cals

530i 2004 6spd with 100K+ miles

The engine has a "rattle" noise at low rpm (idle to ~850 rpm ); it immediatly goes away above 1000+ rpm
It seems to be around the passenger side; No difference or change with or without clutch engaged
Oil was recently changed

Any ideas / suggestions?

Thanks,

mrblorry

Apparently it is a "normal" sound, if it is the same sound my engine makes. However, I thought the noise only occurred with the V-8 engines. I have a 545 with 55K and 6 speed manual, but the rattle does seem to subside after it warms up. It's annoying, and I wish I knew how to fix it!

Allen

I have the same noise...but mine goes away when I press in the clutch. Mine is an '08 535i 6-speed manual. It's made this noise since it was new...not gotten worse or better.

Mihainede85

I have the same noise but it goes away after the car warms up. 2004 530i SMG
BMW has no idea where the noise is coming from.

AchtungE60

SMG? hmmm
Be careful thinking where the sounds come from because the E60 is challenging...it's an acoustic nightmare!

Anyway I remember I had this rattle a while ago and don't remember how I took care of it....i had several rattles back in the day....I remember I adjusted the hood springs and also DOUBLE check your sunroof...Does it happen with the sunroof open? I found that the metal was rattling against the glass of the sunroof when it's closed. A piece of felt or black duct tape to act as a buffer is necessary. That sunroof rattle took me MONTHS to track and sounded like coming from every place in the car. omg don't remind me of that. lol

Mihainede85

Yeah...SMG.
The noise comes from the passenger side ....somewhere in the engine (or that`s what they think).

I had that noise coming from the sunroof too. I know it`s freaking annoying!!!!!!!!!!! Took me a while to find out where the noise is coming from. It`s only when the sunroof is tilted. You just have to press on that metal....bend it a little bit. Will go away.

This rattle noise sounds nasty sometimes when the car is not warmed up. More like a diesel.

BTW happy day today... i worked on my Mtech bumper (custom lower grill for only $10), changed front brakes -- rotors + pads + sensor (Thank you Michael), changed thermometer.

Allen

Can't speak for the OP...but the rattle I'm talking about is definitely not the kind of regular rattle that we all search for and fix with felt, tape, etc...mine is something internal to the transmission/gearbox. I've often referred to it as "gear rattle". Mine is present when I'm sitting at a redlight, car in neutral, foot off clutch. It stops completely if I press in the clutch.

Rez

Ahhh the rattle I hear when warming up the car. My mild rattling happens at idle for a few seconds and it goes away. It appears to be coming from below the engine. I asked the dealer to check it out. They said that they fixed it, but it's still around; Same time, same place. Now it's making me feel like it's just normal with all of you complaining about the same thing.

cals

Thanks all for the responses.

Will check Sunroof --although is far away from where the sound "seems" to come-- (but source sometimes is hard to pinpoint accurately)

The rattle is clearly audible when I start the car in the garage (the garage door is open) but I guess the acoustic is better; when I start the car outside (driveway), the ambient noise masks most of the rattle; is still audible but I need to 'find' it there.

Engaging the clutch makes no difference; Is my second week with the car and I'm still getting to know the sounds. I have found another potential issue but will create a different entry after doing some research on the forum.

Thanks,

AchtungE60

lol. I don't have anymore rattles I remember on my 325ci I did have a rattle and I found it at the butterfly valve in the exhaust. very annoying.
anyway good luck with everyone and finding their rattles.