Engine Questions

[liltrig99]

Allright... been awhile since ive been round here, but now i have a question. Ive had my car about 9 months now, and it has always been loud, but now its really starting to bother me, and i want to do somehting bout it.

Its a 92 318i, but it sound like a huge ford f350 diesal truck or something. I was wondering what this could be. Ive though it could be something with the valves, or timing maybe.... i don't know.

I had thought it was a vanos problem at one time, but apparently my car does not have vanos. DOnt know bout this, but thats wat i heard. Any suggestions i'd appreciate. THanks

[aheath]

Check your exhaust/muffler

[kyle_baker]

where is the noise coming from? the front (engine bay area) or rear like exhaust?

[flying_junk]

if its that loud. and u live up north or somehwere where it snows. u prolly need a new muffler.

[Sean@Jlevi SW]

I've owned two e36's: a 94' 325i and currently a 99' 323is. In my experience I have concluded that these cars are notorious for becoming increasingly audible over time. As previously suggested, replacing or upgrading your muffler would most likely eliminate the noise in your 3er if it becomes truely unbearable. Then again, you could always leave it as is and tell people you have a track pipe or cold air-intake
SGhavi

[SpeedInfusion]

wat is the production month and year...its on ur door jam inside..if its before June 92, vanos u do not have...

[Phrozen]

I bet this is super noob, but what is VANOS? And how do I know if its on my car? =\

[tomctx]

Originally posted by Phrozen@Apr 12 2005, 03:50 AM
I bet this is super noob, but what is VANOS? And how do I know if its on my car? =\

[snapback]330659[/snapback]

VANOS is a system that advances and retards the intake cam. supposed to allow more bottm end power and top end power. As Speed said, after June '92, you have the VANOS.

[bad man working]

Vanos does retard the valve timing this was originally so BMW could fit a high lift cam and still have smooth idle that why the M50 (non vanos) is bit lumpy on idle and the M52 (with inlet vanos) is smooth at idle.
It goes a look further with the M-Powered system as that is full variable and they can alter the valve over-lap etc thus increasing induction and power.
As to the originally Question I agree with first place to look is the exhaust system.

[liltrig99]

allright thanks for all the responses.....

The noise is coming from the engine bay. I do have a somewhat loud exhaust, but that doesn't bother me at all cuase to me it sounds sporty. Nothings wrong with the exhaust thats just the was the car is....

but the engine bay noise is what is startin to piss me off. Im goin out right now to check they production date to see if it has vanos......

EDIT: Yup, i do have vanos so maybe im back on track. Maybe my systems messed up or just getting load somehow? Could that be?