Rattle

[bfi2906]

I know this has been mentioned elsewhere, but i can't find anything conclusive.

When I turn my car off, without the clutch depressed, there's a terrible rattling sound comes from the engine bay. It sounds mechanical, not plastic.

If I depress the clutch and turn it off, there's no noise.

Anyone got any ideas?

[Gumball]

Its normal - dont worry...

[bfi2906]

Originally Posted by Gumball

Its normal - dont worry...

Thanks for quick reply.

Any idea what it is? It certainly doesn't sound very healthy.

[TimMc]

Probably the gearbox. The Getrag box rattles unless it's under load. Depressing the clutch pedal disengages the gearbox from the engine. You should hear the gearbox rattle coming from an idling M3 with big cams!

[Gumball]

I think its the dual mass flywheel

[Guran]

If it's normal, why don't I hear this rattle on my car? Not that I'm complaining!

[dk130i]

Depending on how loud the noise is, as someone mentioned getrag gearboxes have some "rollover noise" and is quite normal.
If you think the noise is excessive it could be your clutch/flywheel.

130i models were known to have a problem with noisy clutch/flywheel. Mine was replaced under warranty.
One of the symptoms was the rattly noise when turning engine off as you described it.
On my car the noise was the worst with clutch depressed half way and disappearing completely once clutch depressed fully.

[Gumball]

I read somewhere else that its mentioned in the manual to turn the car off with the clutch pushed in.

[penny]

Yeah, you're suppose to turn it off with clutch depressed. I also read it in the manual.

[takahashi]

Clutch bearing, trust bearing.... what is that called? It is common for many manual cars.

[Zuzu]

Originally Posted by takahashi

Clutch bearing, trust bearing.... what is that called? It is common for many manual cars.

Thats all it is..Taka is correct..Clutch release bearing.. As all have said, can be eliminated by depressing the clutch before turning off..

All this said, like Guran, mine doesnt have this noise/rattle eother..

[takahashi]

Originally Posted by Zuzu

Thats all it is..Taka is correct..

Thanks . Lurking car forum sites for years actually will learn something.

[Zuzu]

Originally Posted by takahashi

Thanks . Lurking car forum sites for years actually will learn something.

My LJ GTR-XU1 had the same clutch bearing rattle back in 1979...

Amazing with all the technology, 30 years on, that some things never change..

[TimMc]

Clutch throw out bearing I think we used to call it. I replaced one on a 5spd 323i some years ago.

[bfi2906]

Thanks folks for putting my mind at rest that the gearbox isn't going to fall out of my car - I was starting to wonder...

It seems we have a concencus over what is causing the noise. What still has me curious is - how come not everyone with a manual gearbox seems to have the noise?

Maybe this is like the bonnet insulation - some get it - some don't. And there's no clear pattern.

Maybe there was a "Gearbox Rattle Delete" option that I should have selected when I orderes the car.