#15
Mean E92 Private First Class 40 Rep 177 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: San Francisco, California iTrader: (0)	I forgot to add that the sound is inconsistent and there only 97% of the time. I really don't know what to do :\ If it's just a sound, I'll live with it. I just hope that it's not mechanical failure. Last edited by Mean E92; 06-28-2016 at 12:39 AM.. Reason: Change in number of %
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06-28-2016, 08:52 AM	#16
rich_mane First Lieutenant 141 Rep 227 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 335i Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: S.FL iTrader: (1)	I had a bad flywheel in my last car and the only time i truly heard any noise from it was during startup. The entire ring gear separated from the flywheel and it still didn't make a consistent noise like the one you're hearing. Of course every situation is different but, just adding some more $0.02
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06-30-2016, 12:30 AM	#18
Mean E92 Private First Class 40 Rep 177 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: San Francisco, California iTrader: (0)	Well, today I put it on a lift and everything was tight and in the right place. So it's most likely not a heat shield or hanger.
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