What is this sound my M3 makes on startup?

Skippy989 · 09-02-2011, 02:42 PM

Starting a couple of months ago my M3 has been making a metalic click or clunk sound on cold starts right after the engine turns over. It only happens when the car is cold and the car performs as it should in every other way.

I recorded several start ups and posted them to youtube here:

I am curious as to what you guys think it might be.

mr_yogi · 09-02-2011, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy989

Starting a couple of months ago my M3 has been making a metalic click or clunk sound on cold starts right after the engine turns over. It only happens when the car is cold and the car performs as it should in every other way.

I recorded several start ups and posted them to youtube here:

I am curious as to what you guys think it might be.

Sounds pretty normal to me.

The S65 is a mean and cranky one when you first wake her up. Just give her a little bit (usually around 30secs) and she calm down. Then you can ride her all day (and night) long...

ES_TRADER · 09-02-2011, 02:53 PM

My 2011 does EXACTLY the same thing ever since day 1...more pronounced after not driving for a whole week...i presume it to be normal as well

i am curious tho, to know what it is that makes that sound..

PhillyNate · 09-02-2011, 02:54 PM

It coincides with your adaptive headlights. It is most likely the mechanism that adapts them. No issue.

Yjad27 · 09-02-2011, 02:55 PM

Do you leave your car in gear when parked? If I go through my start up routine, timing coincides with taking the car out of gear or your foot off the clutch.

MRD · 09-02-2011, 07:32 PM

Have you tried a cold start with the headlights OFF instead of AUTO?

Stronie · 07-14-2012, 07:09 PM

Same thing here, Mechanical clunk from the engine. Has nothing to do with the Headlights.,
I'm still searching for a answer. Probably normal, but still want to know what it is.

mdosu · 07-14-2012, 07:22 PM

normal, mine is just as metallic. I don't think it helps that you also start in int the garage, makes the sound echo and loud.

elm3 · 07-14-2012, 07:26 PM

I think that it is the double vanos adjusting? Mine does the same thing and it sounds like is coming from the top, by the heads. It has done it since day one and 30kmiles later, still doing it.

Stronie · 07-15-2012, 02:42 PM

luis_m3 · 07-15-2012, 03:00 PM

Normal IMO

M3PO · 07-16-2012, 03:29 PM

Not normal according to BMW. They changed one of my VANOS units because of something very similar to this. Mine sound was more of a rattle than a clunk but it happened right after start just like mine. I suspect that it's the same sound I had but it hasn't developed as far as mine had (mine was fixed with ~45K on the car).

getalot681 · 07-16-2012, 04:37 PM

I'm not really sure what it is, but if you check out 0:06 the clunk seems to coincide perfectly with the headilghts adjusting downward. Same thing at 0:23 and 0:33. Is it this noise or is there anyone one I'm missing?

09-02-2011, 02:42 PM	#1
Skippy989 Private 6 Rep 51 Posts Drives: M3 Coupe 6MT E92 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Home iTrader: (0)	What is this sound my M3 makes on startup? Starting a couple of months ago my M3 has been making a metalic click or clunk sound on cold starts right after the engine turns over. It only happens when the car is cold and the car performs as it should in every other way. I recorded several start ups and posted them to youtube here: I am curious as to what you guys think it might be.
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09-02-2011, 02:53 PM	#3
ES_TRADER Colonel 344 Rep 2,928 Posts Drives: 328i, 335i, M3, 535i, X5, 36M Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: OC iTrader: (3) Garage List 2014 Ford Raptor [0.00] 2012 328i E92 [10.00] 2013 X5 [0.00] 2013 335i F30 [8.00] 1990 Toyota Previa [0.00] 1997 E36 M3 [10.00] 2011 E92 M3 [0.00] 2011 535i [0.00]	My 2011 does EXACTLY the same thing ever since day 1...more pronounced after not driving for a whole week...i presume it to be normal as well i am curious tho, to know what it is that makes that sound..
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09-02-2011, 02:54 PM	#4
PhillyNate ENTHUSIAST 135 Rep 2,097 Posts Drives: 2010 Porsche Cayman Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 Porsche Cayman [0.00]	It coincides with your adaptive headlights. It is most likely the mechanism that adapts them. No issue. __________________ "what I'm driving here...is an ending." Jeremy Clarkson 2010 Carrara White Porsche Cayman 6mt 2014 Whiteout Toyota GT-86 6mt(Sold 05/23/15) 2011 Alpine White BMW M3 6mt ZCP Coupe(forced retirement 06/06/14) 2008 Alpine White BMW 328i 6mt Coupe(retired 06/21/11)
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09-02-2011, 02:55 PM	#5
Yjad27 New Member 6 Rep 23 Posts Drives: '09 BMW E90 6MT Jerez BLK Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Miami, Fl iTrader: (0)	Do you leave your car in gear when parked? If I go through my start up routine, timing coincides with taking the car out of gear or your foot off the clutch.
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09-02-2011, 07:32 PM	#6
MRD New Member 0 Rep 26 Posts Drives: 330d E90 LCI Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	Have you tried a cold start with the headlights OFF instead of AUTO?
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07-14-2012, 07:09 PM	#7
Stronie Major 314 Rep 1,453 Posts Drives: 2017 F80M3 Comp. 6MT Join Date: May 2006 Location: Instagram: @Atlantis_S55 iTrader: (0)	Same thing here, Mechanical clunk from the engine. Has nothing to do with the Headlights., I'm still searching for a answer. Probably normal, but still want to know what it is.
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07-14-2012, 07:22 PM	#8
mdosu Banned 314 Rep 8,496 Posts Drives: Double Vanos'd Civic-M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (6)	normal, mine is just as metallic. I don't think it helps that you also start in int the garage, makes the sound echo and loud.
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07-14-2012, 07:26 PM	#9
elm3 ///M Fan 366 Rep 2,159 Posts Drives: '09 E92 M3 IB/'17 f85 X5M LBB Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Canton, GA. iTrader: (1) Garage List 2017 BMW / X5M [9.00] 2009 E92 M3 [10.00] 2004 Yamaha R1 [10.00]	I think that it is the double vanos adjusting? Mine does the same thing and it sounds like is coming from the top, by the heads. It has done it since day one and 30kmiles later, still doing it. __________________ '09 E92 ///M3 Interlagos Blue,6MT,Silver Novillo Leather,CF Trim,Premium Package,Technology Package,Cold Weather Package,Premium Sound,19"Wheels,Moonroof-Toy/'17 X5M, Long Beach Blue, Executive Package,Technology Package, Lighting Package, Driver Assist, Full Mughello Red Interior, 21" wheels-Toy/'14 535i with M Sport and 19" wheels-Daily
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07-15-2012, 02:42 PM	#10
Stronie Major 314 Rep 1,453 Posts Drives: 2017 F80M3 Comp. 6MT Join Date: May 2006 Location: Instagram: @Atlantis_S55 iTrader: (0)	<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aRUnYVulXWA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Here's mine. Interested to know what it could be? Any additional info. Video was taken after car sat for 7 days. 1st start.
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07-15-2012, 03:00 PM	#11
luis_m3 Low Pro... 35 Rep 1,067 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	Normal IMO
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07-16-2012, 03:29 PM	#12
M3PO Colonel 84 Rep 2,792 Posts Drives: '08 IB E92 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: OC iTrader: (7)	Not normal according to BMW. They changed one of my VANOS units because of something very similar to this. Mine sound was more of a rattle than a clunk but it happened right after start just like mine. I suspect that it's the same sound I had but it hasn't developed as far as mine had (mine was fixed with ~45K on the car). __________________ 2008 IB E92 M3\| BBS \| KW \| Arkym \| Platte Forme A.G. \| Active Autowerke \| K&N \| Fabspeed \| Dinan \| Evolve-R
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07-16-2012, 04:37 PM	#13
getalot681 Private First Class 3 Rep 109 Posts Drives: Car Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Oregon iTrader: (0)	I'm not really sure what it is, but if you check out 0:06 the clunk seems to coincide perfectly with the headilghts adjusting downward. Same thing at 0:23 and 0:33. Is it this noise or is there anyone one I'm missing?
	Appreciate 0 Quote