Chirping noise (from turbo)?

[T1T2GRE]

I could have sworn I just saw a post about this, but I can't find it with the search function.

Under load, in 1st/2nd gear, as I accelerate I can hear a slight chirping/fluttering sound/squeal. It definitely varies w/RPM. At WOT it goes away. Performance is not effected overall.

I'll be taking it in, but I wonder if it's turbocharger related. It has a slight raspy note to it. Weird.

Anyone else?

[1SerieStud]

Originally Posted by T1T2GRE

I could have sworn I just saw a post about this, but I can't find it with the search function.

Under load, in 1st/2nd gear, as I accelerate I can hear a slight chirping/fluttering sound/squeal. It definitely varies w/RPM. At WOT it goes away. Performance is not effected overall.

I'll be taking it in, but I wonder if it's turbocharger related. It has a slight raspy note to it. Weird.

Anyone else?

Welcome to the waste gate rattle club The post you read was mine, and your description is dead on as what I experienced. What needs to happen is for the turbos to be removed and the waste gates needs to be re-calibrated. You're the second person to report this (to my knowledge).

Surprisingly this has not been a common issue since the original N54 engines from 2007/2008, but apparently the waste gates on the 1M's turbos are border-line out of spec so after some use they may start rattling.

It's a huge job involving the removal of the entire exhaust, bottom engine mount, and subframe in order for both turbos to come out - they have to be able to touch/rotate the waste gate flap during adjustment plus mount a tool that tests the adjustment by providing vacuum to the waste gates.

It takes them 2-3 days from beginning to end since they are constantly in contact with BMW NA every step of the way.

Here is my thread:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=662661

[///M1]

Originally Posted by 1SerieStud

Welcome to the waste gate rattle club The post you read was mine, and your description is dead on as what I experienced. What needs to happen is for the turbos to be removed and the waste gates needs to be re-calibrated. You're the second person to report this (to my knowledge).

Surprisingly this has not been a common issue since the original N54 engines from 2007/2008, but apparently the waste gates on the 1M's turbos are border-line out of spec so after some use they may start rattling.

It's a huge job involving the removal of the entire exhaust, bottom engine mount, and subframe in order for both turbos to come out - they have to be able to touch/rotate the waste gate flap during adjustment plus mount a tool that tests the adjustment by providing vacuum to the waste gates.

It takes them 2-3 days from beginning to end since they are constantly in contact with BMW NA every step of the way.

Here is my thread:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=662661

Hmmm, interesting. Any idea why the wastegates are 'borderline out of spec' (is that the BMW tech's speak or are you coining the term?)

Sounds pretty involved work, one definitely wants to be bringing the car fully stock if this ever occurs.

[T1T2GRE]

Thanks, 1SerieStud! Just read your post. The sound I hear in the vids is precisely what I am hearing. I will be setting up an appointment w/the dealer Monday. I will keep you posted.

[1SerieStud]

Originally Posted by ///M1

Hmmm, interesting. Any idea why the wastegates are 'borderline out of spec' (is that the BMW tech's speak or are you coining the term?)

Sounds pretty involved work, one definitely wants to be bringing the car fully stock if this ever occurs.

I was provided a full explanation on how they are adjusted, and given that there could be so much variance on the adjustment, it makes sense to say that they are borderline out of spec if driving a new car for 7k miles can get them to the rattling point - this may not be every car however, since so far only two of us have experienced this issue.

See, when BMW instructs them to make the adjustment, the flapper arm joint is rotated 180 degrees at a time in order to make the flap close flush against the compressor housing wall, always allowing a certain amount of spin with some resistance (it's a spinning flap), which has a certain degree of subjectivity. I wish there were a way for me to illustrate it...putting it into words is actually much more complex than the actual process.

[1SerieStud]

Originally Posted by T1T2GRE

Thanks, 1SerieStud! Just read your post. The sound I hear in the vids is precisely what I am hearing. I will be setting up an appointment w/the dealer Monday. I will keep you posted.

Anytime, glad I could help! mine was corrected after the recalibration.

[T1T2GRE]

Dealer has been very good with updates so far. They could replicate the sound, but though there was an exhaust smell, so they checked that first. Turns out that exhaust is fine down there (no leaks, etc.). They put a call in to BMWNA and it looks like they will be going straight to turbo replacement instead of re-calibration.

Thanks again.

[1SerieStud]

Originally Posted by T1T2GRE

Dealer has been very good with updates so far. They could replicate the sound, but though there was an exhaust smell, so they checked that first. Turns out that exhaust is fine down there (no leaks, etc.). They put a call in to BMWNA and it looks like they will be going straight to turbo replacement instead of re-calibration.

Thanks again.

Awesome! Seems like they told you the same thing I was told. They had 2 brand new turbos sitting at the dealer and they wanted to go the replacement route. Unfortunately, it's not what they want to do but what BMW tells them to do, and before a turbo replacement they were instructed to perform a recalibration first. If that does not fix it then they replace the turbos.

Let's see what the outcome is, but it seems like your car is following the steps of mine. What I can tell you is, replacement or recalibration, your car will be fixed and you'll be very pleased

[Piets94]

What ended up happening here? I'm starting to hear the crickets, but only on cold start-up and then for the first few minutes of driving. Then it all disappears and back to normal. I can hear it on light throttle and after lift-off, but it's inconsistent.
At most the sound is slightly annoying, but does it mean that the turbos are not functioning properly/efficiently, or is it just a 'noise'? I'm only at 13k kms

[1SerieStud]

Originally Posted by Piets94

What ended up happening here? I'm starting to hear the crickets, but only on cold start-up and then for the first few minutes of driving. Then it all disappears and back to normal. I can hear it on light throttle and after lift-off, but it's inconsistent.
At most the sound is slightly annoying, but does it mean that the turbos are not functioning properly/efficiently, or is it just a 'noise'? I'm only at 13k kms

In my case they recalibrated the waste gate flappers on the turbos. This is not a big deal, it's simply annoying to have. The reason it goes away after the car has warmed up to temperature is that once the waste gate flappers expand due to heat, they finally start creating a seal when shut and therefore the cricket noise goes away.

The most disappointing aspect of this is that it's been documented since the early 2007 N54's…you'd think BMW would have revised them by now. Oh well…nature of the beast, but nothing to be worried about here.

[Piets94]

My 'cricket' noises ended up being an exhaust leak from a failed exhaust manifold gasket. No fault with the WGs, just needed new gaskets and some high temp sealant. Apparently one of the stock DPs didn't line up properly with the turbo

All sorted though, no more strange noises

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Piets94

My 'cricket' noises ended up being an exhaust leak from a failed exhaust manifold gasket. No fault with the WGs, just needed new gaskets and some high temp sealant. Apparently one of the stock DPs didn't line up properly with the turbo
All sorted though, no more strange noises

OK, I updated issue #7 of the 1M issues log sticky with your info:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showp...27&postcount=1

[T1T2GRE]

Dang. I think I forgot to follow up, here. Heh. They replaced the turbo bits. No issues since, thankfully.