Need some answers!!!

[Mpower06]

Hey guys!

I have two questions which i need help with... I have a 1999 Mcoupe

1st - there is a rattling noise when i drive over bumpy roads, sounds like it coming from the rear left of the car, when i lift my handbrake up while going over these bumps the noise goes away???

2nd - Car was leaking water on sunday night and found that there was a 'HOLE' in the top radiator pipe(the big pipe), problem is i only noticed this when i saw a lil bit of steam and my car temp gauge was heading towards the 'RED':drool: now im worried if i damaged the gasket or not?:bawling: any opinions? I have changed the pipe btw...

 

[freerider]

The clunky noise is more than likely RTABs (rear trailing arm bushes). Do you find that the car wonders on the road in wind?

on point number 2, go and have your cooling system pressure tested. also just monitor the coolant for oil floating on the surface, and oil colour, if it gets milky deposits in it, you more than likely have a blown HG.

 

[Mpower06]

Its not really a clunky noise, its like a metal tapping metal noise if that helps...... But Hmmm i haven't really noticed my car wondering from side to side to be honest... il have to double check that! but are RTAB's supposed to go at 130000KM?

OK cool! Where can i get this pressure test done? at BMW? :shocked: Dam that makes me worried! il check that now actually, how long will it take for the oil to show the milkyness if th HG blown?

 

[freerider]

usually as soon as water gets into your oil, it will show.

wrt the RTABs, they are consumables really. My LCABs need replacement for the 3rd time, and I'm also on 130k kms.

 

[Mpower06]

Any Idea on the price to fix a blown HG? IF!! it is! i hope not.....

O ok i c, suspension is still stock... But was strange is that if u pull my handbrake up slighty it goes away?

 

[freerider]

Any Idea on the price to fix a blown HG? IF!! it is! i hope not.....

O ok i c, suspension is still stock... But was strange is that if u pull my handbrake up slighty it goes away?

you might find that when you pull the handbrake up slightly, you are effectively putting load on the parts, and then they dont rattle, but normally, when going over a bump etc the trailing arm can move in the worn bushing.

:rofl: I dont think you even want me to take a guestimate at the price to do HG on a M car. If I was a gambling man, I would go with anything between 15-25k for that job.

 

[Mpower06]

OOO! that makes sense... thanks! il check it out!!

:cursin: Dam i knew it..... O well! maybe i caught it just at the right time OR maybe not, we shall see! Thanks for ur help bro...:thumbsup:

 

[E46M3]

Don, you're a legend!

I have had the same sympton on my 2003 E46 M3 and it's been to the dealership twice and they say that they can't hear anything.
At low speeds and especially on paving I get the metal on metal rattling from the rear, sounds like right rear but as soon as I apply the brakes the rattle stops.

It has 100k on the clock but I still have Motorplan to 120k so I'm sure it'll get covered.

At least I can go back to the dealership and force them to check the rear trailing arm bushes out...

 

[freerider]

Under motorplan they usually replace the entire arm and the bushing also check the upper shock mounts, they are prone to failure on the e46, I'm not sure about the M though.

 

[Muney]

k@k! I get the same noise from the rear and the stealership haven't been able to locate the problem either!

 

[///M_POW]

Upper shock mounts could be the problem as freerider said ..

Or

Try adjusting your hand breaks...

 

[M.D Lamola]

Howzit guys. I need to intall a 12inch sub in the boot compartment of E46 ci and at the same time still need the boot space. i was thinking of getting a custom made fiber glass box which will be build on the right hand side taking the space above the battery compartment. Has anyone done something similar and who can i can contact around pretoria area who can do a clean job to specification.

Regards Danny

 

[zaleonardz]

Daddy,

Try Rob Savage from Motor Technique, he is on voortrekker drive I believe.

Hell of a nice guy and brilliant at what he does, tell him Leonard sent you

 

[BimmerMan]

on point number 2, go and have your cooling system pressure tested. also just monitor the coolant for oil floating on the surface, and oil colour, if it gets milky deposits in it, you more than likely have a blown HG.

A pressure test, oil in the coolant and milky deposits are not 100% full proof... I have had 2 headgaskets go on my 525I and my 740I and they never showed any of those symptoms. The 525I was pressure tested and that showed a damaged headgasket. The 740I on the other hand was pressure tested, leak-down tested etc all at BMW and they told me there was nothing wrong with the heads, yet the car kept on overheating and losing coolant all the time!!! Eventually bit the bullet and had the heads removed only to find that the headgasket had a massive split in it that had also caused the cylinder head to split!

I have yet to find a full proof method to tell if your car has a shot HG. Usually you will either use a shed load of coolant or the cooling system will hold a lot of pressure...meaning that if you open the coolant expansion cap after 2 days, you can clearly hear a lot of air escaping.

525I headgasket repair in 2007 - R8000
740I headgasket repair in 2009 - R19995

DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR IF YOU SUSPECT HEADGASKET PROBLEMS!!!

 

[Mpower06]

Well after i changed the water pipe, the water level has stayed constant throughout the day so it looks like a good sign! but need to get a pressure test done just in case!......

Praying right nnow!!!!

 

[hennie]

on the rattling noise have a look at the anti rattle clips on the brakes if the are a bit loose they do tend to rattle