E46 engine rattle

[kerriannec31]

I have a BMW 316i 1.8 2000 and it has a strange rattling coming from the engine when it is idling. The noise comes and goes its not continuous thats what it does consistently all day. Here is a link to you tube with a recording of the noise you can hear the noise about 1 minute into the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw8AfmdldW8

 

[Prince]

How many miles on the clock? It sounds a bit like the chain tensioner but I'm not sure if that engine is chain driven or not.

 

[kerriannec31]

Hi there its done 101674 and it is chain driven

 

[Prince]

Could well be the chain tensioner than mate at that mileage. They tend to get rattly every 100,000.

The part costs around £40 from BMW and takes 10 minutes to fit.

 

[HDi fun]

timing chain rattle is hard to discern inside the car. Theoretically the chains and tensioners should never need replacing.

A loose chain will buzz more than rattle.

Are you sure it's not just the coolant pump?

 

[kerriannec31]

i would not know sorry.is there away i could check the noise does go after the engine reaches its running temp i have changed the oil/ ht leads/ air filter/ treated the engine with flush before i changed the oil and added hydraulic lifter cleaner its driving me mad with worry so much am thinking of selling it maybe.and looking for another one its sad really love the car drives well no problems and is a real joy to use

 

[Yugguy]

Do you have an oil pressure gauge? A tired oil pump might struggle to pump cold oil around causing a top end rattle until the oil is warm and easier to pump.

 

[Prince]

timing chain rattle is hard to discern inside the car. Theoretically the chains and tensioners should never need replacing.

A loose chain will buzz more than rattle.

My mate's E36 sounded like that when his tensioner needed replacing. M42 engine though. I think this one is an N43.

 

[kerriannec31]

hi there my engine is the e46 and it does not have an oil pressure gage hope this helps

 

[Prince]

hi there my engine is the e46 and it does not have an oil pressure gage hope this helps

I've sent you a PM with some infomation mate. That should help.