Hi all

My first post for some time since donating my last E39 530D to Ukraine after its mot ran out in Oct 24. Yes i know this is the 3-series forum but my question relates to the M57 engine which also goes in the 3-series and IIRC the 7-series also.

I came across this 530D by chance the other day and am a bit tempted, but first want to know what this rattle is - https://youtu.be/Vc0s3nK4-Ng?si=iRewD1L5StUla-y4 - and how easy / how much ££ to fix. 

Any ideas? Thanks, Mark

How many sections are you going to post in Mark ? So far 3 series, 5 series, 7 series ?

Dave

Call it desperation if you like, but I haven't been getting (m)any responses and thought I would try and up my chances a bit by posting in the sub-forums for the other models of bmw that I believe also use the same M57 3 litre diesel engine

Edited February 20Feb 20 by ilesmark
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You’ll need to at least pop open the bonnet and drop the FEAD belt off.

Perhaps is an auxiliary component.

VW uses a one way clutch in alternator which can sound horrendous when they’re knackered.

the fact the noise goes with a rev would suggest it’s not a base engine problem IMO.

3 minutes ago, Kevmond said:

You’ll need to at least pop open the bonnet and drop the FEAD belt off.

Perhaps is an auxiliary component.

VW uses a one way clutch in alternator which can sound horrendous when they’re knackered.

the fact the noise goes with a rev would suggest it’s not a base engine problem IMO.

3 minutes ago, Kevmond said:

"VW uses a one way clutch in alternator which can sound horrendous when they’re knackered"

Did you mean to say VW?

Other ppl have mentioned the hydraulic tappets being the culprit

I did mean to say VW, yes. although they usually sound more rattly than the video you've taken.

You'll need to at least open the bonnet and listen with a stethascope, screwdriver or vac hose to identify the location of the noise.

I would assume tappets to give more of a "Clack" type sound and not go away with a few rpms (Unless oil pressure is too low at idle)

Thanks for your response Kevmond.

The way it was explained to me is that hydraulic tappets do away with the need to adjust valve clearances by keeping a certain level of oil pressure in the piston spaces between the cam followers off the camshaft and the valve actuators and, if the oil pressure is low when the engine is idling then these will rattle and then, when the engine speed rises, the oil pressure rises and so gets rid of the gaps.

A search on Google seems to confirm this.

If it was my car I'd try some Liqui Moly aka Molyslip but a bit of a risk to buy a car with that noise and hope it can be cured