So here's a breakdown of the history of my car. I'll try to keep it short.
I bought the car from Jeep in boksburg, The previous owner traded the car for a jeep wrangler. I saw the car online while browsing on carfind. I alway wanted a BMW and this one was in good shape.
So the one day I went thru to look at the car and one of the salesmen got the keys for me to check. The interior an all is in excellent condition. The I started the car and naturally the rev a bit higher on cold startup etc. But as soon as the revs cam down to normal I noticed a clucking sound, I told the salesman the car must have been tuned before and I walked out disappointed.
Then I noticed that BMW is right next door so I popped in the ask if this is normal. They informed me that this is normal and this is the injectors making the noise. (I dont think that we where on the same level as to what noise I was talking about.) So I walk back to the jeep dealer and asked to check the car again. Then I started the car and the noise was gone. I take it its because the engine heated up. So long story short I bought the car. Just to be clear. I've driven a lot of car in my life, but this is what I expected from BMW. The ride is just awesome.
Since then every morning I get a loud noise and I was surprised that injector could make such a noise. Drive for 10Km and the car is silent.'
2 weeks ago I went to Welkom and I pushed the car a bit on the highway. But not like a crazy person wanting to break a car. The car was fine. On the monday back in joburg drving home after work I was taking the michelle offramp into alberton and bammmmmm. rod thru block.
After very good service and another bmw f30 to drive while they fix my car, that when I noticed the following.
1. the rental f30 pulls much stonger than my car.
2. on cold start up, the engine is very very very very silent. There is a slight injector noise, but cant compare that to my f30.
So yes, piston slap is the issue. The workshop manager from bmw alberante explained the following.
Piston slap can be heard very clearly on a cold startup and as the engine heats up the piston would expand a little and then sits a little bit tighter in the "sleeve/chamber" That way the noise would go away after the car heats up.
So fellow beemers, here is my advise to you.
1.If you hear a sound and deep inside you know that something is wrong then take your ride in for a check up. Piston slab is def a problem in some bmw's as the X5 next to mine in the workshop just had an engine replacement because of piston slap.
2. if you are still not convinced, go to a dealership and have them start a f30 on the floor and listen if your car make the same or worse noise.
I did this today at alberante and they started a new f30 320i and the car is dead silent.
Thank for all the support and good luck to those of you with possibly the same issue.
I still love my car a lot.:=):
oh yeah, I forgot. the new engine will be here on wednesday and should have the car back next week.
