Bizarre engine flutter/whistle after cold start (video)

KooksM4 · 06-11-2018, 03:07 PM

Car has 300 miles and just noticed this. It makes that sound going up and down the Rev range and disappears when oil Temp is above 160F.

Anyone know what this is? Should I be concerned?

Poiseuille · 06-11-2018, 04:50 PM

Can you hear it with the windows up? Can you hear it, and is it different if you're listening under the hood?

KooksM4 · 06-11-2018, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poiseuille

Can you hear it with the windows up? Can you hear it, and is it different if you're listening under the hood?

I can hear it with windows up as well.

RobbyMack · 06-12-2018, 02:17 AM

Sounds like the usual bmw lifter tick or whatever it's been formally diagnosed as. Search the forums there are several threads, ultimately it's normal and nothing to worry about.

KooksM4 · 06-12-2018, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbyMack

Sounds like the usual bmw lifter tick or whatever it's been formally diagnosed as. Search the forums there are several threads, ultimately it's normal and nothing to worry about.

That doesn't sound like a lifter ticking. This sounds like a flutter. More of an 'air' sound than mechanical friction.

Has anyone experienced this sound?

theroadrunner · 06-12-2018, 12:12 PM

Weird, that doesn't sound normal nor like lifter ticking. I'd take it to the dealer.

AtlantisF80 · 06-12-2018, 12:17 PM

never experienced that... time to take it in for service.

RobbyMack · 06-12-2018, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KooksM4

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbyMack

Sounds like the usual bmw lifter tick or whatever it's been formally diagnosed as. Search the forums there are several threads, ultimately it's normal and nothing to worry about.

That doesn't sound like a lifter ticking. This sounds like a flutter. More of an 'air' sound than mechanical friction.

Has anyone experienced this sound?

It was worth a shot. Sounds exactly like mine when it does it, 30k miles and not a single problem. Hope you find a solution.

Takumi587 · 06-12-2018, 03:29 PM

Is it like a whiney whistle when you start up the car? Was the engine bay washed or detailed before picking up the car?

jmg · 06-12-2018, 07:57 PM

It sounds like a trip to the dealer.

KooksM4 · 06-13-2018, 11:09 PM

I'm surprised no one on here has experienced this sound before. Will take her in this week.

Ferg · 10-16-2018, 11:00 AM

Whatever happened with this?

zillymc · 10-16-2018, 01:12 PM

Mine MY2018 with 800 miles on it also has some weird whistling type sounds. It's most noticeable when the windows are up and does change in pitch in sound through the RPM range. I can hear it at idle in gear or neutral (6MT), seems to be most noticeable at 3000-4000 rpm and changes when I turn the air on and off. It's freaking weird! Definitely will be asking about it when I take it in for break in service.

Alan l. · 10-16-2018, 01:36 PM

Sounds like it could be a noisy belt tensioner to me. Eitherway I would try recording a video of the car with your phone with the hood open during a cold start to have more "evidence" for the dealer

KooksM4 · 10-17-2018, 08:28 PM

It was the alternator pulley (new belt was also installed). Noise went away entirely after replacement.

06-11-2018, 03:07 PM	#1
KooksM4 Enlisted Member 17 Rep 38 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: May 2018 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	Bizarre engine flutter/whistle after cold start (video) Car has 300 miles and just noticed this. It makes that sound going up and down the Rev range and disappears when oil Temp is above 160F. Anyone know what this is? Should I be concerned?
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06-11-2018, 04:50 PM	#2
Poiseuille Brigadier General 5390 Rep 3,737 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 DCT Tanzanite/Amaro Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Princeton iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [10.00]	Can you hear it with the windows up? Can you hear it, and is it different if you're listening under the hood?
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06-12-2018, 02:17 AM	#4
RobbyMack Captain 739 Rep 696 Posts Drives: '16 F80 Sakhir Join Date: May 2014 Location: The Left Coast iTrader: (0)	Sounds like the usual bmw lifter tick or whatever it's been formally diagnosed as. Search the forums there are several threads, ultimately it's normal and nothing to worry about.
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06-12-2018, 12:12 PM	#6
theroadrunner Private First Class 88 Rep 156 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Comp Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Portland iTrader: (0)	Weird, that doesn't sound normal nor like lifter ticking. I'd take it to the dealer.
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06-12-2018, 12:17 PM	#7
AtlantisF80 First Lieutenant 109 Rep 352 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 / 2008 328i Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	never experienced that... time to take it in for service. __________________ 2017 BMW M3 /// Atlantis Metallic Blue / Sakhir Orange
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06-12-2018, 03:29 PM	#9
Takumi587 ///M3 Enthusiast 397 Rep 993 Posts Drives: 05' M3 and 21' Tesla Model 3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pasadena iTrader: (1) Garage List 2015 Mercedes AMG GTs [0.00] 2020 BMW M340i [0.00] 2005 BMW M3 [0.00]	Is it like a whiney whistle when you start up the car? Was the engine bay washed or detailed before picking up the car?
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06-12-2018, 07:57 PM	#10
jmg Lieutenant General 18663 Rep 14,108 Posts Drives: G82 M4C X-Drive Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2022 G82 M4C X-Drive [9.85] 2018 F80 M3 CS [9.87] 2019 i3 BEV [0.00]	It sounds like a trip to the dealer. __________________ 2022 G82///M4 Competition X-Drive - KW-HAS, EBC Bluestuff, Millway Race Camber Plates, Cup2 Connect, PSI High Flow Midpipe, Lightweight Front Lip, M Perf Flow Through Wing Previous • 2018 F80 ///M3 CS • 2016 F80 ///*M3 IG: Raging_G82
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06-13-2018, 11:09 PM	#11
KooksM4 Enlisted Member 17 Rep 38 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: May 2018 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	I'm surprised no one on here has experienced this sound before. Will take her in this week.
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10-16-2018, 11:00 AM	#12
Ferg Master of my own domain!! 153 Rep 1,049 Posts Drives: F82 M4/F15 X5 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Huntsville, AL iTrader: (0)	Whatever happened with this?
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10-16-2018, 01:12 PM	#13
zillymc Second Lieutenant 195 Rep 274 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW M3 \| Tanzanite Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	Mine MY2018 with 800 miles on it also has some weird whistling type sounds. It's most noticeable when the windows are up and does change in pitch in sound through the RPM range. I can hear it at idle in gear or neutral (6MT), seems to be most noticeable at 3000-4000 rpm and changes when I turn the air on and off. It's freaking weird! Definitely will be asking about it when I take it in for break in service.
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10-16-2018, 01:36 PM	#14
Alan l. Major General 5434 Rep 8,805 Posts Drives: 2020 F95 X5M Competition Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: United States iTrader: (9)	Sounds like it could be a noisy belt tensioner to me. Eitherway I would try recording a video of the car with your phone with the hood open during a cold start to have more "evidence" for the dealer __________________
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10-17-2018, 08:28 PM	#15
KooksM4 Enlisted Member 17 Rep 38 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: May 2018 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	It was the alternator pulley (new belt was also installed). Noise went away entirely after replacement. __________________ 2018 M4 \| 6MT
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