Dreaded Wastegate Rattle

Esteban · 01-02-2015, 11:44 PM

Not sure, but I might have it. Wastegate rattle. I've read a lot about it. I've seen youtube videos of it. Emailed my service advisor, she said it's only a noise unless it's super loud and is affecting performance. So far, it's not loud or affecting performance. Anybody else have it, or suspect they have it? Anybody had it fixed under warranty, or out of warranty?

Dackelone · 01-03-2015, 05:33 AM

Have your turbos replaced asap. Don't listen to that SA bc as soon as your car goes out of the coverage... they will want $4K to do that job. Its free right now.

Worra · 01-03-2015, 09:03 AM

I'd love to see/hear a video of yours. Can you tell us when/how it happens?

BrokenVert · 01-03-2015, 09:24 AM

Get a second opinion. I had one dealer tell me that my wastegates were "broken but not broken enough to approve a replacement". So I picked up the car and drove 20 minutes to another dealer. They ran a pressure check and the car was only hold 3 pounds of boost, came home with new turbos 2 days later.

Dealers play games. Don't let them

Esteban · 01-03-2015, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worra

I'd love to see/hear a video of yours. Can you tell us when/how it happens?

So far, I only hear it at idle. Look it up if you want to know what it sounds like. There are videos of it. That's what I'm going by.

Worra · 01-03-2015, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worra

I'd love to see/hear a video of yours. Can you tell us when/how it happens?

So far, I only hear it at idle. Look it up. There are videos of it. That's what I'm going by.

Yep, I hear mine at idle as well. Also when applying light throttle then lifting. Tech at my dealer said that it was "within normal tolerances" ðŸ˜’

Esteban · 01-03-2015, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worra

Yep, I hear mine at idle as well. Also when applying light throttle then lifting. Tech at my dealer said that it was "within normal tolerances" ðŸ˜’

Can't really hear it while I'm driving. I think the PE might cover it up.

Esteban · 01-03-2015, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worra

Tech at my dealer said that it was "within normal tolerances" ðŸ˜’

Haven't had the opportunity to let my dealer hear it yet. Wanted to hear what other members thought before I took it in.

MuNkY6913 · 01-03-2015, 11:34 AM

Don't think I can get away with getting them replaced after all the mods. I can definitely hear mine on light throttle. Used the jb4 to adjust most of it away on throttle lift. Still there on light throttle though. I was thinking about taking the jb4 out and flashing back to stock to see if they say anything about the fbo + meth that would still be in there haha. They still hold 19 psi so I have been reluctant to press the issue.

saace7 · 01-03-2015, 12:05 PM

Get rid of your tuner/flash/piggy back and usually bolt on mods don't matter. The meth on the other hand might be a give away that you tuned your car, which might cause an issue.
If you hear a rattle at start up/ idle/ or when u are slowing down while releasing the throttle then it is your waste gate. This is for the n54 with stock turbo's from the factory. If your car is less then 82,000miles then it is completely free to have them replaced. If you have a hard time with your SA, then print out those PDF's and bring it to them and prove to them they are REQUIRED to change it. I had 74k miles on mine. I got two complete turbo units. Weren't rebuilt, two brand new turbo's.

Bama335 · 01-03-2015, 01:07 PM

OP has a 2011, that's an N55 - I thought all the waste gate issues were N54?

I have lots of BOV whistle in the 135is (which I didnt have in the E88), but no rattles

Esteban · 01-03-2015, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bama335

OP has a 2011, that's an N55 - I thought all the waste gate issues were N54?

I have lots of BOV whistle in the 135is (which I didnt have in the E88), but no rattles

Wastegate rattle can happen on N55 as well.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=395781

Worra · 01-03-2015, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bama335

OP has a 2011, that's an N55 - I thought all the waste gate issues were N54?

I have lots of BOV whistle in the 135is (which I didnt have in the E88), but no rattles

Wastegate rattle can happen on N55 as well.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=395781

Yep. N55 here too.

edisapimp · 01-04-2015, 07:36 AM

Mine is wicked loud. I will try to make a video for you today.

edisapimp · 01-04-2015, 07:50 AM

This is a video of my finger. Used my iPhone with the microphone under my car so you can really hear it. My mods are in my signature. The catless DPs definitely make the rattle sound worse. I have no "performance" issues thus far. But the sound is very loud and is actually embarrassing to drive with the top down.

Pkaia524 · 01-04-2015, 09:36 AM

According to the STB the extended warranty only covers the 2008-2010 models. Does this mean BMW improved the turbos post MY2010 and the later models aren't experiencing the failures?

I'm interested because I'm thinking of purchasing a 135I but the wastegate/turbo issues have stopped me.

BrokenVert · 01-04-2015, 09:41 AM

2010 was the last year of the N54 in bulk production. This assumes that 1Ms and 335is already had the better wastegate design (the recall started in 2011 if I remember right though I didn't have mine fixed until mid 2012)

dpattana · 01-04-2015, 04:16 PM

I have the same sound as well. I have a N55.

SixBanger · 01-13-2015, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Have your turbos replaced asap. Don't listen to that SA bc as soon as your car goes out of the coverage... they will want $4K to do that job. Its free right now.

Easier said than done my friend : ) I just left my dealership after they told me they couldn't help me with a clunking noise I'm encountering after spirited driving (at idle). I was able to record an episode of the issue but they just didn't care about the video, they needed the issue to be duplicated. Here's the RO. just total BS!

Dackelone · 01-14-2015, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SixBanger

Easier said than done my friend : ) I just left my dealership after they told me they couldn't help me with a clunking noise I'm encountering after spirited driving (at idle). I was able to record an episode of the issue but they just didn't care about the video, they needed the issue to be duplicated. Here's the RO. just total BS!

Try a new dealership.

gemini.m3 · 01-14-2015, 02:32 PM

I took mine in N55, they told me it was within spec in comparison to other cars whatever that means..

SixBanger · 01-18-2015, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrilla135

I took mine in N55, they told me it was within spec in comparison to other cars whatever that means..

This just sux, I mean I have a video of the clunking noise that I encounter "intermittently" and the dealership didn't want to look at it nor help me, because they say that everyone test drove the car and couldn't duplicate issue. So, I called NA last week (Thursday) and they said they would call me after they spoke to the Service Manager. No call yet.

01-02-2015, 11:44 PM	#1
Esteban Major General 43333 Rep 7,224 Posts Drives: a slow car fast Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Dreaded Wastegate Rattle Not sure, but I might have it. Wastegate rattle. I've read a lot about it. I've seen youtube videos of it. Emailed my service advisor, she said it's only a noise unless it's super loud and is affecting performance. So far, it's not loud or affecting performance. Anybody else have it, or suspect they have it? Anybody had it fixed under warranty, or out of warranty? __________________ Last edited by Esteban; 01-03-2015 at 03:40 AM..
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01-03-2015, 09:03 AM	#3
Worra Captain 49 Rep 970 Posts Drives: 2013 135is/6, 1995 540i/6 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (0) Garage List 1995 BMW 540i [0.00] 2013 BMW 135is [0.00]	I'd love to see/hear a video of yours. Can you tell us when/how it happens? __________________ 2013 Black Sapphire 135is (526/586) 1995 Jet Black 540i Past cars: 94 530i, 95 530iT, 09 328i, 90 325i
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01-03-2015, 09:24 AM	#4
BrokenVert Resident Kerbalnaut 477 Rep 10,703 Posts Drives: Topless Brute/Hybrid Boogaloo Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fahrvergnügen/NY iTrader: (0)	Get a second opinion. I had one dealer tell me that my wastegates were "broken but not broken enough to approve a replacement". So I picked up the car and drove 20 minutes to another dealer. They ran a pressure check and the car was only hold 3 pounds of boost, came home with new turbos 2 days later. Dealers play games. Don't let them
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01-03-2015, 11:34 AM	#9
MuNkY6913 The Crowing 111 Rep 2,005 Posts Drives: BMW 135i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: State College, PA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2009 135i [8.00]	Don't think I can get away with getting them replaced after all the mods. I can definitely hear mine on light throttle. Used the jb4 to adjust most of it away on throttle lift. Still there on light throttle though. I was thinking about taking the jb4 out and flashing back to stock to see if they say anything about the fbo + meth that would still be in there haha. They still hold 19 psi so I have been reluctant to press the issue. __________________ 2009 135i : BMS JB4 G5 ISO,CXRacing FMIC Kit,Injen Cold Air Intake,Evolution Raceworks Charge Pipe,Walboro Inline Fuel Pump, E85 BMS Backend Flash w/ 60% E85,BMS Meth injection (trunkmount),BMS dual meth nozzles,Spec stage 2+ clutch w/ steel SWFW,BMS Catless Downpipes,Berk Tech Race Axleback
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01-03-2015, 12:05 PM	#10
saace7 Private 7 Rep 90 Posts Drives: OneThreeFive Join Date: May 2013 Location: the world iTrader: (0)	Get rid of your tuner/flash/piggy back and usually bolt on mods don't matter. The meth on the other hand might be a give away that you tuned your car, which might cause an issue. If you hear a rattle at start up/ idle/ or when u are slowing down while releasing the throttle then it is your waste gate. This is for the n54 with stock turbo's from the factory. If your car is less then 82,000miles then it is completely free to have them replaced. If you have a hard time with your SA, then print out those PDF's and bring it to them and prove to them they are REQUIRED to change it. I had 74k miles on mine. I got two complete turbo units. Weren't rebuilt, two brand new turbo's.
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01-03-2015, 01:07 PM	#11
Bama335 Lieutenant 27 Rep 542 Posts Drives: '13 E82 135is '13 E88 135 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Dixie iTrader: (0)	OP has a 2011, that's an N55 - I thought all the waste gate issues were N54? I have lots of BOV whistle in the 135is (which I didnt have in the E88), but no rattles
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01-04-2015, 07:36 AM	#14
edisapimp Civil Rights Activist 115 Rep 949 Posts Drives: E46 Sedan, E88 Vert Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0)	Mine is wicked loud. I will try to make a video for you today. __________________ E88 Crimson Red Vert MSport 6MT - Listing your mods in your signature is lame. BMS DCI/MHD E30 Flash!!/AA Sport FMIC/VRSF CP w Tial BOV/VRSF 3" DPs/550i clutch w SPEC SMFW/Apex EC-7s/Whiteline RSFB/E92 M3 FCAs/Bilstein B12 Pro Kit/VRSF inlets
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01-04-2015, 07:50 AM	#15
edisapimp Civil Rights Activist 115 Rep 949 Posts Drives: E46 Sedan, E88 Vert Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0)	This is a video of my finger. Used my iPhone with the microphone under my car so you can really hear it. My mods are in my signature. The catless DPs definitely make the rattle sound worse. I have no "performance" issues thus far. But the sound is very loud and is actually embarrassing to drive with the top down.
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01-04-2015, 09:36 AM	#16
Pkaia524 Private First Class 43 Rep 157 Posts Drives: 2008 128i 6MT coupe Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	Warranty coverage According to the STB the extended warranty only covers the 2008-2010 models. Does this mean BMW improved the turbos post MY2010 and the later models aren't experiencing the failures? I'm interested because I'm thinking of purchasing a 135I but the wastegate/turbo issues have stopped me.
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01-04-2015, 09:41 AM	#17
BrokenVert Resident Kerbalnaut 477 Rep 10,703 Posts Drives: Topless Brute/Hybrid Boogaloo Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fahrvergnügen/NY iTrader: (0)	2010 was the last year of the N54 in bulk production. This assumes that 1Ms and 335is already had the better wastegate design (the recall started in 2011 if I remember right though I didn't have mine fixed until mid 2012)
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01-04-2015, 04:16 PM	#18
dpattana Private First Class 36 Rep 101 Posts Drives: 2020 M340i Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: DFW iTrader: (0)	I have the same sound as well. I have a N55.
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01-14-2015, 02:32 PM	#21
gemini.m3 Major 1496 Rep 1,297 Posts Drives: 2022 M3 xDrive comp Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (8)	I took mine in N55, they told me it was within spec in comparison to other cars whatever that means.. __________________ 2022 M3 xDrive Comp 2020 M2 CS (retired) 2018 M3 Comp (retired) 2015 335i (retired)
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