so i had the RAC guy check over the BMW M3 today, bad diff noise and he said there was a breif tappett noise when the car starts but goes away real quick. he said this needs looking into.

however, the guy who has had the car since it was two years old and still under warranty, said the took the car to BMW about this noise and they said that the car has some variable valve timing thingy system, and that it adjusts to the speed of the engine for something and that when the car starts up it takes a few seconds for the tappets to adjust oor something and is quite normal. is this total pants?

cheers

steve

If its just when the engine has started it may just be the oil pressure building up, my Z does it when starting it up on a cold day. But for a second at most.

 

As for the diff, get that sorted and check it out whether it will be covered by this warrenty. 1 problem that you didnt think of with BMW especially the sports range is the price of parts. You thought Nissan where bad. My dad has a BMW motorbike and they wanted £250 for a battery for it, £150 each for the handle bar weights £80 for the handle bar grips. After searching he got the things alot cheaper becuase most of those parts are universal. But wait untill you have to get a BMW part. You will be OK with wing mirrors though. Ever boy racer car have BMW wing mirrors :D especially Corser's. ;)

 

Stuart

i work in a garage and i have never yet heard a bmw start up and not make a slight noise from the top end even low milers, they all do it its just the oil pressure building and the top end filling with oil, i assume the car was cold for it to do this, if he has let you start it cold and let you hear the noise it made thats probably an honest car your viewing

Yes, you'll find all BMW's will seem shite after owning a zed, you might aswell buy another one.

ive got three bm's all of which have a tappity noise on start up its common on all models especially the big six block models....its the timing chains you need to be sure of but pound for pound im kicking myself for not realising wot good cheap fun big bm's are

My car before the Z was a BMW E36 and had tappet noise on cold start for a few seconds, this I found on a bit of research was normal and nothing to worry about. AUDI's are even worse.

cheers guys, this does seem to be the case, i have been advised that it maybe the timing chain. will see if the guy is willing to get the diff noise sorted then go from there.

cheers

steve

My mate's got an M3 and it had to have its engine rebuilt twice by BMW under warranty. Seems OK now but sounded like a complete nightmare. He's coming over later and I'll post the details.

 

Cheers - Gio

Mind Diff noise can be serious as in new diff!

Unless it had a defect since new it can only come from big big mileage, no oil or a very frequent standing quarter mile sprint merchant?

 

On an M3 it'll be a big sod with a LSD mech. Suppose a bearing could be on the way out but I would expect a Diff rebuild to cost anything between 50% and 100% of a Z auto box rebuild.

Willie

price from BMW to supply and fit new diff is 1282:eek:

new back box for exhaust is 446:eek: geem an i bought my golf mark 1 gti for that:eek:

serious price negotiation needed here.

cheers

steve

OK Steve, just spoke to my M3 owning buddy (1999 R).

 

The tappety-noise on start-up happens on his as well. He says that there's quite a lot of hydraulic-y things under the bonnet so you can get strange noises as temp warms up.

 

His problem was caused by stripped camshaft bearings which apparently was a known problem on this engine. There is a (normal) noise coming up to 3,000 revs which is caused by the construction of the exhaust. But his started sounding "wrong" and getting worse as the engine warmed up.

 

So he took it to local specialists who said "hmmmm - sounds like the camshaft problem, get it checked by a dealer." He did and they said "yersss, sounds like the camshaft bearings". End result - 2 engine rebuilds on warranty. (They didn't get it right first time).

 

Good luck - Gio

I've worked on bm's for years and they have a tendency to have whining diff, but its not as dear to get a secondhand one and not too bad to fit. the staight 6 3.0 single vanos variable or 3.2 double vanos all sound a bit tappetty for a few seconds from cold especially the high mileage ones but don't usually give any probs its only the delay in oil pressure or slight worn tappets.

just my two penny's worth

cheers Gio, Syko,

i may get the diff done at a later date. anyone know anywhere i can call for a second hand one?

 

at least it sounds like the tappet thing is not a problem. the guy from the BMW garage took the car out and said it was ok.

 

i may put a low ball offer in tonight and see what he says.

 

cheers

steve

There must be a few about for sale-how about finding a perfect one? or are you like me and very impatient!!

unfortunately i am very impatient and want it NOW! but am trying to take my time, trouble is i spend all my time at work surfing the net looking at cars!:rolleyes:

Originally posted by wild turkey

price from BMW to supply and fit new diff is 1282:eek:

new back box for exhaust is 446:eek: geem an i bought my golf mark 1 gti for that:eek:

 

Welcome to the world of BMW ownership.

EVO 3.2 6 speed would be nice............. seen 'em for £11k

given up with the M3 i had the RAC check, the RAC man said the chatter form the engine was def not right, so back on the hunt again.

 

may borrow some dosh so i can get the EVO:D