335i owners check in! (turbo/wastegate rattle)

[bimmerfixr]

Wondering how many 335i owners/drivers are having a problem with turbo/wastegate rattle noises that they absolutely can't live with?

[Paperbill]

not sure about the noises, but I had to have both replaced at around 20,000 miles

[TeaRoy]

Had to have them replaced?? May I ask why? I get something was wrong...but could you elaborate? Thanks.

[Paperbill]

engine light came on, loss of power, that was all. Spent a week trying to fix it

[pambady]

'07, 335i coup, 15k miles. I had my 335i towed in May '08 after the fuel pump crapped out.When I got it back , I noticed waste gate rattle around 3500 R.P.M when releasing gas pedal. They had flashed the new software update. I took the car back to dealer and after 10 days, they replaced waste gate actuator and did some software tuning. When I got the car back, the noise was more pronounced when accelerating.
Took it back to dealer the second time, and after 3 days working on it, gave it back saying the problem cant be fixed !! They have a open puma case with BMW and would notify me when a permanent fix was available. Now the waste gate rattle is noise is even more pronounced.

Anybody heard this story from a dealer ? or recommend any solution. I saw somebody mention that they has their turbo replaced ?

[bfol627]

i have a '08 335xi. is this something im most likely going to run into later on in the mileage? i only have 1,500 miles right now. am i looking at any repairs coming up soon that a lot of other ppl encountered?

[derbim]

look below for my post entitled "heads up....."

[joec1101]

This "issue" just started occurring on my 09 335i coupe that just turned up about 2,500 miles on the clock. Two days ago I heard it for the first time. It appears at around 1500 - 1800 RPM and is much more noticeable on deceleration. I went for a road test with my local BMW dealership's shop foreman and he seems to think it is a turbo wastegate noise but wants me to leave the vehicle there so they can diagnose/repair, but I'm not sure if I want to open that can of worms and possibly make things worse. :confused After all, it isn't causing any problems or power loss (at least not that I'm aware of).

[srobmw]

Wondering how many 335i owners/drivers are having a problem with turbo/wastegate rattle noises that they absolutely can't live with?

I had the waste gate actuator issue last fall. My dealership had their ace technicians do the replacement, and the job was done flawlessly.

I could not live with the noise, nor should anyone, especially if you are still under warranty. Nothing worse than a Bimmer going down the road sounding like there's a bunch of empty beer cans rattling under the hood.:mad

[derbim]

Waste gate rattle is fixed. I guess I was one of the first. See my earlier post "heads up". Because it was such a new problem, dealer and BMWNA tried several different fixes. Eventually had the gates replaced, but the real issue appeared to be software related. After about 3 upgrades, problem is fixed. It was not crimped hoses to the actuators, nor was it the actuators themselves. I have had continuing problems with misfires, and again, software was the fix. Evidently there is a problem with earlier versions, causing, as I understand it, math errors in the embedded strings, leading to a misfire after so many miles. A new software upgrade came out in early April, and now it runs better than ever.

[Beer Goggles]

I just had an upgrade but the noise is back...along with brake squeal which they fixed before :(

[mryakan]

I just had an upgrade but the noise is back...along with brake squeal which they fixed before :(
Is the brake squeal on acceleration or when the brakes are applied? I recently started hearing some squealing when I apply the brakes esp. when almost coming to a stop. It doesn't happen often enough to bother me and I am inclined to assume it is due to residue on the brakes or some material in the pads themselves, but either way it is probably transient.

[Beer Goggles]

Is the brake squeal on acceleration or when the brakes are applied? I recently started hearing some squealing when I apply the brakes esp. when almost coming to a stop. It doesn't happen often enough to bother me and I am inclined to assume it is due to residue on the brakes or some material in the pads themselves, but either way it is probably transient.

Stopping squeal is normal and can be cured with a few hard braking attempts.

This squeal, like many complain, is a squeal while accelerating and at low speeds. It sounds terrible and isn't a normal squeal from dirty or glazed rotors.

[joec1101]

Dropped mine off today at my BMW dealership for diagnosis/repair of the noise. We'll see how it goes...

[goodstuff448]

Dropped mine off today at my BMW dealership for diagnosis/repair of the noise. We'll see how it goes...

how did it go?

[joec1101]

They had the car for a few days and finally diagnosed it as an oil line rattling against something else in the engine compartment. Once they secured the line, the noise went away. :confused So far so good...

After everything I read and having identical symptoms as others with the problem, I was damn sure that's what it was. Guess not....

I am a little peeved at the dealer, though. When I got the car back, I noticed (not until I got home of course) there is now a gash in the left front wheel as if someone ran a cart or tool or something into it and also the door sills are now scuffed and scratched from the shop techs dragging their work boots across the surfaces. :mad

[Beer Goggles]

They had the car for a few days and finally diagnosed it as an oil line rattling against something else in the engine compartment. Once they secured the line, the noise went away. :confused So far so good...

After everything I read and having identical symptoms as others with the problem, I was damn sure that's what it was. Guess not....

I am a little peeved at the dealer, though. When I got the car back, I noticed (not until I got home of course) there is now a gash in the left front wheel as if someone ran a cart or tool or something into it and also the door sills are now scuffed and scratched from the shop techs dragging their work boots across the surfaces. :mad

Its going to happen, I see the scuff marks on my car on the bottom door sill from me and the wife getting in and out.

[mryakan]

Dude, if you are bothered by this what will you do when you get the 1st ding or scratch. It is a car and cars don't stay new forever.

[Steodes]

i have been driving my 335xi since december, and i have to say this car makes some wierd noises for sure. its at 36000km's (22000 miles)

the one that i noticed the most was when the car was started below -15 celsius (+5 fahrenheit) the car would start normally and idle very high, then after a while a very loud "Ping" would come from the exhaust. i could only guess a wastegate or misfiring issue.

another noise is when i start the car, before it reaches low idle it makes a ticking noise. once low idle is reached it goes away. not sure if this is normal.

any imput?

another strange noise that im am very sure is nothing to worry about but i still think is wierd, is when your in the car with no radio or any noise. there is a faint beeping that kind of sounds like it is coming from the back seat, but i have never been able to locate the source. maybe i should make a hat of tin foil for this one? XD

sorry if i thread jacked a littlebit, but i didn't feel the need to start a new thread for this one

[tomimakay]

I took my 07 335i coupe to the shop more than a week ago. I was told every day that it should be ready by "tomorrow lunch time".. it took them 8 days to finally say you can come and pick up your car. I signed the paper work than fired the engine and noise is worst than before!!:evil2:mad

What can you do? I told them no way I take the car before they fix it... they were sorry and said they'll fix it....
Its in Dallas and the shop is BMW of Dallas.
Anybody experience with them??

[Beer Goggles]

i have been driving my 335xi since december, and i have to say this car makes some wierd noises for sure. its at 36000km's (22000 miles)

the one that i noticed the most was when the car was started below -15 celsius (+5 fahrenheit) the car would start normally and idle very high, then after a while a very loud "Ping" would come from the exhaust. i could only guess a wastegate or misfiring issue.

another noise is when i start the car, before it reaches low idle it makes a ticking noise. once low idle is reached it goes away. not sure if this is normal.

any imput?


another strange noise that im am very sure is nothing to worry about but i still think is wierd, is when your in the car with no radio or any noise. there is a faint beeping that kind of sounds like it is coming from the back seat, but i have never been able to locate the source. maybe i should make a hat of tin foil for this one? XD

sorry if i thread jacked a littlebit, but i didn't feel the need to start a new thread for this one

Turbo cars have things you aren't used to hearing.

The idle is normal in cold conditions. The "ping" you hear is the exhaust valve that opens and closes to reduce noise when on the freeway.

Ticking is normal, usually injector noises.

[john72]

can something be wrong if i am running golf tee mod, zip tie the rubber tube?

[Beer Goggles]

can something be wrong if i am running golf tee mod, zip tie the rubber tube?

No the car doesn't care if the exhaust is open it's just making it louder free'er. There really is nothing it can affect at the end of the line. Some back pressure might help turbo spooling, but I doubt anybody can tell...it opens under acceleration and closed while cruising simply to reduce noise.

[tomimakay]

I have the rattle noise on my 335 and it drives me crazy!!!!
I took it to the shop twice and after 10 days they claimed the "issue" solved. I took the car home and in couple of days I can hear it again in the morning. So my question is: Is there a permanent fix or I have to live with this (its an expensive car!!!!!!)>>>>> I don't want to and I hate it to high degree.
It was manufactured in 2007/April.. it might have something to do with it??
They changed both turbo and adjusted the wastegate 100 times...
I am wondering what else they could do this time.. or they are just not competent and I should go somewhere else!??
Any idea?
Thanks in advance,
A desperate 335 coupe lover

[Beer Goggles]

I have the rattle noise on my 335 and it drives me crazy!!!!
I took it to the shop twice and after 10 days they claimed the "issue" solved. I took the car home and in couple of days I can hear it again in the morning. So my question is: Is there a permanent fix or I have to live with this (its an expensive car!!!!!!)>>>>> I don't want to and I hate it to high degree.
It was manufactured in 2007/April.. it might have something to do with it??
They changed both turbo and adjusted the wastegate 100 times...
I am wondering what else they could do this time.. or they are just not competent and I should go somewhere else!??
Any idea?
Thanks in advance,
A desperate 335 coupe lover

Turbo cars make noises, but I'm starting to think I hear the exhaust valve and that is making more noise than the waste gate.

[tomimakay]

Turbo cars make noises, but I'm starting to think I hear the exhaust valve and that is making more noise than the waste gate.

You might be right.. but I hate to drive down a street making people think that we "just married" and hooked cans to the car!

[tones001]

I bought my '07 335i a few months ago with just under 50k miles and have noticed what sounds like an exhaust rattle under the engine compartment on cold start up as well. This all goes away after warm up, but since I extended the warranty to 100k I figured I might as well have it checked out.

I was told by the SA that it is worn bushings in the wastegates that is causing the rattle. So I figure, "fine replace the bushings." Turns out the SA claims that the bushings are not servicable and therefore both turbos need to be replaced! Granted this is warrranty work but what the hell?! Is it really possible that the bushings themselves are non-servicable or is the tech just trying to part swap since it may be easier for them? (BTW, since my car is not CPO I was sold a 3rd party warranty package by BMW). Today I was told by the SA that the company that holds the warranty is shipping used turbos from a donor car to be installed on my vehicle! WTF!! They said that there is no guarantee that these turbos are any better but regardless, they will continue to swap turbos until the problem is fixed... I am not happy about this at all.

Since turbos are relatively new to BMW I figured there'd be some kinks, but damn, I hope a permanent fix is found soon cuz I don't want to have this become a reoccuring problem.

[Beer Goggles]

The turbos are sealed you can't just pop them open. Make sure your exhaust rattle isn't making you think it's a turbo problem...most of my noise went away when the exhaust was fixed (look up golf tee mod to make it permanently open, as the master tech said after the warranty they just recommend to customers to prop it open).

[Kgriffin]

Wondering how many 335i owners/drivers are having a problem with turbo/wastegate rattle noises that they absolutely can't live with?

driving a 2009 335i that I picked up in May...no problems/noises with turbos at this time...but I will keep an ear on it...and will update you all if I have any.:shifty

[shock2314]

i just got my car back from them yesterday for that problem. it didnt seem like it affected performance but it something that they have to replace. they tried fixing it once and didnt work so they fixed it by giving me 2 new turbos.
rattle is gone.

i also heard from my service advisor that the fuel pump and injectors will have to be replaced since theres a known problem with them.

the 335 comes with internal wastegates btw.

[Jed]

'07, 335i coup, 15k miles. I had my 335i towed in May '08 after the fuel pump crapped out.When I got it back , I noticed waste gate rattle around 3500 R.P.M when releasing gas pedal. They had flashed the new software update. I took the car back to dealer and after 10 days, they replaced waste gate actuator and did some software tuning. When I got the car back, the noise was more pronounced when accelerating.
Took it back to dealer the second time, and after 3 days working on it, gave it back saying the problem cant be fixed !! They have a open puma case with BMW and would notify me when a permanent fix was available. Now the waste gate rattle is noise is even more pronounced.

Anybody heard this story from a dealer ? or recommend any solution. I saw somebody mention that they has their turbo replaced ?

Sounds like your dealer is a bunch of a$$holes. The fix after everything else had been attempted is to replace the turbos. There's even a service bulletin concerning this-showing the steps to go through with the final one being turbocharger replacement.

[stingrey27]

Waste gate rattle is fixed. I guess I was one of the first. See my earlier post "heads up". Because it was such a new problem, dealer and BMWNA tried several different fixes. Eventually had the gates replaced, but the real issue appeared to be software related. After about 3 upgrades, problem is fixed. It was not crimped hoses to the actuators, nor was it the actuators themselves. I have had continuing problems with misfires, and again, software was the fix. Evidently there is a problem with earlier versions, causing, as I understand it, math errors in the embedded strings, leading to a misfire after so many miles. A new software upgrade came out in early April, and now it runs better than ever.

Thanks for the info...it's been a year since you posted this, do you still have the waste gate rattle noise?

First of all, I just want to confirm this noise Im hearing is the same as what you are referring to - when you take your foot off the gas...there is a continuous ticking noise coming from the front right side under the hood. This does sound like its coming from under the car but I guess its not.

I took it to the BMW service and they replaced the waste gate actuators and performed the s/w upgrade which did stop the noise for like a month but now its back again. Also, once this work was done, I started to get engine miss-fire, or a pop noise from the exhaust at low rpm deceleration, mostly only on 1st gear. This miss-fire or garble noise is not present at higher gears or at least I can't detect it but very obvious when driving in 1st gear when I take the foot off the gas.

I have another service scheduled to have BMW take a look at it..but do you have any thoughts on how to remedy this? what does BMW need to do to get this fixed? Also...the exhaust itself sounds pretty soft after the work was done. thanks.



2007 335i / Sports / CWP/ Premium / Nav

[Boilers08]

Thanks for the info...it's been a year since you posted this, do you still have the waste gate rattle noise?

First of all, I just want to confirm this noise Im hearing is the same as what you are referring to - when you take your foot off the gas...there is a continuous ticking noise coming from the front right side under the hood. This does sound like its coming from under the car but I guess its not.

I took it to the BMW service and they replaced the waste gate actuators and performed the s/w upgrade which did stop the noise for like a month but now its back again. Also, once this work was done, I started to get engine miss-fire, or a pop noise from the exhaust at low rpm deceleration, mostly only on 1st gear. This miss-fire or garble noise is not present at higher gears or at least I can't detect it but very obvious when driving in 1st gear when I take the foot off the gas.

I have another service scheduled to have BMW take a look at it..but do you have any thoughts on how to remedy this? what does BMW need to do to get this fixed? Also...the exhaust itself sounds pretty soft after the work was done. thanks.



2007 335i / Sports / CWP/ Premium / Nav

Had the same issue a couple months ago. After a lengthy diagnostic process the dealership replaced both of my turbos since they determined it was a worn bushing. Funny part is that the sound is mostly gone but after a week or so came back... just not nearly as obnoxious.

[jetblack335]

I just dropped mine off this AM and received a call saying they need until tomorrow to look at the wastegate. They better fix it.

I spent too much on this car for that annoying rattling noise. Anyone familiar with California lemon law? That noise takes away from my enjoyment of the car.

[mattjw916]

Are you seriously trying to claim your car is a "lemon" after one repair? Or is there more you aren't telling us?

[alloy]

You might be right.. but I hate to drive down a street making people think that we "just married" and hooked cans to the car!

Exactly what my E93 sounds like! I thought it might be muffler or catalytic converter shields being loose.

[CuseFan]

Thanks for the info...it's been a year since you posted this, do you still have the waste gate rattle noise?

First of all, I just want to confirm this noise Im hearing is the same as what you are referring to - when you take your foot off the gas...there is a continuous ticking noise coming from the front right side under the hood. This does sound like its coming from under the car but I guess its not.

I took it to the BMW service and they replaced the waste gate actuators and performed the s/w upgrade which did stop the noise for like a month but now its back again. Also, once this work was done, I started to get engine miss-fire, or a pop noise from the exhaust at low rpm deceleration, mostly only on 1st gear. This miss-fire or garble noise is not present at higher gears or at least I can't detect it but very obvious when driving in 1st gear when I take the foot off the gas.

I have another service scheduled to have BMW take a look at it..but do you have any thoughts on how to remedy this? what does BMW need to do to get this fixed? Also...the exhaust itself sounds pretty soft after the work was done. thanks.



2007 335i / Sports / CWP/ Premium / Nav

This is exactly what I am going through with my '07 335xi. Two months ago I heard the rattle when taking my foot off the accelerator. The dealership had my car a week to fix the problem. They replaced both turbos, the CCC, the TCU and gave me the latest software updates. Sounded great for two weeks and then I started hearing it again. Only this time it would eventually go away. When I took my car back, they had a tech explain to me that it is the excess pressure being vented out the wastegates. This would only happen for 90 seconds until the exhaust port opened. He gave me two choices: live with it or he could update the software but I would lose turbo boost. I have now started to hear the misfirings you are talking about.

I guess I just have to let the car warm up before driving...that or have to bite my tongue as the guy with the Audi points and laughs at me as I pull away :mad

[M Not Z]

I have a 2009 I purchased in May that I have have been hearing a rattling sound for some time now. It's time to get it checked out. It's louder than my old TS M Roady. :rolleyes