Knocking from engine bay when car is OFF

F30MSport · 02-15-2017, 10:36 AM

Here is the scenario: After the car sat idle for roughly 16 hours overnight in my garage I went out to put some items in my car. Unlocked the car using the keyfob and experienced a clicking/knocking sound from the engine bay. Keep in mind the car was OFF and not running. The sound lasted for 5-10 seconds and went away. The car runs great, no lights on the dash, and never had any issues.

Can anyone weigh in while I await a reply from my SA? Is this "normal"?

Link to video:

DBACE · 02-15-2017, 11:02 AM

OP, with all the electronics and computer control, it would not be surprising if that was the sound of a mini motor bus transfer switch or relay. I always here sounds from the engine bay at shut down, but nothing quite like what you have in your recording.

Looking forward to hearing the end result. Sorry I don't have a real answer for you.

backagain · 02-15-2017, 11:44 AM

I have heard the same clicking sound on multiple occasions. Sometimes after it goes away, I can make it come back again by opening/closing the door. Curious to know what it is as well.

dsouth · 02-15-2017, 12:48 PM

It's the valvetronic motor that's causing the noise.
Mine has been replaced, went away for 3 weeks now came back.

It happens when the car has not been driven for a while.

F30MSport · 02-15-2017, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsouth

It's the valvetronic motor that's causing the noise.
Mine has been replaced, went away for 3 weeks now came back.

It happens when the car has not been driven for a while.

I'm not familiar with the valvetronic motor and what its purpose, is this noise "normal" or indicating this part needs to be replaced? This is not causing any damage or a major concern is it?

NorCal f80 · 02-15-2017, 01:08 PM

sounds like ticking more than knocking

2kaccordocoupe · 02-15-2017, 01:31 PM

I hear that after I unlock the car. I also get it after powering down the car post drive.

It's been present since factory pickup. I'm not concerned with it.

backagain · 02-15-2017, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2kaccordocoupe

I hear that after I unlock the car. I also get it after powering down the car post drive.

It's been present since factory pickup. I'm not concerned with it.

Same here. I'm more curious about the cause than anything else.

dsouth · 02-15-2017, 03:28 PM

I'm not 100 certain but I think the valvetronic motor/sensor needed to be changed because my car was brand new and I think it's looses hp.

I had it changed because as miles rack up, it'll only get worse and lead to other parts premature wear.

drexplode · 02-15-2017, 03:39 PM

Happened on my previous F80s as well. I'm curious to the explanation as well.

G35POPPEDMYCHERRY · 02-15-2017, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0-100 ninja real quick

sounds like ticking more than knocking

lmao. always great trying to describe sounds to the SA...water bottle crumbling. scraping, clicking, ticking, knocking, hash slinging slasher

jstnstr · 02-15-2017, 04:36 PM

I had this on one of my previous vehicles. I believe it is the fuel pump priming.

F30MSport · 02-15-2017, 06:55 PM

No reply yet from my SA. It's unlikely the tech will ever be able to duplicate the problem if I take it into the dealer!

Does anyone have more info on what the valvetronic motor is? Google searches has led to older non-aspirated BMWs.

sandjam · 02-15-2017, 07:01 PM

Mine has done it too. Not worried, my e93 did something similar. Something must be priming or something.

F30MSport · 02-16-2017, 10:29 AM

Update: SA said it sounds like the fuel pump turning on. It still doesn't make sense considering the sound is coming from the engine bay.

packetpilot · 02-16-2017, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F30MSport

Update: SA said it sounds like the fuel pump turning on. It still doesn't make sense considering the sound is coming from the engine bay.

Consider that your lpfp may not be in the bay and that your hpfp almost certainly ly is.

pbw · 02-16-2017, 12:51 PM

mine does it too, after i unlock the car. not worried about it.

F80 ZCP · 02-16-2017, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F30MSport

Update: SA said it sounds like the fuel pump turning on. It still doesn't make sense considering the sound is coming from the engine bay.

I saw your video in the other site. If that is what the SA told you, it still does not explain why it happens intermittently. Is he saying also that the fuel pump turns on intermittently?

dsouth · 02-17-2017, 09:16 AM

That's not the fuel pump. If it was then it would do it all the time. I'm 100% sure it's the valvetronic motor/sensor because I had the same noise and my dealer tried to tell me it was the fuel priming as well at first.

After pushing them to investigate more, they said they adjusted the sensor but it still made the noise. Then they changed the motor. Went away for 3 weeks, now if get the noise if I open the hood.

Best of luck!

Halewafa · 02-17-2017, 10:52 AM

I've been getting that noise all the time as well, no clue what it is. Happens when I unlock the car in the morning.

brian30tw · 02-17-2017, 04:12 PM

Mine makes the same noise, if another data point helps you at all.

Invictus · 02-18-2017, 01:55 AM

When you unlocked the car did you open the door or windows before the sound started?

02-15-2017, 10:36 AM	#1
F30MSport Lieutenant 131 Rep 458 Posts Drives: 2016 Alpine White M3 6MT Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: South NJ iTrader: (0)	Knocking from engine bay when car is OFF Here is the scenario: After the car sat idle for roughly 16 hours overnight in my garage I went out to put some items in my car. Unlocked the car using the keyfob and experienced a clicking/knocking sound from the engine bay. Keep in mind the car was OFF and not running. The sound lasted for 5-10 seconds and went away. The car runs great, no lights on the dash, and never had any issues. Can anyone weigh in while I await a reply from my SA? Is this "normal"? Link to video: __________________ Alpine White '16 M3 6MT
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02-15-2017, 11:02 AM	#2
DBACE Captain 689 Rep 677 Posts Drives: F80 M3 LCI Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW M3 [10.00] 2005 CBR1000RR [10.00] 1995 ST1100 [9.00] 2009 Camry Hybrid [0.00]	Motor Bus Transfers or Relay OP, with all the electronics and computer control, it would not be surprising if that was the sound of a mini motor bus transfer switch or relay. I always here sounds from the engine bay at shut down, but nothing quite like what you have in your recording. Looking forward to hearing the end result. Sorry I don't have a real answer for you. __________________ F80 ///M3 LCI SSII Lick the lollipop of mediocrity once and you suck forever.
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02-15-2017, 11:44 AM	#3
backagain just a fool 345 Rep 675 Posts Drives: 2016 SO coded M3 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: CA bay area iTrader: (0)	I have heard the same clicking sound on multiple occasions. Sometimes after it goes away, I can make it come back again by opening/closing the door. Curious to know what it is as well.
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02-15-2017, 12:48 PM	#4
dsouth Private 16 Rep 73 Posts Drives: YMB M4 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Nashville iTrader: (0)	It's the valvetronic motor that's causing the noise. Mine has been replaced, went away for 3 weeks now came back. It happens when the car has not been driven for a while.
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02-15-2017, 01:08 PM	#6
NorCal f80 Lieutenant Colonel 346 Rep 1,656 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Nor Cal iTrader: (0)	sounds like ticking more than knocking
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02-15-2017, 01:31 PM	#7
2kaccordocoupe Brigadier General 1274 Rep 4,703 Posts Drives: Former ///M Driver Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The 6ix iTrader: (2)	I hear that after I unlock the car. I also get it after powering down the car post drive. It's been present since factory pickup. I'm not concerned with it.
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02-15-2017, 03:28 PM	#9
dsouth Private 16 Rep 73 Posts Drives: YMB M4 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Nashville iTrader: (0)	I'm not 100 certain but I think the valvetronic motor/sensor needed to be changed because my car was brand new and I think it's looses hp. I had it changed because as miles rack up, it'll only get worse and lead to other parts premature wear.
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02-15-2017, 03:39 PM	#10
drexplode Brigadier General 1785 Rep 3,066 Posts Drives: G26 i4x Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Walled Lake Michigan iTrader: (17)	Happened on my previous F80s as well. I'm curious to the explanation as well.
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02-15-2017, 04:36 PM	#12
jstnstr Lieutenant Colonel 928 Rep 1,496 Posts Drives: G20 M340xi Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: SWFL iTrader: (2)	I had this on one of my previous vehicles. I believe it is the fuel pump priming. __________________ \| M-Performance Exhaust \| JB4 Map 4 on E35 \| BMC Red Panel Filter \| \| Previous: 18 M3 ZCP \| 17 M3 6MT \| 15 M235i \|
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02-15-2017, 06:55 PM	#13
F30MSport Lieutenant 131 Rep 458 Posts Drives: 2016 Alpine White M3 6MT Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: South NJ iTrader: (0)	No reply yet from my SA. It's unlikely the tech will ever be able to duplicate the problem if I take it into the dealer! Does anyone have more info on what the valvetronic motor is? Google searches has led to older non-aspirated BMWs. __________________ Alpine White '16 M3 6MT
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02-15-2017, 07:01 PM	#14
sandjam First Lieutenant 239 Rep 373 Posts Drives: 2016 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Delaware iTrader: (1)	Mine has done it too. Not worried, my e93 did something similar. Something must be priming or something.
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02-16-2017, 10:29 AM	#15
F30MSport Lieutenant 131 Rep 458 Posts Drives: 2016 Alpine White M3 6MT Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: South NJ iTrader: (0)	Update: SA said it sounds like the fuel pump turning on. It still doesn't make sense considering the sound is coming from the engine bay. __________________ Alpine White '16 M3 6MT
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02-16-2017, 12:51 PM	#17
pbw First Lieutenant 248 Rep 371 Posts Drives: bmw 240i xdrive g42 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: uk iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 240i x-drive [0.00]	mine does it too, after i unlock the car. not worried about it.
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02-17-2017, 09:16 AM	#19
dsouth Private 16 Rep 73 Posts Drives: YMB M4 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Nashville iTrader: (0)	That's not the fuel pump. If it was then it would do it all the time. I'm 100% sure it's the valvetronic motor/sensor because I had the same noise and my dealer tried to tell me it was the fuel priming as well at first. After pushing them to investigate more, they said they adjusted the sensor but it still made the noise. Then they changed the motor. Went away for 3 weeks, now if get the noise if I open the hood. Best of luck!
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02-17-2017, 10:52 AM	#20
Halewafa Lieutenant 353 Rep 431 Posts Drives: SO/SO M4 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Indianapolis, IN iTrader: (0)	I've been getting that noise all the time as well, no clue what it is. Happens when I unlock the car in the morning. __________________ 2016 M4 - Current - SO/SO - Full leather - DCT - Comp Package - Executive Package - Lighting Package - Side/Top Cameras (ED Thread) 2006 tC - Sold 1996 Silverado - Sold
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02-17-2017, 04:12 PM	#21
brian30tw Second Lieutenant 131 Rep 267 Posts Drives: F80 delivered in Munich Join Date: May 2012 Location: Chicago iTrader: (1)	Mine makes the same noise, if another data point helps you at all.
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02-18-2017, 01:55 AM	#22
Invictus Second Lieutenant 138 Rep 245 Posts Drives: 2018 M4 (Ultimate Package) Join Date: May 2016 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	When you unlocked the car did you open the door or windows before the sound started? __________________ 2018 M4 MGM/SO
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