E36 M3 engine noise
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E36 M3 engine noiseExpand / Collapse
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Posted 5/5/2008 12:56:25 PM
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My engine sounded like a sewing machine at the autocross this Sunday. People kept asking me to check the oil. I guess it was valve noise. I think it may have been related to the very high engine temps. It seemed to go away almost completely when the engine cooled down. What exactly is the noise?
Post #487
Posted 5/6/2008 8:40:24 PM
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The E36 M3 has hydraulic lifters to keep the valvetrain quiet under normal use.  For high RPM, like running the Autocross at the top of second gear (almost every straight) we have found it best to run theh oil level st the dot above the full mark.  The helps to keep enough oil in the pick up area without the expense of having a baffled oil pan added to the car.  The problem is not so much the high revs as the hard breaking.  If you do this, you will not starve for oil or lose oil pressure, but the lifters may still not keep up, especially in a higher mileagae motor.  Replacing the lifters should be reserved for some other reason you are going into the engine that deep.

The sound is nothing to over worry about.  The lifters pump back up to quiet in a mile or so of normal driving.  Have you ever listened to the valve train sounds coming from an early 911 Porsche?  They make all kinds of noises that scare street car owners silly.

See you at theh next autocross or DE!

Post #493
Posted 5/7/2008 9:53:41 AM
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I guess I would have to ask 2 questions: which model car are you driving & why is your car running hot in the first place. An Autocross lap is just one minute or so, a bit too little driving for a car to run hot.



Mike Morris
Schneller BMW Performance
26 Middle Rd Unit 1-2
Newbury, MA 01951
978.465.2002
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