Wastegate rattle and 30FF Code fixed!!!

[ErvGotti]

So I haven't posted on this forum in awhile, but I figure if I could help just one person I should. So lately my baby has been getting the 30FF under boost code but only in 4th gear and up under WOT. Of course I go through the usual culprits chargepipe, DV's, intercooler pipings and all seemed good. At the time I didn't want to pay for a smoke test, did the spray bottle test at home. Next I checked all the vac lines and they all seemed good, so I was at my wit's end on what might be causing this.

While this was going on I noticed that my wastegate rattle has increased, especially upon deceleration. She's always had a little rattle, but it got to the point of embarrassment where it was louder than my exhaust. Finally I stumbled across this thread

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176269

I decided what the hell I'll give it a shot. It solved everything!!! No more rattle, underboost gone, and she feels like she got that pep back in her step. I know BMW has been either fixing the issue with a "software" update that induces lag, or just replacing the turbo's. But this was such a simple fix took me 20 mins tops.

Things to note: For the 1er you'll have to access it from the bottom. I didn't need to remove the bottom shield. You'll need a small 10mm and 4mm or 4.5mm wrench. I only needed to do the rear turbo as that's the common one that fails. And I only adjusted about 2 full turns. If you do decide to do this be careful not to turn the rod too much as it will induce overboost.

I hope this helps someone.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by ErvGotti

So I haven't posted on this forum in awhile, but I figure if I could help just one person I should. So lately my baby has been getting the 30FF under boost code but only in 4th gear and up under WOT. Of course I go through the usual culprits chargepipe, DV's, intercooler pipings and all seemed good. At the time I didn't want to pay for a smoke test, did the spray bottle test at home. Next I checked all the vac lines and they all seemed good, so I was at my wit's end on what might be causing this.

While this was going on I noticed that my wastegate rattle has increased, especially upon deceleration. She's always had a little rattle, but it got to the point of embarrassment where it was louder than my exhaust. Finally I stumbled across this thread

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176269

I decided what the hell I'll give it a shot. It solved everything!!! No more rattle, underboost gone, and she feels like she got that pep back in her step. I know BMW has been either fixing the issue with a "software" update that induces lag, or just replacing the turbo's. But this was such a simple fix took me 20 mins tops.

Things to note: For the 1er you'll have to access it from the bottom. I didn't need to remove the bottom shield. You'll need a small 10mm and 4mm or 4.5mm wrench. I only needed to do the rear turbo as that's the common one that fails. And I only adjusted about 2 full turns. If you do decide to do this be careful not to turn the rod too much as it will induce overboost.

I hope this helps someone.

Glad it worked out

[ShocknAwe]

Awesome to hear it worked. You may find that it comes back after a time and that when you go to adjust it again, nothing helps. Happens to a lot of folks from what I've seen.

[ErvGotti]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Awesome to hear it worked. You may find that it comes back after a time and that when you go to adjust it again, nothing helps. Happens to a lot of folks from what I've seen.

Yeah I figured I might be on borrowed time, hopefully I'd have saved up enough for an upgrade.

[Jim621]

So does anyone know the cause of the rattle?
Is it the rod that loosens over time like that e90 post suggests (I doubt that would be the cause)?
Is it the actuator getting a leak in the diaphragm?
Is it the linkage getting sloppy just due to normal use?
Or is it the wastegate flap not sealing on its seat properly (kinda like valve regression in a cylinder head).

knowing the cause would help determine if the issue is going to resurface at some stage in the future.
Steve

[Elsabor67]

Originally Posted by Jim621

So does anyone know the cause of the rattle?
Is it the rod that loosens over time like that e90 post suggests (I doubt that would be the cause)?
Is it the actuator getting a leak in the diaphragm?
Is it the linkage getting sloppy just due to normal use?
Or is it the wastegate flap not sealing on its seat properly (kinda like valve regression in a cylinder head).

knowing the cause would help determine if the issue is going to resurface at some stage in the future.
Steve

From what I had to go through, I had to replace the rear and front actuator AND all the hoses because the rattle was horrible and mine sounded like a E46 M3 with a sore throat.

Once I removed both, I could feel the diaphragm on both were sort of weak and would not hold vacuum. That was tested on the car with Dps removed using a Vacuum tester and I could see the gap between the flap and how the wastegate could not maintain the flap closed.

IMO, I would say that the diaphragm goes weak after time. Specially if you are constantly running tunes and higher boost numbers.

nick

[ErvGotti]

Originally Posted by Jim621

So does anyone know the cause of the rattle?
Is it the rod that loosens over time like that e90 post suggests (I doubt that would be the cause)?
Is it the actuator getting a leak in the diaphragm?
Is it the linkage getting sloppy just due to normal use?
Or is it the wastegate flap not sealing on its seat properly (kinda like valve regression in a cylinder head).

knowing the cause would help determine if the issue is going to resurface at some stage in the future.
Steve

I think mine was the flap not sealing properly. The wastegate linkage felt fine and tight, so I was confused when I started to adjust it. I thought there was supposed to be all kinds of play in it, but mine did not have that. I adjusted 2 full turns anyways and now the rattle is completely gone.

[Dmak]

I did the adjust on the rear turbo. Was only able to get 3/4 turn on the wastegate shaft because I didn't have a correct wrench to turn the shaft. It took away 80% of my rattle. Can hear the turbo spool earier. I will adjust again once I got the right wrench and have time to do it.

Note: I think the rattle is from the wastegate flap wear which cause the flap to not fully close/rattle and at the end start to leak pass the wastegate. This adjustment probably take up the space that the flap worn away and help it seal again.