Weird Sound... Metallic "Clinking"

Cicada · 26th June 2012, 19:54

So my car has been making a weird sound lately, and it's very slowly been getting a little bit louder/happening more often -- I hadn't noticed it/it wasnt doing it when I picked the car up almost a month ago. (06, 80k mi at the moment.)

Basically it makes a sort of high pitched "clinking" sound -- as best as i can describe it, kind of like tent poles or some light aluminum poles being placed/dropped on the ground -- it really only happens at very low speeds (<10mph) when either taking off or coming to a stop, at or below 10mph in 1st and sometimes second gear. sounds like it comes from somewhere underneath the car, maybe toward the middle/rear on the driver's side, because when i roll down the windows, my passengers said they couldn't hear it.

Any ideas?

I took a short video to try and capture the sound; you'll hear it at 0:04-0:08, 0:13 and 0:40.

+ YouTube Video

joeywx · 26th June 2012, 23:12

'clink clink' sounds from a low speeds/taking off from a standstill tell me that it's your driveshaft unfortunately; could be isolated to your CV joint though. This won't affect drive-ability but if it drives you crazy whenever parking or taking off from a standstill- put aside some money for a new driveshaft (replacing with rebuilt one would be the better option than). I've had to trouble shoot this not only on my car but others as well.

If you are not convinced, have your mechanic put the car on a lift and go into 1st, reverse over and over and listen from the underneath. You will hear it from the driveshaft.

Fuddy · 26th June 2012, 23:59

had this problem on my e39 m5

turned out to be the guibo

unfoundhorsepower · 27th June 2012, 01:01

Fuddy, I concure...sounds like the Guibo in EARLY stages.

Cicada · 27th June 2012, 03:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuddy

had this problem on my e39 m5

turned out to be the guibo

hope it's as small an issue as that; when the driveshaft went on my E46 M3, it was way more apparent than this (actually, the center support bearing went first, then i kept driving it like a moron, so it f'ed up the driveshaft, too -- it probably all started with the guibo, though, and all this happened around the same mileage, ~80k)

more video:

+ YouTube Video

Cicada · 27th June 2012, 22:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeywx

If you are not convinced, have your mechanic put the car on a lift and go into 1st, reverse over and over and listen from the underneath. You will hear it from the driveshaft.

taking the mufflers to get chopped off this week, so i'll see if that's something i can check for while it's up there.

phengm3 · 1st July 2012, 08:23

My 06 w/ 60k miles has the same issue. I never knew what it was. I just thought it was something minor. My question now is, how much will replacing it be at the dealer? Also, has anyone replaced it on their M5? Thanks in advance

JonnybravoM3 · 1st July 2012, 11:50

Can't hear it very well but in person does it sound something like this? Whats Happening Here - Car Making Strange Noises

Metallic clinking is, in my experience, related to vanos. Take her into the shop and let them check it. Maybe a simple bleeding of the vanos will do the job. Otherwise they may need to replace which is very expensive (can be in the region of US$3,000-4,000+ outside of warranty).

Cicada · 2nd July 2012, 19:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonnybravoM3

Can't hear it very well but in person does it sound something like this? Whats Happening Here - Car Making Strange Noises

Metallic clinking is, in my experience, related to vanos. Take her into the shop and let them check it. Maybe a simple bleeding of the vanos will do the job. Otherwise they may need to replace which is very expensive (can be in the region of US$3,000-4,000+ outside of warranty).

no; those definitely sound like valves. Mine is definitely coming from underneath the middle/rear of the car, and is a metallic, high pitched clinking sound like if someone dropped some metal/aluminum tent poles on the ground or something.

when i got my mufflers removed, i went to check but quickly realized I can't see anything unless the midpipes/section 3 are removed as well as the heat shielding.

I'm hoping to take it in to an indy this week or next week to see what it might be. it doesnt affect driveability or power at all, and is only audible/happens at very low (<10mph) speeds. it's progressively been happening more and getting slightly louder, so im avoiding driving the car right now as much as i can until i can take it in.

Cool Cat · 2nd July 2012, 23:09

Hello Cicada,
Although maybe not exactly the same noise ( difficult to tell from the video ), when my M5 did a clicking noise that I could only hear at low speeds, it was a rivet from the clutch mechanism that had broken, and was moving around there. Have it checked, because it will slowly destroy your engine speed sensor and the flywheel...
Let us know.