[dest]

I looked at a 335i today, N54 LCI model.
It was started from cold, and straight away I noticed a ticking from under the car, around the centre. I would best describe it as what a pin hole in an exhaust sounds like.
On blipping the throttle there was no sign of the infamous waste gate rattle.

I scanned it for faults with Carly and only found a historic rear indicator bulb warning which I cleared.
Took it for a long drive with many full throttle pulls and felt no hesitation or jerking.
When I got back the initial ticking has stopped altogether, but now the waste gate rattle was noticeable when you blipped the throttle, you can hear it for a second or two while the revs dropped back down to idle.
I scanned it again and it was totally clear still.

Would it put you off buying it?

[Rustymage]

If I had to put turbos on it, yes

Unless I got money off.

[dest]

Waste gate rattle as its known is a bit wrong though as its the actuator rod, not the turbo as I understand it

[Rustymage]

Originally Posted by dest

Waste gate rattle as its known is a bit wrong though as its the actuator rod, not the turbo as I understand it

It's where the wastegate pass through the turbo - the rod rattles, meaning boost can be lost - the turbos cost a little money, it's the labour to fit that's the killer.

I think it's an engine out job.

[Dann]

The n54 is generally a noisy engine anyway.
The ticking you hear at cold could just be the normal noises that they make (the injectors are noisy af) ir could be the clap in the tailpipe.

What you need to do with the WGs is reach into the engine bay when the car is cold and switched off and see how much play is in the arm. If it just rotates you are okay. If it rotates and then moves it's not (it Will make sense when you wiggle it)


Turbos aren't engine out but it's subframe off. Generally the rattle is nothing to worry about as long as it's only when warm and on deccel. If it does it cold and in accel as well they are pretty much gone

[Greg330]

I think the ticking is fairly common, I remember my E92 did it a fair bit and i did look into it and it wasn't anything to be concerned about, i'll see if i have anything saved on it. My E91 is also fairly "noisey" on cold start.

If it pulls well no codes or errors stored i'd be fairly comfortable and certainly wouldn't put me off.

Sorry just re-read and you said it had wastegate rattle, its a good starting point to haggle on price. There are solutions such as the JB4 option but worth making that call once you know it just rotates like Dann said...