Does your E46 M3 do this?

Hi folks,

I've just replaced my 95 E36 M3 (with 191k miles) with an 05 E46 M3 (with 28k miles). I'm not too familiar with the E46 yet - definitely feels like a bigger, heavier, faster car. The car is stock except for a $10 clutch stop and an AutoSolutions SSK. I have been noticing some odd things about the car that I figured I would ask about here.

1. When I'm in 6th gear under light to medium load, I hear a slight whirring sort of drivetrain noise. It might be getting transmitted back through the shifter (my E36 SSK played all kinds of fun drivetrain noises back into the cabin). 5th gear doesn't do it at all. If I let off the go pedal, the noise goes away. Searching for "sixth gear noise" doesn't turn anything up here.

2. Even on slightly bumpy roads, the side view mirrors shake. It's just the mirrors themselves - the side view mirror assembly/housing itself is rock solid. It's noticeable enough that my wife mentioned it to me the other day when she came home from work. My E36 mirrors do not shake, and the mirrors on our 2003 X5 do not shake.

3. There is a small but noticeable surge during throttle tip-in. If I am coasting down a hill in 4th gear and I apply throttle ever so slightly, the car will surge forward briefly as soon as the throttle sensor registers the movement.

I welcome observations from other folks on the things I've noticed about my car, and perhaps this thread will give others a good excuse to post something they've been meaning to ask about on their own cars!

- Chris

P.S. My E36 had a nice German-sounding chime when the exterior temperature was below 38degF. The E46 has this "beep" that sounds more like a microwave. ("Guten tag sir, your Hot Pocket is done...")

On the mirror issue. You MAY have an issue in the housing. I had this happen on my Boston Green M3. It was just the drivers side. Dealer replaced the mirror housing.

As for the mirrors, just tighten them up. When I got my "M", both mirrors were loose. There are instructions with pictures either here or m3forum.net .

Yes to 1. Haven't figured what causes the sound.

Yes to 2. But there is a simply DIY on this forum.

No to 3.

with your first problem i have the same issue but only when my rpm in 6th gear is at about 1000 to 1800 but it has been like that for 40k miles i just figured the car is just made like that.
my mirrors dont shake that much they only shake when my bass is all the way up but i think mine are tight.
problem 3 maybe the car is a little more powerful than you anticipated when i first got my car i felt like mine did that but then i figured the car is much faster than my rx8(i still get surprised by it sometimes).
is your car manual?

To your first problem, change the diff fluid. Fixes all those noises in the driveline (well almost).

Originally Posted by chrispitude

Hi folks,

I've just replaced my 95 E36 M3 (with 191k miles) with an 05 E46 M3 (with 28k miles). I'm not too familiar with the E46 yet - definitely feels like a bigger, heavier, faster car. The car is stock except for a $10 clutch stop and an AutoSolutions SSK. I have been noticing some odd things about the car that I figured I would ask about here.

1. When I'm in 6th gear under light to medium load, I hear a slight whirring sort of drivetrain noise. It might be getting transmitted back through the shifter (my E36 SSK played all kinds of fun drivetrain noises back into the cabin). 5th gear doesn't do it at all. If I let off the go pedal, the noise goes away. Searching for "sixth gear noise" doesn't turn anything up here.

2. Even on slightly bumpy roads, the side view mirrors shake. It's just the mirrors themselves - the side view mirror assembly/housing itself is rock solid. It's noticeable enough that my wife mentioned it to me the other day when she came home from work. My E36 mirrors do not shake, and the mirrors on our 2003 X5 do not shake.

3. There is a small but noticeable surge during throttle tip-in. If I am coasting down a hill in 4th gear and I apply throttle ever so slightly, the car will surge forward briefly as soon as the throttle sensor registers the movement.

I welcome observations from other folks on the things I've noticed about my car, and perhaps this thread will give others a good excuse to post something they've been meaning to ask about on their own cars!

- Chris

P.S. My E36 had a nice German-sounding chime when the exterior temperature was below 38degF. The E46 has this "beep" that sounds more like a microwave. ("Guten tag sir, your Hot Pocket is done...")

I would take any M3 specific questions to M3forums, this place is kind of all over the place. It has a great classified forum section, but there's not that many M specific folks over here.

1. My guess would be its coming from the diff., diff. noise is a pretty common issue. Try changing your diff fluid. If that doesn't work you can swap in a used ring and pinion gear that has properly meshed(I actually have some, but that should be your last effort to eliminate it). Many people do not break in their diffs properly and result in whine, whirring, clunking, etc.

2. Mirrors should not shake, I would double check the mounting points behind the mirror to make sure they haven't come loose. The mirror should just pop out, perhaps one of the motor mounting pieces has come loose behind the mirror.

3. I'm not really sure what you are attempting to describe, the throttle tip in is pretty aggressive on the car. I would almost describe it as jerky sometimes.

(4.) The horn frequency can be adjusted if you do not like it

I don't have any wierd drivetrain noises.

I get the 6th gear noise. It is almost like a resonance, when accelarating slightly when in top ie 6th gear. I have always put it down to being in too high a gear/too low rpm, causing the car to "lug" slightly when you accelerate. I suggest if you were to be driving slowly enough you could generate the same noise when in 5th gear/4th gear etc

throttle issue could be a dirty MAF

M3THOD, thanks for the suggestion re: m3forums. I wasn't sure which forums were the best for this car. I'll check it out.

mredwin25, thanks for the suggestion to clean the MAF! That sounds like a good place to start. It certainly can't hurt.

ABCD, downwithbrown7, yep! That's the noise alright. I can't seem to duplicate it in 5th gear, or maybe I just haven't slowed down enough. As long as I know it's "normal" on at least one other car, I won't consider it to be a sign of impending doom.

Wow, lots of links about loose mirror housings and loose mirrors! I have some reading and tinkering to do...

Many thanks everyone!

- Chris