*edit*

Doesn't appear to be vanos related. After further research it the car is displaying wastegate rattle symptoms. See post #3

2008 535xi

http://s106.photobucket.com/user/NoQ...2efef.mp4.html
Does exactly this, and under deceleration.

 

the video u posted of the n54 motor is not a good sound

It will need a new motor

not sure how your engine sounds

 

Small update.

I think I jumped to conclusions with the vanos rattle. I tracked down the rattle to the wastegate pivot arm to the rear turbo. I can see it from the top of the engine(barely, can't get my hand in there to adjust the actuator arm).

Tried to do it from the bottom of the car but the stock DP are in the way and the firewall doesn't leave my clearance to get 10mm and a 4mm wrench in there. But I did wedge a flathead in there and the pivot arm was moving around in all directions. Car has 80,500 on it. Any chance I can get the turbo swapped out? SA at BMW said that unless the turbo fails, they most likely won't get the green light from BMWNA, also they'll probably need to try the software approach first(not covered under turbo warranty) + 1 days worth of labor.

 

now that i onwed this car for a while, this is what i can tell u

thats sounds like a wastegate rattle, you have an extended warranty for 8yrs/82k miles for just exactly that issue

so make an appt and get that sorted ASAP, while u still have that warranty.

your SA is BSing you, no need for the whole turbo to fail, thats exactly when they will NOT cover it is when the rest of the turbo fails. warranty is only for the wastegate rattle and the only way to fix it is to give you new turbos.

 

So they will only cover the turbo replacement under the WG warranty extension if you have a 30ff code how up (of course they smoke test the charged air piping and test vacuum lines first) or if you have a CPO warranty and it fails the drill bit test, able to fit iirc a 3/8" drill bit into the mounting hole were the arm attaches too. Mine failed the later and my SA was able to cover it under the CPO warranty since there wasn't a 30ff code present. Other then that it will be difficult to get them to replace the turbos due to the rattling noise of the WG's.

 

So another update, and a very grim one. It seems that I spun a rod bearing. Don't have the slightest clue how, but as I was driving around with the ratcheting sound one morning I pulled out of my garage and it turned into a very loud ratcheting sound.
**I know for a fact that my wastegate actuator arm was loose because I can grab it with my finger and wiggle it around pretty easily.**

Reduced power appeared on the iDrive and I took it into BMW. In shock they called be back an hour later telling me the oil filter is full of metal. I went there to take a look and it was pretty sad. Oil was topped out and still had 9k until next change.

Codes indicate cam position sensor, crank position sensor and boost sensor (I think they said something about DSC also) all throwing a CEL.

Kind of sad to see a motor "go" at 81k, but I think I'm done with turbo cars for a long time. BMW wanted $19k for the install of a refurb motor.

 

What's the salvage value of the car as-is?

 

Traded it in for $7k.

Broke it down like this.. Auction price ~11k...
$3500 for an ebay motor, plus $3000 avg for labor and misc parts.. doesn't net me much, so I got rid of it as fast as I could.