Today my 2002 m3 with 43k miles started making a "marbles in a can" noise. I had not even driven the car for 5 minutes, went to the gas station, pull out, 15 seconds later i hear the faint noise, and it got slightly louder, i pulled over right away and turned the car off had it towed into the dealer.

It sounded similar to the noise the e36 M3 vanos makes when the Vanos unit goes out. Is there a possibility it could be it? Or it most likely is the infamous engine bearing issue? The CEL light didn't even come on, and the car didn't lose power.

I also checked the oil level, and it was perfect

What do you guys think?

If it's the engine, what's the downtime, will they replace the engine, rebuild it themselves or what?

It sounds exactly like what happened with me. It ended up being the other recall the one about the bolts for the connecting rod, where they connect around the crank. Have fun you are getting a new engine because what is happening is its striking the side of the cylinder wall. Atleast thats what happened with mine.

ah yes, i just picked it up this morning , it turned it was a fan belt or something, so they just put a new one in, and it's set to go.

Good deal

Today my 2002 m3 with 43k miles started making a "marbles in a can" noise. I had not even driven the car for 5 minutes, went to the gas station, pull out, 15 seconds later i hear the faint noise, and it got slightly louder, i pulled over right away and turned the car off had it towed into the dealer.

It sounded similar to the noise the e36 M3 vanos makes when the Vanos unit goes out. Is there a possibility it could be it? Or it most likely is the infamous engine bearing issue? The CEL light didn't even come on, and the car didn't lose power.

I also checked the oil level, and it was perfect

What do you guys think?

If it's the engine, what's the downtime, will they replace the engine, rebuild it themselves or what?

Was it at certain rpm's or constant? I'm hearing something like that but at lower speeds, like under 2k, but very faint.

Was it at certain rpm's or constant? I'm hearing something like that but at lower speeds, like under 2k, but very faint.

It was pretty constant as far as I can tell. As soon as I heard it, I revved my engine a couple times to like 3k, and confirmed it was my car making the noise and shut it off.

Turned out to be just the fan belt thankfully.

It was pretty constant as far as I can tell. As soon as I heard it, I revved my engine a couple times to like 3k, and confirmed it was my car making the noise and shut it off.

Turned out to be just the fan belt thankfully.
Cool, thanks.

ah yes, i just picked it up this morning , it turned it was a fan belt or something, so they just put a new one in, and it's set to go.

your fan belt went out at 43K miles..WTF...

Yep, that's what the service advisor told me. On top of that, they were trying to deny the claim under warranty because they said it's a maintenance item, which is correct, but they worked it out.

maby is the gas but what do i know

Yep, that's what the service advisor told me. On top of that, they were trying to deny the claim under warranty because they said it's a maintenance item, which is correct, but they worked it out.

glad it worked out..but 43K miles...whats next?

glad it worked out..but 43K miles...whats next?
lol, hopefully nothing major for its new owner.

I have heard and tend to hear a box of marbles sound coming out from under my hood as well, however it seems to go silent when I depress the clutch pedal...'

I have chalked this up to being a similar sound that my corvette used to make in that the gears are pretty close together.

Is this an accurate assumption?

Adam

naw, that's probably more like maybe flywheel chatter?

dude its a belt, at 40k miles id say its done its job, their like 15 bucks....