[schmidtp]

Hey everyone,

I have my exhaust flap zip tied to remain open at all times. However, especially when the exhaust is cold, I get a horrible rattle from the flap when I let off the throttle. It seems to get a bit better once the car has warmed up all the way.

Any way to fix this? Might just have to get new tips and have the actuator cut off.

Thanks for the help,

Patrick

[iturbo_bmw]

if u've done the golf tee mod, that noise is probably ur turbo wastegates..

[F80Mmm]

Originally Posted by schmidtp

Hey everyone,

I have my exhaust flap zip tied to remain open at all times. However, especially when the exhaust is cold, I get a horrible rattle from the flap when I let off the throttle. It seems to get a bit better once the car has warmed up all the way.

Any way to fix this? Might just have to get new tips and have the actuator cut off.

Thanks for the help,

Patrick

I get a rattle too on my HPF exhaust in low RPM's, I figured it was the connection between the DP's and cat back system but maybe it is the wastegate/exhaust flap? I have a golf tee mod and CANflap OFF....any word on this would be great.

[schmidtp]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgaJNA-WDOk

The noise sounds like that to me. However I just read that if you unplug the vacuum lines and it goes away that is how you can tell if its the waste gates. Mine only seems to do it in first and second (or so I can hear) and not really by revving. Will it cause any damage doing a slow drive with the vacuum lines unplugged?

[v1nc86]

Originally Posted by schmidtp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgaJNA-WDOk

The noise sounds like that to me. However I just read that if you unplug the vacuum lines and it goes away that is how you can tell if its the waste gates. Mine only seems to do it in first and second (or so I can hear) and not really by revving. Will it cause any damage doing a slow drive with the vacuum lines unplugged?

Hey, that's my video!

I just ended up getting a BMW Performance Exhaust... rattle is gone

[Ph3n0m]

Not sure what that was but the wastegate has some different function on startup. If that sounds lasts about 30 seconds it's your wastegate, and from what I've read, it's normal. I had it on initial startup when I got my car (50k miles). When I got my jb4 (52k miles) I had WG rattle everywhere and by changing the default WG position I was able to get rid of ALL WG rattle, including this pesky sound on startup. Hope this helps.

[schmidtp]

Originally Posted by Ph3n0m

Not sure what that was but the wastegate has some different function on startup. If that sounds lasts about 30 seconds it's your wastegate, and from what I've read, it's normal. I had it on initial startup when I got my car (50k miles). When I got my jb4 (52k miles) I had WG rattle everywhere and by changing the default WG position I was able to get rid of ALL WG rattle, including this pesky sound on startup. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info, Ill make sure to listen more closely. Looks like my next purchase is going to be a JB4. Car is closing in on 100K but runs great (knock on wood) but I have also read that catless downpipes and a JB4 can only help.

[007_e350]

no need to ziptie if u remove the electrical connection from trunk, its default position is 'open'

[schmidtp]

Originally Posted by 007_e350

no need to ziptie if u remove the electrical connection from trunk, its default position is 'open'

Do you think that would make a difference if this was the exhaust rattling?

I for sure need to do some more investigating just to make sure which one it is.

[007_e350]

Originally Posted by schmidtp

Do you think that would make a difference if this was the exhaust rattling?

I for sure need to do some more investigating just to make sure which one it is.

If u remove the vaccum line from solenoids feeding pressure converter which controls turbo WG, the WG will rattle rightaway - I'd check one by one just rev to 3k and see if rattle increases as RPM drops to idle (remove front turbo line, rev, put back line, then remove rear turbo line, rev, put back) ... if rattle stays the same you've a vaccum leak (check from behind oil filter to over the engine over to the solenoids then to pressure converters and from there to the turbo actuator - there's DIYs on here if u search

[schmidtp]

Originally Posted by 007_e350

If u remove the vaccum line from solenoids feeding pressure converter which controls turbo WG, the WG will rattle rightaway - I'd check one by one just rev to 3k and see if rattle increases as RPM drops to idle (remove front turbo line, rev, put back line, then remove rear turbo line, rev, put back) ... if rattle stays the same you've a vaccum leak (check from behind oil filter to over the engine over to the solenoids then to pressure converters and from there to the turbo actuator - there's DIYs on here if u search

Thanks! Ill give this a try

[v1nc86]

Originally Posted by 007_e350

no need to ziptie if u remove the electrical connection from trunk, its default position is 'open'

No. It will not remove the exhaust rattle. I did try to unplug the actuator, I did try the golf tee mod, and I did try the JB4 canflap on. I always got the 2-3 secs rattle... until I changed for a BMW PE haha

[schmidtp]

Originally Posted by v1nc86

No. It will not remove the exhaust rattle. I did try to unplug the actuator, I did try the golf tee mod, and I did try the JB4 canflap on. I always got the 2-3 secs rattle... until I changed for a BMW PE haha

I even tried spraying some lubricant in the exhaust and it seemed to help, but also wore out within a day. I still have yet to try to test to see if it is the wastegates but I will get back when I get a chance.

[bigdaddycane]

I thought I had the same issue two years ago and took the car to the dealer convinced that it was the driver's side muffler. I had heard of issues where the exhaust valve goes bad and the dealer will replace that muffler. The sound was all at that muffler no where else. Dealer checked it out, waste gates were shot and replaced both turbos under warranty.

The waste gate rattle sound was traveling down the exhaust pipes and was really only present right at the driver's side muffler.

[schmidtp]

Originally Posted by bigdaddycane

I thought I had the same issue two years ago and took the car to the dealer convinced that it was the driver's side muffler. I had heard of issues where the exhaust valve goes bad and the dealer will replace that muffler. The sound was all at that muffler no where else. Dealer checked it out, waste gates were shot and replaced both turbos under warranty.

The waste gate rattle sound was traveling down the exhaust pipes and was really only present right at the driver's side muffler.

Well that would suck, I am out of the range of replacement. Would the Wastegate rattle become less noticeable after the car warms up? That is the part that confuses me, sometimes the rattle is embarrassingly bad, sometimes Ill be in first or second rolling and giving it some gas and letting off and all I will get is my exhaust burble

[bigdaddycane]

Originally Posted by schmidtp

Well that would suck, I am out of the range of replacement. Would the Wastegate rattle become less noticeable after the car warms up? That is the part that confuses me, sometimes the rattle is embarrassingly bad, sometimes Ill be in first or second rolling and giving it some gas and letting off and all I will get is my exhaust burble

are you past 85K mileage?

mine was really bad at startup....sounded like ball bearings in my driver side muffler but did get better after warm up.

waste gate rattle tends to be worse right at start up because the waste gates are positioning themselves, but others have heard it (when bad) on light throttle or even decelerating. Truly a frustrating issue...

[schmidtp]

Originally Posted by bigdaddycane

are you past 85K mileage?

mine was really bad at startup....sounded like ball bearings in my driver side muffler but did get better after warm up.

waste gate rattle tends to be worse right at start up because the waste gates are positioning themselves, but others have heard it (when bad) on light throttle or even decelerating. Truly a frustrating issue...

Yeah, I am creeping up to 100K. Its especially frustrating to have such a nice looking car, then you pull out of a parking lot and it sounds like crap when you let off the throttle

Sounds like I need to:
1. Check my vacuum lines condition
2. Unplug one by one, rev to 3K and check for noise.
3. Possibly a JB4 could fix the problem.

[bigdaddycane]

JB4 menus 10 and 12 can help, but ultimately the actuators need to be replaced (at a minimum), more likely the turbos. sorry

[schmidtp]

Originally Posted by bigdaddycane

JB4 menus 10 and 12 can help, but ultimately the actuators need to be replaced (at a minimum), more likely the turbos. sorry

What's the best way to check condition of the turbos? Get maps?

[schmidtp]

Not sure if you all will be able to see this. I did the PE mod to my muffler and took a vid a few months back. I get some noise when letting off the throttle. This is NOT what I am hearing when I am driving though.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...65649021255650

[bigdaddycane]

Originally Posted by schmidtp

What's the best way to check condition of the turbos? Get maps?

I would do some searches on N54 Tech forum for how to adjust both settings (10, 12). A good BMW tech could also take a look at the turbos and let you know what he thinks.

Maps? do you mean menu's or data logs?

[schmidtp]

Originally Posted by bigdaddycane

I would do some searches on N54 Tech forum for how to adjust both settings (10, 12). A good BMW tech could also take a look at the turbos and let you know what he thinks.

Maps? do you mean menu's or data logs?

Yes, that's what I meant. I'll do some more research on it. Thank you for all the advice!