E46 330i 2004 Engine rattle on cold start and misfire

[menace_spv]

hi everyone.
1stly i would like to thank this forum, i have been a member since 2012. i last year bought a 330i which i have been very happy with in everywhere but i am having an issue now with it. when the problem came about i referred myself to the forum for help, and it helped me a lot. i found that the disa flap was faulty causing my car is misfire. when i checked the disa unit it was broken, i then replaced it as well as a pipe which was damaged. it was not a cheap fix. but the fix seemed to work very well. all problems seemed to have been solved.

the car run fine for a few days, it even had more power but the problem is starting to come back. same issue as before.

on cold start there is an engine rattle, if i put my clutch in the sound goes away (yes i have a manual 330i E46) or i keep the rev's up till the car is slightly warm and no sound. this morning it developed a misfire, the car actually was missing. i switched off and restarted and the mis was gone. the car seems not be to happy as normally driving i can feel it not idling right. i have done a major service (plugs replaced and all filters) but still no joy. it also feels slightly under powered.

i have tested the coils and they are all fine. it strange cause sometimes it feels fine and sometimes it does not. im not sure which direction to turn now.....i need some advice or possibility for a recommendation to take the car to someone that can help me. maybe a specialist. i love the car and have had many happy days in it. please can someone help or advise me. :blueCry:

 

[AdiS]

Hmm, this is a tricky one. I know of a couple of E46 330i's that do this on a cold start, albeit intermittently. Correct me if I'm wrong, but basically on a cold start up, as soon as the revs start to drop down to normal idle speed, then you hear the flywheel rattling quite loudly, and it goes away with a blip of the throttle?

 

[Yuben]

Moved to correct forum. :coolShake:

 

[menace_spv]

Hmm, this is a tricky one. I know of a couple of E46 330i's that do this on a cold start, albeit intermittently. Correct me if I'm wrong, but basically on a cold start up, as soon as the revs start to drop down to normal idle speed, then you hear the flywheel rattling quite loudly, and it goes away with a blip of the throttle?

that is correct. it happens on every cold started. not intermittently. the disa was replaced with original part 2 weeks ago. after having done that, i still had the rattle on cold start, but the car did not mis again and felt much better but this morning it mis starting again.

 

[AdiS]

Hmm, this is a tricky one. I know of a couple of E46 330i's that do this on a cold start, albeit intermittently. Correct me if I'm wrong, but basically on a cold start up, as soon as the revs start to drop down to normal idle speed, then you hear the flywheel rattling quite loudly, and it goes away with a blip of the throttle?

that is correct. it happens on every cold started. not intermittently. the disa was replaced with original part 2 weeks ago. after having done that, i still had the rattle on cold start, but the car did not mis again and felt much better but this morning it mis starting again.

OK well I know for a fact that it is not the DISA. Having said that, we havent figured out the cause on these other cars. If its easily reproduced, then maybe its worth giving Brilliant Mechanical a call.. send them a video clip.

 

[menace_spv]

Hmm, this is a tricky one. I know of a couple of E46 330i's that do this on a cold start, albeit intermittently. Correct me if I'm wrong, but basically on a cold start up, as soon as the revs start to drop down to normal idle speed, then you hear the flywheel rattling quite loudly, and it goes away with a blip of the throttle?

that is correct. it happens on every cold started. not intermittently. the disa was replaced with original part 2 weeks ago. after having done that, i still had the rattle on cold start, but the car did not mis again and felt much better but this morning it mis starting again.

OK well I know for a fact that it is not the DISA. Having said that, we havent figured out the cause on these other cars. If its easily reproduced, then maybe its worth giving Brilliant Mechanical a call.. send them a video clip.

i have been to them and they said its the PVC pipes that are causing the issue they also replaced coil no.3, after replacing coil no.3 no difference. that was before i replaced the disa unit. they never mentioned anything about the disa unit. i went to them before researching this forum for help. i have not had the best service at brilliant and reluctant to take my ride back to them....

 

[AdiS]

Hmm, this is a tricky one. I know of a couple of E46 330i's that do this on a cold start, albeit intermittently. Correct me if I'm wrong, but basically on a cold start up, as soon as the revs start to drop down to normal idle speed, then you hear the flywheel rattling quite loudly, and it goes away with a blip of the throttle?

that is correct. it happens on every cold started. not intermittently. the disa was replaced with original part 2 weeks ago. after having done that, i still had the rattle on cold start, but the car did not mis again and felt much better but this morning it mis starting again.

OK well I know for a fact that it is not the DISA. Having said that, we havent figured out the cause on these other cars. If its easily reproduced, then maybe its worth giving Brilliant Mechanical a call.. send them a video clip.

i have been to them and they said its the PVC pipes that are causing the issue they also replaced coil no.3, after replacing coil no.3 no difference. that was before i replaced the disa unit. they never mentioned anything about the disa unit. i went to them before researching this forum for help. i have not had the best service at brilliant and reluctant to take my ride back to them....

What is the mileage? Maybe take a video clip of the rattling, and post on E46fanatics.com and ask if anyone has experienced this issue and found a solution. I have tried to research it before and not found anything, so that would be the best bet in my opinion.

 

[menace_spv]

Hmm, this is a tricky one. I know of a couple of E46 330i's that do this on a cold start, albeit intermittently. Correct me if I'm wrong, but basically on a cold start up, as soon as the revs start to drop down to normal idle speed, then you hear the flywheel rattling quite loudly, and it goes away with a blip of the throttle?

that is correct. it happens on every cold started. not intermittently. the disa was replaced with original part 2 weeks ago. after having done that, i still had the rattle on cold start, but the car did not mis again and felt much better but this morning it mis starting again.

OK well I know for a fact that it is not the DISA. Having said that, we havent figured out the cause on these other cars. If its easily reproduced, then maybe its worth giving Brilliant Mechanical a call.. send them a video clip.

i have been to them and they said its the PVC pipes that are causing the issue they also replaced coil no.3, after replacing coil no.3 no difference. that was before i replaced the disa unit. they never mentioned anything about the disa unit. i went to them before researching this forum for help. i have not had the best service at brilliant and reluctant to take my ride back to them....

What is the mileage? Maybe take a video clip of the rattling, and post on E46fanatics.com and ask if anyone has experienced this issue and found a solution. I have tried to research it before and not found anything, so that would be the best bet in my opinion.

200 000km just went over 200 000 this week. had it since 170 000. strangely enough when i replaced the disa unit there was no flap or pin. it was removed before i bought the car and the car run fine for 30 000km. only recently has it been given me this problem. thank you for the reply's and advice. ill take a video tomorrow morning and post and see if i get lucky. never cool when you ride is sick. just stressful really.

 

[Fordkoppie]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but basically on a cold start up, as soon as the revs start to drop down to normal idle speed, then you hear the flywheel rattling quite loudly, and it goes away with a blip of the throttle?

that is correct. it happens on every cold started. not intermittently.

I have the same thing. I found 3 vacuum leaks, and thought, SCORE!!

After fixing the vacuum leaks, the car still does this. For some reason its worse now with the ambient temp getting low.

Try the following:

Remove the plug from the MAF and start the car from cold.
For some reason, my car then doesnt do it with the MAF disconnected. So one day, I fitted another maf from a car that doesnt have this issue, and it made no difference.. Still rattles one a cold start.

If your car still rattles with the MAF disconnected, it might be ignition related.

 

[menace_spv]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but basically on a cold start up, as soon as the revs start to drop down to normal idle speed, then you hear the flywheel rattling quite loudly, and it goes away with a blip of the throttle?

that is correct. it happens on every cold started. not intermittently.

I have the same thing. I found 3 vacuum leaks, and thought, SCORE!!

After fixing the vacuum leaks, the car still does this. For some reason its worse now with the ambient temp getting low.

Try the following:

Remove the plug from the MAF and start the car from cold.
For some reason, my car then doesnt do it with the MAF disconnected. So one day, I fitted another maf from a car that doesnt have this issue, and it made no difference.. Still rattles one a cold start.

If your car still rattles with the MAF disconnected, it might be ignition related.

did you ever find the actual problem? and did you ever have the misfire that develop? would you say the mis and rattle are 2 separate issues?

 

[AdiS]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but basically on a cold start up, as soon as the revs start to drop down to normal idle speed, then you hear the flywheel rattling quite loudly, and it goes away with a blip of the throttle?

that is correct. it happens on every cold started. not intermittently.

I have the same thing. I found 3 vacuum leaks, and thought, SCORE!!

After fixing the vacuum leaks, the car still does this. For some reason its worse now with the ambient temp getting low.

Try the following:

Remove the plug from the MAF and start the car from cold.
For some reason, my car then doesnt do it with the MAF disconnected. So one day, I fitted another maf from a car that doesnt have this issue, and it made no difference.. Still rattles one a cold start.

If your car still rattles with the MAF disconnected, it might be ignition related.

did you ever find the actual problem? and did you ever have the misfire that develop? would you say the mis and rattle are 2 separate issues?

Nope, no solution has been found yet on taht car.

 

[menace_spv]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but basically on a cold start up, as soon as the revs start to drop down to normal idle speed, then you hear the flywheel rattling quite loudly, and it goes away with a blip of the throttle?

that is correct. it happens on every cold started. not intermittently.

I have the same thing. I found 3 vacuum leaks, and thought, SCORE!!

After fixing the vacuum leaks, the car still does this. For some reason its worse now with the ambient temp getting low.

Try the following:

Remove the plug from the MAF and start the car from cold.
For some reason, my car then doesnt do it with the MAF disconnected. So one day, I fitted another maf from a car that doesnt have this issue, and it made no difference.. Still rattles one a cold start.

If your car still rattles with the MAF disconnected, it might be ignition related.

did you ever find the actual problem? and did you ever have the misfire that develop? would you say the mis and rattle are 2 separate issues?

Nope, no solution has been found yet on taht car.

i am on the verge of taking it to the agents....i can deal with the rattel but the mis and rough idle is what really concerns me.

 

[Fordkoppie]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but basically on a cold start up, as soon as the revs start to drop down to normal idle speed, then you hear the flywheel rattling quite loudly, and it goes away with a blip of the throttle?

that is correct. it happens on every cold started. not intermittently.

I have the same thing. I found 3 vacuum leaks, and thought, SCORE!!

After fixing the vacuum leaks, the car still does this. For some reason its worse now with the ambient temp getting low.

Try the following:

Remove the plug from the MAF and start the car from cold.
For some reason, my car then doesnt do it with the MAF disconnected. So one day, I fitted another maf from a car that doesnt have this issue, and it made no difference.. Still rattles one a cold start.

If your car still rattles with the MAF disconnected, it might be ignition related.

did you ever find the actual problem? and did you ever have the misfire that develop? would you say the mis and rattle are 2 separate issues?

No solution yet. Yes I also have the misfire:blueCry:
The rattle is simply a byproduct of the misfire. Its the clutch and DM flywheel making a racket because of the engine that is running rough.
You can confirm this by doing the following:
Switch the car off while in neutral and clutch released.... you will hear the same rattle noise when the engine comes to a halt.
If you depress the clutch while switching off the engine, there will be no noise

 

[b3rg]

Silly question, but have you had the codes read recently?

Or atleast try clear whatever is existing and then have them read a day or 2 later.

Are the spark plugs torqued to the correct specs?

 

[Leon]

Strange, my car struggled in the mornings as well.
I checked my MAF meter was unplugged, plugged it in, and the problem went away. No problem since.

So maybe it is MAF or DME related?

 

[Blue Shirt]

The rattle is just be the dual-mass flywheel that's worn, especially if it goes away when you push the clutch in.

The misfire and rough running could be due to many reasons, some of which have been mentioned (ignition-related). However, it could be something as trivial as a dirty idle-control valve or a vacuum leak. Try cleaning the ICV as well as the MAF, also test for any vacuum leaks.

 

[menace_spv]

Silly question, but have you had the codes read recently?

Or atleast try clear whatever is existing and then have them read a day or 2 later.

Are the spark plugs torqued to the correct specs?

i sent the car in when it 1st happened. disa was faulty and when replaced fixed the mis but rattle was still there. the fault before the disa was misfire on cylinder 2 then 3 then 4 and 5 and jumps around like that.
when they clear the fault codes the motor runs and idles fine. replaced the disa and car run well for 2 weeks.

i need to check about the spark plug, cause after service i been having these issues or at least problem started after the service. that would make alot more sense about car acting up.

---

The rattle is just be the dual-mass flywheel that's worn, especially if it goes away when you push the clutch in.

The misfire and rough running could be due to many reasons, some of which have been mentioned (ignition-related). However, it could be something as trivial as a dirty idle-control valve or a vacuum leak. Try cleaning the ICV as well as the MAF, also test for any vacuum leaks.

the one thing is i wish i could do all this myself however i dont have that DIY touch, i will have to send it in and give them, the workshop, all of above recommended things to look for and check. i will document all of the advise down when sending the car in for them to confirm and check....thank you for the advise

 

[Blue Shirt]

Cleaning the ICV on an M54 motor:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=901978

 

[b3rg]

Try Garage 808 in Bellville, Colin is excellent with these cars. You may have to wait a week or 2 as they are always fully booked.

 

[menace_spv]

will i damage the car if i drive the car without the MAF plugged in. i unplugged it now and the car seem to idle much better. want to see what would happen if i drove the car without it plugged in.