engine noise??

[jonathan4780]

hello guys im new to the m3 family and started up this morning and it sounds like that i did some research and is possible is a vanos problem? i attached a video link

[Arith2]

Is your car stock?

[heinzboehmer]

hello guys im new to the m3 family and started up this morning and it sounds like that i did some research and is possible is a vanos problem? i attached a video link

Doesn't sound like VANOS to me, that sound is more of a rattle, think marbles in a can. Any codes? Check engine light?

[beefaroni]

I personally would check the cam bolts and exhaust cam tab before driving it again. I did the VANOS lockdown over the winter and while researching, it seemed like the videos of cars that sounded like yours ended up having loose cam bolts. While you are in there, check to see if the timing chain guide under the exhaust cam is broken. They usually are.

If you are unfamiliar with the exhaust tab breakage and cam bolts working loose, just know that these problems can lead to munched valves.

I would at very least pull the valve cover and check the ends of the cam bolts. The exhaust tab is also visible at the same time.

I dont want to contribute to anxiety and fear-mongering so hopefully other experienced S54 folk can chime in to agree or tell me to GTFO

[Arith2]

My M3 with 66k miles on it. Don't have this engine anymore thankfully.

[heinzboehmer]

I did my VANOS at 113k. The exhaust hub was perfect and no bolts were loose. As far as I know, no other VANOS work had been done to this car. Don't want to make it seems like this is not a problem, it definitely is, but the prevalence of these issues seems to vary quite a bit from car to car.

[Arith2]

Had one with 100k that was perfect also.

[jonathan4780]

Is your car stock?

hi thanks for replying yes car is complete stock

[jonathan4780]

Doesn't sound like VANOS to me, that sound is more of a rattle, think marbles in a can. Any codes? Check engine light?

hi no check engine light no codes

[jonathan4780]

I personally would check the cam bolts and exhaust cam tab before driving it again. I did the VANOS lockdown over the winter and while researching, it seemed like the videos of cars that sounded like yours ended up having loose cam bolts. While you are in there, check to see if the timing chain guide under the exhaust cam is broken. They usually are.

If you are unfamiliar with the exhaust tab breakage and cam bolts working loose, just know that these problems can lead to munched valves.

I would at very least pull the valve cover and check the ends of the cam bolts. The exhaust tab is also visible at the same time.

I dont want to contribute to anxiety and fear-mongering so hopefully other experienced S54 folk can chime in to agree or tell me to GTFO

thanks for the info i will definitely look into that!!

[Arith2]

I don't think exhaust tabs will cause this. They have a rattle at increased rpm. I didn't hear a rattle. I heard maybe an old pulley and a normal cold start. Did you start the engine cold? Let it warm up and take a video

[jonathan4780]

I don't think exhaust tabs will cause this. They have a rattle at increased rpm. I didn't hear a rattle. I heard maybe an old pulley and a normal cold start. Did you start the engine cold? Let it warm up and take a video

hi
thanks for your help

https://youtu.be/NFqmS0Qvgdc

[Arith2]

hi
thanks for your help
https://youtu.be/NFqmS0Qvgdc

I definitely hear it what you mean. I thought maybe the camera was picking up the exhaust but man that's not it. You need to pull that valve cover and take a look.

[SG/IRM3]

I had five bolts on the intake can sprocket cut in half with the sixth one cut half way thru and it made very little noise,just a faint whirring sound when idling. It didn't sound like the OP's video at all. I agree he should pull the valve cover and check the cam bolts to be sure. The video sounds more like bearings in a pulley or something similar. I would definitely check it out.

[Arith2]

It does sound like a pulley is bad but the real problem is that loud noise. It may be the bottom end regretfully. I compared your video to another rod knock video on our car. The frequency is the same. The camshafts rotate half the speed of the crank which is why I wanted verify. You need to check your oil. I would not run the car at all until this is fixed. Tow it if you aren't a DIYer.