Dripping-liquid-on-to-hot-frying-pan sound?

[Champagne]

Hello, it's been a while...

Lately I've been noticing a lot of quality issues with my car. I'm actually starting to resent it. Basically the only upside is it's performance.

First of, about 1-2 months ago I started noticing these extremely irritating squeaking sounds from the interior, buttons are ratteling (mainly from the back seat roof lightning console). I'm having trouble putting in reverse. The speakers sounds like they are blown sometimes (Individual sound system). When I wash the car the panels (only panels on the side of the car like just forward from the side intakes, and almost at the rear) can actually be pushed in slightly and squeaks as well.

These are all quality issues in my opinion. Therefore I've started to resent my car. Like I previous mentioned the highlight was its performance, which I now fear is dangered.

In the last couple of weeks I've been hearing this strange noise when the car is turned of after a trip back from the gym or something (10 minute drive, the car gets warmed up). It sounds like somethings dripping onto something very hot. Imagine putting cold water into a used frying pan.

And today... I found something which resembled that Tupperware sound that I've been reading about her on M3Post from inside the cabin. I popped the hood and it seem to be coming from somewhere around the "fake" air intake side. When I turn the A/C off the tapping interval gets further between (slower, and slightly more subtle but still very noticable).

But this post is mainly about this dripping sound which is concerning me the most at the moment.

I've had fuel pump failure, and the car has occasionally turned itself off when listening to the radio for 3 minutes or so with the engine off.

Sick and tiered,
Champagne

[knifegun]

Originally Posted by Champagne

Hello, it's been a while...

Lately I've been noticing a lot of quality issues with my car. I'm actually starting to resent it. Basically the only upside is it's performance.

First of, about 1-2 months ago I started noticing these extremely irritating squeaking sounds from the interior, buttons are ratteling (mainly from the back seat roof lightning console). I'm having trouble putting in reverse. The speakers sounds like they are blown sometimes (Individual sound system). When I wash the car the panels (only panels on the side of the car like just forward from the side intakes, and almost at the rear) can actually be pushed in slightly and squeaks as well.

These are all quality issues in my opinion. Therefore I've started to resent my car. Like I previous mentioned the highlight was its performance, which I now fear is dangered.

In the last couple of weeks I've been hearing this strange noise when the car is turned of after a trip back from the gym or something (10 minute drive, the car gets warmed up). It sounds like somethings dripping onto something very hot. Imagine putting cold water into a used frying pan.

And today... I found something which resembled that Tupperware sound that I've been reading about her on M3Post from inside the cabin. I popped the hood and it seem to be coming from somewhere around the "fake" air intake side. When I turn the A/C off the tapping interval gets further between (slower, and slightly more subtle but still very noticable).

But this post is mainly about this dripping sound which is concerning me the most at the moment.

I've had fuel pump failure, and the car has occasionally turned itself off when listening to the radio for 3 minutes or so with the engine off.

Sick and tiered,
Champagne

You car is possessed. I have the same dripping, frying pan sound as others have. The consensus is that it is condensation from the AC unit dripping on hot engine parts. Probably nothing to worry about unless you are worried about wasting water in CA where we are in a drought

[Romo]

But this post is mainly about this dripping sound which is concerning me the most at the moment.

100% sure it`s the airco..................nothing too worry about, completly normal.....................

[sayemthree]

trade in for a Lexus. ??

[masmole]

That "Dripping-liquid-on-to-hot-frying-pan sound" you're hearing is common with all new M3s. After the engine warms up a bit, the heat from the exhaust manifold and downpipes radiates into the thin aluminum underbody "engine cover" known as the the "thrust panel" (pictured below) and as soon as everything is quiet when you shut off the car, water from the AC system drips down on the hot aluminum panel and gives that vaporizing liquid on frying pan sound. On most other cars that don't have this panel, water from the AC system just drips directly on the floor after you shut down. On the M3, it drips on the hot panel first. No worries. Enjoy your car.

(image borrowed from sayemthree's post)

[spyderco10]

Hey! I have the exact same sizzling noise! I thought my car was defective. Thank God it's normal. I also have this buzzing/rattling noise inside the cabin, seems to be coming from the rear seat area. When I drive over rough pavement, something is vibrating. I thought maybe the dealership loosened something when they installed the ultrasonic motion sensor. But maybe the car just has some rattles from the factory?

[JEllis]

Yep, noticed this in my first 30mi and summed it up as the AC condensation falling on the hot engine....normal

Jason

[e46e92love]

Originally Posted by masmole

That "Dripping-liquid-on-to-hot-frying-pan sound" you're hearing is common with all new M3s. After the engine warms up a bit, the heat from the exhaust manifold and downpipes radiates into the thin aluminum underbody "engine cover" known as the the "thrust panel" (pictured below) and as soon as everything is quiet when you shut off the car, water from the AC system drips down on the hot aluminum panel and gives that vaporizing liquid on frying pan sound. On most other cars that don't have this panel, water from the AC system just drips directly on the floor after you shut down. On the M3, it drips on the hot panel first. No worries. Enjoy your car.

(image borrowed from sayemthree's post)

Happens in all e92 335s as well........can't speak for the e90s.

[ArtPE]

clean chassis

did someone strip all the cosmoline off?

sometimes the cosmoline will make a sizzling noise too...

Originally Posted by masmole

That "Dripping-liquid-on-to-hot-frying-pan sound" you're hearing is common with all new M3s. After the engine warms up a bit, the heat from the exhaust manifold and downpipes radiates into the thin aluminum underbody "engine cover" known as the the "thrust panel" (pictured below) and as soon as everything is quiet when you shut off the car, water from the AC system drips down on the hot aluminum panel and gives that vaporizing liquid on frying pan sound. On most other cars that don't have this panel, water from the AC system just drips directly on the floor after you shut down. On the M3, it drips on the hot panel first. No worries. Enjoy your car.

(image borrowed from sayemthree's post)

[Davinhci]

Originally Posted by JEllis

Yep, noticed this in my first 30mi and summed it up as the AC condensation falling on the hot engine....normal

Jason

that's what i thought also when i heard it.

[revmmm]

I heard the frying pan noise for the first time this morning on my E93, however it was after driving it for 30 mins in the rain and parking it in a parking garage...so I figured it was just drip drying itself.